NJHC outfit ‘Jungle Rot’) to soon to be bassist Sean Rogers in the
summer of 1981. Shortly after a live appearance at Greystone Mental
Hospital in Morris Plains (it was for patients — not employees),
Jungle Rot members started going their separate ways.
Dave was looking for a new guitarist and Sean told him he had a
brother that played. He actually lied at bit, because at the time I
think I knew about 2 chords and a five-note scale. Anyhow, Dave had
more faith in me than I did and after auditioning a selection from
Mel Bay’s ‘Guitar Method Vol. I”, I was in. I was probably the first
(and last) hardcore punk guy ever to join a band by covering Stephen
Foster’s “Oh Susanna” on single note strings. From that point on,
all of my valuable guitar lessons came from being in the Out Group.
Sean joining the group as bassist quickly put any concerns to rest and
the band moved forward. Chris Woods (AKA Syd Sludge) — a big-hearted,
enthusiastic hardcore punk fan — was available as front man and the
Out Group officially formed in the fall of 1981. John Humphrey’s, a
school chum, carted us to rehearsal every Friday night to Dave Jones’
apartment in Madison, NJ. Sometimes Syd took the train from Dover, but
usually we all rode together crammed in this 1975 Dodge Dart Sport
shit box listening to homespun tapes of our favorite bands and smoking
British cigarettes. (John is partially responsible for the Out Group
even becoming a band. I stashed lunch money to pass on as gas funds
for the Friday night drive to Madison.)