Summer 1985 - Fall 1986. As in the bands early period, the key to the second phase of The Uninvited Guests was the Springdale Music Palace. The Music Palace was a Pizza restaurant in the vicinity of Tri-County Mall with a mighty Wurlitzer organ which would rise up through the floor at the beginning of a show. Bob, Chris, Doc, Doug, Mike C., and Zykie each shared moments working together at the Music Palace. When Bob and Michael R. were the only Uninvited Guests remaining in the band in the summer of 1985, it was only natural to look toward the Music Palace for more new talent.
           Bob began scoping out the talent at the Music Palace and quickly zeroed in on the writing talents of Jim and Mikey W. Jim and Mikey W. had the reputation of a powerhouse song-writing duo dating back to their high school days. Bob also introduced himself to Charles and Mike B., two seasoned drummers looking to recreate Adam Ant's double drum kit sound. At the time Bob addressed the drummers, Mike B. was playing in a setup known as The Little Big Band, a serious outfit and a $50 a night gig. But Mike B. was already aware of Jim and Mikey W.'s song writing potential and concluded that Bob's proposition to form a band around them could not fail. Without hesitation, Mike B. dumped The Little Big Band for a chance at stardom. Adding to this positive outlook was some vague yet widespread sense at the Music Palace that Bob had professional experience in a rock band. This notion of "professional experience" can neither be discounted nor supported. Critics and fans of the early Uninvited Guests must make this call.
           Charles, Jim, Mike B., and Mikey W. joined The Uninvited Guests at this time. Other musicians also employed at the Music Palace were introduced as well. Craig became The Uninvited Guests' first bass player and Dave A. was the band's horn section for a few weeks until difficulties erupted with Doc. To distance themselves from the older incarnation of the band, this eclectic group of fellows chose the moniker Those Zany Nixons and quickly got to work on their brand of nuclear-surf-punk. But there were still setbacks to be had. On the evening of Craig's first show with Those Zany Nixons at the Music Palace in the Winter of 1985, his bass guitar was stolen from his van. He demonstrated true Zany Nixon/Uninvited Guest spirit by insisting the show must go on while substituting a broom for his stolen bass guitar.
           There were only a few public appearances in this phase but a fair amount of new music was penned. Setting a new tone for the band, Jim wrote "Nuclear Summer," a desperate plea to the military-industrial complex to prevent the bombing of beaches, and "Beach Party, " regarded by some as one of the finest teenage hymns to beach parties. But looking back, The Uninvited Guests of a later period would take less inspiration from the music of Those Zany Nixons than from the bowling league in which Bob and Michael R. participated at this time at the Princeton Bowl in Springdale, Ohio. As the members of the bowling team lacked many basic bowling skills, Bob and Michael R. relied heavily on costumes and fabricated personas to gain an edge over their opponents. Hippie night and Fonzie night were among the bowling league's favorites. In this time of limited opportunities to play gigs, bowling kept Bob and Michael R. focused on entertaining an audience.
           This phase of the band represented a departure from the previous incarnation and not just because new musical voices were being heard. As this was a larger ensemble, greater musicianship and collaboration became important. Michael R. began to study music, learning the difference between an E major and E minor chord, learning to play a C major scale with only occasional errors, and learning that there was such a thing as a key (though what exactly that was proved elusive). This new musical knowledge began to appear in such places as band practice where technical musical jargon would be thrown around loose and fast in conversation. An example follows in this simulated exchange:

Michael R.:	"What chord is that?"
Craig:	"I don't know. Can you see where my fingers are?"
Michael R.:	"Hmmm. I think that has a C in it. I'm not sure"

          This new path eventually led to conflict. Craig had had about enough of Michael R.'s musical analysis when he said "It's great that you are learning all of this music stuff but do you have to bring it to band practice?" In a short time it became more and more difficult to compose with such a large ensemble and the band mutated into a new form of The Uninvited Guests. Bob, Mike B., Michael R., and Mikey W. withdrew from the larger ensemble in an effort to simplify and tighten up the band's repertoire. With the addition of Mikey W.'s friend Dave L. on bass guitar, The Uninvited Guests were ready to enter a new era.

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