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I recently seen a video of the Ventures and the only Venture was Don Wilson. Bob Spalding on lead, his son on bass, Leon on drums and Don on rhythm. Some how that just doesn't equate to being the Ventures to me. It seem more like a cover band with one of the original Ventures as a guest star. I know Leon has been with the Ventures for a long time and it was only appropriate for him to take his dad's place, but somehow the group as it is now just doesn't seem right. I've heard through the grapevine that Don is suffering a debilitating illness and may not be able to continue performing much longer. At what point does one slap the matt and humbly retire the bands name?

That's a toughy. When a band has a unique sound and then loses members what should they do? When bands lose their lead singer whose voice was so recognizable should they get a replacement, a copy cat voice, or ???? I'm thinking of bands like Journey, ACDC, INXS, Black Sabbath, etc. When a voice is so distinctive that you identify the band by the voice what do you do when you lose that voice? Or, in the case of The Who, Roger Daltry of today can get no where near his voice of 30 years ago, should they hang it up? I don't have a good answer but it is certainly something to ponder.

Well, I don't think the Ventures have been the same since Nokie left in 1968. From what I've heard after that, they were pretty tame in comparison.

The Ventures started out as Bob Bogle and Don Wilson, and I think that if Don retires, the band is over. If Bob Spalding, Leon Taylor, Jerry McGee or even Nokie want to play Ventures songs, they should, but not as The Ventures. Maybe the Versatones?

After the original, those that follow should either be new spin-off bands with original music, or tribute bands ... The Dead just isn't the same without Garcia .... but at least they had the grace to change the name.
Dennis

Mel said:

Well, I don't think the Ventures have been the same since Nokie left in 1968.

Ditto. I'm not sure whether it was Nokie or Gerry that recorded Hawaii Five-O, but if you listen closely, that guitar is not
quite in tune with the Brass, and the whole album sounds as though 'something happened' in the band, in which their
magic had gone south. But after '68, something definitely happened......

The only two members left are Nokie and Don if you exclude Gerry who joined in the late 60s. What would be ideal is if they tried to this again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYlvOwgvI7k
And they had Gerry and Nokie switch off lead with Don on guitar. I guess scheduling conflicts may be the issue now. They really aren't the same now though ;(. Bob Spalding is no Nokie or Bob Bogle, he's very good but just not the same.
Maybe they should become the Don and Nokie Experience now or just the Don Wilson Experience
They haven't been The Ventures for a few years now

Maybe they should call themselves "The Dentures"

MWaldorf wrote:Maybe they should call themselves "The Dentures"

Actually Mel, there is such a group with that name, and 3 of the members are Dentists! .

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

SLO Surf Band Gets Santa Maria Boot
Apparently, tri-tip, beans, Park Rangers and Surf Music do not blend. 'The Dentures,' SLO's popular instrumental surf rock band, got thrown out of Santa Maria's Waller Park about 2:30 PM Saturday May 30 by an aggressive Park Ranger. After playing just three tunes, the Ranger approached and told the band "you better unplug and leave right now, because if you don't, I'm going to bring in the Sheriff and it can get really nasty... so it would be best to just settle this right now." The way the Ranger talked to the band, you'd think this group of old guys were dangerous criminals. Never mind the likelihood of real criminal activity in other areas of the Park.

The Dentures on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures ...
26 posts - 13 authors - Last post: May 16
Download The Dentures Surf / Rock / Blues music singles, ... This San Luis Obispo, CA based surf-fun-dance band collects and plays a wide ...
www.myspace.com/slodentures - Cached - Similar

Nothing against Bob Spalding (or his son) but ever since Bob (Spalding) took over from Bob Bogle I felt that the 'brew' had been watered down. But the name "THE VENTURES" just keeps on keeping on...it's like like an institution.

Does Bob Spalding have a son that plays with The Ventures now? I think Bob Spalding is good but I don't think he fits. When Bob Bogle called it quits because of illness they should have considered something else if not retirement then as the group The Ventures