The Family Tree

Early 1970's

Dick Rowe was playing guitar in a Wausau based rock band called 

Hardship (whose drummer would later partner with Dick to form the 

Music Tree, Ltd. in Wausau). Bill Lambert (from Antigo) had played 

bass in the Ice Band and was currently playing in another rock band 

called Mom's Trucking Company with Bob Knapp and Forrest Jehn. 

Both bands performed periodically at the Study Hall tavern in Schofield. 

(We have since learned that during this time, Bill's then brother-in-law 

knew Dick's sister -- but that is not part of the tale we're spinning here). 

Mid 1970's

Hardship eventually dissolved and Dick got together to form the 

Directions of Time (DOT) band with Bob Knapp, Forrest Jehn, and 

Chuck Marko. Knapp and Jehn had been with both Mom's Trucking 

Company and Hardship so they knew both Bill Lambert and Dick Rowe, 

but Dick and Bill didn't really get acquainted until late 1975 at the Black 

Forest Lounge in Rib Mountain (now Michaels Supper Club). 

Little known fact: Directions of Time played their first gig (a week at

the Black Forest Lounge) calling themselves Ginger. At the end of that

first week, the name of the band was changed to DOT.

DOT became well known in the area for their Sha-Na-Na type of music

and the band became a fixture at the Black Forest. A homeless drummer 

named Bill Hocking from Tomahawk (known as KW)  occasionally 

filled in for Knapp when Knapp's spaghetti dinners conflicted with a band 

gig. Legend has it that Bill Lambert met KW earlier that year when 

Lambert filled in for a missing member of KW's Burgundy Crew/Smile  

bands. Afro's and dark glasses .. believe it or not! 

Late 1970's

January 1976 brought about the end of the original DOT. Bill and his 

brother Steve Fronek (guitar) were forming a band that would eventually

become Mary Lee & Company including Bob Knapp (DOT) on drums and 

Mary Lee Wiesneske on lead vocal and keyboards. The only thing needed 

to complete the group was a lead guitar/vocalist .. enter Dick Rowe. Now 

there was a rock band! Head East, Allman Brothers, ELP,  Guess Who,

Jefferson Airplane, Free, Linda Ronstadt, Eagles--all the best of 70's 

rock music. Knapp was eventually replaced by Jeff Roll on drums (I think 

it was spaghetti dinners again!) and the band rocked until mid-1977. 

Little known fact: Mary Lee and Company played their first few gigs

calling themselves Spirit of '76. But that name sucked so bad that it was

quickly changed to Mary Lee and Company!

In May of 1977 the Mary Lee and Company band was winding down and 

someone had an idea. "Let's bring back the Directions of Time with a new

and improved line-up!" Dick, Bill, and Steve were ready for the change 

and Chuck Marko from the original DOT, with his smooth 50's & 60's lead 

vocal and saxophone virtuosity (as long as he was only required to play 

2 different notes in any one song) was more than willing. KW was easily 

convinced to give up his road gig even though he was told he would have to 

sing a little harmony. After a bit of planning and a lot of rehearsal the

new and improved Directions of Time was back. Dick Rowe-guitar/vocal, 

Bill Lambert-bass/vocal, Chuck Marko-vocal/saxophone (sort of!), 

Steve Fronek-guitar/vocal, Bill Hocking-drums/vocal, and 

Bob "sounz goot" Staszak (soundman/lights/flash pots/driver/etc.) 

This edition of the DOT lasted for about two years and somehow 

became known as the band to have at a party. This was a rock band that

played anything. Neil Diamond, Beatles, Foreigner, Guess Who, Styx, 

Elvis, Eagles, Byrds, Beach Boys, not to mention Saki-Bill/Johnny Cash 

and the Barnyard Polkas. And all wearing 3-piece suits, ruffled shirts 

and platform shoes and riding in the big red truck (Red Rover was our 

CB handle). 

Steve Fronek left the band to relocate to the Detroit area and was 

temporarily replaced by Steve Benaszeski ("anybody seen my stool?") 

on keyboards. However Fronek returned to Wausau and rejoined the 

band about a year later, replacing Benaszeski (who eventually found his 

stool, and was allowed to take the stool and all his other equipment with 

him when he left).

The new DOT band broke up in late 1979 after playing what seemed
like about 300 gigs. Chuck Marko moved to Little Chute with his new 

family, while brothers Bill and Steve went other directions. Steve went 

on to play with the Larry Jordon Show and Bill wanted to spend his 

free time at home with his family and motorcycles. 

Early 1980's

Late 1979 Dick and KW became part of the Sturgeon Eddy band which

was a heavy 70's-80's rock band. The line-up at that time was Jeff
Bushman-guitar/lead vocal, Herb Peterson-drums/vocal, 

Dick Rowe-bass/vocal, Bob Borchardt-lights/guitar/POSB/roadie,

KW-sound/lights/vocal. This line-up lasted for about a year before 

another change occurred. 

Dick and KW wanted to start a new band with different tunes and a 

new name. Dick's suggestion of Tailspin was agreed upon. The original 

line-up of Tailspin was Dick Rowe-guitar/bass/vocal, 

Jeff Bushman-guitar/bass/lead vocal, Steve Fronek-guitar/bass/vocal 

and Bill Hocking (KW)-drums/vocal. Rehearsals were held at the 

Music Tree which was now located on 17th Avenue in Wausau. The

band became real tight and vocal harmonies were beginning to shine. 

This Tailspin rocked central Wisconsin until the fall of 1981 when 

the continuing grind began to cause inevitable tension. Jeff eventually

left the band to reform Sturgeon Eddy. Decision time again. The guys 

all wanted Bill Lambert in the band. A night of rehearsal at Dick's 

home on Callon Street settled it. Tailspin finally had a real bass player 

who could also sing circles around the other guys.

Late 1981 line-up: Dick Rowe-guitar/vocal, Bill Lambert-bass/lead vocal,
Steve Fronek-guitar/vocal, Bill Hocking (KW)-drums/vocal. This edition
of Tailspin lasted for eight years playing the central Wisconsin area.
Beatles, Beach Boys, Hollies, Guess Who, Allman Brothers, Eagles, ZZ
Top, Monkees etc. They even threw in a bit of country-rock: Outlaws,
Marshall Tucker, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash. (It has been rumored 

that they once played the "chicken dance" at a wedding reception, but 

thankfully there is no proof!. Some lines should never be crossed). 

Although the playing was a lot of fun, frequent scheduling conflicts 

were beginning to occur. The band was often interfering with the 

increased demands of families and jobs. Oh yes--some of the guys 

were married, had children and real "day jobs". (KW had actually 

made plans to quit playing entirely but was allowed to plead temporary 

insanity and was cured before all was lost). The band cut back on 

the number of gigs per month, but this only delayed the inevitable. 

Late 1980's

Bill's brother Steve decided to leave the band in mid-1989 and 

devote more time to his family and job. This change left Dick, Bill,

and KW with some decisions to make. They could look for another
guitar player who might be able to tolerate us (very unlikely, and an
awful lot of work) or we could just quit playing entirely (but that idea
really sucked). 

1990's

Question: What do three guys in their middle thirties - who are good 

friends - who really like playing rock music together - who aren't ready

to grow up, do when their four piece band of eight years suddenly 

becomes three piece?  They ...

        learn that playing three piece is really cool. 

2000 and beyond

Tailspin has been a solid three piece "Classic Rock" band
ever since. The guys don't take themselves or the band too seriously
simply because they're having too much fun playing the tunes. "If it
wasn't so much fun we definitely would have quit years ago". And when
they are not playing for the public they are quite often found
"practicing" at Dick's home in Rib Mountain where he has converted part
of his basement into a recording studio. Ever the connoisseur of
technology, Dick has been collecting the latest digital recording
equipment and software with which to improve the band.