The New Dawn | Interview | “There’s a New Dawn”
The New Dawn recorded one of the rarest and most exciting psychedelic rock albums filled with fuzz guitar, minor-chord organ dirges, tender vocals and monumental bass.
Their only album, ‘There’s a New Dawn’ was privately released in July of 1970, five hundred copies were pressed, but it is estimated that only around 200 may still exist. Jackpot Records recently reissued and is offering a definitive reissue that was produced in close collaboration with Dan Bazzy, singer, songwriter, and original member of The New Dawn. Also included are three previously unreleased 1971 demos and a live track from a 2008 band reunion. The current version of the band is working on the new album. The lineup consists of Al Robertson (guitar and vocals), Daniel Bazzy (bass, vocals), Matteo Bazzy-Bucknell (guitar, vocals) and Dan Bazzy (drums).
“We went back and recorded three more original songs on a demo tape”
It’s wonderful to have you. How do you feel that we are still talking about The New Dawn so many years after the release of your debut album in 1970?
Dan Bazzy: It’s crazy. All these years and we are still selling albums. It feels great.
Jackpot Records recently issued a definite reissue of their 1970 record, which include three previously unreleased 1971 New Dawn demos and a live track from a 2008 band reunion. How involved were you with the reissuing process and what can you tell us about those unreleased tracks?
Unfortunately, I am the last original member of The New Dawn. Bobby Justen, Gart [Bill Gartner], Larry Davis, and Joe Smith have all passed away. In 1969, we recorded a 45 RPM record and sold it in the clubs we played in. In 1970 we released the album. We sold it in the clubs and would visit the local rock station to see if they would play it. Many of them did and it seemed to stir up a lot of interest. In 1971, we went back and recorded three more original songs on a demo tape and sent the tape to different record labels. Usually, you don’t hear anything back or you get a letter saying “Thank You, but we are not interested.” Within a week or so, ABC Dunhill called our agent and wanted us to come down to LA and audition for them with the possibility of getting signed by them. We didn’t know it at the time, but our agent told the AR from Dunhill that we were booked into clubs for the next six months and he should come and listen to us play in one of the clubs. These AR men have hundreds of groups trying to beat their door down to try and get an audition. They really don’t need to travel to listen to groups. So, opportunity knocked, the door opened, and we didn’t step through. If we had known this at the time, we definitely would have stepped through.
Isaac Slusarenko, the owner of Jackpot Records, called and asked if I would be interested in Jackpot re-releasing the album and I said “Yes.”
You had a reunion in 2008, what was it like to get back together? Was the chemistry still present?
The 2008 reunion was great. The group never really broke up, we just didn’t play for a few years. We spend a couple of weeks knocking the rust off and then play. Like riding a bike.
Would you like to talk about your upbringing? Where did you grow up and what was that like for you? The USA was a different place back than, wasn’t it?
I grew up in and around Detroit, Michigan. I joined my first group in 1960. Spider and the Webs. We played at parties and school dances. A lot of fun. Girls really thought the boys in the band were cool.
How did you first get interested in music and what would you say were some of the early influences that got you interested in music?
A couple of buddies and I in the fourth grade decided that we wanted to play in the school band. We asked our folks and they said to find out what it cost. Most of the instruments were pretty spendy, but the school furnished the drums. You just had to buy the drum sticks which cost $2.00 dollars. So we all became drummers.
When did the decision to start the band come about? I guess Joe Smith and Larry Davis got a thing going playing school parties, how did that evolve?
I don’t know how Joe Smith and Larry Davis met and got together, but Joe knew Bobby Justen and told him what Larry and he were doing. He started to go to practice each week with them. They decided it would be great if they started a band. It was about that time that I got out of the Marines and helped my folks move to Oregon. That’s when I met Bobby. He told me about playing each week with a couple of friends and they wanted to start a band. They just needed to find a drummer. And I said “hmmmm.” I went with Bobby to the next practice and the group was born.
When was The New Dawn officially born?
We were hired to play a school prom in May of 1967. We needed a name and the only one we could come up with was “The Sound Citizens”. We all thought the name sucked, so at the next practice we brainstormed and came up with “The New Dawn”. So, in June of 1967, “The New Dawn” was born.
What were the circumstances surrounding the album making?
Had we stayed with Gary Nieland (producer) playing out on the road, I’m sure we would have recorded another album. Free studio time. Technology has changed so much since back then, I have my own studio at home. It was in the spare bedroom and now it is out in the garage. I have a sixteen track Fostex and invested in a few instruments like a Roland keyboard, a Fender acoustic/electric guitar, a Ludwig drum set, a Yamaha 1000 watt PA system, a Gretsch electric guitar, and a couple of Fuzz boxes. I recorded our contemporary christian ‘Rekindled’ album in 2006 in the bedroom studio and we have just started recording a follow up album to the 1970 album which will be called ‘Memories’. It will have songs on it that I wrote back in the 70’s. Hopefully we can release it sometime next year. What’s fun for me is having family members help with the album and play on it. My son Daniel plays bass in The New Dawn and he is the drummer in a group called “Old Crow”. My grandson Matteo is going to help on the album and sing one of the songs. He plays guitar and sings lead vocals in a group called Interstate 5. My oldest daughter Danis asked me last month if she could try and sing some of the harmonies. So it will be kind of a family affair.
There were a lot of different members active in the band, but first you got your fifth member in Bob Green… tell us how that came about.
We had a lot of different members over the years. When Joe Smith retired from the group, Jim Dent played lead for a while. Then Russ Hosley joined the group and played lead guitar and sang some lead vocals. When Bobby Justen retired from the group, Danny Ellis played bass for a while and then Karen Purdom. When she left the group, Daniel Bazzy took over on bass and still plays bass whenever we play. When Russ Husley left the group, Al Robertson joined and took over on lead and rhythm guitar and some lead vocals. We have been a three piece for a number of years. We have been looking for a keyboard player but no luck yet.
You were driving a log truck for many years. That must be quite a dangerous job…
Driving a log truck can be a very dangerous job, but as long as you pay attention to what you are doing when you are out of the truck and drive defensively, it’s not too bad.
Looking back, what was the highlight of your time in the band?
I think my favorite place to play was Reno. All the lights, all the shows you could go to on your day off. Great town. As to who my favorite drummer was, I don’t think I had one. I taught myself how to play on a set of drums and never considered myself that great of a drummer. I could keep a good steady beat with very little speeding up or slowing down. And it was at a great dance speed. But I did very few solo’s and I didn’t get too fancy when I played.
Klemen Breznikar
Headline photo: The New Dawn on stage at Andy’s in Salem, Oregon (1969)
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