Rhino’s L.A. Nuggets boxed set, due to be released on September 22, features many of the significant groups that played a major role in shaping the ‘60’s Sunset Strip scene. Limey & The Yanks, represented by their classic song ‘Guaranteed Love,’ have long been recalled as a prominent band from the era, but little has been written about them. What was known is that the combo recorded a handful of excellent singles, and featured a true Brit as frontman. That “limey,” Steve Cook, contacted us months ago, and we were determined not to let the opportunity to learn more slip by. After some persistence on our part, Steve graciously provided more information about himself and The Yanks, confirming what we've long guessed: Their accomplishments squarely place them as among the finest bands to ever come out of the '60's West Coast.
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An Interview With Steve Cook
60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first get interested in music?
Steve Cook (SC): My parents had me performing on stage at different venues at the age of nine. I started fooling around with a guitar at the age of 10.
60s: When did you first come to the United States?
SC: I came to the U.S. in 1961, when I was 14.
60s: Was Limey & The Yanks your first band?
SC: Limey & The Yanks was the first band formed.
60s: Where and when was Limey & The Yanks?
SC: Limey & The Yanks was formed in 1965 in Garden Grove, Orange County, California. My father and I held auditions in our home.
60s: Who all comprised the band?
SC: The first members were I (lead vocals and harmonica, and occasionally the rhythm guitar), Wes Hunsinger (drums), Gregg DeLorto (lead guitar), Bobby Batman (bass and, coincidentally his real name), and Tim Dunne (rhythm guitar). We were together for approximately 1½ years at which time, Gregg DeLorto, joined the group called The Spats and Tim left to pursue his career. Wally Downing became the new lead guitarist and Bobby Gay became our new rhythm guitar and piano player. I’m prejudiced, but I left felt we had some of the finest musicians in the country.
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60s: How would you describe the band's sound? What bands influenced you?
SC: We had the distinct ability to sound like many bands. We had a four-piece harmony and each member had favorite groups. I would say we did more of the Beatles’ songs. We were also influenced by The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Dave Clark 5.
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60s: Where did the band typically play?
SC: Hollywood clubs, colleges, and other clubs throughout the state of California. We played at high schools as guest performers for KHJ Television and Radio in search of the winners of the battle of the bands for high schools. We were signed by KHJ as their official boss group. We were the house band at the Retail Clerks Union Hall for almost a year.
We did concerts with the following celebrities: The Turtles, Love, Sonny & Cher, Ike & Tina Turner Review, The Association, The Leaves, The Byrds, Jan and Dean (back-up work), The Monkees, Donna Loren (back-up work), Dino, Desi & Billy, Knickerbockers, Don & The Goodtimes, The Standells, Barbara Lewis, Bobby Fuller 4, Danny Hutton, Bob Lind, The Regents, Ray Peterson, and Jackie DeShannon.
We were members of the AFM (American Federation of Musicians), AGVA (American Guild of Variety Artists), and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). We performed at the press conference for Batman, even before the first episode aired. It was held, I believe, at KHJ's Channel 9 studios. I remember I had a really bad case of the flu. I was so sick. You can see in the one picture that I was just about asleep. There were camera men filming the conference but I don't know how to get a copy.
When we were signed with KHJ we were asked to play on a train. It was a contest that went on for weeks. Every hour on the hour the 93rd caller won two tickets on the last train to Clarksville. A station down in San Diego had their name signs covered up with ones that read Clarksville. It was Easter time. KHJ had hid thousands of plastic eggs. Inside each one was a prize. We played on the train going down to Clarksville. When we arrived there was food and drinks for everyone on the train. About an hour and a half later, a helicopter landed with The Monkees. They had just released their new single, 'Last Train To Clarksville.' After the Easter egg hunt was over, everyone boarded the train. We performed on one end. The Monkees performed on the other end of the train. We were able to do a lot of things that most groups werent, because of our affiliation with KHJ. We were their official Boss group. We worked with all their deejays.
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60s: At which Sunset Strip clubs did Limey & The Yanks perform?
SC: We played The Whisky A Go-Go, It’s Boss, and others that I cannot remember the names. It gave us an opportunity to meet other famous musicians. After Bobby Fuller of The Bobby Fuller 4 died, we became the house band and at their venue.
60s: How far was the band's touring territory?
SC: All of California, Arizona, and Las Vegas.
60s: Did Limey & The Yanks have a manager?
SC: When we won the battle of the bands at the Hollywood Palladium for the second year in a row, beating several hundred other bands, we were awarded a recording contract with Warner Bros. We were signed by Charlie Greene and Brian Stone. They were the same managers for Sonny & Cher, Buffalo Springfield, Bob Lind, and The Daily Flash. Prior to Greene and Stone, my father was our manager. He spent many days in Hollywood and across the state promoting us.
60s: What were the circumstances leading to the band's opportunity to record?
SC: We were heard by Gary Paxton who at the time was the engineer and writer for several other groups. Our first recording was ‘She’s An Animal,’ written by Gary Paxton, and the B-side was ‘That’s What They Tell Me.' Other recordings we made were 'When I Come Home'/'Until I Cry,' 'I Got Your Letter'/'Tomorrow Never Comes,' 'Can't Keep A Good Man Down'/'Leave You Never' (Wes Hunsinger played the Harpsichord piano on this song and I played the drums), and 'A Heart'/'You By My Heart.' We also made radio commercials for Lancer Shirt Company. They were played several times a day. We recorded about four different variations of the commercial. The radio stations rotated them during their prime air times.
We were sponsored by Fender Instrument Company. We were supplied with whatever instruments, sound equipment, and amplifiers that we needed. It was a great honor to represent them. They only chose what they considered the finest musicians and groups.
60s: Where did Limey & The Yanks record?
SC: Both at Capitol Records in Hollywood and Warner Bros.
60s: Did Limey & The Yanks write many original songs? Who was the band's primary songwriter?
SC: Yes, we wrote several songs that were recorded. The band’s primary songwriters were Bobby Gay and Wally Downing.
60s: Limey & The Yanks' recorded output is very impressive, with several great songs, including 'Out Of Sight Out Of Mind,' 'Gather My Things & Go,' and 'Guaranteed Love.' Do you have a favorite song by the band?
SC: My favorite song would have to be ‘Can’t Keep a Good Man Down,’ recorded at Warner Bros.
60s: Do any other '60's Limey & The Yanks recordings exist? Are there any vintage live recordings, or unreleased tracks?
SC: I have several.
60s: Did the band make any TV appearances?
SC: Yes. We were on TV 13 times, nine of which were national; many times as the stars of the show. we appeared on Where The Action Is, Shindig, Groovy, Shivaree and several times on Ninth Street West. Many times we were the main act.
60s: What year and why did the band break up?
SC: 1968. The band lost Wes to the draft, and Daryl Devlin then joined the group. We stayed together for just a few months and I was married and everyone seemed to be going in different directions.
60s: Did you join or form any bands after Limey & The Yanks?
SC: No.
60s: What keeps you busy today?
SC: I often perform as a one man act with my keyboard and guitars at restaurants, clubs, and occasionally a wedding.
60s: How do you best summarize your experiences with Limey & The Yanks?
SC: I am very proud of what we accomplished as a group. In no way would I consider us a garage band. We also had probably the largest fan club for a group in the state of California. There were 11 chapter presidents in the state of California comprising of thousands of members. I wish we could all get back together to do a reunion concert. I considered it an honor to have played and sang with the members of one of the finest bands ever to come out of the West Coast.
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