Bay City Music

 You can contact the Burdons at:

Myspace: www.myspace.com/theburdons

Email: theburdons@yahoo.com

Paul Schultz: Guitar and Vocals 

Scott Causley: Drums and Vocals

Bob Charlebois: Keyboards and Vocals 

Jim Davenport: Bass and Vocals

Biography

The Burdons formed in 1981 as a three piece band with Paul Schultz on guitar, Jim Davenport on bass and Scott Causley on drums.

As they began to make a name for themselves in the “Old Town” district in Saginaw, MI. it became clear they were going to need additional musical and vocal support.

Jim’s brother Dave was moving back to the area after a ton of success with a San Diego, CA. based punk band named “Claude Coma and the I.V.’s”. Dave’s keyboards and singing talents were all they needed to round out this original high energy group.
The release of their first album in 1984 began several years of mid-west tours warming up several big name acts as well as headlining shows from Mackinac Island to Nashville, TN. The band had made it to number one on several college radio charts including St. Louis, MO. and Rochester, NY.
Dave has since moved to Bloomington, IL. where he plays in two or three bands at any given time. He has also released a solo album titled “The Big Machine” and is currently working on a second release.

The band has pretty much stayed with the same line-up, but now includes the newest member Bob Charlebois on keyboards. The Burdons perform approximately twenty five to thirty gigs a year still and are considering a third album. Their second album was a live release titled “Live at the Penny Arcade”.

Jim and Paul will always remember their early years at Garber High School when Miss Pat provided a storage closet in the choir room for rehearsal with Gregg Billette on bass, Paul on guitar and Jim on drums. On most afternoons they would play in the cafeteria in front of all their class mates and friends giving them that desire to become professional’s some day, maybe even make some money!.

Gregg died in a car crash in 1979 and Jim moved over to bass, longtime friend Scott came in as the drummer. Gregg is in their hearts on stage every show and is always their inspiration.

10 Questions

 
Q: Describe your style of music? What band(s) would you compare yourself with?

Our music has a Pop/Rock style with a Rock-a-Billy Kick!  Little bit of early “British Invasion” (Beatles, Stones, Who……..)
Little bit of R&B, Little bit of Rock, Lotta’ fun!


Q: What are your main musical influences?

Anywhere from Hank Williams to Van Morrison

Q: What/Who have been your biggest influences in life and on your lyrics?

Love and Death

Q: What's in your CD player, Ipod?

Led Zeppelin-II

Q: What other local band would you pay to see play? Why?

“Larry McCray” and “After The Dust” – Larry works hard every night to please and the lead singer for “After The Dust” is my nephew.

Q: How did you meet?

The Burdons and Larry have been playing together in Saginaw, MI and Bay City. MI since the very early 80’s. I met my nephew Eric Davenport the day he was born!

Q: Is there an interesting story behind the name of your band? Who came up with the name?

We needed a name for the band in 1981 to enter an original song writing contest for WHNN. The four winners would have their song re-recorded in a “real” studio and pressed into a 4 song vinyl EP with some gig’s to promote it’s sale and distribution. Jim kept a journal where he used the phrase “a burdon” to describe himself in his living situation! The tape had to be in the mail the next morning so the misspelled word went on label! They won with the song “I Fell in Love” written by Paul.

Q. Tell us about your first show together

We played for beer!

Q. What have been the high and low points of the band so far?

Low point is being kidnapped at gun point in Detroit and robbed of every piece of musical equipment.

High point is that we have never given up and celebrate nearly 30yrs of performing all over the globe!

Q: You are the first band to play a song on another planet for aliens that have never heard our music, you can play any song ever written, what would you play? Why?

“This Land is Your Land” because it was written by Woody Guthrie.