OT- Max Weinberg

[Southern Gentleman]

Ok, you all know I am NOT the smartest man in the room, but I was watching YouTube tonight and watched "Wipeout" by the Ventures. I told Janice....."that looks like Max" and sure as shooting, it was the one, the only, Max Weinberg!

Drumming for the drum classic "Wipeout"!

Damn. Gotta love so much in Jersey!

 

[RU848789]

Scared me for a second with so many great musicians dying lately (the new normal, given actuarial certainty), lol. Great drummer...

 

[mildone]

Scared me for a second with so many great musicians dying lately (the new normal, given actuarial certainty), lol. Great drummer...

You're WRONG! :D

 

[Southern Gentleman]

Ok, you all know I am NOT the smartest man in the room, but I was watching YouTube tonight and watched "Wipeout" by the Ventures. I told Janice....."that looks like Max" and sure as shooting, it was the one, the only, Max Weinberg!

Drumming for the drum classic "Wipeout"!

Damn. Gotta love so much in Jersey!

You're WRONG! :D

Max looks so much like Harold Ramis in those early clips.

 

[RU4Real]

I can't find any indication that Max Weinberg was ever a member of The Ventures.

Also, when the Ventures recorded "Wipeout", Max would have been 9 years old.

But yeah, he's great.

 

[knightfan7]

I can't find any indication that Max Weinberg was ever a member of The Ventures.

Also, when the Ventures recorded "Wipeout", Max would have been 9 years old.

But yeah, he's great.

The video SG watched was indeed Max playing with the Ventures. It's from 2008. 45th Ann'v.

 

[brodo]

Here's a video of Max playing with The Ventures:

 

[RUMBA-JK]

I can't find any indication that Max Weinberg was ever a member of The Ventures.

Also, when the Ventures recorded "Wipeout", Max would have been 9 years old.

But yeah, he's great.

check out -
Wipe Out - Ventures 30th Anniversary with Max Weinberg


Yes, it is The Ventures (old & with gray hair)...
Yes it is Max Weinberg
- but it is a 30th Anniversary performance - exact date ? - guess 1990 +/-

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Tiny New Brunswick trivia. Video store on easton avenue called captain video also sold used albums. The owner recommended some ventures stuff to me and then invited me to see his band play at the bottom line in nyc... Turned out he was the bass player for The Smithereens., idiot me never went.

Love the surf sound.

 

[RU4Real]

Ah! It never occurred to me that you were talking about a remake.

Yeah, he's still great.

 

[Southern Gentleman]

Thanks to all who have posted videos to prove that I am not quite insane....................yet!

 

[Southern Gentleman]

Is that Mel Taylor on the original version? OMG, he truly was a genius on the drums!

Whatever happened to Mel Taylor?

 

[RU848789]

Tiny New Brunswick trivia. Video store on easton avenue called captain video also sold used albums. The owner recommended some ventures stuff to me and then invited me to see his band play at the bottom line in nyc... Turned out he was the bass player for The Smithereens., idiot me never went.

Love the surf sound.

That was Jim Babjak, guitarist (not bassist) for the Smithereens and he owned Flamin' Groovies, the record part of the store - he shared the space with an old friend of mine from back on those days, Ethan Stein, who owned Captain Video (sadly he committed suicide several years later, jumping from the top of one of the River Dorms). I probably saw the Smithereens at least 30 times at the Court Tavern in the mid-80s, before they hit it relatively big and became friendly with the guys in the band - very cool guys, especially Jim. They're still playing concerts (link below).

I just attended a local benefit concert in Metuchen a couple of weeks ago (one of my best friends is best friends with Jim - they record music together) to raise money for his wife, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Was a great night of music by local artists (including the slightly famous Grip Weeds from the NB area, who get airplay on the Underground Garage and the Loft on SiriusXM). Believe it or not, being a Smithereen did not make him filthy rich and they've been raising funds via a gofundme page, linked below.

http://officialsmithereens.com/4495/help-jim-betty-babjak-cancer-fund/

 

[Southern Gentleman]

That was Jim Babjak, guitarist (not bassist) for the Smithereens and he owned Flamin' Groovies, the record part of the store - he shared the space with an old friend of mine from back on those days, Ethan Stein, who owned Captain Video (sadly he committed suicide several years later, jumping from the top of one of the River Dorms). I probably saw the Smithereens at least 30 times at the Court Tavern in the mid-80s, before they hit it relatively big and became friendly with the guys in the band - very cool guys, especially Jim. They're still playing concerts (link below).

I just attended a local benefit concert in Metuchen a couple of weeks ago (one of my best friends is best friends with Jim - they record music together) to raise money for his wife, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Was a great night of music by local artists (including the slightly famous Grip Weeds from the NB area, who get airplay on the Underground Garage and the Loft on SiriusXM). Believe it or not, being a Smithereen did not make him filthy rich and they've been raising funds via a gofundme page, linked below.

http://officialsmithereens.com/4495/help-jim-betty-babjak-cancer-fund/

Wow. Life is such a small world! God bless you and yours!

 

[TrueBlue1989]

FYI. Max is a Pirate!

 

[Knight Shift]

That was Jim Babjak, guitarist (not bassist) for the Smithereens and he owned Flamin' Groovies, the record part of the store - he shared the space with an old friend of mine from back on those days, Ethan Stein, who owned Captain Video (sadly he committed suicide several years later, jumping from the top of one of the River Dorms). I probably saw the Smithereens at least 30 times at the Court Tavern in the mid-80s, before they hit it relatively big and became friendly with the guys in the band - very cool guys, especially Jim. They're still playing concerts (link below).

I just attended a local benefit concert in Metuchen a couple of weeks ago (one of my best friends is best friends with Jim - they record music together) to raise money for his wife, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Was a great night of music by local artists (including the slightly famous Grip Weeds from the NB area, who get airplay on the Underground Garage and the Loft on SiriusXM). Believe it or not, being a Smithereen did not make him filthy rich and they've been raising funds via a gofundme page, linked below.

http://officialsmithereens.com/4495/help-jim-betty-babjak-cancer-fund/

Small world. Didn't Ethan take over the entire store and rename the music part Music in A Different Kitchen? When I was in law school in the early 1990's we stopped in to talk to Ethan almost every Friday night after having our weekly dinner at Stuff Yer Face. I forget what year he died, but I remember he was going to introduce me to Matt Pinfield at a party, and Matt was pretty huge on MTV at that time. That was my last conversation with Ethan, and then we heard the news that he had committed suicide.
And since we are talking about drummers, Ethan was drummer in a few New Brunswick bands, including Leather Studded Diaphragm--great band name.

 

[Abro1975]

That was Jim Babjak, guitarist (not bassist) for the Smithereens and he owned Flamin' Groovies, the record part of the store - he shared the space with an old friend of mine from back on those days, Ethan Stein, who owned Captain Video (sadly he committed suicide several years later, jumping from the top of one of the River Dorms). I probably saw the Smithereens at least 30 times at the Court Tavern in the mid-80s, before they hit it relatively big and became friendly with the guys in the band - very cool guys, especially Jim. They're still playing concerts (link below).

I just attended a local benefit concert in Metuchen a couple of weeks ago (one of my best friends is best friends with Jim - they record music together) to raise money for his wife, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Was a great night of music by local artists (including the slightly famous Grip Weeds from the NB area, who get airplay on the Underground Garage and the Loft on SiriusXM). Believe it or not, being a Smithereen did not make him filthy rich and they've been raising funds via a gofundme page, linked below.

http://officialsmithereens.com/4495/help-jim-betty-babjak-cancer-fund/

I was living on Hamilton St after graduating , walked past and into that store many times. Became friends with Jim and saw the band many times, and became friends w Pat DiNizio (lead singer, writer ). A few years later I become a partner in The Dive on 29th st , NYC, and The Smithereens become our house band and Pat DiNizio becomes our booking agent. Good memories. Saw them a few years ago at MapleWoodstock and had a great time catching up with them backstage.

 

[Bagarocks]

Southern I don't know if you noticed but we New Jerseians know everything.
And even when we are wrong we are right.

 

[ruready4somefootball]

I used to see Max and Bruce 3 times a week back in the 80's at the HEAR Institute a rehab center in Red Bank. Bruce was there just to maintain his shape to put on 3 hour concerts and Max because he was starting to have problems with one of his wrist. Both very down to earth, and would wait for machines and never act like stars. The owner was Phil Dunphy and for 4 years was the personal trainer and go on every tour with the E Street Band. Led to a divorce, not surprisingly, if you knew some of the stories I did.:sunglasses:

 

[lighty]

I used to go to HEAR in the eighties rehabbing an injury. Only saw Bruce there once, but I saw his first wife many times.

 

[rudad02]

Great drummer!

 

[29PAS]

Hey Abro - where on 29th St was The Dive? And what years was it open?

 

[Ridge 22]

He went to my high school (Columbia)

 

[Abro1975]

Hey Abro - where on 29th St was The Dive? And what years was it open?

The Dive was 257 W. 29th St, between 7th Ave and 8th Ave (closer to 8th). It was open most of the 1970s and closed around 2000. I was a partner there from about 1980- 1990. It's not a club anymore. Some kind of office.
The Smithereens mention The Dive on the liner notes on back of their first album (or on the sleeve). Remember albums ? lol. I love the artwork of albums from the 60s and 70s. Still have a big collection.

 

[Southern Gentleman]

Southern I don't know if you noticed but we New Jerseians know everything.
And even when we are wrong we are right.

LOL. Yeah, I have noticed. I think that is where my wife got it.

 

[29PAS]

The Dive was 257 W. 29th St, between 7th Ave and 8th Ave (closer to 8th). It was open most of the 1970s and closed around 2000. I was a partner there from about 1980- 1990. It's not a club anymore. Some kind of office.
The Smithereens mention The Dive on the liner notes on back of their first album (or on the sleeve). Remember albums ? lol. I love the artwork of albums from the 60s and 70s. Still have a big collection.

It sounded familiar - I've been in the neighborhood for 30 yrs and I'll have to check out what's there now.

Agree on the artwork and liner notes on albums. I agonized over this but finally decided to get rid of mine last summer - probably had 250-300 from the same period as yours. I hadn't played them in years and have digital versions of most of what I listened to regularly - I do kind of miss looking thru them, however.

 

[Abro1975]

It sounded familiar - I've been in the neighborhood for 30 yrs and I'll have to check out what's there now.

Agree on the artwork and liner notes on albums. I agonized over this but finally decided to get rid of mine last summer - probably had 250-300 from the same period as yours. I hadn't played them in years and have digital versions of most of what I listened to regularly - I do kind of miss looking thru them, however.

Picture of how it looked then. Notice the windows, it was an Egyptian Night club before it became The Dive

 

[knightfan7]

[QUOTE="GoodOl'Rutgers, post: 1609680, member:

Love the surf sound.[/QUOTE]

Me too. After this thread I listened to the Ventures, Dick Dale, The Mermen, The Phantom Surfers, etc well into the night. Always been one of my favorite ways out of the mid winter blahs.

 

[ruready4somefootball]

I used to go to HEAR in the eighties rehabbing an injury. Only saw Bruce there once, but I saw his first wife many times.

lol, you mustn't have been on the same schedule as them. In fact I now go to Pat Dunphy for rehab at her place on Tindall Rd. in Middletown. Phil just posted a picture of him with Bruce back stage in Philly this past week.

 

[RUboston]

Actually, "Wipeout" was a hit by the Surfaris and the Ventures covered it. The Ventures 30th Anniversary show had a lot of guest stars. Here is Robbie Krieger of the Doors joining them on "Perfidia":

 

[Friend of 112]

Max vs son

 

[e5fdny]

That was Jim Babjak, guitarist (not bassist) for the Smithereens and he owned Flamin' Groovies, the record part of the store -... before they hit it relatively big and became friendly with the guys in the band - very cool guys, especially Jim.

I worked at the old Price Club on 27 while at RU and met Jim when he became a member.

Very nice guy and it was cool to see him transform from "a guy in a band" when he had the store to a real live rock and roller. And always just as nice.

I used to see Max and Bruce 3 times a week back in the 80's at the HEAR Institute a rehab center in Red Bank. Bruce was there just to maintain his shape to put on 3 hour concerts and Max because he was starting to have problems with one of his wrist. Both very down to earth, and would wait for machines and never act like stars. The owner was Phil Dunphy and for 4 years was the personal trainer and go on every tour with the E Street Band. Led to a divorce, not surprisingly, if you knew some of the stories I did.:sunglasses:

Was a member too at the time. And the stories did float around the gym if you knew who to listen to. LOL

I used to go to HEAR in the eighties rehabbing an injury. Only saw Bruce there once, but I saw his first wife many times.

She looked real different in person.

lol, you mustn't have been on the same schedule as them.

Same as me.

My brother was the lucky one. Bruce and him always seemed to be on the same schedule, most of the time it was just them in "The Pit" (remember that? lol). Said he made the same faces benching as when singing on stage. LOL

 

[ruready4somefootball]

I worked at the old Price Club on 27 while at RU and met Jim when he became a member.

Very nice guy and it was cool to see him transform from "a guy in a band" when he had the store to a real live rock and roller. And always just as nice.

Was a member too at the time. And the stories did float around the gym if you knew who to listen to. LOL

She looked real different in person.

Same as me.

My brother was the lucky one. Bruce and him always seemed to be on the same schedule, most of the time it was just them in "The Pit" (remember that? lol). Said he made the same faces benching as when singing on stage. LOL

Yup I remember. That place was state of the art. It had a direct link to Riverview Hospital for heart conditions, a dunk tank to test your body fat, and so many different exercise machines. They had a flex machine that would pump super cool anti freeze through tubes to keep down swelling as it helped break up scare tissue in a damaged joint. Pat, Phil's ex, is now in the process of developing her updated version of the Nordic Track, which will come out this summer.

 

[e5fdny]

Yup I remember. That place was state of the art. It had a direct link to Riverview Hospital for heart conditions, a dunk tank to test your body fat, and so many different exercise machines. They had a flex machine that would pump super cool anti freeze through tubes to keep down swelling as it helped break up scare tissue in a damaged joint. Pat, Phil's ex, is now in the process of developing her updated version of the Nordic Track, which will come out this summer.

It was the Atlantic Club before there was an Atlantic Club.

And the parking lot...wow. Some very, very nice rides there back in the 80's.

 

[ruready4somefootball]

It was the Atlantic Club before there was an Atlantic Club.

And the parking lot...wow. Some very, very nice rides there back in the 80's.

Oh yea, a lot of Rumson big shots used to work out there. I remember someone pointing out John A Mulheren to me and saying he was a billionaire. Not long after he was all over the news for insider trading and was part of Ivan Boesky's scandal. He was great friends with Springsteen,and even after the scandal, Bruce performed at his wake.

 

[RobertG]

I used to go to HEAR in the eighties rehabbing an injury. Only saw Bruce there once, but I saw his first wife many times.

I was the Springsteen family computer guy for a year or so. Showed Patti how to use an IPOD and installed a DSL line and set up the computer for Bruce's mom. Did some other work around the house and for the staff.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

That was Jim Babjak, guitarist (not bassist) for the Smithereens and he owned Flamin' Groovies, the record part of the store - he shared the space with an old friend of mine from back on those days, Ethan Stein, who owned Captain Video (sadly he committed suicide several years later, jumping from the top of one of the River Dorms). I probably saw the Smithereens at least 30 times at the Court Tavern in the mid-80s, before they hit it relatively big and became friendly with the guys in the band - very cool guys, especially Jim. They're still playing concerts (link below).

I just attended a local benefit concert in Metuchen a couple of weeks ago (one of my best friends is best friends with Jim - they record music together) to raise money for his wife, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Was a great night of music by local artists (including the slightly famous Grip Weeds from the NB area, who get airplay on the Underground Garage and the Loft on SiriusXM). Believe it or not, being a Smithereen did not make him filthy rich and they've been raising funds via a gofundme page, linked below.

http://officialsmithereens.com/4495/help-jim-betty-babjak-cancer-fund/

Terrible news. Betty Babjak has died. Here is the message Jim Babjak just released.

"My dear Betty passed away 3:00 am this morning in our home with me and our family by her side. Her pain and suffering is over.
Rest in peace my love."

My deepest condolences to Jim and the entire Babjak family during this difficult time.