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| Out of this world at George J. West Junior High. From left: Bobby Cesario, Bobby Beauhne, Don Ivone and Billy Miele. Photo courtesy of Bobby Cesario. |
UPDATE February 2017
Bobby Cesario, bass player of the Outer Limits, checked in and gave us the lowdown on his high school band, and also provided an otherworldly second acetate!
The members of the Outer Limits orbited the Mount Pleasant area of Providence in 1965. The band was formed by pals Bobby Cesario and Billy Miele when they were still in junior high. The foursome was rounded out with Don Ivone on Cordovox accordian and Bobby Beauhne on drums.
The band's first recording session yielded an acetate featuring two original compositions, “The Wash” and “Safari.” The tracks were recorded at New England Recording Studios (run by the Muffs brothers of Planet Records) in Providence in 1965 with an atypical lineup for the band: Bobby Cesario had quit for a spell and did not play on the recordings. And drums were handled by Johnny Cicerone, not Bobby Beauhne.
Don Ivone’s father, Peter Ivone, managed the Outer Limits. The band played frequently at teen dances, battles of the bands, venues such as Rocky Point, and various functions (including many weddings) all over the East Coast. Although all the members were underage, they were still able to play clubs — with chaperones. Bobby remembers one club gig in Boston where they were the opening act, and Frank Sinatra’s bodyguard was at the club with Nancy Sinatra. Of course, they were there to see the headliners, but hey, The Outer Limits can claim that Nancy’s boots walked right in front of their stage. And at one memorable club gig in Providence, the go-go dancers were actually guys in drag — and after dancing a few songs, the sweat would melt the makeup and you could see their 5 o’clock shadow!
The Outer Limits got to know local stars the Cowsills, and father Bud Cowsill took the boys under his wing and brought them down to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to record a half dozen tracks in 1967. At this point in the band, Buehne was out and Paul Krawcyzk played drums. Unfortunately, all of the masters were lost except a two-song acetate with the songs “So Lovely” and an amped-up new version of “Safari.” With stinging fuzz guitar blasts throughout both sides courtesy of Bill Miele, it’s a shame this disc was never released back then.
The band stayed together until 1970, when they imploded after a fight at a gig in North Providence. The guys stormed off the stage, left their equipment behind, and went their separate ways.
Bobby Buehne passed away in 2002 and Paul Krawcyzk in 2007. Manager Peter Ivone passed away on Dec. 27, 2016.
The original posting from April 2015:
"You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to … The Outer Limits."
—Introduction to The Outer Limits television series (1963-1965)
Awe and mystery, indeed. Rhode Island's Outer Limits most likely came from the Providence area in 1966-67, then quickly spiraled into the black hole, long forgotten until a copy of their demo disc turned up at a yard sale nearly half a century later, in December 2014.
And it's too bad this crew never pressed up these tunes for official release. The instrumental "Safari" boasts a bangin' drum solo a la "Wipe Out" and then punches in some crazy out-of-nowhere organ (or is that an accordian?) noodling at the very end. On the hot rod vocal side, "The Wash" careens into action with screeching tire sounds and begins with the foreboding line, "Working in the body shop late one night / my eyes beheld an eerie sight." Is a "wash" some type of racing term, or does it refer to literally a car wash? Perhaps the gearheads out there can enlighten us.
According to a newspaper clipping, the Outer Limits played the second annual jam session of the Senior Y-Teen Club (YWCA gymnasium, 62 Jackson St. in Providence) on Feb. 4, 1967, along with the Times, the Prophets Of Time, the Tantrums, the Lonely Things, the Six Pence, Freddy And The Unknowns, and Fire And Water Incorporated. It's unknown where they ranked in the competition, but they no doubt left skid marks across the judges.
Band members, relatives and old friends: We'd love more info and photos. Please get in touch!
The original posting from April 2015:
"You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to … The Outer Limits."
—Introduction to The Outer Limits television series (1963-1965)
Awe and mystery, indeed. Rhode Island's Outer Limits most likely came from the Providence area in 1966-67, then quickly spiraled into the black hole, long forgotten until a copy of their demo disc turned up at a yard sale nearly half a century later, in December 2014.
And it's too bad this crew never pressed up these tunes for official release. The instrumental "Safari" boasts a bangin' drum solo a la "Wipe Out" and then punches in some crazy out-of-nowhere organ (or is that an accordian?) noodling at the very end. On the hot rod vocal side, "The Wash" careens into action with screeching tire sounds and begins with the foreboding line, "Working in the body shop late one night / my eyes beheld an eerie sight." Is a "wash" some type of racing term, or does it refer to literally a car wash? Perhaps the gearheads out there can enlighten us.
According to a newspaper clipping, the Outer Limits played the second annual jam session of the Senior Y-Teen Club (YWCA gymnasium, 62 Jackson St. in Providence) on Feb. 4, 1967, along with the Times, the Prophets Of Time, the Tantrums, the Lonely Things, the Six Pence, Freddy And The Unknowns, and Fire And Water Incorporated. It's unknown where they ranked in the competition, but they no doubt left skid marks across the judges.
Band members, relatives and old friends: We'd love more info and photos. Please get in touch!
THE OUTER LIMITS
The Wash / Safari
New England Recording Studios, Inc. (acetate)
1965
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THE OUTER LIMITS
So Lovely / Safari
Unreleased acetate
1967
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