One of the leading bands in the Rochester, NY area, the Young Tyrants were Carl Lundquist lead guitar and vocals, Lou Grillo lead vocals, Julio Lora rhythm guitar, Mike Zazzaro bass and Mike Montoya drums. They were heavily influenced by the Young Rascals, even adding “Young” to their band name in imitation, but came up with a sound all their own by the time they recorded their only 45.
Fine Records Studio owner Vince Jans signed the band after hearing their live show over the phone. In September 1967, they recorded an album’s worth of songs at one session, mostly typical cover versions off the day along with two original songs and a couple instrumentals.
Jans let them release the two originals for their only 45. “I Try” starts off with Carl’s trilling guitar riff taken from the intro to the Buster’s surf classic, “Bust Out”, then turns into a fantastic rocker as the band kicks in. “She Don’t Got The Right” simmers with resentment: “She’s got the right to say/ she don’t want my kind/but she don’t got the right/ to take away my pride.”
Lou Grillo wrote “I Try”, although there are no credits on the label, while Carl Lundquist wrote “She Don’t Got the Right”. 500 copies were pressed on the In label and sold at their shows, at venues like the New Patriot Club in Hornell. The only radio play it received was on local Rochester station WSAY.
The band broke up in 1968, as Carl and Lou were heading to college. The masters from the Young Tyrant’s recording sessions have been saved, and supposedly include other takes of both sides of the 45 as well as a cover of “I Can Only Give You Everything”. Hopefully someday we’ll hear the whole session.
The primary source for this story is Greg Prevost’s interview with singer Lou Grillo from 1978.
I just happened to come across this site and saw this old picture of my band. I’m Lee the rhythm guitar player, but I’m actually playing bass in this picture. How long has this site been up?
Thanks,
Lee
Hi Lee,
This is Chris, the creator of the site. This article has been up since 2007, the site since 2004. I really like both sides of that record. I’ve read the interview with Lou but I’d like to hear about how the band started, and your view on the recordings and live shows. Get in touch with me at chas_kit@hotmail.com
Chris
Hi Chris,
LOVE this site. Thanks for the GREAT article on us.
Keep on rockin’,
Lou Grillo-Lead vocalist, The Young Tyrants
My name’s Thom Marianetti, I’m originally from Rochester NY & am now living in Pittsburgh. When I was a little guy in the early-mid 60’s living on the east side before the riots of 66 I remember the Young Tyrants because my older brother Jim had their record & he was also in a band that would practice in our attic. Quite often when I would come home from school there’d be nobody home so I would sneak up there & futz around on the drumkit, usually putting on records & mainly playing to tunes like “GLORIA” & “WIPEOUT” but one day I put on the Young Tyrants “I TRY” which blew my mind & I played my butt off to that one. That record was & will always be a time machine for me, everytime I play it it takes me back to the attic in 1965 !!! A little over 10 years ago I had the fortune to play drums in a local Rochester garage band called the Riviera Playboys & we used to play both “I TRY” & “SHE DON’T GOT THE RIGHT” live where everyone would go just nuts !!!! If anyone’s interested our version of She Don’t Got The Right appears on the Jargon Records Garagepop compilation, it’s killer !!!! The Young Tyrants rule, it’s a long way from the firehouse dances to immortality & their legacy, like the Invictas, will always remain…….