FIRST Feature Artist of the Month

Poptart Monkeys

For over a decade there has been one band in the area that has not only played everywhere around but packed all those places. Playing the absolute best music and putting on a show that would rival any national act. Anyone that ever attended a show would agree they got their money’s worth plus some. These guys have some of the most dedicated fans, some going so far as to follow them to Florida where these guys played many, many times for Panama City Beach, and anywhere in between. For all their accomplishments and for all they have done for the Music scene as a whole, not just in Schuylkill County, we have decided that we MUST have our first Featured Band of the Month be “PA Most Controversial Band, The Poptart Monkeys.

  The same year the Pathfinder space probe landed on Mars and Princess Diana passed away, Rob Hampton and Dave Danishefsky were playing in the band “Teacher’s Pet”. Within that next year Paul Reddon, who was Rob’s roommate and in a different band was added to the fold. With another guitarist, Bill Talanca, and well known Skook bassist James “Gumby” Balogach. With a new name “Poptart Monkeys” (that was a joke by Rob’s brother Joe, Formerly of 4saken), the guys were ready to set out on ride that would take them up and down the east coast, into recording studios and even into NYC for a television taping.

  With a name like the Poptart Monkeys it was only a matter of time until something would happen. Less than a year after the guys contacted Kellogg’s for a possible endorsement, The Pop-Tart company replied twice first with a positive view and then turn around and sent the boys a letter to stop using the name. Eventually the news made its way around the area then internationally to a number of media outlets including USA Today, CNN, Howard Stern and right into Kellogg’s back yard of Battle Creek Michigan. The breakfast cereal giant started off with trying to protecting their products name; instead they helped PTM gain a following that to this day still kicks ass.

  Around 2000 the Guys released their first full length CD titled “Dancing with my Lunatic”. The album had some PTM favorites such as La Di Da and the cover songs Obsession and EMF’s Unbelievable. All the while keep a heavy touring schedule up and down the east coast. During this time the band was threatened by Kellogg’s once again but this time the guys had some fire power on their side in the form of attorney Paul Reznick of Pittsburg who help out the boys free of charge. And the breakfast bitches went away once again.

  Around this time the band would see its first member leave when Dave departed to pursued other projects and bands including Kartune and Hinge. For a replacement the boys recruited guitarist Chris Kurtz from Cool Daddy Groove.

  The guys kept going day after day as usual and quickly released their 2nd album “Just Like Me” that was released under the new “Solution 6” Record label. While still touring heavily the guys hired a film crew and released their home video. The film shows the life the PTM on the road in Florida, performing for MTV  Spring Break, a spoof of the MTV show “Cribs” where they showed Chris’ humble abode, and portraying the Poptart Monkeys recording an episode of the VH1 reality contest “Cover Wars” hosted by Paul Schaffer of David Letterman, The show was basically a televised version of a battle of the bands.

  Sometime before they started recording their 3rd album there was another casualty. Bill left to pursue other interests and started the Berwick band Cell 7 and Opening his business. A tattoo shop called “The Ink Spot” in Berwick. The guys decided not to replace Bill and had Chris be the only guitarist for now.

  It wasn’t long it seemed that the Poptart Monkeys would lose another member of the band when Paul left to take care of family business. In his place the guys had Tyson Clark from the band “Cornerstone”. As always the guys kept up their schedule and finished their 3rd album “Secret Decoder Outfit”.

  Eventually all the original member left for one reason or another. The band The Poptart Monkeys can still be seen in Florida and still play regularly but with none of the original 5 members (or the other 2 mentioned above).

  * At the time of this Feature this is what was up with the PTMs...

Since the guys parted ways they’ve been busy as usual. As I said before Bill started the great band Cell 7 that has since parted ways. He also does some of the most incredible pieces of ink there is out there, but is looking to sell the business. If you’re interested look him up on Facebook. 

James has since joined up with long time friend Sean McGeehan starting “Shoot the Moon” now called Red Orange Aura.

Chris is now working for Apple Inc. and Tyson is pursuing a career in Law Enforcement.

  And what has happened to one of the BEST front men in the business? Paul has since played in the successful band Yada Yada Yada and will be premier his new project “Alison Standby”. He lives in Altoona with his wife and 3 beautiful children.

  As for those two guys that started out together in 1997. Along with the great bands Dave has also recorded a CD, started Abby Rose Studios in McAdoo, and currently is in the Band Gas Station Disco.

Along with him in GSD is Drummer Rob who has since played with Rise Phoenix Rise, Monster Party, & Panic Switch. He has also started Hampton Computer Consulting, plus he’s been running Kick Management since around 2000.

  Almost a decade later the original 5 were back, thanks to their legions of fans that started a Facebook page to reunite the guys for one more time. That’s to their long time road Manager Rich the reunion show was in the works and ready to go. The reunion show was at Goodfellas in Pottsville. From the second the show was nostalgia from start to end. The old white shirts with Ties, the swing set, and of course the great, music. After years of playing the band had not lost a step.

  To their credit the Poptart Monkeys as we’ve talked about here have played MTV Spring Break multiple times, played the VANS Warp Tour, had multiple endorsements including Ernie Ball, Spector, and GMS Drums. The Poptart Monkeys have not only accomplished so much but have never had an ego about helping any band that came their way.

  We would like a take a second to thank one person that few people know about. Joe Lutz has been friend and co-writer to some of the PTM’s greatest songs including Thrift Store Chair, 7:30, and Hooked. He may not have been a Monkey but he was a part of the fun. Thanks Joe.

  We contacted the former member of the band for their two cents and we would like to leave you with what Paul left when he emailed us.

“We definitely started something here back in the day and it was a memorable time for all involved and the lovely ride we all got to take….I am and was happy to be apart of it all“…….LONG LIVE PTM!!