PHOTO GALLERY - BANDS AND ARTISTS

RENEGADE - Mike Lowell - guitar,voc,keys / John Hogan - guitar,voc ( later as sound tech ) / Frank Longobardi - voc,harp,keys /Mark Yamaguchi - bass,voc ( later replaced by Steve Gott ) / Cid Vargas - keys, synth bass,voc / Other members also included Mike O'Brien - guitar,voc. /Geoff Lupton - lights. /Bill Caisse -guitar,keys,lights,sound. Over time, Drummers included: Pete Rangel, Greg Abbott, Ace, Leroy Adams, Urban Urbano, Greg Hall, & Scott Gerard. Mike Lowell writes: In early 81' this band was co-founded from scratch by guitarist Mike Lowell and guitarist John Hogan who had been working together in the band Sandcastle. After that bands demise a decision was made to create the kind of band they had always wanted and soon got to work recruiting players toward that end. The name Renegade was chosen even though a previous band by that name had once existed but had split up a few years earlier. No relation to the previous outfit. Ironically, several members from that previous outfit would find their way into the band over the course of time. Over the next several years this band evolved into a musically powerful and in-demand band of the local SA scene from 81'-85'. The winner of several battle of the bands contests, it made full use of the benefits of midi technology resulting in lush note for note renditions of all the songs in its large repertoire. Adding the fact that all members sang made it very popular in the local area. Music genre was top 40 and MTV based rock and techno assuring a crowded dance floor at every performance. This band played numerous warm up slots for big name acts travelling through SA as well a being a regular in local clubs. The band found its way into warmup slots for the the likes of "The Guess Who", "BadFinger", "Trapeze","Ruby Starr", "Van Wilks", and many more. Sometime around 85' while in the process of replacing drummers yet again, the band became involved in a legal fight over the use of its name from a California based group. In exchange for a large cash settlement from the LA group, the band changed its name to HOT CHEXX and added drummer Dan Dreeban to the lineup along with an overhaul of it's song list. See the listing for HOT CHEXX.

Renegade at the Sunken Gardens. L-R: Mike Lowell -gtr / Scott Gerard - Drums / Frank Longobardi - Voc / Steve Gott -Bass / Cid Vargas - Keys

Poster art from Renegade mid lineup period. L-R: Frank Longobardi / Mike O'Brian / Lee Adams / Mike Lowell / Cid Vargas

Renegade mid period lineup. L-R: Mike Lowell / Cid Vargas / Frank Longobardi / Lee Adams / Mike O'Brian

Renegade mid period lineup. Clockwise from Top: Mike O'Brien / Cid Vargas / Frank Longobardi / Mike Lowell / Lee Adams

Renegade 1st lineup. L-R: John Hogan / Mike Lowell / Mark Yamaguiche / Frank Longobardi / Pete Rangel

Renegade Final lineup. L-R: Cid Vargas / Steve Gott / Mike Lowell / Frank Longobardi / Scott Gerard

 

Mike Lowell writes: At one time in the 70's there was once a verison of a band with the same name that did country and folk.

(Contributed by Larry Hall) Larry writes: "I don't know if you remember me or not, but I was in the previous Renegade. It was myself, Frank Longobardi, Mark Yamaguchi, Mike Kelly, and Stanley Singleton. We never really got it going. We played a few gigs here and there until Mike Kelly, the lead guitar player, got married and moved out of town and I split for Houston."

(Contributed by Geoffrey R. Lupton)- Click HERE to read an in depth description of the previous Renegade band from 79'.

(Contributed by Scott Gerard) SG writes: "I remember playing a gig at "Scratch" nightclub on Fredericksburg Rd with Renegade and some big shots from L.A stated to us that we couldn't use the name anymore due to there was a band called Renegade out of LA that just got signed. Well that's when "Hot Chexx" came to be and the rest is history."

Contributed by Michael Lowell