Strait Jackets
Encyclopedia
The Strait Jackets were an American
rock band
, often regarded as the first original punk rock
group to emerge out of Tampa
, Florida
, in the 1970s.
The Strait Jackets initially consisted of three members: Robert "Bobby" Woodrich on vocals and bass guitar, Lester Esser on guitar and vocals, and Allen Esser on drums. The band later added a second guitarist, Darren Rademaker. Playing places like the Buffalo Roadhouse, Ms. Lucky's, a biker club called My Back Yard, the Tampa Theatre
and other venues, the Strait Jackets were most likely the first punk band in the Tampa area to perform original material. Zenith Nadir, an early punk cover band, were a certain inspiration to the burgeoning punk scene in Tampa, but more importantly they became the inspiration for Woodrich and Esser to form a band who wrote their own songs and, in 1978, this became the Strait Jackets. The band also appeared on occasion on the Pam Wiener and John Dubrule punk radio show on WMNF
. The band lasted three years, breaking up in the middle of the recording of their first album in 1980. The band was documented onstage and offstage by Craig Snyder
, who had also designed the cover for their debut album which was never to be. Each band member went their own way in the new post-punk
era forming new groups.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
, often regarded as the first original punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group to emerge out of Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, in the 1970s.
The Strait Jackets initially consisted of three members: Robert "Bobby" Woodrich on vocals and bass guitar, Lester Esser on guitar and vocals, and Allen Esser on drums. The band later added a second guitarist, Darren Rademaker. Playing places like the Buffalo Roadhouse, Ms. Lucky's, a biker club called My Back Yard, the Tampa Theatre
Tampa Theatre
The Tampa Theatre and Office Building is a historic U.S. theater and city landmark in the Uptown District of downtown Tampa, Florida. On January 3, 1978, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places....
and other venues, the Strait Jackets were most likely the first punk band in the Tampa area to perform original material. Zenith Nadir, an early punk cover band, were a certain inspiration to the burgeoning punk scene in Tampa, but more importantly they became the inspiration for Woodrich and Esser to form a band who wrote their own songs and, in 1978, this became the Strait Jackets. The band also appeared on occasion on the Pam Wiener and John Dubrule punk radio show on WMNF
WMNF
WMNF is a non-commercial, community radio station operating in the city of Tampa in the U.S. state of Florida that broadcasts at the FM frequency of 88.5 MHz and streaming live...
. The band lasted three years, breaking up in the middle of the recording of their first album in 1980. The band was documented onstage and offstage by Craig Snyder
Craig Snyder
Craig Snyder is an American poet, writer and photographer. He is also a historian of skateboard culture.-Life and career:Born and raised in South Florida, Snyder would become a witness to the skateboard revolution which took place during the 1970s...
, who had also designed the cover for their debut album which was never to be. Each band member went their own way in the new post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
era forming new groups.