The classic lineup of 1970s rockers Child featured singer Rick Reed with Thom Beebe (Circus) and Steve Jumel on guitars, drummer Eddie Cota, and Andy Greenberg on bass. They performed at venues such as Neutral Grounds on University Avenue, the Bacchanal in Clairemont, Mom’s Saloon in P.B., My Rich Uncle’s on El Cajon Boulevard, and the Roxy Theater in P.B.

In 2014, old music by Child and new tracks co-created by Reed were released by Orange County label FB5 Records. Reed, who by than time was 60 years old, told the Reader “We’re talking about doing a House of Blues tour” and that he, Beebe, Greenberg, and former Assassin drummer Leroy Vega have been rehearsing. “Just playing one show would be great...we sound pretty good.”

Beebe went on to the local metal band Assassin, who opened for headliners like Poison, Alcatrazz, Grim Reaper, Precious Metal, and local metalheads Riot.

Nowadays, Beebe describes his playing as “Hard rock/heavy blues now. When I was younger, I’d have to say I was more of a metal guitarist...in the late 1960s, there was pop rock, acid rock, and hard rock from bands such as Iron Butterfly, Hendrix, Blue Cheer, and Cream. Then it exploded with bands such as UFO, Judas Priest, Slayer, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and more. The heavy metal genre has since further multiplied within itself with thrash metal, speed metal, death metal, and many other sub-genres. There is a difference.”

In the 21st century, Beebe started a new group called Steampunk Willie, inspired by the growing steampunk art and music movement. “It’s the attire and the concept crossover, from the 1800s to space-time travel. It’s unique. That’s what inspired us to pursue the new group Steampunk Willy [Beebe and his wife PK are members], which is a play on [Disney’s first talkie cartoon] Steamboat Willy. But we’re doing a mix of songs from Child, Assassin, and Copperhead, plus brand new music. It’s a nod to steampunk, but this is not punk-inspired music. It’s still straight-up hard rock.”

Bassist Andy Greenberg went on to play with Commanche Moon. Short term guitarist Jake E. Lee went on to fame with Ozzy Osbourne and his solo band Red Dragon Cartel.