San Diego Reader

Skinny Bolan: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Jan Tonnesen: Guitar (electric), Vocals | Bill Keller: Percussion, Saxophone | Kenny Jiampa: Bass guitar, Vocals | Don Arnold: Drums

Genre: Rock

Upcoming Local Shows

No shows scheduled | Post a show |

Related Links

• "Strange Stage Stories" · April 21, 2013

Synoposis

Background:

The Contrasts were a San Diego-based teen garage band who, though their fuzz-guitar heyday was around the time of the rebellious Summer of Love, also found themselves playing for more conservative (and patriotic) audiences.

Guitarist/singer Jan Tonnesen recalls “In the mid-1960s, my band was playing a New Years Eve gig at a Naval enlisted men's club at Ream Field. The place was packed with sailors and their girlfriends. We were in the middle of our four hour show when a fight broke loose on the dance floor. There were several people involved. We stopped playing. Our singer, Skinny Bolan, began singing the National Anthem. After a few bars the fight ended and the audience stood at attention. Skinny sang it to the end. The fight did not resume.”

In 2011, Local Ugly Things Records released a CD compilation featuring the band, including unreleased demos.