Psycho Capones

A Chicago band that was in existence in the early 1980s, Psycho Capones played at a number of the clubs of that time (COD, Misfits, Space Place) as well as opening for Bo Diddley at Mandel Hall (in May 1981). Nothing was ever released, but some songs were recorded in the studio (Soto Sound) or live (most notably the Bo Diddley show). At shows, the band dressed up as gangsters and played a sort of Television meets the Velvets phase shifter rock. The material was written primarily by Scott Benson, with a few songs from Don Hedeker. A couple of covers (Femme Fatale, Guts) were also played at shows, revealing the velvet influence. Perhaps what was remembered most about the band was the hearse that they used to lug equipment around in. Bassist Frank Riccardi spray painted it purple and displayed the band's machine-gun logo in its window. It was something else!