Windsor, Ontario in the mid 1980's wasn't the most ideal place or time in which to struggle as an original rock band. The venues were few and opportunities to be heard on a large scale even fewer. But out of this unlikely space and time came Lost Patrol. This was a group of musicians who's music both stretched the boundaries of musical genre, and anticipated by many years the modern garage rock movement. From the ashes of a Windsor punk group named Fireball XL5, Lost Patrol was assembled by mastermind and bass player Paul Langan. Guitar duties were entrusted to Windsor/Detroit punk rocker Dave Whitehead, who's snarling fretwork recalled Keith Richards, The Kinks, and Big Brother and the Holding Co. A young art student, Rob Mitchie supplied the relentless L.P. beat that drew as much from jazz as it did from 60's garage rock. Finally, and with an exclaimation point, the line up was complete when siren Karen Marrero was handed vocal duties. Her extraordinary range, quivering vibrato and unique soulful tone became the signature of an increasingly varied L.P. repertoire. The band paid their dues in many a beer-soaked watering hole in Windsor, Detroit, London, Toronto, Montreal and towns in between. Places like The Old Miami, The Vic, The Coronation, The Coach, Call The Office, The Subway, The Rivoli, amongst many others come to mind. More often than not, LP would headline a bill of mostly hardcore punk acts. Energetic and passionate live performances were a LP hallmark. They commanded many an unsuspecting audience's attention not only because of their riveting stage presence and talent, but because it was a sound that was utterly unique. On any given night, you might hear the pop punk original "That's your style", followed by a fierce blues cover like "Ball and Chain". In the roughly five years they were together, they also garnered international attention, selling 3,500 records in Europe without the aid of a tour and before the help of the internet or sites like this. A Lost Patrol Video, filmed on location in Windsor and Detroit, found it's way into rotation on Canada's MTV - Muchmusic. At a show at Toronto's Rivoli, they caught the attention of Bob Wiseman, then of the noted band Blue Rodeo, who later lent his signature organ sound to some of their tracks. A scorching live cover of the Seeds "Pushing to Hard" found its way into regular rotation on the then fledgling 89x FM station and stayed on the playlist long after the band had parted ways. There were local radio interviews. Muchmusic came to Windsor to videotape a live performance at the University of Windsor, which had become the band's home base. The band pressed a number of 45's, a full length LP and a few EPs. The tracks posted here are of varying mix quality as most of the body of work is on vinyl or cassette and limited to that which has been only recently converted. Their tracks also appeared on a variety of compilations. Around 1990, one such compilation they were invited to contribute to was a tribute to Bobby Fuller. With Karen's soaring, emotive vocal and Paul Langan's accompaniment on guitar, the Fuller cover; "New Shade of Blue", became a standout on the compilation. Sadly, it was also the last song L.P. ever recorded as a band. Before a European tour, before a major signing, the Windsor band that could had had enough. As those of you in the business know, timing is everything. Lost Patrol's brand of rock and roll was one that was clearly a decade or more ahead of its time. Perhaps there was some rock and roll intuition in them that made them decide they wouldn't wait. Lives and futures beckoned....................................................
..HOPES OF A REUNION SHOW ASIDE, THIS PAGE WAS CREATED AS A TRIBUTE TO THE TALENT, HARD WORK AND VISION OF FOUR LARGELY UNKNOWN MUSICIANS. AND FOR FANS OF LP, OLD AND NEW.
Lost Patrol - I'm Not the One
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Lost Patrol - Blow Me Away TV Broadcast
