Legend has it that a dark and mysterious creature wanders Athens' streets. You're likely to find him sucking on a margarita around dinnertime at any one of our many local Mexican restaurants, or he sometimes can be seen guarding the door at a particularly dim downtown dive.But if you're lucky you just might catch him in his prime, microphone in hand singing and dancing karaoke-style on stage and among the audience at any one of Athens' crowded clubs.He's a furry and fun-loving monster whose primary diet consists of outdated music, low-budget monster movies and creepy comic books. Athens is his natural habitat -- he's roamed these parts since he was just a wee monkey -- but as of late he's taken to migrating on his mission of bringing '70s and early '80s-era disco, hair metal, party tunes and R&B ballads to the masses everywhere.We're talking about the 8-Track Gorilla, and anyone who has seen his act can tell you about the weird warm fuzzies he can instill in even the most cantankerous music critic. Truly a child of the '70s, the 8-Track Gorilla grew up the youngest of five right here in Athens.''I had older brothers and sisters who would take me to concerts at the Omni and the Fox Theatre,'' says the Gorilla who, over the years, has witnessed live performances by The Cars, The Knack, Peter Frampton, KISS, The Talking Heads and many more.''That's what I would live for is going to see live shows. If there was a band coming that I wanted to see, I would buy their record and learn all the songs ahead of time to be prepared for the concert.''An unexpected injury delayed his official coming-out during AthFest '98, but it wasn't long before the 8-Track Gorilla became a favorite opening act for many local bands. Within the first few months of his existence he had graced the stages of the Lunch Paper, Tasty World, the Georgia Theatre and the 40 Watt Club. Earlier this year, the Gorilla released a split single record ''Wild and Peaceful'' with a song by rising instrumental indie-popsters Japancakes on the B side. He's traveled with Elephant 6 stars such as The Olivia Tremor Control and The Music Tapes, bringing his act to stages, house parties and backyard bashes across America.The 8-Track Gorilla has practically become the patron saint of AthFest. During '99's festivities he performed on a different stage nearly every night. This year's festival saw the Gorilla hosting the EyeBall Music Video Showcase for the second year in a row and bringing his act to the streets during an outdoor stage performance Friday night. His song even appears on the AthFest 2000 compilation CD and a brand-new Gorilla tune appears on the forthcoming compilation CD of Athens pop bands scheduled to be issued by Contact Record out of Osaka, Japan.As 2001 approaches, the Gorilla forges into the new millennium with big plans for the future and hopes to touch the little people out there.''I can see myself concentrating more on original music and doing some kids' shows, I really enjoy doing all-ages shows,'' he says.The Gorilla loves children and children love the Gorilla. Aside from his club performances, he's been known to perform at weddings and the occasional kiddie birthday party. ''Perhaps I can make it educational in some way,'' he says.The 8-Track Gorilla is a creature that could only have been born in Athens. With the town's overload of music, lust for a good time and unconditional acceptance of many a strange character, Athens is a most appropriate home for a guy in a monkey suit with a talent for leading off-key sing-alongs to forgotten radio hits of days gone by.Sociological analysis can peg him as a postmodern icon, a creature that simultaneously celebrates and makes fun of pop culture's more strange and embarrassing moments. But to the man behind the mask, the 8-Track Gorilla's success equals the fulfillment of his childhood dreams.''It's not only living out a childhood fantasy, but also a rock 'n' roll fantasy that has continued since my adolescence,'' he says.by Miss Link
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