back in 1982, rick hartig approached clay reed about getting together and playing some music. mr. hartig had seen mr. reed around mcguigan's speakeasy playing guitar in some forgettable combo or dancing wildly to local underground heroes, the beach monkees.
after an initial gig with another bassist, mr. hartig and mr. reed secured the services of beach monkees bassist roger aikin during the descent of that beloved band.
with just a few weeks of practice, congo rebellion made its debut at mcguigan's opening up for auburn, alabama's mr. resistor and the incapacitators. soon congo rebellion was headlining gigs at mcguigan's, the u.w.f. rathskellar, the handlebar and mobile alabama's doctor feelgood's and the unitarian church fellowship hall.
playing 2-4 sets a night of sweaty, feedback drenched songs, part covers and part originals, the band built up a small but very loyal following. the fun lasted for a few years with mr. hartig leaving the band in 1984.
mr. reed joined mr. aikin in the reunited beach monkees.
congo rebellion reunited for 2 shows in the summer of 1986 at the handlebar. the final show ended with a 20 some odd minute version of the velvet underground's sister ray (or was it heroin?) in a cheap radio shack strobe light freakout that culminated with mr. hartig kicking over and attacking a borrowed drum kit. in those years together, much sweat was sweat, hands bled, and many intoxicants were consumed while minds were blown by the feedback ridden guitar playing of mr. rockin clay reed.
