The SoulBenders "Hey Joe" (1967) Michigan Garage Rock

Michigan 60's Garage Rock
(Postscript, 10/2016): To quell the number of comments / questions (which I have since removed) regarding 'Chester Powers' listed as composer of this track, here's the story: Chester Powers, Billy Roberts, Dino Valente and others have claimed to have written this track for nearly a half a century. Truth is, it will never be settled since many have since passed away. The reason I put 'Chester Powers' on our record as composer of this track was because that was the name on the copyright notice we received from Third Story Music in New York (the publisher) back in 1967 when we requested rights to press this single. If there's still any debate as to who 'really' wrote this song (some older folks back in the 60's told me they remember this being a folk song in the 30's and 40's) then I suggest you challenge Third Story Music Inc., if they are even still around.
I stand by my choice to put Chester Powers on the label. The publisher requested it.
Thanks!
-Aris (founder, lead singer and keyboardist with The SoulBenders)

[@heymul25]

These home movies: so evocative of a vanished world, when I was 12, and cool guys like this were shooting for the stars, and doing themselves proud.

[@catherineladd5300]

Yes, I was transported back in time watching those movies of the band members. You could just feel the energy of those times.

[@heymul25]

@@catherineladd5300 absolutely!

[@catherineladd5300]

@@heymul25 Makes me feel wistful.

[@heymul25]

@@catherineladd5300 so very, very.

[@LarryNeie-lj7zc]

I''m 72 years old and hearing this version of hey Joe for the first time. Love it. The Leaves and Love also do a killller cover of this. Also Deep Purple.

[@mrlucky4769]

R.I.P. Aris Hampers .. Feb 2023. He lived our 60's life.

[@pgh45rpms]

Aris Hampers May 5, 1949 -- Feb 5 2023

[@boblittle2529]

This cool on so many levels. The connection to Michigan, the WONDERFULLY dated audio recording (I love it), the cool, low-tech home movies, the direct connection to one of my top 3 most listened to radio stations, that Vox organ (which looks like the same kind that's on the cover of Dave Clark Five's "Coast To Coast" album) and the chance to time travel to back to being 10 years old again for 4 minutes and 24 seconds.

[@briangannaway2876]

Wow! What a sensational version of this much recorded song. Even as a Hendrix fan and a fan of Billy's version, I've got to acknowledge this is one hell of an enjoyable listen.

[@ShapelyDice]

This has officially moved up on my list of the best "Hey Joes" out there, and it's right near the top!

[@maximuskhan2100]

I'm with you on that. I have it at the very top.

[@craigusselman546]

1.Jimi 2 Billys 3 these guys love this jangly 60s goodness.

[@jamesaron1967]

@@craigusselman546 The Leaves' version should be in the top three, IMO.

[@dthebassman7999]

This is GREAT!!!!! I was in a basement, next to the garage, band from 67 through 69. We played at the after game dances in high school. I played guitar and keyboards. I had a Vox Jaguar organ.........................Cool Beans.

[@kirkharrington2821]

Wow what a cover of hey Joe they really blows my mind away amazing sounds of The soulbenders

[@user-fo1lc8bm1y]

Sublime & simply Brilliant...his voice is something else!!

[@kymkym6875]

Kym from Australia love this song it is the best

[@neddobrijevic3183]

🤣🤣👈🫵

[@rdyfhi]

They nailed that....Very good...

[@dr.jamesolack8504]

All around super rockin song.....and always will be!!!

[@mariogrechi1840]

I had no clue there were so many versions of this incredible song...

[@philmann3476]

Rumor has it, Jesus himself recorded the first version.

[@hmarkn]

Ah, the memories.... We had some real musical talent here in West MI. Wish Michael B. would have realized his talent. He could have gone a long way. Still miss ya Mike and bro Daniel.... Rock On!!!!!! Thanks Aris, for the look back.

[@sonyakereopa1413]

So sad, that some musos never knew how incredible they were, or what could've been..

[@petejones879]

What part of the midlands were they from?

[@rexxcarz]

Aris - I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Hey Joe again for the first time since 1968 at our high school. I was heavily involved in everything music there and always admired you and the Soul Benders. You were 3 years ahead of me, so I didn't dare talk to you; thats the way it was then. I graduated with Pete's brother Brian, and he and I cut a record with the schools Jazz Ensemble when we were seniors. I remember Pete's awesome white Camaro! He'd pull wheelstands in front of the school.

[@swittle]

Some many versions to enjoy! It seems almost a rite of passage for many 60s bands to record this tune. The change in tempo here gives it an enjoyable twist.

[@Richard-pe4cx]

great version and a window to the roller coaster life of this band playing in and competing in the rock challenge

[@Iambigdaa]

I have no problem liking this great slice of nostalgia very much! I was 11 in 67. Great era to be from😁😉

[@409headquarters]

This is a GREAT version of this song! Love it!

[@PinkyJujubean]

RIP Aris. You'll be missed 😓😓😓

[@geofbrit59]

Oh! to be a teenager in the 60s and in a band (but there was that pesky draft). This a great video, and a great version of Hey Joe.

[@donaldelley2802]

Great version, up with the very best

[@kwikslvr73]

grew up with this song....by far the best version!!!

[@Classof67]

OMG, amazing rendition of Hey Joe. Such a classic garage band sound as well. I can't believe that this is the first time I have heard this and being 60, I remember 60's groups playing this. Awesome!

[@Andrelix67]

I was born in '67... Love the music from that period, particularly Hey Joe... This version is sensational! Your organ playing is so cool! Thank you for posting!

[@RetroJoe66]

WOW! UNREAL! My mind just blew out of my head! In addition to the unique blend of fast and slow Hey Joe, you have home film footage of the group! Incredible! What a great piece of garage rock history!

[@huskyjerk]

The ending is spectacular !!!

[@paulschut5873]

Wow! Great memories from the 60's and my hometown. I saw the Soul Benders at a Battle of the Bands in '66 or '67 at Grand Rapids Christian High School. They brought the house down with "Hey Joe". The Pedestrians were the only other band I can remember being there. Aris, if I remember correctly you went on to become a popular late night DJ on WLAV when FM radio started to take off in the early '70's

[@ArisDisc]

Hi Paul: Yep, Ed Buchanan (who passed away last October) and I gave birth to the WLAV FM Rock format in 1973. I decided to make it my career and lasted 37 years on the air before finally retiring in 2011. I Ioved every minute of it. Thanks so much for sharing your kind words and memories of our 'Golden Days' back in the 60's here in Grand Rapids Michigan. Those were good times!

[@jamesaron1967]

Excellent version with haunting vocals and alternating tempo. It might even supplant my favorite version of this song by The Leaves, and that's saying a lot!

[@ArisDisc]

We actually were doing this exact version live at shows, 'before' Jimi's version was released here in the States. I had never heard it when we created our take on this tune. :)

[@divarachelenvy]

fantastic rendering of this classic tune, thank you...

[@qg3726]

This was QUITE the GEM from of course another Michigan Rockin Band.... Have to admit never heard of this Band... Was a trip to see Home Video as well & putting it into this DEFINITELY gave it that "local feel"..

[@electricfetus100]

You had a mosrite guitar ?

[@panthercombo9647]

love this version and being a combo organ player for 50 years love that transistor organ

[@dynjarren8355]

Another good version of Hey Joe. It’s like every Sixties band had to play Hey Joe, Gloria and Wild Thing in their set.

[@hammstring1695]

SO GREAT !!

[@huskyjerk]

The ending is sensational. It brings chills.

[@ShapelyDice]

Let me correct my last comment. This isn't just near the top of my list of "Hey Joes," it IS the top! Best one I've ever heard.

[@primetime591]

Mine too!!

[@jrsn2cars]

Of all the versions of Hey Joe I've ever heard, this is still my favorite. I'm glad that I had the chance to tell you in person at your shop. Thanks for posting this gem Aris! John

[@catherinek6091]

Stumbled on this fabulous link while reading a memory stirring story about The Place. What a double treat!!!! As a GR teen in the 60s, this song was a favorite. Who could forget that Battle of the Bands or The Place, watching this song played LIVE -- gosh, those were the days and we were so lucky to have experienced them first hand. Too many wonderful memories are attached to this song and that era to write them here. THANK YOU for posting this, the memories and this era defining classic.

[@edfeltch]

Catherine K I really appreciate your stirring memories.

[@will2741]

woah! what a version

[@eccentricrockers]

Coolest thing I’ve ever seen!

[@johnathonmontie2234]

Check out Group Therepy’s cover of this tune. Absolutely incredible 👍

[@pogolswood]

Great version. Thanks for uploading.

[@jonathanmitchell9886]

Great version! You guys were tight.

[@1Phoebus]

Next to "Twist and Shout" and "Gloria"...this was a staple of many of 60's bands...including mine in Socal...brings back alot of memoires...thx guys...Gerry (of the "BLoomin' Flowers")

[@ThePaleGuy01]

What a killer version!

[@colamoonpig]

Great group and great video ! :o)

[@rufuskran]

Great job on the upload and video. Just love the so many versions of this from the 60's. So glad I'm a child there of!!

[@dmkdm3343]

Oct 14 1967 Let's get back there and do it again

[@DUSTYBASS]

To be 13 again in 1967.....I'M THERE.

[@swittle]

A super take on this 'murder ballad' - shifts in tempo, changes of mood and that insistent keyboard!

[@arturoliveira278]

A eterna "Hey Joe" é boa mesmo adoro. Arthur - BRASIL

[@belych]

Это абсолютно прекрасно и бесподобно! Спасибо!

[@A1MaxJones]

Aris Hampers was a DJ in the early 70's on a Grand Rapids fm station. I listened often from Kalamazoo. Your show was great. Where did you ever come up with Phlegathon for a band name? Did you ever know Candlemass Eve? Whatever became of "Brother John" from the same station you were at? Thanks for the tunes. I see why you made #5 nationally. 7+7 is remains a little known gem. I can still hear that bluesy fade on the original that brought it all back home. Best to ya!

[@edtruitt5803]

Would you be refering to Candlemass Eve that used to play at the Back Door in Kalamazoo? They were a great band, a few years after they broke up one of their guitar players lived a couple doors down from me in an apartment on Hutchinson st. Okay guy. This was a great version of Hey Joe too, although I've never heard a version I didn't like.

[@Lee---]

Wanted to comment that I truly enjoyed the music and especially the memorabilia and home movie clips...sad to discover that Mr. Aris Hampers passed in February 2023.

[@calebfuller4713]

Great version! Thanks. As a historical note, according to the almightly Google, "Chester Powers" IS "Dino Valente", or rather, "Dino Valente" was a stage name... Niela Miller claims Billy Roberts copied the track from her, just changed the protagonist in the lyrics a bit.

[@Huskrrrr]

Great cover! My humble garage band did this tune in 1969. One of the best GB tunes.

[@ArisDisc]

Very nice comment, thanks! I say: "run with it"! Guys your age are the future of rock n roll.

[@Betamaster64]

I purchased the Michigan Tapes CD back in 2012, listened to it, and liked it. But I didn't really listen to it much after that. Since I started college two weeks ago, I decided to pull out the CD again and give it a listen, and I don't know what was wrong with me back then, but NOW I think these are some of the best dang tracks I've ever heard. I can't stop listening to the unfinished suite! I misplaced the bonus tracks CD, but I know it's around somewhere... Great work with the whole CD!

[@ArisDisc]

Always love compliments Betamaster64, thank you! Shoot me an email at ------------- and I'll send you a link to download the bonus cd tracks on mp3. (You 'can' easily live without them, but since you paid for them, you should have them nearby. :) And good luck in college! -Aris

[@Betamaster64]

I appreciate the response and kind words! I remember some highlights from that bonus disc (including, but certainly not limited to the early version of "Mountain of Dreams") back from when I listened to it in 2012. I'd look for it, but I won't be home for a while, so I will send you an email momentarily! Thank you!

[@smokeemonkee]

Cool version of "Hey Joe" and cool memorabilia and film footage. Thanks for sharing!

[@russcohen3779]

Wo love love love love love love ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@achillebrunet6023]

Awesome footage! You guys were having great fun!

[@randallhoole4208]

thanks for sharing; i first heard the Leaves version ,and sang in HS in, get this, The Edges of Wisdom! Once i heard Hendrix version, well all bets were off and his iteration had to be considered in every performance thereafter. Ha-ha thanks for the memory

[@ArisDisc]

Phlegethon was one of the 5 rivers of Hell. Glad we didn't pick 'Styx. Didn't know Candlemass Eve. Brother John was a syndicated show out of New York. Appreciate your compliments!

[@dirktenhaaf100]

......................... Aris Hampers - the keyboard guy, passed away Feb 5, 2023 ......... His band had several hits that stayed number one in the Grand Rapids area .................... Sad ...................... I remember his deep voice over the air waves of Grand Rapids WLAV AM and FM ..........

[@paulschut5873]

RIP Aris Hampers. He passed away on 2/6/23 at the age of 73. Aris was a member of the Soul Benders and later a very popular DJ and program director at WLAV in Grand Rapids, MI.

[@russcohen3779]

Love love love

[@MrBulletpoints]

Very cool & nice video...

[@mattskustomkreations]

Great stuff! I love seeing the local charts, shows the people of the city were really behind you! Either that or you and your buddies forced your friends and families to call the radio station! 😅Viewers interested in this era / music should check out the movie “That Thing You Do”.

[@Thomas-qg5iz]

Hey Aris, I hope you are doing well considering what you’ve been through. This is the best version of Hey Joe I have ever heard. I’m a young musician (drums, bass, keys, harmonica & guitar) about the same age as you guys in this video😂 and lemme tell you this is the stuff that inspires me. Is everyone from the band still alive and well? The intro is hauntingly beautiful, the cool tempo change and that spectacular outro!.. cool stuff man!

[@ArisDisc]

HI Thomas: 3 of us are still here - I'm still hanging on by a thread, while, I believe Dick (lead guitarist) is still well in California and Pete (bass) is back home here in Grand Rapids. Jeff (guitar) passed on in 2007 and I just found out a few days ago that Steve (drums) left us in 2018. Your comments are wonderful to read in the Winter of my life and I appreciate them deeply. It's exciting to be young and have those 'inspirational' feelings - I miss those things. Making these videos decades ago with very limited software was tedious, but the rewards have been plentiful. So glad I spent so many days making them. Stick with your dreams! Make them a reality! Thanks again for your kind words.

[@makeit7579]

this achieves total heavyosity

[@ArisDisc]

Thanks for the kind comment! -Aris

[@username_rels794]

Hi Aris, before starting, I want to thank you for the music you played, there is really something special in it, I listened to a lot of garage bands, but yours hooked me the most, although I am not familiar with you and your comrades , but I think that you were cool, kind and funny dudes, I would love to make friends with you, your music means a lot to me, it really is, you are one of my favorite bands that I heard, your lyrics are very soulful, and in them it is felt that you have put a part of yourself in them, your music is damn cool, I wish you health, strength and love. P.S: Could you сall the names of members on 1:49? Tanx!!!

[@wrxified]

Aris died in 2019

[@ArisDisc]

@ShapelyDice Really appreciate your kind words! Thanks so much!!

[@philiphoward1731]

This is a really good version of the song I also like the version by the Crying shame is from Chicago Illinois also the one by the leaves from Los Angeles

[@ArisDisc]

@Sixtiesism Sorry for the slow response, I missed your comment. The organ on this track is 'indeed' a Vox. The exact one that's in the movie footage! Thanks so much for your comment...and for the airplay in the Netherlands! -aris

[@ArisDisc]

I am. Thank u very much!

[@liampjm1]

Great take on the Billy Roberts song.Deep Purple's version is my favourite!!

[@willminkorea2010]

Great version

[@ArisDisc]

@nomiclas Not quite...my dad was in the 'juke box' business, so I was surrounded by records by the early 1950's. I 'do' have a huge record collection, but most of the discs were obtained from doing 37 years of Rock radio. Radio stations get copies of almost everything that gets released.

[@paulmanero6448]

I was in the 'Juke Box" business also back in Kankakee, IL. I amassed a huge collection of 45s. I was referred to as "Record Guy." I would order 300 to 400 45s every other week from "Singer One Stop for Ops" in Chicago to stock the many Juke Boxes we had on the route. Records back then were I believe 79 cents a piece for Operators. It was a fun job. I think I ended up with over 10,000 45s before I left. I still have some of them from back then but when I departed IL, I gave most of them away. .

[@jeffl2647]

Great Clips and cool memorabilia too.

[@ArisDisc]

@Andrelix67 Thanks so much for your very kind compliment. I was 'not' aware on the fuzz pedal - we had nothing to do with it, but I won't tell if you won't! Thanks again.

[@voiceguy3635]

The epitomy of music in all its glorious layers of psychedlia.If you notice,the Pedestrians were #2 with another classic--"Think Twice"--at the same time.I'm a huge fan of this version of "Joe"--easily one of my top 5 favorite records ever. I'm in Grand Rapids btw.

[@Zopf-international]

That first drumming video segment surely must be 'Seven and Seven is. '

[@13loomisst]

Good job. Thanks very much.

[@realzok]

Actually,no slight to Hendrix,my favorite version of this standard.

[@crazypainter56]

Dig that organ -----and the Vox Beatle amplifiers

[@riorio5052]

How really CUTE and good they were

[@etpetp]

Ah the good old days.Wish I had a time machine with a one way ticket.

[@ThePaleGuy01]

You're right! Today's music is just lame compared to this incredible and powerful stuff!

[@letteringkwok9889]

They are good.

[@billylittleton3395]

GREAT

[@Sixtiesism]

@ArisDisc No problem, thank you for your great music!!

[@altonmolnar7134]

Very Michigan sound

[@dennymcfastlane8530]

Listen to Niela Miller's..."Baby Please Don't Go To Town''. Billy Roberts lived with Niela and basically ripped her off when he changed Miller's tune around a bit, and called it "Hey Joe''.

[@jdwfenton]

Aris, i owned a copy of this disc and the follow up single also. Bought the Michigan Tapes cd's back in the 90's and thought they were well done considering the technology back in the 60's. The liner notes from the booklet has a wealth of info that many of us never knew. I remember seeing an acetate of a recording by the Soulbenders at a record show in GR.. Can't remember the title, but it may have been " House of the Rising Sun " or " Get out my Life Woman ". The guy who had the disc was a guy named Bob who once owned the record shop in East Grand Rapids. ( Sinfonia Records ?? ")

[@ArisDisc]

That would be Bob Snell and yes he owned Sinfonia where Olive's restaurant is now in EGR. He's no longer with us, but was a good guy - we were good friends in those days, lost contact over the years, but re-connected a few times shortly before he passed on. It had to be a copy of 'Get Out Of My Life' and I probably gave it to him, although I don't recall doing that or even having one. It was a possible 3rd single but we broke up before that happened. We never laid down 'Rising Sun' in a studio.

[@jdwfenton]

@@ArisDisc Any chance that you might recall a local band called Zebec ? Believe they were local and they sounded a lot like " Yes "

[@gerardcousineau3200]

First time I heard this version

[@ArisDisc]

@A1MaxJones No current bands like that here in GR. And regarding 'Podo', that didn't happen either, since I've never heard the term. (I was 17-18 back then, so I'm sure I 'would' have). Interesting comment, thanks.

[@eoj2495]

Like the tempo change up at 2:00 !!!

[@jamesha175]

well that was awesome! kudos.

[@marquisor]

great great great!!!!!!!! 1:54

[@ArisDisc]

@rocknrolsen This one right here: The Soul Benders

[@calebfuller4713]

I've got a question for Aris, one keyboard player to another, if he ever reads this - what sort of portable keyboards were you playing back in the 60s? Obviously these are very different machines to the modern synthesizer keyboard that became popular in the late 70s/early 80s like the Mini-Moog and like.

[@ArisDisc]

HI Caleb! Sorry for the delay on this response. There were very few options for good keyboards in the late 60's - they didn't get sophisticated until the mid-70's (I had already started doing radio by then and our bands dissolved). My first keyboard was a Hohner which you can see at 0:34 and 0:45 on this Hey Joe video. I believe that the Farfisa's were just starting to show up, but Vox keyboards were nowhere to be found locally. At least not here on the West side of Michigan. I hated the way Farfisa's sounded so I bought the Hohner instead. Eventually when the Vox keyboards started to arrive, I bought a Vox Jaguar which I played for about 2 years and then graduated to the Vox Continental Baroque which had a few different cool sounds (including a harpsichord which we used extensively in a few of our songs). I always wanted a Hammond B-3 but they were $3000 and in 1968 that was a TON of money. For the last 6 months of my band Phlegethon (which the SoulBenders morphed into) I switched to a Wurlitzer electric piano til we finally disbanded in 1971 when I quit playing live music and started my career in radio. -Aris

[@calebfuller4713]

@@ArisDisc Thanks for the answer. I see the Hohner - I only ever knew them as the "harmonica" company. I guess they were eventually outcompeted in the keyboard market by the Moogs, Nords, Korgs and Yamahas... It certainly has that classic 60s electronic organ sound though. Nice. Of course, nowdays any MIDI keyboard can plug into a laptop and give a virtually infinite variety of sounds via softsynths and other plug-ins. Interesting how much it's progressed over the last 50 years!

[@ArisDisc]

@@calebfuller4713 Just for clarification: the organ used on this "Hey Joe" track and the b-side flip "I Can't Believe in Love" is the Vox Jaguar. I traded the Hohner in before we went into the studio to do these tracks.

[@yesterdayproductions1019]

You need to listen to "The Leaves" version in 1966 that kicks the hell out of this version. The vocal on this version is too low in pitch & unexciting.