The Plagues (2)

Lansing, Michigan garage rock group active in the mid-1960s. Bio by Rich Tupica, Lansing City Pulse Bill Malone, lead singer and bassist for The Plagues (1964-1967), said the Plagues spent almost every weekend touring across the state, putting on its best “mini-Beatles concert.” “We were basically a Beatles band to start with,” Malone said. “We did all Beatles tunes. Then we started branching out. We also liked the Byrds and the Animals. It wasn’t long after our first show at Everett High School that we played Waverly Junior High School — we nearly started a riot,” Malone recalled. “It was like something out of ‘Hard Day’s Night.’ We had a big local following; there were about 300 kids in our fan club.” The Plagues, which also consisted of Van Decker (lead guitar), Phil Nobach (drums) and James Hosley (rhythm guitar), could fly through a set of Beatles covers and other Top 40 hits like “Louie, Louie,” “Hang on Sloopy” and “Mr. Tambourine Man.” The band’s original tune, “Through This World,” charted locally on WILS, then a popular AM pop station in Lansing. The band also opened a Lansing show for the Young Rascals. “We were very energetic and enthusiastic,” Malone said. “We were funny and goofy on stage. We’d rock it out like teeny-bop rockers. We’d put on a show. Our story is very much like the movie ‘That Thing You Do!’ I laugh every time I see it.” Hosley, the band’s rhythm guitarist, said shows often drew 75 to 200 teens, who would be seen coming and going throughout the night. “They couldn’t have alcohol in the club, but some would drink before they got there,” Hosley said. “People would stop in, hang out for awhile, and then they’d find a party and leave. They’d come and go — a group of people would leave, then more would show up — it seemed like it was rotating all night.” After the Plagues broke up in 1966, Malone briefly fronted another Lansing garage band, the Frightened Trees. He then permanently relocated to California in April 1967. Malone began a job at Don Post Studios where he molded masks for films, including the Michael Myers mask for the classic 1978 film “Halloween.” He later became a director, with a resume that includes the 1999 remake of “House on Haunted Hill.” The other Plagues stayed in Lansing. Decker, Nobach and Hosley began working to reform a band in the fall of 1966. With the addition of Scott Durbin and, later, Steve Allen, the band became the Plain Brown Wrapper. Decker said Plain Brown Wrapper, which broke up in 1974, was more experimental than the Plagues. “The Wrapper was influenced by American groups like the Beach Boys, Motown and some jazz artists.” Decker said. “(The sound) had a lot to do with Scott Durbin, who was an experienced jazz musician. Scott's trumpet playing and piano talents made it possible to explore a much wider variety of styles, which carried over into our original material.” Before breaking up, the Plagues recorded three singles, one of which is the catchy and fuzzy garage rocker “I’ve Been Through It Before.” It’s now highly collectible and has sold for over $700 on eBay. Today, by chance, Malone, Decker and Hosley all live in California.