Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Dec 18 2008 06:44 PM
One of the cool surprises I get now and then from running this site is getting contacted by first wave musicians. I just got an email from Butch Rillera, who identifies himself as the original drummer for the Trademarks, and he played on the smoking hot track "Baha-ree-ba"!
Butch is looking for any info he can find on his old Trademarks bandmates. I'm not real sure we can help him with that as most people I've talked to have no idea who these guys were. But hopefully this post will bring some answers out of the woodwork.
In the meantime, Butch has graciously agreed to answer any questions we might have about the Trademarks, so please ask away in this thread. I'll act as his intermediary until we can twist his arm enough to sign up and post here. 
To show you how little is known about these guys, here is what John Blair has to say about the Trademarks in his 4th Edition of The Illustrated Discography of Surf Music:
Trademarks - Steve Rillera (guitar), Rick Rillera (bass), Larry Gillette (sax), Barry Rillera (sax), and Butch Rillera (drums). This band was from the Orange County area of Southern California.
Baha-Ree-Ba Pt 1 45FAN-91 Jubal 100
Baha-Ree-Ba Pt 2 45FAN-92 4/63
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Sonichris
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1892
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
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Posted on Dec 18 2008 07:27 PM
I think Butch Rillera is being far too modest in his accomplishments. If I have it right, he was in a band called the Rhythm Rockers ( not the later surf band) with his older brothers Rick and Barry who performed at Harmony Park Ballroom, and Butch might have been one of the guys that helped introduce the song "Louie Louie" or at least inspired it, to Richard Barry, who was singing with the Rhythm Rockers at the time. I don't know if he played drums then or not.
I believe he also sat in with Dick Dale on occasion, as his older brothers Barry and Rick played with D.D. too. The Rillera Bros. also brought Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield together.
He's also gone on to other far greater projects that I won't get into here.
I'd like to hear a story or two about those shows in the 60's, and what it was like. How long did the Trademarks last?
— "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"
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Moon_Dawg
Joined: Apr 22, 2006
Posts: 98
Fairfax, VA
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Posted on Dec 18 2008 08:53 PM
Is it true that the California Angels used "Baha-ree-ba" as a rallying cry one summer? Did the Trademarks have any connection with that?
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Dec 18 2008 09:34 PM
I would like to know how the song Bahareeba came about. If there were any stories behind it or recording it. What was the motivation for it? What a great track!
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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brandonio
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 885
Indianapolis, In
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Posted on Dec 19 2008 12:17 AM
Baha-ree-ba is in my top ten classic 60's surf instro list for sure.Now that you've mentioned it,I'm looking forward to hearing some history on this way underrated band too. 
— Reverb, It's A Way Of Life!
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Dec 19 2008 02:48 PM
I got a response from Butch:
Butch
The Trademarks were: myself, Garry Moulton (guitar & leader) John Miller (bass), Larry Gillette (sax and composer of "Bahareeba"), Doug ...?... on rhythm guitar and another sax player whose name I can't recall. My brothers Rick and Barry played bass and sax, respectively, for Dick Dale and the DelTones.
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Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Dec 19 2008 04:44 PM
So the other Rillera brothers were not in The Trademarks.
— The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11046
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Dec 19 2008 04:49 PM
I tell you, that Larry Gillette laid down some of the most smokin' sax that I ever heard in a surf song. The rest of the band is killer too.
— Danny Snyder
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Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Dec 19 2008 06:12 PM
The whole track smokes: the lead guitar, the rhythm guitar, the drumming, the sax!!!
So in case you don't have the single, where can people hear this? I think I first got it on CD from the Get A Board compilation on Satan Records.
Who else covers it? The Apemen and Laika & The Cosmonauts come to mind immediately.
I don't think I have ever heard part 2 however.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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Fuzzmeister
Joined: Jan 06, 2008
Posts: 163
Canberra, Australia
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Posted on Dec 19 2008 10:02 PM
Brian
Who else covers it? The Apemen and Laika & The Cosmonauts come to mind immediately.
The Nocturnes do a pretty good version on the "Rare Surf Vol 2 - The South Bay Bands" compilation
— http://www.reverbnation.com/spaceparty4
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Dec 19 2008 11:44 PM
 d'oh of course I forgot the obvious one. Thanks!
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25535
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Dec 20 2008 12:16 AM
yeah you beat me to it,
I think the Nocturnes cover smokes the original,
but thats just me,
I think that Jim Frias of the Nocturnes might know some of the Rillera bros.
I will call him and ask.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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spskins
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3755
tn
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Posted on Dec 20 2008 09:46 AM
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Dec 20 2008 11:09 AM
Personally I don't think the original can be beat. 
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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norcalhodad
Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 537
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Posted on Dec 20 2008 11:54 AM
Hypnotic IV covered it live and it sounded great.
—  > 
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 20 2008 02:14 PM
Brian
Personally I don't think the original can be beat.
I STRONGLY second that!!! One of the most perfect surf instrumentals of all time! Pure genius - and I really don't mean that lightly.
Welcome to SG101, Butch! We're very happy to have you here!
— Ivan
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Dec 20 2008 02:18 PM
Brian
I don't think I have ever heard part 2 however.
Part II was rereleased, on Surf Creature Vol. 3 LP (but not on the CD, sadly). It's just a slight variation on part I and it's not quite as good, I think.
Butch, what's the story behind the song being in 2 parts?
— Ivan
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HBkahuna
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1778
Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.
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Posted on Dec 20 2008 02:41 PM
The original version by The Trademarks works best for me. The other versions that have been mentioned are also enjoyable.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Dec 21 2008 01:11 AM
Just got another reply from Butch:
Butch
Bahareeba was written by our sax player, Larry Gillette. He had a "fake book" full of standards. He played "Fascination" backwards, and voila!...
Bahareeba!!
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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eltwang
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 540
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted on Dec 21 2008 08:44 AM
Is it possible to hear the original Trademarks verison somewhere online? We played a cover of that song for quite a while, but I'm actually not sure I've ever heard the original 
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