The original Crawdaddys lineup formed in 1978, inspired by British rhythm-and-blues groups of the early 1960s, such as the Pretty Things and Rolling Stones. The original lineup included singer Ron Silva, bassist Mark Zadarnowski, guitarist Steve Potterf, and drummer Dan McLain. Potterf and Silva were both in the similar garage band the Hitmakers.
The quartet signed to Voxx records in 1979, releasing an album the following year and a 45 and EP in 1980. Having played together for awhile, they even played on albums by others, including Spooky Tooth, though the group fractured with various Silva-fronted lineups taking the band through 1984.
Potterf left the group after recording the first Crawdaddys LP, leaving Silva as head Crawdad. Unfortunately, the group's sound took a slight dive in aggression level as a result. Later lineups included guitarist Peter Miesner, keyboard player Keith Fisher, and drummer Gordon Moss.
The Crawdaddys started their recording career properly, releasing a record with nothing but '60s R&B, British Invasion, and blues standards (in addition to two original compositions). The Crawdaddys offer a precise account of 1960s R&B with appropriate versions of John Lee
McLain, later known as Country “Dick” Montana, passed away in 1995 while on tour with the Beat Farmers. Potterf apparently stopped making music.
Many early Crawdaddys recordings were mastered by Stan Ross, who mastered "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" for Iron Butterfly and worked with Phil Spector.
The band reunited in 2011 for a pair of shows: June 10, headlining the sixth annual “Go Sinner Go” festival in Spain, and again on September 2 at the Casbah. Memorial Day weekend was spent shooting at the Rhino Pop Up Store with filmmaker Eric Rife, in preparation for their September reunion show.
The 2011 Crawdaddys featured Silva and Zadarnowski alongside members from slightly later lineups — guitarist Peter Miesner, keyboard player Keith Fisher, and drummer Gordon Moss. The last time Zadarnowski, a South Park resident, and Silva, who currently resides in Los Angeles, had performed together was in 1993, at the now-defunct venue Bodie’s downtown.
Though Sinner has brought numerous American bands to Spain for his events, he was particularly excited to score the Crawdaddys. “They’re one of my favorite bands. I’ve always wanted to bring them here. After three years of talking, we got it,” he said, and explaining Spain’s continued fascination with San Diego’s ’60s-influenced bands. “This is real music, from the gut...I’m sure that even after another 50 years, Crawdaddy Express will still be considered a fantastic record by young R&B fans.”
Zadarnowski didn’t find it unusual that his band’s reunion had been set in motion by music fans in Spain. “The Spaniards are certainly receptive to all the old San Diego stuff. Probably even more so than San Diego,” he joked.
“We’ve rehearsed a handful of times,” said Silva. “It’s just like the old days, except we’re all a little bit fatter.”
Another reunion performance was staged October 21, 2016 at the Casbah.
TRACKS
01. I'm A Lover Not A Fighter
02. You Can't Judge A Book By Looking At The Cover
03. Down The Road Apiece
04. Let's Make It
05. Rainin' In My Heart
06. I'm Movin' On
07. Mystic Eyes
08. Oh Baby Doll
09. Bald Headed Woman
10. Come See Me
11. Got You In My Soul
12. Times Are Getting Tougher Than Tough
13. Down In The Bottom
14. Crawdaddy Express
15. I Wanna Put A Tiger In Your Tank
16. There she goes
17. Why don't you smile now
18. Pretty face
19. Lolette
20. I can neverr tell
21. I'm gonna leave you
22. I'm dissatisfied
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