Before The Kids

(updated 12/5/11)


Check out these magazine blurbs that mention Johnny's early bands...
From Randi Reisfeld's 1989 Johnny Depp biography:
(scan thanks to Maggy)

before the kids

Johnny gives a brief recap of the bands in the January 24, 2008 Rolling Stone:

rolling stone before kids


Flame


Flame was formed sometime between 1976 - 1978, with a few 9th and 10th graders from the Miramar area. The lineup was:
  • Bernie Pflum - drums
  • Joe Quinones - bass
  • Johnny Depp - guitar
  • Yves Bouhadana - guitar
  • vocals - "nobody"

     They played only the easiest rock songs, instrumentals only- nobody sang.  They wore t-shirts with a flame on them.  They were said to only play one gig, at the St. Bartholomew's Catholic school carnival, where they were rumored to play instrumental versions of Chicago's 25 or 6 to 4 and Lynryd Skynrd's Freebird. 

     Yves Bouhadana can be seen as one of the interviewees in the A&E Biography and E! True Hollywood Story specials on Johnny Depp.


Zaphyre
Zaphyre was together sometime between 1978 and 1980, and reportedly played "100% Van Halen tunes".  Johnny has also described the band as "more Kiss-type stuff."
  • Joe Quinones - bass
  • Johnny Depp - guitar
     At one point, they auditioned for a talent show at Miramar High School, supposedly playing Van Halen's song Show Your Love (aka I'm The One).  They weren't picked because they were "too loud", and because nobody in the band was still going to Miramar High by that point.  (Note- an earlier report recalled that the band that auditioned for this talent show was Bitch, but it was probably Zaphyre).


Bitch

Bitch was together sometime between 1978 and 1980, and reportedly played "90% Van Halen tunes".  Other bands covered included AC/DC, Frank Mariano and Mahogany Rush, Aerosmith, and possibly Foghat.
  • Kenny Andrews - lead vocals; described as a "David Lee Roth clone"
  • Johnny Depp - guitar
  • Ron Norton - drums
  • another drummer who later replaced Ron
  • bassist of unknown name
bitch
(l-r: Depp, Andrews, Bitch's bassist)
 
     The band was described as "loud as hell" and played quite a bit while they were together.   One memorable gig was at an all-girls' Catholic school, Madonna High School, and they also played at a dance at a high school in North Miami and one at the North Miami Armory.  Other venues included the AOR on Dixie Highway and The Blue Waters on South Beach.  They were probably together for a year or less.
     Andrews went on to play in a band called Casino Drive and now owns a recording studio in Japan.  Norton went on to play in a band called Amazing Grace.

Bad Boys
Bad Boys were together in around 1980, and reportedly played "50% Van Halen tunes".

     The Bad Boys reportedly included a band member named Tommy Bircheat.  Sal Jenco served as the band's announcer and Barney Manaker helped to book them.  This band may have overlapped to some extent with Zaphyre and Bitch.

Stiff Richard
Stiff Richard was a band in Broward, South Florida that Johnny was reported to have rehearsed with in around 1979.  

     David Dukes was a guitarist in the band.  There was also a bassist named Ted Sonnesso (aka Fat Teddy) and a drummer named Bob Beck.  It's not known if Johnny officially joined this band.

The Runaways
The Runaways was another band that Johnny is reported to have been a member of before he joined The Kids.

     The best guess is that this band was around in about 1979-1980. 

Have any corrections or additions?  Please e-mail  at info@johnnydepprocks.com  Photos would be especially appreciated!

Bands

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