Need info on an old Iowa rock band, please help!!

[demoncore1031]

Back in the early 90s, a family friend brought over a cassette tape of this band called The Hard Boys. It was basically the equivalent of what 2 Live Crew was to the rap world. They were funny, and had a bit of a country sound to their music as well. I have been searching the internet from time to time over the last 7 or 8 years, trying to find out anything I could about this band. No luck. A few months back, I found a music msg board where a couple of people had been looking for info on this band. I have been e-mailing back in forth with these people and a couple other people have e-mailed me and none of them know anything about this band and either. A lady e-mailed me recently and said she knew that the band was from southern Iowa, and recorded 2 albums in Indianola in the early 90s. This is all the info I have right now. Has anyone heard of them? I would really like to know the band members names and any other info I can find out. My goal is to track down a band member to see if it is ok that I build them a website so other people can enjoy their music as much as I have for 20 + years. Thanks in advance

 

[00clone]

Well, I'm not familiar with them myself, but I just googled 'hard boys'...and sweet mother of god...I hope that's not what you're looking for.

 

[Cydar]

All I could find was this:
The Hard Boys

The band consisted of 2 members Scott and Big Rod.

I would also advise not googling the band name with the second name mentioned above. The results weren't pretty.

 

[demoncore1031]

Thanks guys!! Yeah the rap group is horrible!! The link Cydar posted was in reference to the same band I am looking for. My cassette tape is also a copy of a copy of a copy hahaha!

 

[demoncore1031]

This doen't help but... https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hard-Boys/413461402081623

 

[demoncore1031]

e-mail I recently got:Hey thanks for getting back to me!Yes the Hard Boys were in fact from southern Iowa.Cant remember exactly for sure from where in southern Iowa.Seems like they might have all been from different areas like maybe the Osceola,Corydon and Indianola areas.I do know for sure that they recorded their first album(not sure about their second one) in Indianola Iowa at the South River Recording Studio(same studio Slipknot first started recording at) which was owned by Denny and Mike Lawyer and they are the ones who produced it.The studio unfortunately is no longer open and from what I can tell hasn't been for awhile.My husband knew both Denny and Mike and we were told Denny has since passed away and have been trying to track down Mikes location for awhile with no success just keep running into dead ends.We have learned he was still in the recording business for quite some time after closing the studio in Indianola.We found a listing for his new studio called SR Audio in Des Moines Iowa but when we tried calling the number had been disconnected so we haven't had much luck getting any info from their old producer either.I don't know if I was really much help in filling ya in on them or telling you anything you didn't already know about them but Im glad to have tried to and to have met someone who has appreciated them like we did!!! I don't remember if you said in your post,are you from Iowa also?Im not sure how wide spread the Hard Boys made it but I can't believe it's this hard it is to find a copy of their album down here in their own home town area!!!lol It was great talking with you and keep me posted if you hear anything on them or their albums and let me know if you could and Ill be happy to do the same.And if you do get a copy of the cd and could make me one that would GREAT!!!! I've invited and told everyone I know about the Help us find the Hard Boys facebook page maybe we'll get a break from someone there!!Not holding my breath though!! lol Thanks again and hope to talk again!!!!!

 

[Sparkplug]

A person that would know is Steve Mathews from Indianola. He and Mike Pace own a studio I think is called Radio Garage Productions Steve is the voice for Mediacom, Homemakers, etc

 

[Sparkplug]

I sent a message to Steve and another Indianola music fan. Will post when I hear from them.

 

[sweetiecy]

My husband said to tell you that Matt Sepanic would know...he's easily found via Google. He worked at SR Studios for years (my husband also recorded several albums there).

 

[cyclonpediaJoe]

My husband said to tell you that Matt Sepanic would know...he's easily found via Google. He worked at SR Studios for years (my husband also recorded several albums there).

Good call. Sepanic knows all things music in Iowa

 

[demoncore1031]

Thanks guys!

 

[iacyguy]

i think those guys merged with another band to form "Full Blown Woodies"

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

i think those guys merged with another band to form "Full Blown Woodies"

you serious clark?

 

[iacyguy]

you serious clark?

https://www.facebook.com/FullBlownWoodies

now more then ever

 

[Cpech56]

Full Blown Woodies is def not the same group. Although the names of both bands are hilarious. FBW is out if Carroll and they sing classic abd new rock.

 

[demoncore1031]

Full Blown Woodies hahahaha!!!! Great name. Gonna check them out.

 

[iacyguy]

Full Blown Woodies hahahaha!!!! Great name. Gonna check them out.

If you find any t-shirts they sell, get me one. I have wanted one for 3 years now

 

[demoncore1031]

If you find any t-shirts they sell, get me one. I have wanted one for 3 years now

Will do!!! I sent them a message on facebook, so hopefully they respond

 

[Rural]

If you find any t-shirts they sell, get me one. I have wanted one for 3 years now

I'm pretty sure there's a joke here somewhere.

 

[manderson]

Michael Jury Lawyer was the original Hard Boy. He opened a studio just south of Indianola, IA called South River Recording in 1982. That's where the stuff was recorded. He later changed the name of the studio to SR Audio & Cinemedia Productions. He built a new studio in Des Moines in 1993.


Mike achieved his goal of being part of getting a band to break out of Iowa. That band was Slipknot, who recorded their demo there. Mike died in 2003. He was wearing his Hard Boys T-shirt one of the last times I saw him that summer. He would love that The Hard Boys are still around.


I never had a copy, this was just stuff he played for me. A few songs I remember were "F**k Me, F**k Me, F**k Me" and "Every Girl Looks Funny with a D**k in Her Mouth" and "Fat Baby Rap" and "Broken Rubber Blues."


I knew Mike for over 20 years, but he was very mysterious about the other members of the band. He did say the lead singer for his other band, Sterling Heist, was not a member of The Hard Boys. The band never played live, though he did show me a video they had made. They were wearing wigs and used lighting and special effects. It was impossible to tell who (or how many) they were. This was the point of course.


Mike and Randy Beers (see below) copyrighted the recording in 1988, according to the U.S. Copyright Office. Mike and Randy may have been the only members. Mike had a great talent for voice impressions. He was a drummer and played the keyboard. He always had the latest in MIDI technology.


I never knew the other members of Sterling Heist well and haven't seen them since the 90's. I've looked at the photos and friends lists and I'm certain these are the FB profiles of the guys from Sterling Heist. They still list each other as friends, and live in the Des Moines area. Randy is the one you need to talk to but I included the others in case you have trouble reaching him.


The bass player and sometime vocalist was Randy Beers.
https://www.facebook.com/randy.beers.12?fref=ts


The guitar player was Michael Jennings.
https://www.facebook.com/michael.jennings.14


A friend who was involved with Sterling Heist is Steve Sheets.
https://www.facebook.com/steve.sheets.18?fref=pb&hc_location=friends_tab


Matt Sepanic worked for Mike after the studio moved to Des Moines. I don't think he was around when the stuff was recorded.
https://www.facebook.com/matt.sepanic?fref=ts


Dave Albert worked for Mike for nearly the whole time. I haven't been able to track him down.


As Mike is deceased with no children his copyright is owned by either his mother or brother. His brother is Steven V. Lawyer and is an attorney in Des Moines, IA. Either he or Matt are probably the ones who know what happened to the studio's archived masters.