Yipes

Get the Latest here from Pat McCurdy, Andy Bartel, Mike Hoffman, Peter Strand, and Teddy Freese The times, they had changed. Excuse another paraphrasing of Mr.

Disco fulfilled its prophecy and perished, vanishing quickly into distant and embarrassed memories. Bands that dominated Milwaukee's pre-disco club scene, (Crossfire later renamed Bad Boy, Suds, Sweetbottom, Fat Bruce and many more) had gotten their chance at the brass ring and faded, had their brightest plucked for other projects, or simply lost the war of attrition vying for national recognitio

n and an allusive recording contract. The venues had changed too, Humpin Hanna’s, Mother’s and Sugar Mountain were gone. The Attic West was in post disco decline. The Stone Toad was trying to find it’s way back to live music, as was Beneath the Street (later Fantasies), both burdened by difficult logistics and limited capacities. Zak’s and the Starship were just getting started along with the an infant punk scene that was already a half a beat late. The Electric Ballroom, Milwaukee’s premier showcase club, found itself with new owners, an odd couple of guys named Chuck and Peter. They would change its name to the Electric Ballroom and later the Palms. The changing times had hit radio a few years earlier, the DJ programed days of underground radio were over. The loss of WZMF was a tragic casualty as a result. FM rock radio was now king, these were the glory days prior to video killing the radio star. Milwaukee had two competitors fighting for market dominance. The old guard with roots dating back nearly to those underground days WQFM, and upstart WLPX a high energy marketing machine trying to be number one on your FM dial. These were, as one website describes it, the halcyon days of Milwaukee radio. Live music in Milwaukee was once again alive and well, at its center was the re-furbished Palms. The calendar was filled with national recording artists covering the entire musical spectrum. Star power from The Ramones, Robert Gordon, Dire Straights, Poco, The Boom Town Rats, Steve Forbert, Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, A Flock of Seaguls, and three Englishmen who drove a van to the front door and announced “We’re The Police”, made it prominent in the concert market. Regular appearances by regional favorites like Heartsfield, and Randy Hanson’s Machine Gun furthered the club’s following. National acts alone could not fill its four night a week calendar, that was left to the cream of the local bands. Bad Boy continued to fill room with fans and searing guitar solos reminiscent of Aerosmith. From Madison came a group called Punch, and Minneapolis sent the Zeppelin like, Cain. Thursday’s were dime beer nights, where up and coming local bands tried to earn a spot on a Friday or Saturday night. The floor shook to covers of Deep Purple, UFO, Judas Priest, and Thin Lizzy. The walls echoed the crowds cries for “Free Bird” and the strains of “Stairway to Heaven”. People came in droves, DJs from the competing stations hung out together and mingled with local concert promoters or musicians with a night off. The bands were good, the drinks were cold, and the girls were pretty. If you were a band it was the place to play, if you weren’t it was the place to be. And then in walked five guys wearing skinny ties who had been perfecting their show for about a year all over Wisconsin and neighboring Minnesota. They smiled a lot and talked about the Beatles and the Kinks. The rest of the wardrobe was as strange as the ties, bright colors that oddly matched, sneakers, and round glasses. Even their stage set up looked strange, absent were the quintessential double Marshal stacks and massive drum kit, replaced by a modest set of drums and equally modest guitar rigs. They had a crew of one, who strangely used words like please and thank you. He set up an efficient little PA that bookended the rest of the gear, completing a look that was strangely different from all the other bands that played the club. And when they finally they played, a spark caught fire. History tells us it did not burn long, but it did burn brightly. They played with a passion, but the not grimacing in your face I’m a rock star passion that was the so familiar in the club. The looks on these guys faces made it clear they loved what they were playing and what they were doing. That passion pushed the energy on stage to incredible levels, there was a feeling of electricity in the room when they played. In the middle of all that energy there was something unique, they were funny. Not the ha ha funny of slapstick, but clever and witty. It felt like you were cracking inside jokes with your best friend. They didn’t take themselves too seriously, make no mistake about it, they were serious about the music. But they made fun of everything and everyone, including themselves. Their sets included original music, usually a death knell for a local band, and their fans loved it. The covers they played came from the Flamin Groovies, the Monkees, the Animals and the Supremes. It was exciting to be in the room, it was fun! Zimmerman but, there was revolution in the air, a musical revolution. Gone were grimacing guitar solos crying out for va**um to stop the pain. Replaced by searing, tidy guitar riffs that never wasted a single note, over the top of crisp cords with guitar sounds from another era. Missing too was an Inagodanavida like drum solo. In it’s place were flurries of fills to numerous to count, that usually ended on the beat. And if they didn’t, there was a solid bass line holding the whole thing together harkening back to the days of Motown or, dare I say, the Beatles. In the middle of it all was a singer who was antithetical to the standard for a front man on either side of the Atlantic. His wit was quick, his tongue razor sharp, and his humor cerebral. Missing was the aloof gaze scanning the top of the crowds heads while looking at no one. The vocals were delivered with fresh interpretations, full of quirky turns and phrasing, punctuated by animated expressions of face and body. There was a banter between the singer and the crowd, delivered intimately, with each member of the crowd thinking he was speaking directly to them. It started late in Milwaukee, these guys had been hitting it hard at every wide spot in the road throughout Wisconsin and beyond. They perfected their show playing night after night. The band was excellent first and cool second, they never confused those priorities. Success came early in the college town of Madison, and the more cosmopolitan Minneapolis. Although a little late to the party, Milwaukeeans were not about to let some other city lay claim to their band. The guys soon finished first in a showcase competition at the Palms, and from then on there was no looking back. The story goes that this is what led to their recording contract with Millennium / RCA Records, although that deal was done prior to their winning. The next years were a whirlwind of recording, first one and then a second album. After the recordings there were tours to support both of the projects. The time flew by as the band traveled from arena to theater, from showcase club back to arenas; no place was too big or too small. The guys rubbed elbows with rock stars from all genres, some played guitars, some spun records on famous FM radio stations, and some were true icons of “the business”. After a couple of years filled with a brutal schedule, the sales couldn’t support the efforts. The guys came home and the disappointment from the loss of the recording deal took its toll. Sadly, Yipes! played their last show. It ended back in Wisconsin, at home. Now they are home forever, enshrined in the WAMI Hall of Fame. Thirty two years later their contributions and influence finally recognized. There is no list of the musicians they inspired, or the careers that were influenced. Much of that information is lost, living only in the memories of those effected. Given the permanence of information placed on the internet hopefully this induction will allow people to remember a band that took its fun seriously. And believe me, it was fun!

03/17/2026

Happy🍀 St Patrick's Day! 🍀Make our very own Pat McCurdy super happy and download "Irish Exit" (see how this works LOL).
Available at https://yipes1.bandcamp.com/ and all of your other favorite digital providers.

03/02/2026

It's great to be #1 and an honor to share it with https://www.facebook.com/michaeldesbarresmusic. Thank you one and all.

“Boris” Boden
The Secret Weapon Indie Top 20
(Woody Radio)
Week of March 2, 2026 *
(click on image to see the entire list)

1. Michael Des Barres - Kiss Or Kill Me
Yipes! - Look At What The Cat Dragged In
2. The Peppermint Kicks - Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum (LP)
The High Frequencies - The High Frequencies (LP)
Pat McCurdy - We're Going To Be Just Fine
The Glumlots - The Glumlots (LP)
Donnie Vie - Plain Jane / Instant Karma
Star Collector - Everything Must Go! (LP)
Tamar Berk - ocd (LP)
Dom Mariani - Apple Of Life (LP)
Soraia - Confessions From The Vena Cava (EP)
Sad About Girls - She’s Not Here / History Never Repeats
The Darts (US) - Midnight Creep
The Lucky Shots - Clearly Opaque (LP)
The Cynz - Love’s So Lovely / My Father’s Gun
Sorrows - Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow (LP)
Nolan Voide - Mid-Life Crisis (2025 Remix)
The Unknown Callers - Dangerous Necessity
The Coolies - Bad Bad Boy / Over You
JV All Stars - Rock 'N' Roll With Me
The Manic Standstill - Moving (LP)
Hawkins-MacNeill - Only Roses / Can’t Compete
Banda AL9 - She Can Do It All
The Spindles - Wavelength (LP)
Rousers - 1979 Sire Session (LP)
The Dahlmanns - Dark Side With You
The Hellflowers - Teenage Radio (EP)
The Dollyrots - You Don’t Own Me
Girl with a Hawk - I’m In Love With My Friends
The Catholic Girls - Should Have Been Mine
Kill My Coquette - Miss Malicious / No D
Brad Marino - Calling Your Bluff / Murder and Violence
honeychain - Let’s Get Pretty
3. St. Divine - Spit
Rome 56 - Pony Tales (LP)
Richard Turgeon - Girl Like You
Mod Lang - Borrowed Time
Shake Some - Everybody Knows It
Bobby Mahoney - Smoke and Drive
Kurt Baker - Undertow Afterglow / My Brave Face
Inflatable Idols - Ain’t Got Heart
The Institutionalist - Adjustment Disorder (LP)
Nick Piunti - Big In Madrid
Dolph Chaney featuring The Speed Of Sound - Zombie Century
Chris Church - Contrarian
The Grip Weeds - Spinning The Wheel
Night Baby - Didn’t Catch Your Eye
Sharp Pins - Balloon Balloon Balloon (LP)
Splitsville - Mobtown (LP)
The Kowalskis - 30 Years Of Goofballs (LP)
Fred Lemke - Hello USA / St. Petersburg
The Spongetones - The 40th Anniversary Concert... And Beyond (LP)
The JAC (International Edition) - Summer Forever
The Well Wishers - littleorangemagaman
The Wellingtons - Baby Moon (LP)
The Blusterfields - Be Your Man
All The Madmen - All The Madmen (LP)
The Jellybricks - Dreaming In Stereo (LP)
Rob Moss - And The Lies Go Round
Slamdinistas - Wild & Restless (LP)
Randy Klawon - Spoonful Of Love
The Glimmer Stars - I Need It Now!
Garret Vandermolen - Foxtrot Delta Tango
The Corner Laughers - Dusking
Half/Cubes - Found Pearls (LP)
The Dogmatics - Nowheresville (LP)
4. The Ex-Bombers - In Music City
Stupidity - Spread It Around
Dave Strong - Katie / I Wanna Know
Gene Champagne - I Can’t Pretend
Devil Love - Tell Me You Love Me
The Jack Rubies - Boat Rocker
The 66ers - Have More Fun (LP)
Leather Catsuit - Leather Catsuit (EP)
sparkle*jets u.k - Eyeball Eater From Outer Space
Chris Lund - Surveillance (LP)
Jim Basnight - Out and About / Children Of The Night
The Stripp - If You Want Me
The Chelsea Curve - Rally ‘Round
The chrisVandalay Project - Good Intentions
The Gold Needles - Mood Elevator (LP)
High on Stress - Over/Thru (EP)
The Handcuffs - Burn The Rails (LP)
Sunshine Boys - Blue Music (LP) / Work and Love (LP)
Jim Trainor - Listening To Understand (LP)
Various Artists - Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes (LP)
Satch Kerans Band - Gotta Be Better (Five Short Stories) (EP)
Marc Valentine - NY UAP / You Are The Jet
Skitzo Calypso - It's In The Way
The Hi-End - Ghosts On The Radio
5. Michael Des Barres - It’s Only Rock ’N’ Roll (LP)
Johnny Jetson - Used Cars
Orbis Max - Not Getting Back With You
Muck and The Mires - Tripping Out On Love
Paul Collins - Hang On To Yourself
The Legal Matters - The Message
Tony Marsico and the Ugly Thingz - No Future (LP)
Duck & Cover - What Is Life
Larry Lynch - Open Up
6. The PoZers - The Separation
The Bablers - Like The First Time (LP)
The Idolizers - KA-BOOM! (LP)
7. Bang Sugar Bang - Invisible City (LP)
Speedfossil - Peg Leg
The False Positives - A Rocket Ship To You
The Yum Yums - Poppin’ Up Again (LP)
8. The Successful Failures - Guts
9. Cheap Cassettes - They'll Never Forgive You For Pop (LP)
Richie Mayer - The Inn of Temporary Happiness (LP)
10. Ed Ryan - Along For The Ride (LP)
11. The Make Three - You, Me & The Make Three (LP)
12. The Fiendz - Dummy (LP)
13. Push Puppets - Tethered Together (LP)
14. Crossword Smiles - Consequences & Detours (LP)
15. Black Cat Nine - Changes Are Coming
16. Herb Eimerman - Years Behind You
17. Bill Lloyd - Look Into It / Look Into It (LP)
18. Tina and The Total Babes - She’s So Tuff (LP)
19. The Downhauls - The Tower
20. The Stanleys - Amy
* (LP) (EP) indicate entire albums added and played.

02/05/2026

For all the Itunes users: All three releases available.

Yipes! on Apple Music Listen to music by Yipes! on Apple Music.

02/05/2026

Thank you Woody Radio for the #2 slot this week!

“Boris” Boden
The Secret Weapon Indie Top 20
(Woody Radio)
Week of February 9, 2026 *
(click on image to see the entire list)

1. Michael Des Barres - Kiss Or Kill Me
The Peppermint Kicks - Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum (LP)
2. Yipes! - Look At What The Cat Dragged In
The High Frequencies - The High Frequencies (LP)
Pat McCurdy - We're Going To Be Just Fine
The Glumlots - The Glumlots (LP)
Star Collector - Everything Must Go! (LP)
Tamar Berk - ocd (LP)
Dom Mariani - Apple Of Life (LP)
Soraia - Confessions From The Vena Cava (EP)
Sad About Girls - She’s Not Here / History Never Repeats
The Darts (US) - Midnight Creep
The Lucky Shots - Clearly Opaque (LP)
The Cynz - Love’s So Lovely / My Father’s Gun
Sorrows - Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow (LP)
Nolan Voide - Mid-Life Crisis (2025 Remix)
The Unknown Callers - Dangerous Necessity
The Coolies - Bad Bad Boy / Over You
The Manic Standstill - Moving (LP)
Hawkins-MacNeill - Can’t Compete / Channel 17
The Spindles - Wavelength (LP)
Rousers - 1979 Sire Session (LP)
The Dahlmanns - Dark Side With You
The Hellflowers - Teenage Radio (EP)
The Dollyrots - You Don’t Own Me
Girl with a Hawk - I’m In Love With My Friends
The Catholic Girls - Should Have Been Mine
Kill My Coquette - Miss Malicious / No D
Brad Marino - Murder and Violence
honeychain - Let’s Get Pretty
3. St. Divine - Spit
Rome 56 - Pony Tales (LP)
Shake Some - Everybody Knows It
Bobby Mahoney - Smoke and Drive
Kurt Baker - Undertow Afterglow
Inflatable Idols - Ain’t Got Heart
The Institutionalist - Adjustment Disorder (LP)
Nick Piunti - Big In Madrid
Ape Hangers - This Is It (EP)
Dolph Chaney featuring The Speed Of Sound - Zombie Century
Chris Church - Contrarian
Sharp Pins - Balloon Balloon Balloon (LP)
Splitsville - Mobtown (LP)
Michael Simmons - Fun Where You Can Find It (LP)
The Kowalskis - 30 Years Of Goofballs (LP)
Fred Lemke - Hello USA / St. Petersburg
The Spongetones - The 40th Anniversary Concert... And Beyond (LP)
The JAC (International Edition) - Summer Forever
The Well Wishers - littleorangemagaman
The Wellingtons - Baby Moon (LP)
The Blusterfields - Be Your Man
All The Madmen - All The Madmen (LP)
The Jellybricks - Dreaming In Stereo (LP)
Rob Moss - And The Lies Go Round
Slamdinistas - Wild & Restless (LP)
Randy Klawon - Spoonful Of Love
The Glimmer Stars - I Need It Now!
Half/Cubes - Found Pearls (LP)
Jupiter Motel - EP
The Dogmatics - Nowheresville (LP)
4. The Ex-Bombers - In Music City
Stupidity - Spread It Around
The Grip Weeds - Soul Bender (LP)
Dave Strong - Katie / I Wanna Know
Gene Champagne - I Can’t Pretend
Devil Love - Tell Me You Love Me
The Jack Rubies - Boat Rocker
The 66ers - Have More Fun (LP)
Leather Catsuit - Leather Catsuit (EP)
sparkle*jets u.k - Eyeball Eater From Outer Space
Garret Vandermolen - Foxtrot Delta Tango
Chris Lund - Surveillance (LP)
Jim Basnight - Out and About / Children Of The Night
Richard Turgeon - Control Freak
The Stripp - If You Want Me
The Chelsea Curve - Rally ‘Round
The chrisVandalay Project - Good Intentions
Carla Olson and Tall Poppy Syndrome - Is It True
The Gold Needles - Mood Elevator (LP)
The Corner Laughers - Rainbow Cardigan
20th Century Boys - 20th Century Boys (LP)
The Handcuffs - Burn The Rails (LP)
Sunshine Boys - Blue Music (LP) / Work and Love (LP)
Jim Trainor - Listening To Understand (LP)
Various Artists - Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes (LP)
Satch Kerans Band - Gotta Be Better (Five Short Stories) (EP)
Marc Valentine - NY UAP / You Are The Jet
Skitzo Calypso - It's In The Way
The Hi-End - Ghosts On The Radio
5. Joy Buzzer - If You Can Forgive Me
Michael Des Barres - It’s Only Rock ’N’ Roll (LP)
Johnny Jetson - Used Cars
Orbis Max - Not Getting Back With You
Muck and The Mires - Tripping Out On Love
Paul Collins - Hang On To Yourself
The Legal Matters - The Message
Tony Marsico and the Ugly Thingz - No Future (LP)
Duck & Cover - What Is Life
The FAVES - Harbor Bay
6. The PoZers - The Separation
The Bablers - Like The First Time (LP)
The Idolizers - KA-BOOM! (LP)
7. Bang Sugar Bang - Invisible City (LP)
Speedfossil - Peg Leg
The False Positives - A Rocket Ship To You
Go Time! - X (LP)
The Yum Yums - Poppin’ Up Again (LP)
8. Tom Baker - Justine & Me (LP)
The Successful Failures - Guts
9. Cheap Cassettes - They'll Never Forgive You For Pop (LP)
Richie Mayer - The Inn of Temporary Happiness (LP)
10. Ed Ryan - Along For The Ride (LP)
11. The Make Three - You, Me & The Make Three (LP)
12. The Fiendz - Dummy (LP)
13. Push Puppets - Tethered Together (LP)
14. Crossword Smiles - Consequences & Detours (LP)
15. Black Cat Nine - Better Days / If You Wanna Be Friends
16. Herb Eimerman - Years Behind You
17. Bill Lloyd - Look Into It / Look Into It (LP)
18. Tina and The Total Babes - She’s So Tuff (LP)
19. The Downhauls - The Tower
20. The Stanleys - Amy
* (LP) (EP) indicate entire albums added and played.