The Song Fight Bulletin Board

Thirteen years ago today, tragedy struck a band that you probably never got a chance to hear. They recorded two albums in less than two years time.

They had only been signed to a major label for a little over a month.

The members of the band "For Squirrels" were travelling back home to Florida after playing a show at CBGB's in New York. A tire blew out on their van about 50 miles south of Savannah, Georgia. Three of the passengers died at the scene. Singer Jack Vigliatura was 21, bassist Bill White was 23, and tour manager Tim Bender was 23.

This is something that could have happened to anyone. This band was already making amazing music, and the band members were not very old at all. I can't even imagine how great they could have become with time.

For a couple of months I've been secretly organizing a tribute to this band, and to the man that introduced me to them: A listener on thesixtyone that goes by the name of Supergrover. Earlier this year, Supergrover discovered that he has cancer. He calls For Squirrels his "favorite band that no one has heard of."

The tribute went live today, and it can be found here:

http://www.thesixtyone.com/forsupergrover

New songs will be uploaded every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until all 20 songs from 'Baypath Rd' and 'Example' have been represented.

EDIT: Here are the uploads so far:

Monday, September 22nd - Jim Tyrrell - Nathaniel's Song
Friday, September 19th - Frankie Big Face - Kabaret
Wednesday, September 17th - Alex Gloworld - Unicycle (vocals by Glenn Case)
Monday, September 15th - Jarrod of Admiral Twin - Orangeworker
Friday, September 12th - Temple Scene - Eskimo Sandune
Wednesday, September 10th - Delightful Young Man - Kill the Birds
Monday, September 8th - Glenn Case - Flagboy

ROCK!

Glenn Case

Never heard of....untrue!

I loved For Squirrels. "The Mighty KC" was a great song and one that I've covered before (unrecorded though). And I am one of the few people who own the Subrosa record (that's the band after the accident).

I'll check out the tribute album when I get home.

That goes for me too. In fact, I used the song Plymouth from my Baypath Rd CD in a motorcycle video I made. But yes, not heard of in the above ground world. Good band, tragically short career. Sorry to hear about your friend and kudos on the tribute, Glen.

Also, I know that it's almost impossible to buy a CD by The Squirrels, because I've had to burn mine for friends. I've got the full Baypath Rd CD in MP3 format for my ipod. So....just saying *wink*

Niv: I should have figured that you would have heard of these guys! People say I'M a walking rock and roll encyclopedia, but I tend to think I've got nothing on you, good sir. I would love to hear that Subrosa album too!

BLT: Thanks for the offer, but they've actually got the Baypath Rd album on forsquirrels.net too. It sounds much more raw than Example, and there are times when I actually prefer that.

The second cover is up.

Kill the Birds - Recorded by Delightful Young Man

Two covers down, Eighteen to go.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

Hours ago, I uploaded the seventh cover of twenty and it is by a Songfighter!

The sixth upload was also by a songfighter.

EDIT: Updated the first post with direct links to all the songs so far.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

Awesome, Jim. I've been following each song and everyone has done an incredible job.

For Squirrels is a band that I wish I had known about years ago.

Thanks for introducing me to yet another great band..."Orangeworker" has quickly become my new favorite song.

...and while I love For Squirrels, some of these covers are better than the originals.