We are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the majority of our jamming takes place in a basement or garage, hence the term "garage band". The point of what we do is our own entertainment. In other words, it's FUN. But since a lot of folks know we do this, we do get requests. Some of the requests have been: a graduation party, a wedding, a pig roast, an island "resort", a halloween party (where the local Minnetonka Police SWAT team actually showed up in force with guns drawn...must not have liked our version of 'Louie Louie'), a few stints at a local American Legion and an Alternative Lifestyles group. You will need to conjure up your own images on that one!
Three of the four members were working at Honeywell. Tony, Ernie and Duane. Tony and Ernie had jammed a few times together and so did Duane and Rick. It took almost a year before the four of them set up a jam session, in Duane's basement, and started the band.
During this time the name "TREAD" was derived, by Ernie, from the first letter of each band member's name. Hence the name T-Tony, R-Rick, E-Ernie, A-And, and D-Duane. This garage band, which only jammed two or three times a year, practiced mainly a variety of 1950's and 1960's Rock "N" Roll songs. In the early years the band was a social gathering more than a performing group. As such, we got together to enjoy each others company and if we felt like it, play music. As time went on, we began polishing beginnings and endings of the songs we played.
In the early years it was just fun to get together and jam. The band usually took a mid afternoon break, had a snack, and then continued practicing their favorite songs. Rick, who previously played in public with another guitarist, would sing and play songs from artists such as Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Duane Eddy and a few were instrumentals. Tony, who is the older brother of Steve Miller of the famous Minneapolis group "The Del Counts", would provide most of the singing and play keyboards, Ernie played guitar and Duane was on the drums. Each band member could play many songs but as a whole the band's total song selection was very limited. Their sound system was very limited. They had just two microphones, two guitars and one keyboard.
The band continued to learn many songs but not all in their entirety. A reel-to-reel tape recorder was set up to record these sessions. Probably the first song played from beginning to end was the Chantays instrumental "Pipeline". Even today the song remains one of the band's favorite.
In 1984, and after about four years, the band moved the jam sessions to Ernie's basement. The band continued to practice a few times a year but was still not organized to where everyone would start and stop each song all at once. It was basically a jam session with somebody starting a song and everyone else catching up and joining in.
It was around this time Rick's mother passed away. Rick lost the enthusiasm to practice and dropped out of the band. Various people jammed periodically. Some had enough after one session and some, with a great deal of guts, made it to more. Ernie's bowling buddy, Darrel Leach, said he was interested but never showed up. Finally, after two years, Darrel showed up with a guitar and became a regular band member. Ernie's cousin, Tom Coursolle, also joined. Tom played excellent keyboards and some bass and played professionally with "You And Who's Army" and the "Hillbilly Voo Doo Dolls".
With over five years of recording reel-to-reel tapes Ernie decided to edit them. With his great expertise and persistence he compiled twenty four songs and produced a cd called "Youth In Asia Concert". Some songs were live basement recordings, some commentary, and some were live recordings from the Bloomington American Legion gigs.
After a couple more years Darrel suggested the band should get more serious, learn songs from start to finish and start to organize a song list. Since the band didn't have a PA system and a full-time bass player Darrel purchased a bass, took some bass lessons, purchased a four channel PA amp and a pair of speakers.
A song set of about twenty fives songs was put together as a starting point. With the band expanding with more members a better and larger sound system was needed. Tom made an even exchange for a larger and more powerful PA amp. Each member would now have a microphone input with extra for other singers or instruments. The band was evolving, learning more music and getting better organized.
About 1989, and after about five years jamming at Ernie's, the band moved to Darrel's basement. Darrel had a music room to allow the band to store the equipment and was less than a mile away from the Bloomington American Legion. Eugene (Gene) Sumskis, who also worked for Honeywell and was a co-worker with Ernie, joined the band.
The band consisted of Tony who sings both lead and backup, plays keyboards, bass and banjo, Ernie plays both lead and rhythm guitar and sings some lead and backup, Darrel plays guitar, bass and harmonica and sings both lead and backup, Tom sings some lead and backup and plays keyboards and bass, Gene plays both lead and rhythm guitar and sings backup and Duane plays the drums and sings backup.
The band was now working very hard on vocals, singing harmony and improving the quality of playing their instruments. Their song list was increasing and was now over fifty songs. They played a few small gigs. Some in basements, garages, outside in a park and a few private parties. The band was playing good enough to consider playing for family and friends. In 1996 they decided to play a gig at the Bloomington American Legion. About 120-150 family, friends, and other guests of the Legion attended. It was a great success. The band also volunteered to help former America Wrestling Association (A.W.A) wrestler Kenny "The Sodbuster" Jay's annual fundraiser. Most fundraisers were held at the Bloomington American Legion. Two were held at the Northfield American Legion and the final two at the Richfield American Legion. Kenny had many wrestlers of the American Wrestling Association attended these fundraisers. Some that attend over the years where Verne and Greg Gagne, Jim Brunzell, Nick Bockwinkel, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Dr. X, Red Bastien, Baron Von Raschke, Mad Dog Vachon, Larry "The Axe" Hennig, The Alaskan, "Rock and Roll" Buck Zumhoff and Steve Olsonoski. In 2008 Kenny, who celebrated his seventieth birthday, decided it was his last and final fundraiser.
The band continued to add members and grow musically. Rick Ladd, played professionally with "Southern Comfort" and with "Turn-Around", sang both lead and backup and played lead and rhythm guitar. Todd Johnson (TJ) sang lead and backup. Mike Heilman sang both lead and backup. Ray Anderson played bass and guitar, and Dave Taraldson played keyboards.
In December of 2006, and after twenty-five years together, the band recorded twenty of their favorite songs on a cd called "TREAD-Live 1st Session 2006". The band members were Ernie Coursolle, Gene Sumskis, Darrel Leach, Duane Jacobson, Mike Heilman, Ray Anderson and Dave Taraldson. The cd did not make the Billboards' Top 100 charts but copies have been distributed to family and friends for personal enjoyment and are available. The band would like to record a follow-up cd with more of their favorite songs but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Of the four original members Duane is still with the band. Tony retired from Honeywell and moved to Arizona. He owns a cabin, on an island on Rush Lake, and returns each summer. The band plays the "Island Tour" occasionally and has a summer picnic on the island. Tony currently plays with a bluegrass band, is learning the fiddle and has recorded two cd's with the new band. Rick Cosgrove quit the band after four years. Darrel Leach quit the band after twenty years. Tom Coursolle passed away and is in "Rock 'N' Roll Heaven". Ernie retired and moved to Arkansas but jams with the band when he visits. Rick Ladd continues to play with his band "Turn-Around". Todd "TJ" jams and is a manager at Groth Music. The Bloomington American Legion was closed and demolished. To be fair and honest, the demise of the Legion had nothing to do with the band.
With Gene, Dave, Ray, Mike, Ernie and Duane the band keeps evolving and learning new material. But the main thing that has kept this nonprofessional band together for over twenty-five years is "Just Playing For Fun".
This is Tom. He is also in the band "You And Who's Army?"
A shot of Ernie and Tom
This here is Darrel, with Tony in the background
Duane ("Little Drummer Boy")
Tony. His vocals kepy us from being an instrumental group!
