Baltimore – Pikesville based classic rock band. The original lineup included Glenn Melrose (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Steve Bisson (guitar, vocals – ex. Deuce, Blind Eye, Brindle, Collage, Come Dancing), Warren Miller (drums – ex. Collage); Ron Warner (bass, vocals – ex. Procreation, Panda); Mark Dawson (guitar, vocals); and Don Merritt (keyboards – ex. Sinn, Collage). The original lineup played regularly at Sgt. Pepper’s on Eutaw Street; the Starting Gate in Jacksonsville; the Dulaney Inn in Towson, Toni’s Dream in Reisterstown; the Chatham Lounge in Ellicott City; Lucas McCain’s in Frederick; Blondies in north Baltimore; Mack and Myers in Essex; the Country Air Inn in Westminster; and the Ark and Dove in Southern Maryland. Fastbreak could also be seen at the Water Street Festival and many schools and colleges in Maryland as well as southern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
By 1983, Glenn, Ronnie, and Warren left the band and were replaced by Dave Wetherell (lead vocals); Greg Worsley (drums) and Pete Miller (bass). In the summer of ‘83 the band changed the musical direction from classic-rock to a top 40 rock-oriented format when Judy Wallace (lead vocals) and later, Bill Fritz (lead vocals and alto sax) joined the band. This period also marked the departure of Mark Dawson. This final version of Fastbreak (’83 -’85) played many colleges, clubs, high schools and special events. Some notable venues included Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmitsburg; Towson University; Sh’nanigan’s nightclub in Cockeysville; the Baltimore Country Club; the Lady Baltimore and Port Welcome cruises, the Preakness (1984); and New Year’s Eve ’85 at the Hyatt Regency (Inner Harbor).
Band info and photos courtesy of Steve Bisson.
