Originally known as the Diablos, the East Baltimore band formed in 1964 by classmates Terry Lee Bolton and Bill Bell at Kenwood and Overlea High Schools. They held auditions to fill in the remaining teen band line-up. The group began playing gigs at Middle River Recreation Center, and Victory Hills Community Center. By early ‘67 the line-up had changed, Bolton moved on to the Silver Tones and the group became known as the New Diablos.
The New Diablos performed at many teen dances, band battles, and eventually progressed to the local night club scene. A concert in June 1967 at the Middleborough Teen Center pitted the New Diablos against the Luvs, and the Chapter VI. In late 1967 they held the house band slot on weekends at the Pub Tavern go-go club on Pulaski Highway and Golden Ring Road.
Above: L-R: Dobash and Bell – January 1969 at Overlea Sr. High School
The band released a single on the Littlefields label. The psychedelic style song “Land of Love” written by Ed Metcalffe had originally been performed by the Serpents. At the time of the record release the members were Bill Bell (lead guitar), Bobby Peters (rhythm), Wayne Smith (bass), George Dobash, Jr. (drums), Dave Smith (organ), Norm Snyder (sax), Tim Cech (sax – formerly of the Vandells), and Bub Deskin (lead vocals ex-Serpents). The band was managed by George Dobash, Sr.
By 1970 Deskin left the band to join the rock band Wanted and was replaced with Collins.
Courtesy of Kenwood High School Alumni Association
In 1970 the New Diablos traveled to Philadelphia for a recording session. Their second single was released on the Fayette label. Both sides written by Bell and Dobash were heavily psych influenced although with more straight-ahead rock than their previous single. Members included Kenny Carter (vocals, guitar ex-Silver Tones), with Bell, Smith, and Dobash. Vocalist Dawn Lee Carey (nee-Winkler ex-Emeralds, As You Like It) also joined the band in 1970. The addition of a female vocalist added a new dimension for the group to perform a wider variety of top-40 sounds. In 1972 Ed Parker (keyboards ex-Lemon Lime) replaced Dave Smith who had left the band to pursue a career as a concert pianist. By this time the original bassist Wayne Smith had become the sound man for the group and Skip Harris (formerly of the Peppermint Rainbow) played bass.
The group became one of the top full time local bands throughout the 1970s. They performed as house band at Hollywood Palace. Also seen at Club Venus, Eastwind, Latin Casino, Flaming Pit, Frigate, Sierra Club, Mimmie’s, Dulaney Inn, Johnny Walkers, Hurricane Club (O.C.)…
Drummer Lew Schwartz (ex-Good and Plenty) replaced Dobash while George attended college.
During the mid-‘70s the New Diablos playlist consisted of a diverse mix of all types of rock covers from Styx, Queen, and Yes to the Beach Boys and Four Seasons. The group played most local Baltimore and Washington clubs while also touring the east coast from Cape Cod to Pompano Beach. The group opened for many well-known groups including Redbone, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, Herman’s Hermits, and Maynard Ferguson.
Bell later played in ‘80s band Special Delivery… Deskin (see bio) went on to join Wanted, Side Show, Just Us… Carey went on to perform with Paper Cup, Cashmere… Carter became a member of Rolz Royce and had a stint as a member of the Guess Who (1986-90). Dobash later joined Fragile and became a member of the Sentries in the ‘90s.
The New Diablos on record:
1968 Littlefields RI2759 Land of Love / Land of Love (Instrumental)
1970 Fayette 9370 Tangerine Guides / I’m Fake
