Originally known as a Country / Rock band. The group hailed mainly from the Owings Mills area and featured guitarist Gary Scarborough (ex-New Breed, Steamboat Willie, Calico), Eric Durkee (guitar), bassist Fred Zang (had previously played lead/rhythm guitar with Greg & the Originals, Orange Wedge, Cousin Fox, Shane, Queen’s Chapel), and John Tracey (drums ex-Queen’s Chapel).
Trigger Happy played clubs such as E.J. Bugs, Toni’s Dream, No Fish Today, Four Corners, Apples, Dulaney Inn, and the Barge, while also traveling to D.C. clubs, Richmond VA, Western MD, PA… Ocean City appearances included performances at the Irish House, and the Back of the Rack.
Trigger Happy photos courtesy of Fred Zang:
In 1976 Tracey left the band – later to join Easy Livin’, and later Climbadonkey. He was replaced with drummer Rick Weisenmiller (ex-Wysh). About this time they added keyboardist / guitarist Greg Lardieri (ex-River).
By 1978 Trigger Happy had evolved into a hard rock band with the line-up of Scarborough, Weisenmiller, Lardieri, and Frank Schwartz (bass ex-Tap Root, Gabriel…). Most of the group members also wrote their own material. Original songs were recorded on demos but may not have been pressed on vinyl. Some of the songs included “Circles,” “Abilene,” “Appalacia,” “Love Got Me,” and “The Morning in Your Eyes.”
Zang had become disinterested in playing hard rock and subsequently quit the band. He moved to Provo, Utah where he continued playing and appeared on a couple of albums in that area. Upon returning to Baltimore in the ‘80s he became a member of the Overlea Brothers, a short-lived band called Retrospect, and later the Satellites in the ‘90s-00s.
In addition to club gigs Trigger Happy played at the Ellicott City Fest in July ‘78, the Baltimore Super Jam ‘79 at Martin’s West with the Paradise Pickers, Freewater, and No Mercy. Around this time Scarborough and Lardieri also moonlighted as a duo playing on Monday nights at E.J. Bugs. In April ‘79 Trigger Happy opened for Papa John Creach at the Weinberg Center.
Other members of the band through the late ‘70s into the ‘80s included bassists George Schroader (ex-Royal 5+1), Tim Lawrence (ex-Catwhistle), Tim Stillwell, Fred Tepper (guitar, pedal steel – formerly of Rize, Meat, Calico, Climbadonkey) who was later replaced with Jamie LaRitz (guitar).
The band did some traveling in the ‘80s including trips to the northeast with other local band D.C. Star. Groups they opened for during their career included Rick Derringer, Link Wray, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Johnny Winter…
Trigger Happy’s song “She’s Got It All” was included on the 1982 “98 Rock Album Vol. II”. Members for the recording included Scarborough, Tepper, Stillwell, and Weisenmiller. Gary continued an association with 98 Rock in the ‘80s providing music and vocals for Bob Rivers morning show.
The group split up in 1984 and a revived Trigger Happy band formed in ‘85 with Gary on guitar.
In the ‘90s Trigger Happy played at the 15 Mile House in Owings Mills on double bills with the Jamie LaRitz Band.
Tracey went on to play for Climbadonkey, No Heroes, Crack the Sky… Schroader also appeared in the bands The Stand, and Rock Island Express. Lardieri later with Kaos, The Buzz… Weisenmiller later joined the Sentries, Bootleg, Delta Dogs… Schwartz later played in groups and duos with guitarist Michael Hedges, with Teresa Whitaker & As the Crow Flies, Relay… Tepper’s later bands included the Lucky Band, Bootleg, and various studio appearances. LaRitz went on to Great Train Robbery…
