The story of how High Adventure's "The Ballad of Indiana" was written

The Story of High Adventure Vol. I

The Rock Band Of The Year

High Adventure, as best as we can recall, was formed in the Spring of 1984 by two aspiring musicians, next-door neighbors, and close friends, Todd "E-Bones" Howard (14 years old), and Glen "Nukie" Nelson (12 years old). Glen & Todd, as legend has it, first met on the school bus after Todd noticed Glen's pristine "The Empire Strikes Back" lunchbox, while Glen admired Todd's eye-catching "I Love Yoda" iron-on tee. The rest was history.

After a mutual love of all things Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and John Williams was clearly established, the conversation turned naturally to music. Another mutual love affair was soonafter discovered, the music of the legendary Beatles. Todd's father played in a local bluegrass group at the time, Last Fair Deal, and Glen's mother had sung and played piano since before he could remember, so the two were natural-born musicians. The duo started out switching off between drums and keyboards, Glen doing the lion's share of the lead vocals back then, and often still today. (Although it should be noted that Todd "E-Bones" is an excellent vocalist in his own right; for more of Todd's own original compostions, check out his official MySpace at Todd Howard Music.) The two kicked things off in style with a string of homemade recordings made on Glen's Mom's boombox, and an official live gig on Glen's deck Memorial Day weekend, 1984, all of which are in the Hi-Ad vaults safely locked away for future generations to uncover. Their motto, emblazoned upon their newly-customized bass drum head read "The Names In Flames". The fire had been lit. Their setlist in those carefree days included favorites like Van Halen's "Jump", Slade's "Run Run Away", Kenny Loggins "Footloose" (also the inspiration for the band's name from Kenny's 1984 album), an extended jam of the "Masterpiece Theatre" theme, plus early originals like "Some Win, Some Lose", "Some People Say", "I Need Feedback", and their anthem "We Are High Adventure".

As the years progressed, Todd and Glen's interests also turned to filmmaking, as they got a hold of a vintage Super-8 camera, and set out to film their own "Holy Trilogy" of Chris Lickerson space adventurer stories, starring Glen as heroic Chris Lickerson, and Todd as his dashing sidekick and loyal roommate, Doug Jennings. Glen's brother Brian filled in nicely as arch-nemesis and deranged bio-chemist, Higwan. The films were later given sound and audio, and are also safely perserved in the fabled Hi-Ad vault, where you might also find the E.T.-inspired "Biker's Revenge" photo-novel (images to come!). The band then entered the studio (a.k.a. Brian's bedroom) to further sculpt the Hi-Ad sound, with Todd playing drums on Glen's CB-700 kit and a pale yellow electric bass Todd's dad bought from one of his guitar student's with a 10 watt practice amp for $60 (affectionately known as the "Acme Bass"), and Glen branching out to multiple keyboards, including Jesse's futuristic Casio VL-Tone and his own spankin' new Casio MT-41. A final winner-take-all Hi-Ad gig was planned in Glen's living room, during his infamous and incredibly awkward 7th grade party, where fumbling partygoers dined on assorted fine cheeses and played "Spin-The Bottle". Future members of the band would include the hilarious and shred-tastic guitarist Kyle "Van Deferens" Kenny, and the talented Jeff "Buddums Joe Guy" Palmer, as an occassional 'sit-in' drummer when Glen could not get a ride from his Mom to band practice.

Regrettably, there was to be a downward turn in the storied career of High Adventure that would almost splinter the band in two. Todd "E-Bones" and his Dad moved away from West Hill Road in rural New Hartford, CT to urban and trendy Avon, CT, nearly a half an hour away. The duo of Todd & Glen continued to write and record as High Adventure for as long as they could, but they were pulled apart by time, distance, and other encroaching outside influences, such as school, girls, and differing artistic endeavours. Transforming himself into a full-time bass player and lead vocalist, Todd went on to form the progressive rock three-piece "Gaillion" with guitarist James Vasquenza and drummer Don Gunn, and Glen teamed up with neighbor and close friend Christopher "B. Sting Crazylegs Paranoid" Eddy to form the middle-school political angst-rock band, "Eddy & The Cruizers", and even a stint with Todd's brother Jesse in the band Alibi. (Incidentally, Alibi recorded the soundtrack to their original screenplay "Mid-Ron" with Don & Todd!) With the local success of Gaillion heating up, and Glen's career move from drums to keyboards officially taking root, things were really about to change. With the looming of his own Avon studio rock band experience soon to come in Via Satellite, which included Avon resident and later-to-be wife Sue Birk and Brian "The Weapon" Smith. The Hi-Ad flame was nearly extinguished.

To be continued...