Tim Gainer is no stranger to show business. In his 50 years’ involvement in music and radio he has earned various accolades and awards along with praise and acknowledgment among peers, critics and fans alike. Born and raised in Chicago, Tim learned to play piano at age 8 then taught himself to play drums at age 10 and guitar at age 12. At 14-years old, he joined his first band, “Spectrum” with a couple of school chums. After the band dissolved, he answered a local want-ad for a singer; this led to Tim’s joining “Tales” in 1973. The band made two successful tours of the college circuit around the Chicago area. But after numerous personnel changes and two unsuccessful attempts at recording, the band broke up in 1974. Tim then received a call from popular local bassist Mike Fillapek, asking him to join his band, “Alpha”. The formation of this particular band (which also included “Canyon” drummer Mike Mackowiak and local guitar ace Richard Trusk) caused such a stir in the Chicago music press that their first-ever show at a suburban ice-rink was played in front of an estimated 2,000 people and received wide popular and critical praise. “Alpha” continued to gig to well-received audiences (during which time Tim also played drums with guitarists John Devlin and Bob Bihlmeyer for “The Turquoise Turkey Revue”) and was on the verge of recording an album when Tim made a fateful decision: to give up the band and join the U.S. Army. After basic training, Tim was shipped to his permanent station in Gelnhausen, Germany where he met noted L.A. session bassist Myron “Curly” Singleton. Together with guitarist Jacob Roberts and drummer Donald “Too Tall” Scott, they formed “Natural Cause” in 1979 and quickly became known throughout Germany, playing various military and civilian venues and recording a special to be broadcast on AFN radio. A single was also recorded, “(Beyond All) Time and Space”. During the sessions, Tim met “Bullfrog” guitarist Sebastian Leitner and singer Gerd Hoch. They all quickly became good friends and eventually Tim was asked to join the band. The result was sold-out tours across Germany and Austria along with the recording of the Bullfrog 4 album. After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1981, Tim returned to Chicago with Leitner and Hoch to form “Raatz” with bassist Pat Gutkoska, Tim’s brother Pat Gainer on drums and guitarist Ken Valskis. The band was in the middle of a Midwestern tour of the U.S. when bassist (and Army buddy) Nathaniel Peterson Jr. called and invited the band to join him on a tour of Canada. This led to the formation of “Brat-Axis” and a successful tour of the country headlining shows or opening for acts like the legendary Ronnie Hawkins. But after several bad business decisions, the group disbanded. Tim returned to Germany with Hoch and Leitner in the hopes of reviving “Bullfrog”, recording material for a new album and even shooting a video. But after all venues were exhausted, the three finally split up in 1983 and Gainer returned to Chicago. Back home, Tim decided to try his hand at his second passion: radio. Between 1986 and 1996 he worked as an on-air personality and Production Director for several stations in Illinois and Indiana. During this tenure he received a total of nine awards for his production work, notably from the Indiana Broadcasters Association, Radio & Production magazine and the Country Radio Association. In 1990 he was listed in the prestigious “Who’s Who In Entertainment” and was Program Director when he oversaw the construction and start-up of Indiana’s first Alternative Rock station, Lafayette’s WIIZ (“The Wizard”) in 1993. After signing off from his final broadcast at Chicago’s WBUS Radio in 1996, Tim turned his sights back to music. He reunited with “Raatz” alums brother Pat and Pat Gutkoska in 1998 to form “Half-Gainer” with local guitar heroes Tim Bucher and Tom Whittaker. They quickly became local favorites in the Northern Indiana area and were on the verge of releasing their first single when, due to “the usual personal differences”, the band broke up in 2000 with all recordings shelved. Tired of the constant on-again, off-again status of his recording history and determined to soldier on, Tim decided it was time “to make my music…my way” and set to the task of recording a solo album. It was truly a one-man affair with Tim playing all the instruments, singing all vocals and even producing and recording the album in his home studio. The much-anticipated end result was In My Travels…, which was released to immediate favorable reviews and popular reception in the fall of 2003. A single taken from the album, “Love On The Line”, was given considerable play on several internet stations and websites around the world. An excerpt from another song, “Requiem”, also appeared on the all-star charity album, The Longest Day the same year. In 2005 he was asked to be the official voice for “Relaxing Radio” and “Oldies Radio.” In 2008 he was a guest guitarist on “Big Dog Eat Child’s” Almost Not Famous album and in 2010 He was voted “The Voice Of The BSC”, - the official voice for BP’s Americas Business Service Center. In 2012, 5 of the tracks from Bullfrog 4 were finally released on the band’s re-mastered Second Wind album which Tim personally re-mixed. The tracks were hailed as a triumph with one critic proclaiming, “these tracks alone are worth the price of admission!” Today, Tim remains active in both the voice-over and music worlds; he can be seen and heard on various radio, TV, internet and industrial campaigns. His second solo album, "Honor Among Thieves" was released on November 15, 2019. A single from those sessions, "The Sunrise Also Fell" debuted on the Soundclick Acoustic Rock chart at #1 when it was released on October 19th, 2018. The B-side, a cover of Bob Seger's "Get Out Of Denver" also premiered in the Top Twenty on Soundclick's Cover Songs chart. A follow-up single, "Hide n' Seek" was released on May 1, 2019 and debuted in the Top Twenty in both the Soundclick and Drooble Rock charts. The B-side, a rendition of Shel Silverstein's "I Know Got To Know Her Very Well," continues to make frequent appearances in the Drooble Folk chart. Tim Gainer is no stranger to show business…(to be continued)
Music is the best and most effective form of communication on this planet. I may not be able to speak your language, but if I see you in, say, a Motorhead T-shirt, point at it and smile at you, you understand what I mean. Or if i say, "Chance The Rapper?" you'll smile and say "yes" and we'll both know what's going on. Same at concerts; no one has to say a word - it's that community of humans that come together and celebrate the artist and the medium for two hours. So very simple. What it gives me personally is twofold... First, it gives me a freedom of expression that otherwise would be constrained or edited in the everyday world. Granted, music is art and art is subjective but it's the privilege and blessing of being able to communicate my thoughts, feelings and observations in my own unique way. Secondly, it gives me that very special connection with the audient when I perform live that only another playing musician can feel and understand. That indescribable communication when you can connect with the listener and they can react and respond to you in that way that only the two of you can comprehend. There's nothing else like it. Nothing.
Same as anyone else's: to have the world hear and accept my music and enjoy it. Pretty simple stuff, really.
Banning brussel sprouts. Let's face it...those things are nasty! (laughs)
God, there's so many of them. I grew up in the 60's so I was bombarded with everything - Elvis, the British Invasion, Motown, Psychedelia. But if I had to pick that one song that makes me completely nostalgic and wistful, it'd have to be "Pretty Ballerina" by the Left Banke. It was just so ahead of its time and the imagery it conveys is astounding to me. It's either that or the Seekers' "I'll Never Find Another You". That, to me, is the perfect love song. Or Gayle Garnett's "We'll Sing In The Sunshine". That's another one... SEE!? I can't do it!! (laughs) There's too many.
I get asked this a lot and always refer to my "Big Three" - The Beatles, King Crimson and Genesis...in that order. There's others, of course - Mike Oldfield, Shawn Phillips, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pink Floyd, John Lennon's and George Harrison's solo stuff - but those are the main bands that really caught my attention, influenced me and made me want to play music.
You know, this is something that I've never really been able to nail down to one particular method or mood. It's just something that strikes me...a thought, a sight, hearing something someone said or did or a passage from a particular song. I've never been able to put my finger on it but when that little bell goes off in my head or I get that twinge in my soul, I immediately run to get a pad of paper or my guitar or run to a piano and start trying to transpose those feelings to music.
Not so much a message but moreover to ask a question... Look, I'm just a guy and like the listener, I have certain feelings as well that I have a hard time expressing or realizing. With my songs, I have this visual of reaching into the listener's soul, pulling those feelings out of them, showing it to them and asking, "is THIS what you're talking about!?" Acceptance of the music is the listener's general way of answering "yes."
Like I said before, there's this indescribable sensation that only another gigging musician understands and comprehends; that connection, that vibe, that realization that the audient and you are connected and celebrating that feeling through the music. It's a connection like no other in the world.
Dismal...but with hope on the horizon. You see, in the early days of recorded music, the situation was that the record companies worked with the artist, helping to promote their art and get it out to the masses. These days, it's The Recording Conspiracy where the artist works for the record companies with the singular vision of the record company making money off the artist with no regard for the art or the artist. The artist these days is getting paid a pittance (if at all) and the art is suffering as a result of all of this. Creativity is stifled and pigeonholed to the label's demands. THEY know what's best. You're a prisoner to this the minute you sign a record deal with any of the majors. This is why sites like Drooble, ReverbNation, Soundclick and others are so vital to a music maker's survival these days. It allows the fundamental freedoms of creation and control over your own works and compensation. The artist has the control of his/her/their destiny and the Recording Conspiracy is running scared as a result. I applaud it and welcome the freedom of artistic expression and the artist getting paid for it. As long as the muse keeps fighting the good fight, we'll be alright in the end...hopefully.
I LOVE DROOBLE!! The community here is great and there's such a wealth of talent! the first day I got on, I must have played Drooble radio for hours, just amazed by all the great players and writers. The folks here are friendly as all get-out and more than willing to help and support each other. It's such a refereshing change to the cutthroat atittude some people think they need to get by in this medium.
Every now and then I come across people who think they have to be this cutthroat, knieving, self-absored, sinister character who's out to screw the other guy in order to make it in the business because...well, money and fame. The music community needs to remember and realize that we're all here for the same reason: to express, entertain and, with any luck, make a living at it. We should be supporting and helping each other. Anyone with the atittude of, "You should only be playing MY music!!" has completey missed the idea and concept of music as a whole. If that's your philosophy of being heard, then get into the stock market trade or sell cars, dude - this ain't Value City. This is something else entirely. I understand and appreciate promoting yourself...but promoting yourself at the expense of someone else's work ain't the way to go. Really.
(laughs) This one's easy! I have four sons. All of them have been involved in bands and/or comedy groups for half their lives and are still active on the local and national scene today. Support the local scene? Hell, I RAISED part of it!! (laughs)
Another question I get asked all the time and my answer is always the same: BE YOURSELF. Stop trying to copy another artist's style or method. Look, there's already been a Metallica; there's already been a Jay-Z or a Lady Gaga or a Prince. It's OK if they influenced you but don't try to BE them. It's superficial and the listener will hear it every time. Be the best YOU you know how to convey. That originality will shine through and make you a better artist for it. Period.
Big Dog Eat Child, E-LegaL, Wannabe Heroes, Dethwarrant, The Studs (from Chicago), Atomic Dog, Discount Lunch Line, The Wires, Press A, Damn Napolean!. Yeah, remember that part about my raising part of the local scene in Chicago? This'll give you a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about; all have my sons are/were in these bands/groups. Oh, and Tim Gainer. He's OK. Sometimes. (laughs)