THE DRY TORTUGAS

                                                              THE DRY  TORTUGAS

The Dry Tortugas are Felix (drums) and Tom (vocals, rhythm guitar) as well as Marc (lead guitar) and Robin (double bass). Tom and Felix have known each other since the mid-80s, as both were already musically active in the rockabilly scene back then.

 To be exact Tom is the singer of the band THE ROUGHNECKS and Felix is the drummer of LOTA RED. As already mentioned, Marc (lead guitar LOTA RED) and Robin (who is Tom's son by the way) are also part of the band. After the end of LOTA RED, caused by the tragic death of singer Jake, and the following 3-year unsuccessful search for a singer, Felix 2020 didn't want to give up music and started looking for comrades for his own project. Neo-Rockabilly - like back in the 80s and early 90s.
 Via Facebook he placed an ad: "Looking for musicians for Rockabilly band". Tom answered him with the words "I can play Rockabilly" and because they had known each other for so long, he got the job right away.

 A bigger challenge was finding a lead guitarist. Marc wanted to hang up the music after almost 30 years of LOTA RED and the death of Jake. It took Felix a lot of work to get his old friend and companion to join the new project. In the end, Robin, Tom's son, joined the band. In mid-June 2020, The Dry Tortugas finally took off ...

 

The next step this year is their first release. If everything works out, they'll be recording in May at a prominent location in Berlin-Kreuzberg, where David Bowie and Depeche Mode once recorded in what was then called West-Berlin back in the day. The usual streaming platforms will be served afterwards and there will probably be limited (colored) vinyl as well. An appropriate label has not been found yet. Maybe it will be the label on which the last release of THE ROUGHNECKS was ... maybe someone from overseas ... you'll see.

 

And yes, they will also play live ...

I asked few questions from Tom. Here coming his answers:

- After The Roughnecks ended,  I played in a Hard Rock Band called „ The Motor Weirdos". We toured a lot and recorded an album and an E.P.

I started a label, publishing company and booking agency  at the end of the 80's  and that kept me busy until 1995. We released mainly US Bands.
I produced and worked in a studio as well, learned how to work with modern recording tools and programms.
I started a new publishing company at the end of the 90's.

After my son Robin was born, I started to write music for kids. I didn't like the music on the regular market.
it's horrible for parents to listen to. My new project and band was called „ Die Mukketier-Bande" and we played Rock'a'Billy, Country and Swing for Kids and Adults. We toured a lot, Universal released 3 albums, an audiobook and a Christmas Special.

- How I came into the Berlin rocking scene ?

I moved to Berlin in 1984, saw an ad in a newspaper: „ Modern Rock'a'Billy band is desperately looking for a singer ".. I called and met The Roughnecks. After the first rehearsal I got the job.

About Robin:

my son grew up with a lot of music. I wrote all songs of „ Die Mukketier-Bande" mainly for him, so he was involved from the very beginning. He joined us on stage when he was 4 years old. He always wanted to play with us and so he learned to play guitar. His teacher was our guitar player in the band and an expert for Rock'a'Billy and Country tunes. When Robin was 16 old, he often replaced our guitar player in the band. He became a big Brian Setzer fan and practised his style during the lockdown.

At the same time he discovered his passion for the upright bass, he wanted to play Rock'a'Billy on the bass now. He got his first bass as a Christmas present, manufactured by Micha Frick, one of Berlin`s famous bass players and then he started practising like a maniac. He wanted to become as good as his  idols. And now he almost plays like them, in his own, young, ambitious style.

Songwriting

I always write songs and I love Rock'a'Billy. So it`s not that difficult for me, but I try to write in a modern style. Inspired by other musical influences, too.
Together with Marc of Lota Red, I receive a different kick from him as well, he writes excellent songs and the two of us together bring together ideas and songs into the rehearsal room.
With Felix and Robin we finalise the ideas, rehearse until we're all satisfied and then, we simply rock and roll.