1996-1997        
                                                
By Summer of 1996 we (Narcotic Effect) had auditioned a couple of
bass players, put up ads, all for naught. So Pete suggested
we put together a trio, play out and find a bassist for our “real group.”
Of course in retrospect this was a really daft idea.
And The Roy Hinkley Trio was born (Pete as Professor Roy on guitar
and vocal, Greg as Ginger Grant on drums and myself as Skipper
Jonas Grumby on bass and backing vocals.) The names were characters
from the 60's TV show Gilligan's Island. We put together a three song demo,
got some great reviews and ol' Pete became obsessed with this project,
writing umpteen billion songs (as was his habit.)
And so it went. We recorded an album in one day (not joking)
called Coconuts And Fish. Played a bunch of gigs (Eco Village, Espresso Bar)
in Worcester. I was miserable. This not being what I signed on for
and realizing Narcotic Effect was terminated, in May 1997 I announced
 was leaving the The RHT. There were other reasons that I quit,
but that was the clincher. The final ledger: one demo, great reviews,
two and half albums and one nervous breakdown. Pete would become
an Evangelical Christian. Greg and I would jump start our musical
partnership as Zen Bastards.         

                            
Also this guy started hanging around.
Charlie became integrated into our studio collective.
More on this amazing soul here.

    
Charlie Kent
     

March of 1997, Greg and I, began working on our first official CD,
Falling Forward. Activity at Toad Hall was at a fever pitch.