1960s TEEN BEAT
Interview Site
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The Landlords became one of the top bands in the area, playing mostly blues numbers, "to highlight Roger’s harmonica playing", adds John. They were doing "a lot of Yardbirds, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stones, Young Rascals, and Beatles songs".
Then the group started to play Harvard College fraternities, clubs of New England, like The Surf Nantasket or The Surf Revere.
In the following, the group was approached by John Sullivan of Reed Records who was looking for a backup band for his daughter 'Jonna J'. They decided they did not want to be a backup band. John thinks that Sullivan possibly believed that if the Landlords recorded a song, maybe his daughter could sing with them.
Sp John Sullivan booked a recording session in a well known studio in New York City.
John: "We had a song, "I'll Return", that our manager Richy Errico wrote, and I had added the music to a poem that Jim’s friend had written, "I’m Through With You)."
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Even though the band was doing great, it was to come to a close: John was drafted in the service and went to Vietnam. The band broke up.
THE LANDLORDS (Winchester)
The Landlords had a revolving cast of members, but the "classic" line-up was John Buzzotta (g), Bill Brouseau (g), Jim Mouradian (b),
Bob Mouradian (dr) and Roger Millen (voc, har).
Former members were: Steve Sanderson (dr) , Phil O’Neil (b).
They were managed by Richy Errico.
Their record was released on Reed [1069] from Boston, MA:
"I'll Return" / "I'm Through With You", written by Richard R. Errico / John Buzzotta and Bid Woods, respectively.
The origins of the group lie in the early, pre-Beatles 1960s, when John was starting to play in a group doing mostly instrumental surf songs. The band then consisted of John, Steve and Bill. A change was about to happen:
John: "Steve had got the band a gig at the 1965 World Fair in New York. First time on a big stage at the New York Pavilion. It went great and we could use this in our resume."
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After that, the group added Phil O'Neil (John: "He had a bass but could not play well. But he had a car, a 1965 Mustang, and practice room"). Being able to use a car, the group now could play parties for free. Eventually, Phil was replaced by Jim Mouradian. John remembers that "Jim played stand-up bass in the High School band and had a Fender P bass and also played in another band 'The Wonderers' with his brother Bob."
More changes were about to happen:
John: "We were a 4 piece band, Steve, Bill, Jim and myself, trying to learn Beatle songs. We met Roger, who was from England, and sang and played harmonica. We loved him and he was perfect for our music. Steve did not like not being the lead singer so he quit. Needing a drummer we got Jim’s brother Bob. Great drummer that worked perfect with Jim".
Bob, Bill, Roger, Jim and John (left to right, 1967)
Humble beginnings: Bill Brusseau, Steve Sanderson, Phil O’Neil, John Buzzotta (left to right, 1964)
Yearbook photos: John (1966), Bob (1969), Bill (1966), Roger (1966), Jim (1968)
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After John's time in the service,he went to college and became a speaker design engineer, working for several home speaker companies, Advent, Boston Acoustics, dbx, AR (Acoustic Research). Then he went on to PA speakers and worked for EAW (Eastern Acoustic Works).
John: "I’ve been retired now for four years. I see Bob on occasions and I see Roger every year. He and his wife come to my beach house every summer."
John at the New York World Fair, 1965.
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