Biography
New Ulm, Minnesota gave rise to garage band the Fabulous Depressions in 1964, when guitarist Phil Groebner joined forces with bassist Jim Dauer, organist Peter Kitzberger, and drummer John Tretault—the last three members just 11 years old when they began. Early on, the quartet cycled through fleeting monikers such as Wholly Moses, Brain Police, and the Great Depression before locking in their definitive name. Tretault’s departure in 1966 brought drummer Greg DeBerry into the fold, after which vocalist Tim Lindsay came aboard and the ensemble started gigging at teen clubs across Minnesota and northern Iowa. DeBerry’s family relocated from New Ulm the following year, prompting the arrival of ex-Shags drummer John Ginkel; Lindsay’s subsequent move to rival group Royal Emperors then cleared the way for singer Randy Evans to join just as the Fabulous Depressions cut their only single. Released on the local Mead label, the incendiary fuzz-punk track “I Can’t Tell You” later resurfaced on the Root ’66 compilation.