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In Case You Didn't Know

Laughing Man is one of the Washington area's oldest rock n' roll bands, and we're not talking about the age of the musicians. (We could be, but we're not.) The founding members, Rodger Winter and Steve Hagedorn first played together in 1981 in an impromptu band that was assembled for a church youth group "party." That night, and only that night, the band was called Surprise and the Electric Kittens.

Very shortly after their debut (if you could call it that), they teamed up with Paul and Susan Davis in a band called Arthur Bones. Arthur Bones was a twisted mix of Joni Mitchell and the Sex Pistols. After Susan left (to start a family), the band bounced through several names and several members.
They played for many years as the RPMs, which was a double entendre. Back in the days of record players, records were played at varying Revolutions Per Minute. It was also an acronym for the original band members' first names--Rodger, Paul, Mike and Steve.

In the late 1980's Joe Lamb joined the RPM's as rythmn guitar player, but soon made clear that he could compete with Steve. This created incredible dual lead opportunities In 1987 Rodger and Steve began recording a four-song cassette called Laughing Man 8/8/88, in honor of the date of the last studio session. The tape represented a new sound for Rodger and Steve, but one they hadn't produced live before. Then they hooked up with Colin Grand Pre in November of 1988. With Colin they could play live the sound that they created in the studio. In 1989 Laughing Man released its first full length CD. This one was simply entitled Laughing Man.  Phil Kirby, a long time associate of Rodger and Steve and longer time journeyman on the Washington music scene, is currently beating the skins and driving a firm back bone to the always hard rockin Laughing Man. Now after nearly 20 years, Laughing Man continues to rock Washington D.C. with its own brand of high-powered entertainment.

As of the new milenium the band has several different incarnations now.  Steve, the only full time musician in the group, does several different gigs in addition to Laughing Man including hosting open mike at IOTA in Arlington (which he has done for the last umpteen years).  Steve sits in on guitar w/ Larry Miesse and Lucky Dog, and recently recorded a set of originals with Joe Lamb, Claire Gilbride ( who he regularly performs with as Claire and the Creampuffs) and other  as his Sky Diamonds CD.  He appears regularly with Elizabeth Lawrence in the Warrenton and Middleburg areas  performing  his own stylized " Acoustic Love Songs and Blues" And who knows, sometimes you may see even Steve and Roger doing a duo at the chili joint off Rt.1 down near Woodbridge.

March 2007 Update

Rodger Winter, a founding member of Laughing Man, passed in October, 2006. Gone but never forgotten, lost to us now but always to be loved, few have had soul the likes of Rodger. Not a moment or a day goes by that he is not remembered.