Frank Bang & The Secret Stash - Biography
"Frank Bang has a blue soul and a rock and roll heart.
He plays that guitar like he was born with it in his hand"
-Tom Marker 93XRT Chicago
Whether it be… Alone and acoustic…. Amped up and rocking with "The Secret Stash" …. Or playing guitar and singing in the All Chicago Blues Band "Cook County Kings". Frank Bang is devoted to the music of his youth. His heart is pure rock and roll, but his soul screams the blues. Like Mike Bloomfield and many more before him, it was the combination of raw talent, hard work and devotion that earned him respect, and a following, among blues loyalists. Blues guitar master Buddy Guy chose Frank to play blues guitar alongside him on his national and world tours. When you hear him play you will understand why.
For Frank, being on the road with Buddy Guy was an advanced education in the blues, especially in the fields of guitar mastery and showmanship. The experience has not only honed his ability with traditional material to that of a true journeyman, it has strengthened his contemporary guitar presence. As well as opening up Frank to musical influences from Rock to Country, Blues and Soul music. On the road, he has jammed with some of Rock and Roll's great legends including The Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, Robert Plant, Jimmy Vaughan, R.E.M. John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, to name a few. He has performed on the Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and numerous European and American television specials, including a documentary on BRAVO and Jules Holland "Live", for the BBC. His dozens of live radio broadcasts include shows on Mancow, KFOG, KBCO and E Town.
Soon he was living with the blues, working days as well as nights at Chicago's most world-renowned blues club, Buddy Guy's Legends. "It was like my own private blues university," he says of the years spent working his way up the ranks. He was soaking up musical genius and after-hours wisdom from local blues greats like Junior Wells, Otis Rush and Lonnie Brooks, as well as the world's most prominent touring acts. It was not long before Frank was being invited to sit in with the club's top performers.
A vote of confidence, and perhaps the first omen of events to follow, came from Buddy Guy when he put Frank and his funky, horn-driven blues-rock project, as a weekly feature at Legends. After observing Frank's evolution, Buddy Guy approached him and took him around the world to play the blues.
Following several years playing for Buddy Guy, Frank pursued a musical outlet of his own. What started with an acoustic guitar quickly transformed into a 4-piece rock engine. Frank Bang & The Secret Stash have a ROCK AMERICANA style equally comfortable with National acts or on there own. While their free-form sets may take off to bold new places in search of music without boundaries, Frank Bang & The Secret Stash never deviates from its intention to rock you to your roots.
Now after 3 disc's on his own label, Frank has teamed up with Producer Manny Sanchez ( Umphrey's McGee , Patrick Stump formerly of Fall Out Boy , North Mississippi All Stars) at IV Labs Studio in Chicago. This long time friendship brought true songs to life. Creating a full plate of Original Music. The new disc titled "Wonder Woman" awaits a late 2011 release….
Frank Bang & The Secret Stash Quick Facts
◦Buddy Guy chose Frank to play blues guitar alongside him on his national and world tours.
◦While with Buddy Guy…. Frank Has played on stage with: The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, R.E.M., Dave Matthews, Carlos Santana, Robert Plant, Jimmy Vaughan, John Mayer, Richie Sambora and Zakk Wylde, to name a few.
Frank Bang & The Secret Stash have opened for Johnny Winter, Dickey Betts, Umphrey's McGee, Dick Dale, Hank Williams Jr, Galactic , Little Feat , Back Door Slam to name a few.
◦Frank Bang's Secret Stash is:
Frank "Bang" Blinkalguitar, vocals
Tony MacQuaidguitar, vocals
Josh Hyllandelectric bass, vocals
Bob Spelbring drums, vocals
Discography:
Frank Bang & The Secret Stash " Wonder Woman" due for 2011 release
Frank Bang & The Secret Stash And They Named it Rock and Roll Sacred Lily Records 2008
Frank Bang & The Secret Stash Live from Martyr's Sacred Lily records 2006
Frank Bang & The secret Stash Frank Bang's Secret Stash, Sacred Lily Records 2004
Silvertone Records The Best of Buddy Guy Complete recordings 2006
Pirate Entertainment: Buddy Guy: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends -11 Separate recording.
Frank Bang-Alive One 2002-Sacred Lily Records-2002
The Buzz-The Buzz-Sacred Lily Records-1997
The Buzz-Live at Buddy Guy's Legends-Sacred Lily Records-2000
Television: Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and numerous European and American television specials, including a documentary on BRAVO and Jules Holland "Live", for the BBC.
Live radio broadcasts: Mancow, KFOG, KBCO and E Town.
In The Press:
"Once again proving that they (Buddy Guys' Band) are the finest backing group of musicians in all the land, Frank (Blinkal), Tony, Jay, Jerry and Orlando" - Pirate Entertainment
"… and then a totally cooking version of "Going Down To Louisiana" that had a guitar solo from Frank (Blinkal), leaving the crowd breathless…" - Pirate Entertainment
