The Players |
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who done what when |
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Steve Quinney (lead vocals) also known as the Grampsfather or just plain Gramps.
Before Cirkus, he was lead singer with Kraun Zeller, Jubal, then 10th Avenue. Went on after Cirkus to form a band with Squire (see below) called The Suspects. Currently, he's running a successful karaoke/entertainment business based in Raleigh, NC. It's a natural for him because all he has to do is talk people into making fools of themselves, something he's been very good at for years. He’s been married to his lovely wife, Shelley, for over 10 years. They share their home with their myriad of children and dogs.
Has also been call The Muncher. (Don't ask us...Ask The Gearbox.)
POP QUIZ: Do any former members of cirkus know who The Gearbox was? (We see phoo frantically waving his hand. Anyone else?)
Currently, Karaoke King of NC
And he’s STILL the Grampsfather.
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Kelly Craven (drums, waffles) also known as Phooey, The Phoo, or just Phoo
Before bands were Kraun Zeller (with Steve Quinney) and Jubal (with Steve and Randy Lee); After bands were PG-13 and Jon Byrd and Abandon Reason.
(PG-13 included lead vocalist Jesse James Dupree, of Jackyl fame, and guitarist, John Hayes. John, who later joined JJD, Jesse's solo project, and is formerly a member of Mother's Finest. PG-13 also included Greenville, NC, resident Chick Chamlee as keyboardist. )
Kelly has been assimilated into the Evil Borg, as a Software Design Engineerworking on some really cool musical stuff. He is living in the Seattle area with his lovely wife, Heather, and their 3 children.
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Randy Lee (bass) Pepsi and pork rindsBreakfast of Champions
Played with Jubal prior to Cirkus. Last known to still be living in Greenville, NC, selling furniture.
The answer to the question posted here for ages ("You out there Randy?") is a resoundingly YES! He is indeed out there and still living in Greenville selling furniture. Randy remains in full possession of his considerable bad-ass bass skills
and we’re really glad we finally found him.
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Mike Phlegler (guitar) Olan Mills photographer
Sometimes known as Foghat. Has been known to send out Christmas cards with other peoples baby pictures in them (really!). The babies were so ugly that the parents wouldn't buy the pictures so they were left at Olan Mills to be thrown away. Why waste a perfectly good print? ("Flagler used to tell me that he loved playing minor chords up the neck, because he could stick his middle finger out and give Mason the bird." Don Non)
We heard he was living in Arizona and still working for Olan Mills, but. seems like we were misinformed. At least after all these years we know how to spell Phlegar.
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Don Parker (guitar) also known as Don Non
After leaving Cirkus in the middle of the night, he went on to form a band called Baby Blue, who owned their own nightclub called
Baby Blue! (We could say something really snide here
but we won't.) His happiest moments included rubbernecking at car wrecks.
Currently living in Atlanta, working as Director of Information Technology for an affiliate of a well known phone company. Still playing guitar after all these years with a band called Sling A Cat. (Somehow, we find that surprisingly fitting!)
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Bob Stallings (guitar)
We tried to think of some snappy quote, but Bob wasn't in the band long enough to leave a lasting impression. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
Previously formed Tera Nova, whose members went on to play with Steve Morse (bassist Jerry Peek), Glass Moon (keyboardist Dave Adams), and other better to well known bands.
A few months after leaving Cirkus to join Razzmatazz, Bob was in an auto accident that left him unable to speak and walk without major rehabilitation. He slowly recovered from the speech loss and was able to relearn walking, fortunately, but he never regained the memory of being a guitar player. The last we heard he had taken up the guitar again, and was a very quick study. We wish him all the best!
Replaced: Mike Phleger
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Gavin Frisbee (guitar) Yes, that's his real name!
After Cirkus, put together a Rod Stewart tribute show (Ricky Smith) then became a gay activist in Florida. (That's what we heard anyway. We wouldn't intentionally start unfounded rumors of this nature you know. Gavin if your are out there
) Yes, he has a funny name and really looks a bit like young Rod Stewart to top it off. His parents are floristsyes, Frisbee Florist in Fayetteville, NC. (We're not making this up, we swear!)
Replaced: Bob Stallings
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Sean Carmichael (guitar) "Real men use Marshalls"
Prior to Cirkus, played with The Jamie Hoover Group ("a nice little 4 piece orchestra"Ted Kemp, booking agent <shudder>) Jamie, later being of The Spongetones and The Van deLecki's fame, among others, has become a very successful record producer.
Sean now lives in the Atlanta area working for a local trade school and maintains his sanity by playing with The Terry Flynn Band.
Replaced: Gavin Frisbee
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Bob Knight (guitar) "You know what I mean, man? You know what I'm talking about."
Had previously played with a band called Sassy, and also laid claim to playing with Vicki Sue Robinson (of "Turn the Beat Around" renown) as well as beginning his Cirkus life as the singing soundman. Last known to be in Roanoke, VA doing guitar repair and teaching guitar. Are you out there, Bob?
We recently heard a rumor that Bob might be in Maine teaching math. We don't know this for a fact but we are still searching. His middle name is Jetson
yes, as in George
he must had had some interesting parents. That should make an internet search a little easier
but it doesn't. Do you have any idea how many hits you get on Google for "Bob Knight"? Yikes.
Replaced: Don Parker
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Eric Bennett (bass) also known as WB or Walbo (trust us - you really don't want to know)
We know he played with somebody before Cirkus, but we can't remember the name of the band. Currently works for a major cable television company in the Raleigh area and is still with his long-time wife, Pam, and their 2 children. Philosophy was and still is: "Play 'A' and dance."
Shared haircut and parents with Rodger.
Replaced: Randy Lee
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Steve Long (guitar) also known as WW (speculate all you want, but we're not telling)
After Cirkus, he went on to form with a band called Diamonds which featured the former lead singer from Razzmatazz, Brent Kleinville. (Bob Stallings had been a member of Razz, also.) Married the lovely Brewer sister, Ann, from Winston-Salem (We called her Spot, don't really know why, except it may have something to do with Moose, a former girlfriend of Steve'sWe had nicknames for scads of folks that we knew that were generally descriptive of the person they were attached to, but that "rule" didn’t apply to Ann. She was FAR from being, er, dog-like.). Moved to Ft. Lauderdale for a while, then found his way back to Charlotte where he apparently did a stint with The Vandals (see the Carowinds page) as their bass player before joining his current band, Too Much Sylvia. 'The Car'"Look, Ma, it's a giant can of Orange Crush!"is most likely still going.
Replaced: Bob Knight
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Rodger Bennett (guitar) "Just call me Big Daddy"
There was another part to this nickname, but in trying to keep this site rated G, we're leaving that out. After leaving Cirkus, he went back to playing with Sidewinder (Sidewinder placed 2nd in the national finals of the TV show Star Search, beaten by Sawyer Brown), from whom we had stolen him earlier. Left Sidewinder yet again, and went to work for a major insurance company for whom he still toils in the Raleigh area. Surfaces occasionally at Sidewinder reunion dates, and can still play a mean guitar.
Shared parents and haircut with Eric.
Replaced: Steve Long
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No Body (guitar)
When "Big Daddy" left, we eventually decided that there was no need to replace him. Sean took over all guitar duties and we went on as a power trio (we're not counting Gramps, but in some circles vocalist are considered musicians).
Not Replaced: Rodger Bennett
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Squire Lilly (bass) Yes, that's his real name, too!
After Cirkus, he and Steve formed a short-lived band called The Suspects. Went home to Johnson City, TN afterwards, but according to Steve, Squire is now the city planner for a large major city in the Southeast
hmm, that’s kind of scary if true! He's currently playing the same beat to hell bass with Zeke Crawford.
Replaced: Eric Bennett
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Absolutely Nobody
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Until Now We had so much fun we didn't what it to end.
The 2003 Reunion went so well and Cirkus had so much fun that the boys decided to pick up a few more dates. Since not everyone could make the gigs alternate arangements had to be made.
Replaced: See below
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Steve Quinney (vocals) Yes, he's back!
Back for the Reunion 2003 Concert and the latest incarnation of Cirkus!
Replaced: Himself. It's as if he was never gone!
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Rodger Bennett (guitar) Yes, he's back!
Slacker couldn't make the Reunion 2003 Concert, but he's whole hog up for the latest incarnation of Cirkus!
Replaced: Himself. It's as if he was never gone!
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Randy Lee (bass) Yes, he's back!
Back for the Reunion 2003 Concert and the latest incarnation of Cirkus!
Replaced: Himself. It's as if he was never gone!
(Can you see a pattern here?)
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Jason Patterson (drums) A long time friend of the bands takes over the tapping.
Formerly of both Nantucket and Cry Of Love, Jason is one of the best drummers from the area
and he wields a mean cowboy hat!
Replaced: Kelly Craven
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Dave Cook (drums) Enjoys waiting for the Chicago Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup.
Chicago boy goes south, via Canada. Strongly denies any involvement with the Wilson sisters from Heart. (We bet
come on Davewhat's the real deal?)
Replaced: Jason Patterson
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and that's the way it is.
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