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The classic Astronauts lineup—Rich Fifield (the only member who hadn’t graduated from Boulder High), Dennis Lindsey and Bob Demmon on guitars, Jon Storm Patterson on bass and drummer Jim Gallagher—played rock ‘n’ roll and R&B hits of the day to pre-hippie crowds around the University of Colorado campus circa 1962.
Sep 30, 2022 · Rich Fifield, guitarist in the ‘60s surf band The Astronauts, died November 16. He was 78. Formed in 1956 as The Stormtroupers by four high school friends in Boulder, Colorado, the band changed its name after Fifield joined in ’61.
The classic Astronauts lineup of Rich Fifield, Dennis Lindsey and Demmon on guitars, Patterson on bass and a new drummer: Jim Gallagher ended up with a long-term recording contract. The Astronauts were the first Boulder band to make the national charts.
In 1961, they became The Astronauts after adding Richard Otis "Rich" Fifield (vocals, guitar) and Dick Sellars (guitar), the change of band name recognising the fascist connotations of the previous name (despite the different spelling) and to pay tribute to local hero, astronaut Scott Carpenter.
- 1961–1968
- Palladium, RCA Victor
- Surf
- Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
So even though the landlocked group had never played surf music (or even surfed, for that matter), the classic Astronauts lineup—Rich Fifield, Dennis Lindsey and Bob Demmon on guitars, Jon Storm Patterson on bass and drummer Jim Gallagher—ended up with a long-term recording contract.
R.I.P. guitarist Rich Fifield and drummer Jim Gallagher of the Astronauts, who passed away on November 18 and 20, respectively. Their great musical legacy lives on—Colorado Music Experience celebrates the Astronauts’ story through a mini-documentary video, an interview-based profile and a podcast interview with Gallagher.
Remaining members Stormy and Rich called it quits in 1968 after a lone 45 under the name SunshineWard, then Fifield formed the short-lived rock band Hardwater. By the end of the decade it was all over.
