Biography

Look in any book on the History of Rock and Roll and you will find Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen The band's name was inspired by 1950's film serials featuring the character Kommando Kody and from a feature version of an earlier serial, King of the Rocket Men, released under the title Lost Planet Airmen. The band's founder and leader, George Frayne, took the stage name Commander Cody. Among many other achievements, this eight piece super band's album Deep in the Heart of Texas is one of Rolling Stone Magazine's top 100 albums of all time. Its no wonder Billy C Farlow, the lead singer, also played trumpet and blues harp. The fiddler, Andy Stein, played saxophone and the guitar player, Bill Kirchen, played trombone. Cody the piano pounder, doubled on Kazoo. And they all sang. They toured non stop to a legion of dedicated fans across the globe and back and recorded seven original albums before the band finally broke up and each member went their separate ways in 1977.
Since the breakup, each band member has continued the legend by fronting and recording their own smaller groups, sitting in with each other from time to time, and doing occasional band reunion performances.
In 1986, the Commander Cody Band recorded the powerful album, Let's Rock! that was released on Blind Pig. Let's Rock! does just that, featuring compositions in the old Cody tradition like "Truck Stop at the End of the World" and "Rockabilly Funeral" among others.
The Commander Cody Band relocated to the east coast in 1997 and has been going strong ever since. Cody and his group are still wowing crowds at festivals, giant biker conventions and college concerts in the U.S. and Europe, as well as sleazy, down home, uptown and/or very posh roadhouses and bars. As of late Cody has also been artist in residence as well as boogie woogie pianist extraordinaire on The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise extravaganzas. George Frayne is also a highly respected and sought after artist, having received his bachelor's degree in Design from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in Sculpture and Painting from the Rackham School of Graduate Studies of the University of Michigan. He has taught at the University of Michigan and Wisconsin State University, and has had his art exhibited at numerous shows.

Today the Commander Cody Band features Mark Emerick on guitar, Steve Barbuto on drums, Chris Olsen on pedal steel, and Randy Bramwell on bass. Cody is still trying to pound his piano into submission. And they all sing.



When Commander Cody suggested this new project during a casual conversation with label owner Jerry Del Giudice, Blind Pig Records quickly signed on. It's the Commander's first studio record in 20 years. Ever since his wild, early days as front man for the Lost Planet Airmen the Old Commander has plowed his own path through the fields of the American music scene as one of its few truly unique and iconoclastic figures. His special blend of old-time rock 'n' roll, redneck country, boogie-woogie and swing has virtually defined American roots music. Dopers, Drunks And Everyday Losers will delight old and new fans alike with its mix of new songs and classics from the Cody catalog. Produced by Cody and Professor Louie Hurwitz of Cromatix fame at Woodstock Studio in Woodstock New York, the album's highlights include updated versions of "Seeds and Stems Again", "Seven-Eleven", "Wine, Do Yer Stuff", "Semi Truck" and first time cover versions by Cody of "Tennessee Plates" and the "No, No Song" as well as many new surprises, 14 tracks in all.
As the Commander states from Ozone headquarters in Saratoga Springs, New York "I'm glad Blind Pig Records was excited about this project and gave us the opportunity to make the recording we wanted to make. I've known these guys since their Ann Arbor days and I know they'll do a great job of getting the word out. Now we just want to get out there and continue to bring our music to the people. Let's Rock USA!"