Welcom aboard the good ship ANAMAZE, to my partners in crime,
THE ROCK and COSMOSKI PRODUCTIONS. It continues to be my pleasure to help Produce one of Miami's most successful shows, THE ROCK @ Miami's King of Clubs, the one and only TOBACCO ROAD. The ROCK is definitely the mainstay of Miami's Music Culture, providing a living showcase for some of the most interesting and innovative music, theatrical and conceptual acts, both in the South and around the Nation. We have provided a stage, format and opportunity for contemporary original talent for the past three years, showcasing acts from all over the nation and many parts of the world. MUSIC is the international language of vibrations, feelings, lyrics and new ideas, continuing the concept that new thought is vital to our well-being and ultimately survival.
By the grace of our common father, I have had the blessing of being where the new thought and new ideas are being generated and perpetuated.
In the late 60's
It was in Hawaii, where all the big San Francisco bands matriculated to play their music in Paradise (Greatful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Steppenwolf, among others. I was there, playing in Theater of Madness, a Psychedelic Multi-sensual Music Theater aggregation.
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In the early seventies, when psychedelic and Pop, would morph into Harder edged rock and then PUNK/NEW Wave, fortune placed me as the Lighting Director and part of a history making Production team that would set the standard for live PUNK/UNDERGROUND Rock at the World's most Famous Club, CBGB and OMFUG, where I would design one of the worlds greatest rock Icons and recognizable artifacts, the "CBGB and OMFUG Home of Underground Rock" Tee Shirt. Also played in, produced and managed one of the first wave's primal Power PUNK Pop acts, STARTOON, who's "ROCKIN ON THE BOWERY", became an instant PUNK underground classic, and theme song for CBGB, in 1977. This old school anthem struck a nerve around the world, gaining a Pick of the Week in CASHBOX Magazine, an industry Bible, along with Billboard. This record also established ANAMAZE RECORDS AND PRODUCTIONS as one of the first ten primal PUNK Labels.
In the eighties, as PUNK/NEW WAVE exploded out of little clubs, like CBGB's, MAX'S KANSAS CITY, and clubs all accross
the United Kingdom, London, Dublin and started to make it's way around the world, I became the LIGHTING DIRECTOR of THE RITZ, Manhattan's Next Big Thing Showplace. A new music explosion was taking place, once again shaping Pop Culture.
The Bands, their music and production values were merging with the mainstream, and taking their place in the everchanging world of music, entertainment and world culture.
Once again, I found myself smack dab in the middle of 'making it happen", as much dazzeled by the phenomena, as enjoying the ride. Moving forward, next in line was the PEPPERMINT LOUNGE on 15th street, previous home of a very famous Disco, as LIGHTING DIRECTOR. A steady diet of National and International Acts, came through with consistently great music and shows.
Then it was time to tour. I joined forces with Brittania Row, PINK FLOYD'S Legendary Production Company, as a member and contributor to their Thunder and Lightning Division, creating Lighting Designs and Shows for Robert Gordon, Psychedelic Furs, Ultra Vox, Talking Heads, Thompson Twins and others.
Mid eighties, I got involved in Film Production, after running a film stage and Video Production Company along with the Floyd's MICK TREADWELL and director John Talamini. We took over the space occupied by BRITTANIA ROW, after they decided to vacate the American Market, returning accross the Pond to England. There, we produced our own Rock Videos for new emerging talent and rented the stages to commercial film clients.
Around 1985, a new TV show had taken a long term lease on the Big Pink painted building, that once house Brit Row.
The company was Laurel TV and they were about to begin production on what would become a classic Horror/haha show called "TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE". After helping Laurel TV move in and become comfortable with the building, I was asked to come on the show as "Studio Manager", where I would remain for the better part of three seasons. The show shot for six months a year.
During the off time at "Darkside",
I became a crew member and then Assistant Production Manager at the Worlds archtypical Disco, STUDIO 54.
I oversaw daily
maintenence, repairs, installations, staffing and production aspects of running the Worlds Most well know Disco. I rarely worked the night shows, except extra special occassions, because even for my Rock n Roll sharpened sensibilities, this place was off the chain wild, and I decided to try to keep some of my sanity still intact.
Talk of overindulgence..and excess...this was the norm for Studio 54.
Next in the Ohms Cavalcade of events was to become business manager of SHADOWFAX Productions, a world class sound reinforcement company. While the principals were on the road servicing acts such as, PETER GABRIEL, THE CURE, THE PALLADIUM, I would hold the for down, making sure payables were paid, materials were ordered and accounts were maintained to keep the businesws afloat and growing. In addition, I would secure new accounts and major show in the Northeast Entertainment Market. I also was builing shows of my own and continuing to grow my client base.
This client base and the ability to supply them with a variety of live Production needs led to the development and formation of RAINBOW PRODUCTION SERVICES, with former partner Steve Dome, of New Jersey. Both being excellent Lighting Designers, now with our own gear, we started by servicing local, regional and National acts and Producers in need of Top Quality Production. We bacame major suppliers of Sound, Lighting, and Production Sales and Services to the Northeast Community, doing Local , regional and Touring Shows. Unfortunately, this company came to a screaching halt, upon the untimely demise of partner Steve Dome, due to an overdose in San Antonia, while out on a Grueling Tour with new speed metal kings, THE CRUMBSUCKERS, in early 1988.
Just before this fatefull occurance, I had accepted a position as Production Manager, Coordinator for a summer-full of show with all mainstream entertainment to take place in Swanzee New Hampshire, at a 30,000 seat venue, for SILVER BULLET PRODUCTIONS. My plan was to bring Steve Dome up with me for the summer, to help me manage and organize these events. We make plans ands God laffs.
I would be forced to
vacate our office, forgo my Rainbow Plans and go it on my own. That summer was filled with amazing shows, and catering to the production needs of World Class Stars, with acts like...CHUCH BERRY, ROY ORBISON, JAMES BROWN, CARL PERKINS, WILLIE NELSON, LA FAMILIA, KISS, LA GUNS, ALABAMA, OAK RIDGE BOYS, TANYA TUCKER, LEE GREENWOOD, THE BEACH BOYS (who I grew up idolizing and copying), AMERICA, MOMMAS and POPPAS, Cousin Brucie) and other groups who had provided the inspiration for my youth and aspirations to take my place in the world of music and entertainment. Talk about a dream coming true...to be considered as an active contemporary amongst my heros and archetypes, in front of as many as 30,000 people. Steve's death and then this. Total Ying/Yang, Pleasure/Pain, the two faces of drama, in my face. Organization and Chaos/ Heaven and Hell, just flips sides of the same coin. Another instance of a larger brushstroke at work. Things that make you go duhhhhh.
After this summer of total opposites, I decided to relocate and kick around on a piece of ground in my old hometown, in southern Florida. The cold became old, as I recoginzed that in my heart of hearts, is a place in the sunshine, near the surf I worshiped as a young man. I received an offer, from a former amate of mine, Pete Crockford, who ran the Lighting Division of Pink Floyd's Britannia Row, to come down to Florida and help him organize and start the Lighting Division of Wolf Sound, one of the south's leading edge Production Companies. I also had a desire and need to be close to my Mom and Dad, during their aging years. I'm glad I did and relish every moment I had with them to share the love they so gratiously provided for myself and my brother. They are both passed now, and I am standing as a living embodyment of their hopes dreams and asperations and the great love they had for each other, us and their fellow humans. I can only hope to honor them in my life and work.
Late 80's and early ninety's were spent doing more shows, Lighting, Managing, Producing all aspects of show production, first for WOLF SOUND, until breaking my back, slipping and herniating three discs in the lower part of my back, after which I had to take several months off to recooperate and rethink my future and what I would be able to do. I came back, reactivating ANAMAZE RECORDS and PRODUCTIONS, accentuating again the Production side of this business, providing and packaging all services formerly offered as well as some new ones. I found that in Florida, one had to provide the complete range of services and equipment, in order to compete. I hired others to replace me as a "Warm Body" to lift gear and place systems on stage.
By now, most of the equipment and logistics made sense, and my skills were developed to the level where I could competently direct others to execute shows.
I've always been able to sell what I believe in, so that's what I did,
secure the accounts and hire people and resources to fullfill thes needs. I also went out as a Touring Lighting Designer/Director and would soon learn to become competent in mixing Live Sound, as well as being a Studio Producer.
I just don't shlepp the gear anymore. Someone once told me "You don't get paid to Play music, you get paid to Move Furniture". I'm passed the furniture moving stage, got the injuries to prove it.
In the early nineties, I would go out with World Class Soviet Ballet on Ice, MOSCOW ON ICE. on these tours, I was Master Electrician and Production Manager. I helped design and oversee all aspects of Technical Production. I coordinated, Production Design, Sound, Lighting, Staging, Special Effects and Lazers for shows and helped the Operations manager with coordinating movement, lodging and care of 110 people, cast, staff and drivers, in moving this large production from town to town and state to state. This was during the era called Glastnost, at a time when the United States and Russia were dropping the Iron Curtain and trying to make friends and peace with each other. Talk about a recalibration of what I was taught in school and what I was learning in the real world of applied experience. I was travelling with Hard core Commies, KGB agents, incredibly talented Russian Championship Skaters, skilled Technicians, dance Captains, Interpreters and my Rowdy .group of Rock n Roll cowboys, able to handle anything anywhere anytime.
Well my brothers and Sisters, I soon learned that all the Bullship
they had tried to ship me in High school and college was ALL WRONG. The Russians were just like us and me. They were artists, trying to pursue their artist dreams, share their art and life views with the the rest of the world, they were told to hate. They wanted Love, Respect and artistic expression and freedom of thought, just like I did, and they, like myself, were willing to work their asses off to pursue this dream. When push came to shove and we were dependent upon each other for mutual survival, the international barriers fell, like the tumbling Berlin Wall and Melting Iron curtain. We bonded in mind and soul to make this amazing opportunity work to the combined satisfaction of each other and our audiences, all accross America. We fought together, not as conditioned combatants but as Brothers and Sisters. What a time of Liberation from dodgy old animosities and preconceived notions constructed by self serving political strategies and practioners, who sought to perpetuate hatred and ignorance. I learned many a great lesson over a bottle of Wodka and people eager to see how the other side lives and believes. I was being tempered to accept the beliefs of others, whom I had be conditioned to suspect and hate, What a Truckload. Schooling has to be subected to the verification to real life experience. Is the mirror true, or is the distortion turned up to to conceal the TRUTH.
Directly after the last Third Tour I did with Moscow on Ice, my Production Partner and longtime friend, brother, associate, teacher and Mate, English Pete was arrested, put in Chrome detention center and later deported back to England for have an expired Visa, putting an end to our Production Company.
I was offered a Position in a Music/Entertainment School called the Career Institute of Miami Beach, as a Lighting Instructor. I relished the chance to be able to pass along some of the experience I had gained, in my years of Live Production. In addition this was my time to teach ROCK N ROLL High School. I must say that I thouroughly enjoyed teaching and helping to enable others to experience the satisfying and oftentimes wildly exciting life that I've been privvy to. I taught for about three years, teaching LIGHTING, SOUND, STRUCTURE OF THE INDUSTRY and LIVE PRODUCTION, enjoying this uniq1ue experience. I'm glad to say that I've empowered some very promising and now successful people, who will hopefully carry on this great traddition, which has become my life.
I have travelled extensively throughout the world, sometimes just for a visit, most times working one, many or all the aspects of this business I've been involved throughout most of my Adult life, sometime in an Adult fashion sometimes as atrailblazing pioneer, with reckless abandon, most of the time taking the classic Extistential
Leap of Faith.
This is a part and parcel of what has brought me to TOBACCO ROAD, THE ROCK, COSMOSKI PRODUCTIONS and ANAMAZE BOOKIING AGENCY. Many a show, many a club, many a show and now many a Tour down the Road, and with Gods Grace it will continue for a long time to come. Still Love my Guitar, My Life, my Woman and all the wonderful people bands, friends and Organizations I've been fortunate enough to work and interact with.
WITH lOVE
COSMO OHMS, President
ANAMAZE BOOKING AGENCY
ANAMAZE RECORDS AND PRODUCTIONS
CO9SMOSKI PRODUCTIONS
TOBACCO ROAD PRODUCTION MANAGER AND SOUND ENGINEER
