Leavin’ – Primevil 1974
One of the planet’s most incredible and least known bands “Primevil” was managed by Indy’s WNAP Radio Music Director Michael T. John Griffin and were somehow tagged the “baddest band what am”. Primevil burnt up the stages in Indiana in 73 and 74 and released what is now the highly prized “Smokin” Bats at Campton’s” LP that was produced and recorded at Moe Whittemore’s legendary 700 West Studio located in New Palestine Indiana. Highlights of the Primevil bands’ escapades were opening for such legends as Z Z Top, Climax Blues Band, Muddy Waters, Renaissance, Billy Cobham, Roy Buchanan, Kansas and more!
Smokin’ Bats at Comptons was considered one of the heavy rock monsters of the Midwest. With a heaviness that sounds like Black Sabbath lead by two virtuoso guitarists Jay Wilfong and Larry Lucas. Their chemistry can be heard on “Hey, Lover” allegedly composed and recorded in one night in Whittemore’s New Palestine studio. I’ll include a video to this song at a later date. Legend has it there used to be hundred count boxes of this record floating around. At least one thrift store was reputed to have had multiple copies of the lp at one time. Today, it is relatively scarce and commands about $300 value of among both psych and heavy rock collectors.
