As the old song goes, “The boys are back in town.” Well, at least they were on Saturday, May 14. After four decades apart, four bands reunited to jam together at the Knights of Columbus Duchesne grounds for what was dubbed the “Flo Mo Rock Show.”

What started out in the mid 70s as friends John Ampleman, Randy Keeven, and Mike West just playing around on John’s older brother’s band equipment, turned into the beginning of a life-long passion for performing music.

Once Tim Monahan was introduced to the friends in 1977, the band Mass Confusion was born, named after a race car owned by Randy’s brother. It was Tim Monahan who orchestrated the reunion event that was a long time in the making.

“I joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1989. I would come home to visit twice a year; Valley of Flowers and Florissant’s Fall Festival. Every time I visited, I would try to get the bands back together for a ‘reunion’ jam,” said Monahan.

Mass Confusion played music that was heard on KSHE 95 and performed around the Florissant area playing mostly for friend’s parties, bars, and weddings.

Around 1981, Tom Corey (Guitar, Vocals) joined Mass Confusion and Randy left and formed a band called Atlantis. The last performance of Mass Confusion was Oct. 30, 1982 at a Halloween party at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall on New Halls Ferry Rd.

John, Mike, and Tom went on to form the band Cruise Control and played music around the St. Louis area . Cruise Control added two members, Rich Kruse (Guitar, Vocals), and Steve Tunze (Keyboards, Vocals). Cruise Control stopped performing around 1994.

Atlantis consisted of Randy Keeven (Bass guitar, Vocals), Bill Krechel (Drums, Vocals), John Shanahan (Guitar, Vocals) Jerry Heflin (Guitar, Vocals), Matt Fogarty (Saxophone, Vocals), and Tim Stohner (Keyboards, Vocals). Atlantis last played professionally around 1990.

The John Bourgeois Band also played with Atlantis and has ties to John Ampleman’s nephew, Patrick. It all seems to have the cumulative effect of “6 degrees of Kevin Bacon,” with the four bands knowing and sharing many members.

I, for one, hope these bands play together again in future. Their spirit and “old school” vibe really shined in the park and gave everyone permission to have a good time.

Photo Captions:

Editor’s note: In the print version, page one photo caption correction:

The band Mass Confusion, consisting of Tim Monahan (Guitar, Vocals), John Ampleman (Drums, Vocals), Tom Corey (Guitar, Vocals), and Randy Keeven (Bass guitar).

Many people danced to the songs played by the band Atlantis. Jerry Heflin (Guitar, Vocals), Bill Krechel (Drums, Vocals), Randy Keeven (Bass guitar, Vocals), John Shanahan (Guitar, Vocals) Matt Fogarty (Saxophone, Vocals). Tim Stohner (Keyboards, Vocals) not pictured.

Tim Monahan, of the band Mass Confusion, rocks out at the reunion concert held May 14, 2022.

Bill Krechel, drummer and vocalist for the band Atlantis, fills in on the drums for the band Mass Confusion.

Tim Monahan and John Ampleman, of the band Mass Confusion.

VFW Post 4105 employees Jan, Sherri, and JoAnne served many patrons over the Valley of Flowers and Reunion concert weekends.

Georgia Jump (3) enjoyed holding a puppy as she watched the bands perform at the Knights of Columbus Duschene grounds.