THE COACHMEN


The Coachmen, one of the most popular and successful
 rock bands in the Midwest, reunited with original
 members, Rick Bell, Jeff Travis, Craig Perkins,
 "Red" Freeman and Bruce Watson, at the August 23,
 1997 show at the Pla-Mor Ballroom in Lincoln.
 Originally from Lincoln, the Coachmen were formed in
 1964 and performed regionally at teen dances
 like 9-high, Keen Time, and Woods Park Pool
 Parties.
In January 1965, The Coachmen won the KOIL radio
 Battle of the Bands in Omaha. Shortly thereafter
 they recorded and released "Mr. Moon", written by
 Freeman, first on the local MMC record label,
 later on Bear Records out of Minneapolis. The song
 was a smash hit...reaching #1 on the local charts in
 the fall of 1965, as well as going to #1 in regional
 markets like San Francisco and Sacremento California,
 Salem Oregon, and Minneapolis.
By 1966 they had relocated to Omaha, Ne,
 toured over a 17 state area in their 44-passenger
 bus, and hosted their own TV show in Omaha, aired
 just after Dick Clark's American Bandstand...
 performing their own hits, and featuring guest
 appearances by other local rock bands.