Strongbow -

Strongbow was an American symphonic/hard-rock band that issued a 1973 standalone single on self-press Epodus, followed by a 1975 album on Southwind, a subsidiary of Buddah.

Members: Bill Bendler (vocals), Michael Shortland (guitar), John Stelzer (organ, synthesizer, saxophone, flute, vocals), John Durzo (bass), David Smith (drums), Bob Hill (guitar, 1970-71), Mike Haines (bass, 1970-71)

Background

Strongbow formed in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970 around singer-guitarist Bob Hill, bassist Mike Haines, and drummer David Smith. Hill, Haines, and Smith had played in the Trollie, a 1969 Columbus trio that moved from older show-band conventions into heavier original material. The first Strongbow secured an opening slot for Steppenwolf at Veterans Memorial, then ended its run in 1971.

In 1972, Smith met singer-trombonist Bill Bendler while both played in the Rhodes Brothers touring band. Smith and Bendler left that circuit to form Axis, where Haines later rejoined Smith and brought the Strongbow name back into use. Guitarist Michael Shortland and keyboardist-reed player John Stelzer entered after guitarist Buzz Ashton left, and the group settled into a five-piece with Bendler, Shortland, Stelzer, Haines, and Smith.

In summer 1973, Strongbow recorded “If You’re Going to the City” (b/w “Change”) at Cleveland Recording and issued the single on Epodus, the band’s own label. Bassist John Durzo replaced Haines in October 1973, leaving the album lineup as singer Bill Bendler (piano, electric trombone), guitarist Michael Shortland, bassist John Durzo, drummer David Smith, and keyboardist-reed player John Stelzer (organ, synthesizer, Mellotron, saxophones, flute, vocals). Strongbow toured across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, Georgia, and Florida with sets built mostly from original material.

Strongbow cut a seven-song demo album at Owl Recording Studios in Columbus. Southwind, a Buddah-distributed label, took the group after those recordings and placed the band with producer Alan Lorber.

Strongbow

Strongbow released their singular self-titled album in 1975 on Southwind.

The album contains six Bill Bendler titles and one David Smith title. The album presents the Southwind lineup with Bendler on vocals, piano, and electric trombone; John Durzo on Fender bass and vocals; Smith on drums and vocals; Michael Shortland on guitar and vocals; and John Stelzer on organ, synthesizer, Mellotron, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, and vocals. Smith wrote and sings “Wine Eyes.”

“One Armed Bandit” lunges through a sequenced entry, echo trails, short section cuts, and bright punctuations. “Sister Sea” opens on quick pedal figures before wider chordal swells broaden the track. “The Only One Around” glides through soft electric shimmer, echo-smudged riffing, close harmonies, and a muted solo break.

“Move Over Gloom” snaps from flange smear into a relay of short figures and treated reed color. “How Can I Be Loving You” narrows around two solo breaks without crowding the vocal line. “Wine Eyes” lightens the pace behind Smith’s lead and answers it with paired electric lines. “Hazy May” coils around wah-smeared riffing, flanged edges, and distorted tonal blur.

A1. “One Armed Bandit” (3:42)
A2. “Sister Sea” (5:37)
A3. “The Only One Around” (9:51)

B1. “Move Over Gloom” (5:08)
B2. “How Can I Be Loving You” (5:56)
B3. “Wine Eyes” (2:42) – Smith
B4. “Hazy May” (6:52)

Strongbow recorded the album at Mega Sound Studio, Bailey, North Carolina, with producer Alan Lorber and engineer Richard Royall. The sessions remade material that the band had already demoed at Owl Recording Studios in Columbus. Doug Rider remixed the album at Bell Sound Studios.

Strongbow appeared in a sleeve with packaging direction by Milton Sincoff, cover illustration by Martin Gulser, and photography by Jeff Chrisman. The front cover shows a storm scene with clouds, waves, broken structures, and cracked-stone lettering across the lower edge. The back cover uses a bordered group photograph with credits printed above the image.

Postlude

Strongbow continued after the Southwind album with Midwest and West Coast dates. Durzo left in late 1976, and bassist Mike Shoaf took his place during the band’s final stretch. Strongbow reunited for a 1979 show at the Sugar Shack, then reconvened more than four decades later for three reunion shows.

In 2001, Strongbow issued Con Carne, a CD drawn from the earlier Owl Recording Studios demos. Durzo later mixed and mastered tracks from the 2021 reunion shows for Strongbow & Friends – 42 Years Later.

Durzo continued in Columbus bands after Strongbow. He joined Tyler, then worked with the Muff Bros, the Muffs, Money, Slamm, Roi Blu, Little Thugs, the Big E Band, and Absolute Truth. After a move to Florida, he recorded with JD Blackfoot and later returned to Money-related activity through Money-muffs.

Smith had entered the second Strongbow phase through Axis, the group that restored the Strongbow name before the Southwind lineup settled. Stelzer had played keyboards and reeds with White Heart before Strongbow. Shortland had earlier played guitar with J.D. Blackfoot and Uncle Billy, including the 1970 Mus-i-Col single “Wondering Where You Are” backed with “It Don’t Mean a Thing.”

Hill remained active in the Columbus rock scene after the first Strongbow lineup. His later bands included Capital City Rockets, which also drew on musicians from earlier Columbus groups.

Discography: