A lot of musicians came out of the Youngstown area, but none compare to Stiv Bators. .Loud and Snotty Girard, Ohio punk rock pioneer Stiv Bators died in Paris on 6-4-90. Every year on his birthday and the anniversary of his passing I always post a bunch of videos in his memory. I think it's so cool that such a unique entertainer is from our area. Here are some video clips and links about Stiv. The story of how he met the Ramones in Youngstown is a classic. Frank Secich from Sharon was the guitarist and bassist for the Stiv Bators band from 1979 until 1981. He shares a lot of cool memories of Stiv in his book Circumstantial Evidence. CLICK HERE FOR A REVIEW
According to his obit in Musician Magazine this is how he met The Ramones in Youngstown.
STIV GREW UP AN ONLY CHILD AND ALWAYS CRAVED BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION, OF WHICH THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. HE MADE AN IMPACT ON THE NEW YORK PUNK SCENE EVEN BEFORE HE GOT HERE. ON THE RAMONES FIRST TRIP TO OHIO, THEY WERE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN A CAR FULL OF SCREAMING KIDS PULLED ALONGSIDE. SUDDENLY THE DRIVER, STARK NAKED, CRAWLED OUT THE WINDOW AND SOMERSAULTED FROM THE HOOD ONTO THE ROOF WHERE HE STOOD AS THEY SPED ALONG AT 70 M.P.H. "CAR SURFING," STIV CALLED IT. THE RAMONES WERE NEITHER THE FIRST NOR THE LAST TO SEE IT.
Check out his complete obit here