Editor, OBSERVER

The OBSERVER has published many articles about The Wretched Group over the years. As the founding member of the band, I would like to submit the following flashback from my own knowledge and belief to begin to straighten the record.

I was the founding member of The Wretched Group, serving as lead guitar and vocals starting in 1964, when the band was initially known simply as The Group. Early rehearsals took place in my parents’ garage on Center Street in Fredonia. Leigh Green served as the first lead vocalist before being replaced by Hank McKee on lead vocals.

The band’s first public gig occurred in 1964 at Dunkirk Junior High School, where the audience (particularly the girls) responded with screams. By 1965, the name had changed to The Wretched Group. My father, Peter Giatas, designed the distinctive Old English lettering for the drummer’s bass drum head. I continued in my role as lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter until the spring of 1968. I played a Gibson Firebird guitar. Later, I performed with a blonde Fender Telecaster.

The band, consisting of members from the Fredonia and Dunkirk High School Classes of 1968, performed at local teen dances and venues such as Fredonia’s Teen Center “The Hub,” St. Anthony’s CYO Youth Center, and the Fredonia Grange Hall.

They were the first band to play at The Hub on its opening night in 1967. The Wretched Group was regularly hired to provide the music for various high school dances and proms in 1967 and 1968. The original lineup disbanded in 1968 as members graduated and headed to college.

In 1999, I returned to perform with the original band members for two reunion gigs, playing rhythm 12-string guitar and vocals. I also participated in a second set of reunion performances before stepping away due to personal and artistic differences, as well as health issues. My original recordings can be found on my website at: www.jimgiatas.com

I attended nearly every other reunion performance over the years as an interested observer.

In my view, the band was never quite the same after my departure. At my final performance with the group, I sang Brian Wilson’s beautiful song “Caroline, No” solo over the existing Beach Boys instrumental track. The bittersweet lyrics captured my melancholy feelings toward the band at that time.

Lyrics to “Caroline, No” (Brian Wilson / Tony Asher, from the Beach Boys’ *Pet Sounds*, 1966)

Where did your long hair go?

Where is the girl I used to know?

How could you lose that happy glow?

Oh, Caroline, no

Who took that look away?

I remember how you used to say

You’d never change, but that’s not true

Oh, Caroline, you

Break my heart

I only want to run and hide

It’s so sad to watch a sweet thing die

Oh, Caroline, why?

Could I ever find in you again

Things that made me love you so much then?

Could we ever get ’em back once they had gone?

Oh, Caroline, no!

JIM GIATAS,

Fredonia