Promotional ad in The Brown and White for the Lehigh University Battle of the Bands at Grace Hall in February 1988
Original BethTones guerrilla promotional flyer for the Lehigh University Battle of the Bands at Grace Hall in February 1988

We didn’t tell MTV and Energizer to do this…

The Lehigh community was duly warned via this promotional poster that appeared around campus. February, 1988.

Rick's first backstage pass from the MTV Battle of the Bands at Lehigh University on February 13, 1988

First-ever BethTones Backstage Pass. Security was extremely tight. 2/13/88.

The Brown and White newspaper coverage of the Lehigh University Battle of the Bands featuring The BethTones and winning band Connection, published February 16, 1988

The Brown and White 2/16/88 coverage of The Battle of the Bands

True story: when we were packing up our gear after the show, the guitarist from the winning band, Connection, came over to me and said, “you guys should have won. you were the best.”

Student op-ed in The Brown and White responding to coverage of the Lehigh University Battle of the Bands, published February 19, 1988
Original BethTones promotional party poster for Greek Week at Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Lehigh University, in 1987

One student took offense to the coverage, not the ‘Tones.

The BethTones' Ritchie talking with Lehigh University campus police mid-performance

A Brief Discussion with Campus Police, Spring 1990

Mid-performance, Ritchie receives some constructive feedback from local law enforcement: “If we hear one more obscenity, you’re not going to graduate.” The gig ended promptly thereafter.

Original handwritten lyrics for The Biker Tune by The BethTones, circa 1985

“The Biker Tune” original hand written lyrics, c. 1985