Roadmaster was an American rock band from Indianapolis, Indiana, that was popular in the Midwest in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They recorded four albums for Village/Mercury Records. Members of the band played for several other successful rock acts with Midwestern roots from the ‘70s to the 1990s.
History
Roadmaster started as Pure Funk, a popular Indiana college funk band, founded in 1969 by keyboard player, Michael Read, vocalist, Asher “Adam Smasher” Benrubi, and guitarist, Rob Swaynie. Bassist Toby Myers joined the band in 1971. Guitarist Rick Benick met Read in the early 1970s when Benick moved to Indiana to join the Kokomo, Indiana, rock band, Nebula Spoon, but some time thereafter joined Pure Funk. Drummer Steve Riley rounded out their lineup. In 1974 the band changed its name to Roadmaster and its musical style began to evolve into a big guitar and keyboard-centered “arena” rock sound. Roadmaster was discovered by Todd Rundgren, who invited the band to New York to record a demo, which led to a contract with Indianapolis record label Village Records. Rundgren produced three songs on their eponymous 1976 debut album. After that release, Smasher left the band, ultimately to pursue a career as a radio DJ, and former Nebula Spoon vocalist, Steve “Mac” McNally, replaced him. Riley also left, to be replaced by former Exile drummer, Bobby Johns. With that lineup, Roadmaster recorded one more album for Village and two more for Mercury Records from 1978-80. In the late ‘70s, Roadmaster toured with Pat Travers and Blue Öyster Cult and opened throughout the Midwest for mainstream rock acts such as The Cars, Cheap Trick, Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, Todd Rundgren, Rush, and ZZ Top. The band members wrote their own songs and their sound was similar to that of popular arena rock acts like Styx, Foreigner, Kansas, and REO Speedwagon. Their most popular songs included “Doesn’t Mean a Thing,” “Higher, Higher,” “Say You Wanna Be With Me,” “Hey World,” and their signature anthem, “Sweet Music.” Although they were very popular at home, Roadmaster was unable to break through nationally and their record deal with Mercury ended in 1980. Soon afterwards, McNally left the band. Craig Watson and Frank Bradford sang with the band after his departure. Tim Berry also replaced Johns as the band’s drummer. In 1982, Toby Myers left to play for the next decade and a half with Seymour, Indiana, native, John Mellencamp. He was replaced by Peter Bailey and then by John Gennell. Roadmaster carried on for another year but broke up in 1983. After the breakup, Benick, Read, and Berry played dates with Mitch Ryder. Mac McNally sang briefly in the early ‘80s with former members of The Knack in The Game. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Myers, Benick, and Read played with Brazil, Indiana, rocker, Henry Lee Summer. Original drummer, Steve Riley, played with W.A.S.P. in the mid-‘80s; in the late ‘80s he joined L.A. Guns and remained with them until recently. Later in the ‘90s through the early 2000s, Summer, Benick and Read, along with former Faith Band vocalist, Carl Storie, played in the Indianapolis cover band, the Alligator Brothers. Roadmaster reunited for several shows in 1988-90, 1993, 1997, and 2018. In 1989, with their ’78-’80 lineup, they recorded their last album, which included live performances of their most popular songs. Videos of their 1993 performances were recorded and published by Retrospect Records. Mac McNally died of pancreatic cancer in 1998. Most recently, in February 2018, surviving members of the band reunited for a benefit concert for Rick Benick, who had been diagnosed with leukemia. Benick died in June 2018.
