The Metromen

In late 1979 singer-songwriter Tom Teeley teamed up with longtime collaborator Russ Velazquez to start writing pared-down songs for a new project, bassist Bill Teeley joined, and finally multi-instrumentalist-drummer-songwriter Bob Miller was brought in to replace the first drummer Bennet Gale, thus creating 'The Metromen'. Miller, Velazquez and Tom Teeley had worked together previously in 1975-1976 as part of a five-piece pop-fusion band Jester, which emulated the more complex musical acts of the day such as Gentle Giant, Frank Zappa, and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Little of the fusion roots carried over into the new project, but the Zappa-style humor was kept intact. Shortly after their formation, the band signed a recording contract with Genya Ravan, most well known for her late 60's band Ten Wheel Drive. Ravan was starting an independent record label called Polish Records [as in polish the car]. The label would feature other up-and-coming NYC-based new wave bands,^[1] as well as perennials such as Ronnie Spector who was also signed to the fledgling label.

In mid 1980 The Metromen went into the studio, holing up at the famous Mediasound Studios on West 57th St. under the engineering skills of Harvey Goldberg. After completion of the album, the band began performing and showcasing the material in the New York club scene. Polish Records failed to launch as a viable label as a result of the label not being able to secure distribution of its product, and by 1981, the band and Polish Records went their separate ways. Without a recording deal, the Metromen set about producing and recording in their own facility, a catalog of new material which was meant to secure another recording contract for the band. To date, none of these Metromen recordings or albums have ever had commercial release.