"James Gang" - Tom Kriss?

A question for you "James Gang" experts. What happened to (original?) bass player Tom Kriss - who played on "Yer Album"?

I absolutely loved his sound and playing (big, ballsy, resonant) - and have always wondered why he didn't continue with the band.

Not that it's ever surprising how "fluid" membership in those bands was back then - but they seemed to hit it big with him right in the middle of it - then he's gone!

That first album is a desert island recording for me.

The original CD version sounded like it was cut from vinyl - the latter version from master tapes. Anybody with the same opinion?

 

I' not sure whatever happened to him. The sound of his bass on Yer Album sounds great imo.

I agree on the sound of the cd's too.

 

I just read that he not only played the bass on Yer' Album but also carries credits as the Vibemaster, Vibraphone, Chorus, Choir, Flute and Group. Below could be just 70's carry overs but

He is also credited as the composer for...

1973 The James Gang: 15 Greatest Hits
1973 The James Gang: Best Of The James Gang (MCA)
1995 Joe Walsh: Look What I Did!: The Joe Walsh Anthology
1998 The James Gang: Best Of The James Gang (Repertoire)
2000 The James Gang: Greatest Hits
2004 The James Gang: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the James Gang

 

His album credits don't reveal anything else other than just bass and backup vocals. It's like he did one album and disappeared.

 

His playing on Lost Woman in particular is spectacular!

 

I looked into that once. I saw a picture of his bass guitar, complete with decorative floral cuttings on the wood body, on a fan forum - the one he apparently played on Yer Album. It was bought by one of their roadies and he conformed it. Around 1979-80 he was a tour manager for some band and had some sort of business contact with a guy named Paul Pope - an Ohio band or guitarist etc. After that - nada. Lotta people miss his style.

 

http://www.paulpopeonline.com/
...According to his webpage Paul Pope is a "rock & roll legend" and "one of the greatest showman in rock history". I live near Cleveland and I think maybe I've heard of him. Original James Gang guitarist Glenn Schwartz still plays venues fairly regularly in Cleveland area, usually with his brother.
http://www.buckeyebeat.com/jamesgang.html

 

Some sad news. But Tom Kriss passed away a few weeks ago. Tom and I were among the same circles of friends in the early to middle 1970s. But I lost track of him over the years. Here is his obit ..

God speed my old friend.

KRISS THOMAS KRISS, age 63, passed away on May 6, 2013 after a 2.5 year battle with cancer. He is survived by his brother, Richard, who now resides in Puerto Rico. Tom spent most of his life as a musician, notably as the original bass player for the "James Gang." For the past 20 years he worked for Tri-County Painting. His crew supported and treated him like family until the end. Per Tom's wishes, future royalty earnings from his recordings will be donated to the local Animal Protective League. Friends are invited to a MEMORIAL LUNCHEON CELEBRATING TOM'S LIFE on SATURDAY, May 18 at 2 P.M. at Mavis Winkles, 5005 Rockside Rd., Independence (Crown Centre, West of I-77). ARRANGEMENTS BY RYBICKI & SON, A GOLDEN RULE FUNERAL HOME.

 

The last I heard from tom was while we shared a room in Augusta Georgia during AIT in the US Army. We used to play guitars together. I went to Viet Nam, I never heard from him again. He wanted to be a Helicopter pilot like myself but the Army was not taking anymore trainees. Gregory Ganz, Martinez, CA

 

Hey Mr. Ganz, I'd like to get in touch with you regarding Tom Kriss as the label I research for is working with Jim Fox to release a one shot 1967 recording Tom and his brother Rich were involved with along with Glenn Schwartz, Bill Miller, and Mike Sands. Please drop me an email or let me know how best to reach you: nblakey23 at yahoo dot com Thanks!!!

 

Speaking of early James Gang, here's Glenn Schwartz - who Joe Walsh replaced after Glenn left for California and Pacific Gas & Electric and later The All Saved Freak Band - playing with the Mr. Stress Blues Band in 1967 (circa may) at The Coffeehouse in University Circle, Cleveland: http://flash.ulib.csuohio.edu/cmp/mrstress/

That's soon to be Rolling Stone writer Eric Ehrmann on second guitar and Paul Klonowski, seen playing drums here, was also in The Case of E.T. Hooley which featured future James Gang guitarist Richard Shack. Bill Miller aka Mr. Stress died earlier this year. He led the band from 1966 until 2010. Mike Sands, the keyboardist here, was the band's longest serving member spending close to 26 years in the group. Wayne O'Neill is MIA.

 

According to Jim Fox, who I interviewed earlier this year, he said Tom felt the band was moving into a direction that he wasn't too keen on, playing music that he was less and less fond of. Jim and Joe knew Dale Peters from The Case of E.T. Hooley (which also included Richard Shack who much later replaced Tommy Bolin in the James Gang) and asked him to jam. Everything fell into place and off they went. Sadly, about 1-2 weeks after Dale joined Tom came back to Jim and said he'd made a horrible mistake, but sadly it was too late by then.

I know Tom later played in the late Dave Griggs' band around 1969/70 and even later in the 80's played in a group called Tuff Enuff.

As an aside, those Sunday jam sessions led by Bill "Mr. Stress" Miller at the Coffeehouse at E. 115th & Euclid Ave in University Circle, Cleveland in the Spring of 1967 (see my earlier post) included future/former/current James Gang members Glenn Schwartz, Tom Kriss, Jim Fox, Dale Peters, Richard Shack, and Denny Chandler. Also taking part were Dave Griggs, Eric Ehrmann (MSBB), Don Baker (MSBB/Rainbow Canyon), Danny Klawon (The Choir), Wayne O'Neill (MSBB), Mike Sands (MSBB/Blue Drivers), Pete Sinks (MSBB/The Original Wolverines), and Paul Klonowski (The Case of E.T. Hooley/MSBB). Robb Murphy from Tiffany Shade may have also taken part.

Some pics of the joint are here: http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm/search/field/subjec/searchterm/The Coffeehouse/mode/exact

 

Sorry - quick correction: It was Tom's brother Rich who played in Dave Griggs' band The Joyful Wisdom, not Tom. Forgive me!

 

Hello Everyone, My name is John Havrilla. I used to fly model airplanes with Rick and his brother Tommy Kriss maybe 50 years ago. When I was young and wanted to play hooky from work I used to drive up to their house on Sladden st. and climb into the extra bed in Ricks attic. I was so sorry to just read about Tommy. I played in the Chuck Bates and the Barron's band for some time when it was Chuck Bates, Rick Kriss, Lou Oblock, Steve Nemeth and myself. We had some great times and good friends. I still have speakers in my stereo system that came from Mert Madsen from Tom King and the Starfires later known as the Outsiders. I'm trying to find a recording I made of Dave Griggs playing my Martin acoustic and singing Norwegian Wood in my living room way back then. Anyway I just wanted to say reading these posts brought up some great old memories. If Jim Fox happens to read this. Hello Jim.
John Havrilla.
PS. I have some pictures of Dave and the Joyful wisdom that I'll get ready for Facebook. Maybe I'll find the right place to put them here somewhere.

 

Thanks for sharing your memories/recollections. Fascinating stuff. Loved Kriss' bass playing on Yer Album.

 

Unfortunately, both Kriss brothers have passed away. However, some of their earliest recordings have just been released:

Schwartz Fox Blues Crusade "Sunday Morning Revival" LP - Smog Veil Records