Count Five
Biography, Page 2
The Count Five started life in San Jose, CA, in the early '60s with a pair of high school students named John "Mouse" Michalski and Roy Chaney, who had played guitar and bass, respectively, in a succession of local bands such as Johnny & the GTOs and the Renegades, specializing in surf instrumental music. Still in their mid-teens, they changed their name to the Squires, added a singer (Kenn Ellner), and tried picking up on the British Invasion sound; this wouldn't be the last time the group attempted to adapt to the musical sounds around them. Sean Byrne, an Irish-born guitarist, singer, and songwriter attending San Jose City College, came aboard in late 1964, and the Squires made a local name for themselves over the ensuing year. Then, organist Phil Evans quit for personal reasons and drummer Skip Cordell joined another group; with the arrival of his replacement, Butch Atkinson, the group changed their name to the Count Five. It was just about then that Byrne put the finishing touches on a song he'd been outlining in his head, ultimately called "Psychotic Reaction."

That song, heard by a local DJ named Brian Lord, became the group's key to stardom, at least momentarily. It became a showcase for the band's abilities, especially guitarists Michalski and Byrne, and they began working it up into the crescendo of their stage act. At first it didn't seem to do much good, as the group was turned down by Capitol Records, Fantasy Records, and a handful of other California-based companies, but after working out a new arrangement of "Psychotic Reaction" with the band, Lord got the song and the group placed with Double Shot Records, a Los Angeles-based label. The record -- a chugging, fuzz tone-laden piece of punk defiance with more than a few signature licks and phrasings borrowed from Bo Diddley and the Yardbirds, among others, and a punk attitude that was worthy of the Standells -- eventually made number five nationally and number one in Los Angeles. [excerpt written by Bruce Eder, All Music Guide]

Formed in 1964 in San Jose, California, USA. The Count Five were a classic one-hit-wonder whose Yardbirds -inspired psychedelic-punk hit "Psychotic Reaction", reached the US Top 5 in 1966. The band's line-up consisted of Ken Ellner (b. 1948, Brooklyn, New York, USA; vocals/harmonica), Sean Byrne (b. 1947, Dublin, Eire; guitar/vocals), John Michalski (b. 1949, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; lead guitar), Roy Chaney (b. 1948, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; bass) and Craig Atkinson (b. 1947, Springfield, Missouri, USA; drums). They first drew attention by wearing Dracula-style capes to their gigs. After recording one album, also titled Psychotic Reaction , they continued to release singles into 1968 before disbanding. Byrne returned to Eire and featured on one album in 1973 as a member of Public Foot The Roman and in 1978 he turned up yet again for the group Legover on their album Wait Till Nighttime. [excerpt from Lycos.com]
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