The Way Back: The Many Bands of Bink Brown
Photos and memories courtesy of Dave “Bink” Brown
My name is Dave Brown; everyone calls me Bink. That was a high school nickname that stuck like glue. Most people don't even know my real name is David. In the '60's I lived in Poplar Hall, off Military Highway, and moved every 2 years cause my dad was in the Navy. I ended up back here in Va. Beach in 1972 and graduated from First Colonial in 1974. Immediately moved to Cape Hatteras cause I loved surfing. My first band was called Ud Thumper and the Mullet Whackers, a bluegrass band, I played dobro. In the late '70's I moved back to Va. Beach and the punk scene was really starting to rev up and I started playing with XL7, right when the Taj Mahal and all those places were opening. We played Chico's, The Dome, and ODU's Ratskeller. In the early '80's I played in Jerry's Kids (see the Hardcore Norfolk documentary for the Jerry's Kids interview). After that, I played in Thermal Heat and the Basic Riffs/Guerilla Theater.
At the end of the '80s, I moved to California. My first marriage had failed and I was an alcoholic drug addict trying to get away from everything and thinking that would help. I was running from everything. After being there for 3 years I ended up in the Freedom Ranch Recovery Center in El Cajon, CA. Once I got sober, I hooked up with these guys The Spent Idols; we were all sober. We met up at an AA meeting. They needed a guitarist and that was the mid '90's. We ended up touring the U.S. We even played with the Candy Snatchers out west! That was when they were lighting themselves on fire and everything. Shortly thereafter, I moved back to Va. Beach.
In the over 20 years since I've been back in Virginia, I've played with many bands: Jerry's Kids reunion, Thermal Heat (full circle, back with them today), Sophisto (a Clockwork Orange reference), Jet Stars, Mighty Buskers, Tornado Bait (another full circle, playing lap steel), and gigs with Big Bobby.
I've been married for 20 years to a wonderful woman Renee and her three kids Jen, Steph, and Michael, who have grounded me wonderfully and made my life complete. These days, Michael works with me, we do custom siding and roofing in Va. Beach. I am still playing with Tornado Bait and Thermal Heat. As soon as the Covid ends, I'm hoping to get ramped back up with those guys as well as Big Bobby and Co. Since Covid, I am currently working on a 3-song EP of the first songs I wrote when I got sober. I'll share them with you guys when I finish. I hope you enjoy these photos of my various bands and I hope to see you out at a show soon!
Note: click the thumbnails and the little white dot at the bottom of the photos to view larger photos and full captions.
