Major Lingo is a band from Jerome, Arizona, founded in 1982, and lasting 30 years until its retirement in December, 2012. Band members as of the band's retirement included original members Tony Bruno on slide guitar and John Ziegler on rhythm guitar and vocals; and more recent additions Sally Stricker on bass and vocals, and Steve Botterweg on drums and vocals. Alumni include drummer Tim Alexander, who went on to join Primus and Blue Man Group, bass player Darryl Icard, who has also played with the Gin Blossomsside project Low/Watts, bass player Linda Cushman, vocalist Christine Thomas, original drummer Dave Rentz of New Mexico's The Withdrawals, and original bass player Teddy Rocha.
History
Early Years
Major Lingo was formed in 1982, when John Ziegler met Tony Bruno at the Spirit Room in Jerome, Arizona. The two were joined by Dave Rentz on drums and Teddy Rocha on bass, and began to play shows in the Verde Valley and elsewhere in the state. By 1985, Rocha and Rentz had been replaced by Sally Stricker on bass and vocals, and Tim Alexander on drums. This lineup recorded 3 studio albums in the next three years, 1985's Major Lingo and Beats for Heads and Feet, and 1987's Ride. All were released on cassette only. After Ride, Stricker left the band, to be replaced by Linda Cushma.
In late 1988 or early 1989, with Stricker back in the fold, Major Lingo moved to San Francisco, where they remained for a year. While there, they recorded a live album at the Starry Plough entitled Wild Blue Yonder, which was released in 1989. By early 1990, Major Lingo returned to Arizona, leaving behind Tim Alexander, who decided to remain in the Bay Area and soon thereafter joined Primus.
1990-1995
The period 1990-1995 saw much turnover among Major Lingo's lineup. Tony Bruno and John Ziegler remained constants, but Sally Stricker left the band again, to be replaced on vocals by Christine Thomas. Doug Williams took over on bass, and was soon in turn replaced by Darryl Icard, while Steve Botterweg joined on drums. By 1993, Stricker had returned for her third stint in the band, replacing Thomas, and the band recorded the EP All Through My Body, which was their first release to be issued on CD. In June 1995, Icard left the band, and after a summerlong songwriting hiatus, Stricker once again took over bass duties.
1995-present
Since 1995, the lineup for Major Lingo has remained stable, with Bruno on slide, Ziegler on vocals and guitar, Stricker on vocals and bass, and Botterweg on drums and vocals. In 2000, the band released Pagan Moon, their first album in seven years. In 2002, they celebrated their 20th anniversary with a show in Jerome's Spook Hall, which featured most of the former members of the band joining the current lineup in various configurations, and saw the release of their odds-and-ends album Lost and Found. In 2007, they did the same with their 25th anniversary show, which featured 10 of the 11 past and current members of the band, and saw the release of their live CDArizona Highway Band.
2012 Retirement
In August 2012, Major Lingo announced via their webpage that they will be retiring at the end of the year, after 30 years as a band: Major Lingo played their final show at Spook Hall in Jerome, AZ, on December 22, 2012 before a packed house.
Sound
Major Lingo has an unusually eclectic sound. As the Verde News describes it: Relix Magazine described the Lingo sound in 1988: and 1989: A recent article in The AZ Edge describes Major Lingo's sound: And mentions the importance of Tony Bruno's slide to their sound:
