The Lost Gecko

Along with the Remains and the Rockin' Ramrods, the Lost were the most celebrated Boston band of the mid-’60s. Unlike those other two groups, who at least were able to release a fair number of tracks and experience some lingering regional success, the Lost indeed appeared lost to the ages, managing only to release three rare Capitol singles during their time together. Despite the high reputation that they continue to enjoy to this day among Boston dwellers, the Lost were not as talented as the Remains. They were a somewhat above-average garage band, more versatile and perhaps more folk-rock influenced than most, with the occasional bit of material (“Kaleidoscope,” “It Is I”) that hinted at some interesting lyrical and melodic ideas. The Lost formed at Goddard College in Plainfield, VT in late 1964. Originally the band, with Hugh Magbie as lead guitarist and singer, were among the very, very few interracial rock bands of the time, though personnel shuffles ensued when the Lost decided to move to Boston in late 1964, leaving behind Magbie, who had elected to return to college . The Lost developed a fairly large set of original material from the pens of guitarist Ted Myers and keyboardist Willie Alexander, recording a demo tape produced by Barry Tashian of the Remains that helped get them a contract with Capitol. Their first single,“Maybe More Than You,” was fairly strong, bashing folk-rock with a Dylanesque streak, and got some sales and airplay in Massachusetts and New York. For unknown reasons, a second single didn’t appear for almost a year, although the band managed to open for numerous touring stars, and was the opening act for the Beach Boys during a 1966 Eastern tour. Confusingly, the second single, “Violet Gown,” was released in two different versions, and with two different B-sides, which didn’t help the Lost’s career. Capitol terminated their association with the band, and the Lost broke up in early 1967, although there have been a few reunion shows over the subsequent decades. Principal songwriter Ted Myers ventured into psychedelic music with the Chameleon Church (which had future star comedian Chevy Chase on drums), and was a member of the Ultimate Spinach in the band’s waning days. Keyboardist Willie Alexander and bassist Walter Powers were members of the name-only, Lou Reed-less Velvet Underground of the early ’70s. Alexander became a Boston legend of sorts, playing with a seemingly endless succession of local bands over the following decades. The Lost did a lot of recording, at Capitol and elsewhere, in addition to their three singles in the mid-’60s, much of which finally saw the light of day on Arf! Arf!’s Early Recordings and Lost Tapes CD reissues in the ’90s. ~ Richie Unterberger