The Great Rock Scare were an entertainment powerhouse

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, a number of local musicians were influenced by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and many of them would go on to form bands of their own. In the Luzerne County of 1979, Bill Space and David Steve from the Eighth Street Bridge joined with John Gonska of the Whazoos and Mutt Lee to form a new band in that aforementioned tradition. In time, bassist Fran Festa joined in as the fourth member of the original Great Rock Scare, a group that rose to unprecedented local success.

Even before the band’s first performance, their formation and impending arrival was drawing media attention and fanfare. Their name was provocative, a reference to the fright surrounding rock and roll music’s influence and perceived unsophistication during the 1950s and 1960s. On the 1980 iteration of April Fool’s Day — the band’s favorite holiday — the Great Rock Scare played its first show at the Kiln House in Wyoming. The date was a critical moment in the Luzerne County music scene, and it was celebrated in a star-studded birthday bash in each subsequent year.

The Great Rock Scare pumped life into the local live music world of the 1980s, with its unpretentious musical stylings playing well for audiences less than enthused about electronic and disco music. The group played just about every important venue in the area that could hold live music, including the Staircase in Pittston Township and Market Street Square — also known as The Station — in Wilkes-Barre.

The band’s repertoire predominantly included covers of classic rock songs, though they did add new tunes to their setlists as time went on. Their defining feature was their danceability, which they brought with them no matter the venue. The Great Rock Scare won over countless audiences during their peak of popularity, from the clientele at local restaurants to the prisoners at SCI-Dallas.

The band was well-covered in local newspapers and other media outlets, largely due to the spectacle that was included in their shows. While the music was simple, the stage presence was an art in itself, with costumes and magic being worked into their programming. When the music and the spectacle came together — such as for performances of ZZ Top’s “Tube Snake Boogie” — the Great Rock Scare made its mark as the kings of local entertainment.

In addition to its annual birthday bashes, the band would also host the Great Rock Scare Halloween Bash, in which the members would dress up as zany characters. Among their most famous costuming choices were as the characters from “The Wizard of Oz,” “Alice in Wonderland” and the Fruit of the Loom clothing brand.

Despite the antics and regular shtick associated with the Great Rock Scare’s live shows, the band members remained elite musicians. They had an alter ego band, Midnight Blue, which they would take on as their appearance for classier events. This versatility helped the Great Rock Scare expand and retain its audience throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

The band’s sound progressed as the members shifted, with more harmonies and keys being added to the mix. As new musicians with diverse skillsets came into the Great Rock Scare’s orbit, they adapted to play to their strengths while remaining devoted to their mission of getting people to dance.

The Great Rock Scare has reformed a few times over the years for reunion shows, and have continued to endear to longtime fans through these occasional appearances. Likewise, the band’s legacy has been highly regarded by those who can clearly recall their extremely successful original run. Aside from the band’s wacky persona, the Great Rock Scare have retained their status as “four great guys” with “three great chords.”