Okay folks, this is where it all started. The Rare Breed were THE original bubblegum band, and their song "Beg Borrow and Steal" ( Attack Records 1966 ) is THE bubblegum anthem! It has it all: Teenage angst, rockin' Louie Louie guitar riffing, pumping organ and a killer beat. And then there's the chorus hook: "I'd rather beg borrow and steal, THAN GO BACK TO YOU". Before they were of legal age, they were spittin' out macho lines like "There's only so much a man can take". And how 'bout that primal scream at the end of the first chorus?

The Rare Breed were no assembly line bubblegum product. They were the actual band who recorded the hit version of "Beg Borrow and Steal". Interestingly enough, the song was released twice: first as The Rare Breed, then as The Ohio Express. The song has won over the hearts of pop fans everywhere, as well as earning the group a spot on the famous "Nuggets" compilation ( volume 3 ). Nuggets lists their personnel as "Unknown", but BUBBLEGUM WORLD has the scoop, right from the bubblegummer's mouth's! We were contacted in early 2003, by Barry, the talent behind the song's sweeping keyboard fills, and get this, he gave us an interview, too! These questions were answered by Barry after conferring with John about them:


BUBBLEGUM WORLD: So what's the story behind "Beg Borrow and Steal"?

BARRY: Joey Day wrote this song. After speaking with John, he reminded me that Sylvestor Bradford wanted us to do work for him, but was not a writer. As far as I know, it was just a commercial song. It was released on a label called "Attack". It didn't sell. It was re-released by Cameo Parkway and sold about a half million copies. Another copy of the song was produced by Beau Gentry, but no one liked it and it disappeared.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: What was the membership of the original band ( was it the same as on the recording? ), and what were some of the names you had before it became the Rare Breed / Ohio Express ( if any ). Any major membership changes, etc? Was the band that recorded Beg Borrow or Steal the same band that played on the non-Joey Levine cuts on the 1st Ohio Express album?

BARRY: The members of the original band were John (lead singer, lead guitar), Barry on keyboard , Alexander (Botts) on bass, Joel rhythm guitar, and Tony on drums. We played under the name "The Conquests" among other names. No one who made Beg Borrow and Steal played on any Ohio Express album. After Jeff ( Katz ) and Jerry ( Kasenetz ) took the master, they found other people to make the tour.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: Where did the names The Rare Breed and Ohio Express come from, and who thought each one of them up? I've recently heard a recording called Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice. It's easy to hear that it's the same singer that sang Beg Borrow and Steal (John). It was to be the follow up song to Beg Borrow and Steal. At that time, Lou Christie came out with "Lightning Is Striking Again", so it wasn't released. What happened with the group at that point? Was the Rare Breed still a band when the Ohio Express hit?

BARRY: The Rare Breed was just a name put on the label when the song was first release under the Attack label. No one performed under the name Rare Breed. We were kids.... 16 and 17 years old, living in Brooklyn and the Bronx. We were in High School and couldn't tour. Jeff and Jerry took the master and gave it to other people to do the tour. We assumed they were from Ohio, hence the name. They lip synced the song Beg Borrow and Steal when they performed it. Joey Day wrote Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice. Jeff and Jerry took that song too. On CD's now in the stores, they recorded over the bass and drum tracks on those two songs. We heard the song on the radio back in the 60's, but received no credit or compensation from Jeff or Jerry. The song still plays occasionally on oldies stations.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: Was the exact recording of the Rare Breed single re-used as Ohio Express single ?

BARRY: Yes, it was the exact recording. Only the label and group name changed. No one from the original band played with the Ohio Express. We once heard them play. It couldn't be more obvious that the person that sings the other bubble gum songs does not sing Beg Borrow and Steal.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: As musicians, at the time, what was your relationship with Kasenetz & Katz like?

BARRY: Our relationship with Katz and Kasenetz was business. They brought us to the studio to record. We had no idea they would use our voices and instruments to make money and give us no credit.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: There was a legal battle between Jeff, Jerry, Joey Day and Silvester Bradford (the writers). What was it over, and what were the results?

BARRY: John reminded me that the legal battle was between Joey Day and Jerry. It seems Joey was not given any credit or compensation either. The case was in the courts for some time. We assume that the case was settled, and/or Joey was compensated in some way. However, we're not sure as to the outcome.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: There seems to be so little info on Kasenetz and Katz on the internet. The last record I know of that they produced was "Black Betty", by Ram Jam. Do you know of any other projects they were involved with since then & what they are doing now?

BARRY: We don't know what Katz and Kasenetz are doing these days.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: What have the musicians in the original group been doing over the years, and what are they doing now? Any records or CDs we should be on the look out for?

BARRY: John and I are in the business world. We still get together and play for fun. Botts has written some recordings of jingles for commercials. We're not sure what Joel or Tony are up to. We've discussed looking up Joel and Tony, but we haven't made the effort up to this time. You may have rekindled our interest.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: I'm flattered! One more quick question: In the Nuggets compilation booklet, it says "Personell unknown". Could you give me the first and last names of the original band? Also it describes the band as Kasenetz & Katz "Proteges" and that " the band's contract with K&K was terminated ( shortly after the release of the single ) due to their reluctance to become puppets to their producers". How much of this is true? It seems by your earlier response that some of this had to do with your ages. I've been in contact w/ some relatives and members of the original Ohio Express, and I hear a similar story: Kasenetz and Katz took advantage of them.

BARRY: There's no question that J&J took advantage of us. I'm not sure what the puppet reference is. We were too young to sign contracts so there were none. The names of the original group were: John Freno, Barry Stolnick, Alexander (Botts) Norbett, Joel Feigenbaum and Tony Cambria (spelling of some names might not be 100% correct). I think our story typifies what the music industry was like back then (we're not sure what its like today). People had no problem making money on the talents of young people and not compensating them in any way. Beg Borrow and Steal started the Bubblegum genre. John's professional voice and the group's back up created a unique sound that was born and died with Beg Borrow and Steal.

BUBBLEGUM WORLD: I'll second that! Any final words?

BARRY: I spoke to John, and we're ready for a come back tour..... (just kidding)

photo courtesy of Barry