Chet Himes and Galen Niles were the co-founders of Homer and lived at the same apartment complex when they were both in college at Texas State University. Himes recognized Niles as being in the Outcasts – which had only recently broken up – and tried to persuade him to join a band that he was putting together, but Niles said that he wasn’t interested. Himes kept at it; he recruited a lead singer, Frank Coy and a rhythm guitarist, Pat Cosgrove, so all he needed was a lead guitarist and a drummer. Finally, Galen Niles agreed to at least jam with them; he even brought in Gary Crapster, a drummer that he played in a band with while in high school.
Gary Crapster then left the band and was replaced on drums by Gene Coleman; Phil Bepko also joined as a second lead vocalist. By this point, “album rock” was looming large on the FM radio band, and Homer recognized that the old days of the 45 single were on their way out. Chet Himes and Chris Geppert set up a small recording studio in the back of Himes’ parents’ house and began working on the Homer LP. Chris Geppert later changed his name and gained considerable fame as Christopher Cross. The album was recorded in a little less than a year; most of the work was done at Himes’ studio, but some of the recording was done at other professional recording studios in Texas.
Some new tracks were laid down at Odyssey Recording Studio in Austin (where Chet Himes was working as a recording engineer), but ultimately, Homer broke up in 1974.
Past UARB Ultra was every bit as different from Homer as the Outcasts; this hard rock band grew out of the final line-up of Homer, with Galen Niles and Don Evans joining the new band. Chet Himes continued his career as a recording engineer, working with Ted Nugent, Carole King, Christopher Cross, and others. Van Wilks left to start a solo career.
(April 2014)
