ROCK-OFF HISTORY*

ROCK-OFF 1
May 6, 1983Portland Expo
WINNER: XXX
OTHERS:AMBUSH (Gorham), BATTERY STEELE (Portland), INTRUDER (Portland),
TEMPEST (Gorham), WHITE PAWN (Falmouth) and ? (Deering)
Highlights:$3/adv; $4/door. Attendance 300
ROCK-OFF 2
May 27, 1984Portland Expo
WINNER:DRIVER (Bonny Eagle)
OTHERS:AMBUSH (Gorham), BLITZKRIEG (Falmouth), BATTERY STEELE (Portland),
CROW (Deering), ILLEGAL JAM (Yarmouth), INTRUDER (Portland),
LAZER SHARP (Cape Elizabeth), LIQUID SKY (Portland), MOGEN DAVE &
THE WINOS (Portland), STANDSTILL (Westbrook),TEMPEST (Gorham),
WHITE PAWN (Falmouth) and THE WIZZARDS (Yarmouth)
Highlights:Best attendance to date: 1,500. BUT, improper procedure by light &
sound engineer hired for show created a power surge which
forced the show to be rescheduled.
Ticket prices increased to $4/adv; $6/door.
ROCK-OFF 3
Spring 1985 GREAT MAINE ROCK-OFF, Fantasy Hall, Windham
WINNER:CONGRESS (Gorham)
Greater Portland RO, Portland Expo:
WINNER: ILLEGAL JAM (Yarmouth)
OTHERS: BLADE RUNNER (Deering), DOUBLE VISION (Cape Elizabeth),
LAZER SHARP (CapeElizabeth),THE OPPRESSED(Deering),
SCREAMING SAINT (Cheverus), SUITE ANGEL (South Portland) ,
TROOPER (Westbrook) and WHITE PAWN (Falmouth) MAMMOTH
(Falmouth)
L-A RO, Multi-Purpose Center, Lewiston:
WINNER: PROJECT IV (Lake Region)
OTHERS: AFTERMATH (Lewiston), HAVOC (Edward Little), OMEGA(Edward
Little) and SYMMETRY (St. Dominic)
Northern Maine RO, Calumet Club, Augusta:
WINNER: ILLUSION II (Nokomis)
Southern Maine RO, Tradewinds, Old Orchard:
WINNER: CONGRESS (Gorham)
OTHERS: APACHE (Waterboro), BEYOND RECOGNITION (Gorham) FAIRWARNING
(Steep Falls), HY FLYER (Steep Falls) and SAPPHIRE (Sanford).
Mid-Coast RO, Geno's, Portland:
WINNER:UNCALLED FOUR (Brunswick)
Highlights:First time sponsored by The Maine Musicians Association.

ROCK-OFF 4
Spring 1986Portland Expo
WINNER:LIBIDO (Deering) *
OTHERS:AFFIRMATIVE ACTION (Portland), AFTERIMAGE (Westbrook), ANTHEM (Deering),
ARMAGEDDON (Falmouth), CINEMA (Falmouth), RECENT PAST(Greely), REEK
(Portland), THE SOURCE (Deering) and TROOPER (Westbrook)
Highlights: Controversy created when error discovered in judges tallies and LIBIDO
was announced new winner over THE SOURCE.

ROCK-OFF 5
Spring 1987Reiche Community Center, Portland
WINNERS: ATLANTIS (Westbrook), FACULTY X (Westbrook),
SUBURBAN UNDERGROUND (Greely),
THE TRADE (Waynflete) and TROOPER(Westbrook).
Highlights:First vinyl compilation of top 5 bands.

ROCK-OFF 6
Spring 1988Reiche Community Center, Portland
WINNERS:THE BAKED POTATOES (Cape Elizabeth), CONSPIRACY(Westbrook),
LOWTOLERANCE (Portland), THE TRADE (Waynflete) and
TROOPER (Westbrook)
OTHERS:FATAL SACRIFICE (Windham), ST. ROSE (Bonny Eagle),
UNDER FIRE (Portland) and UNIFIED FIELD (Greely)
Highlights:RO88 is named one of the best local rock shows by Maine Sunday Telegram

ROCK-OFF 7
Spring 1989Reiche Community Center, Portland
WINNERS:THE BRIDGE (Scarborough), ICE (Yarmouth), SIDE EFFECT (Deering),
THE TRADE (Waynflete), VICTIMS OF GRAVITY (Westbrook) and
WALK ON FOUR (Greely).
OTHERS:ESSEX (Gorham) and MIRAGE (Gorham)
Highlights:ICE disqualified for profanity

ROCK-OFF 8
Spring 1990 Deering High School, Portland
WINNERS:AERIAL SUITE (Windham), BROUHAHA (Camden-Rockport) ,
COLD REIGN (Noble), CROSSWINDS (Westbrook) and
SIDE EFFECT (Deering)
OTHERS:AXO (Kennebunk) and BLACK ONYX (Noble),

ROCK-OFF 9
Spring 1991Deering High School, Portland
WINNERS:ACES WILD (Gorham), AERIAL SUITE (Windham),
MASQUERADE (Belfast), SIDE EFFECT (Deering) and
WRAITH (Sumner)
OTHERS:BLACK CHERRY (Brewer), CROSSWINDS (Westbrook),
THE DELIVERY BOYS (Mattanawcook Academy), FARM DOG (Waynflete),
FROLIC (Lisbon),HEDFIRST (Lawrence), LEGACY (Mt. Ararat),
MORNING LIFE (Mt. Ararat),OUT OF REACH (Westbrook), PAID PROPHECY
(Portland), TOUCH (Lewiston) and VITAL SIGNS (Bucksport)
ROCK-OFF 10
Spring 1992Deering High School, Portland (Showcases at The Wherehouse)
WINNERS:STICKFIGURE (Mt. Ararat)
OTHERS:BASILISK (South Portland), BOB=X (Deering), D.S.I. (Lewiston),
EUPHORIA(Medomak Valley),FORBIDDEN CITY (Belfast),
HAPPY CHURCH DINNER(Edward Little), HOOLOOVOO MONK(Bucksport),
HYDRA (Noble), LITTLE FISH (Bucksport), MINOR NINTH (Morse),
MUDANT (Lewiston),NEMESIS(Lee Academy), OPTION 9 (Fort Fairfield),
PARADOX (Lincoln Academy), THEME PARK(Deering), TOMMYROTIC (Freeport)
and URBAN MASSACRE(Camden-Rockport)
Highlights:18 bands (the most to participate)

ROCK-OFF 11
Spring 1993Wrong Bros Pub, Portland
WINNERS:POLYGLOT (Mt. Ararat)
OTHERS:CANNIBALISTIC HITMEN (Rumford), CRASH ALLEY (Presque Isle),
DOUBLE EXPOSURE(Edward Little), FROWN BELOVED (Kennebunk),HYDRA
(Noble),
LOST BABY (Waynflete), ONE FRIED CHICKEN (Waterville),RUST (John Bapst),
SCREAMING TEARS (Wiscasset), URBAN MASSACRE(Camden-Rockport)
THE TRAVELING TEMPLE OF THE FUZZY MONK (Bucksport)
Highlights:Last year event is sponsored by The Maine Musicians Association.

ROCK-OFF 12
Spring 1994Wrong Bros Pub, Portland
WINNERS:DEAD EYES EMERSON (Westbrook HS)
OTHERS:DAISY LIZARD (Sacopee Valley), GLASS ONION (Lincoln Academy),
HOLLOWED SOUL (Van Buren),JAVA (Morse), JYM BRIGZ (Edward Little),
PHLUX (Machias), POLYESTER JULIET (Orono),
THE SOUNDINGS (Greely),SOUR MASH (Berwick Academy) and TASZIA(Portland)
Highlights:First time sponsored by Reindeer Records

ROCK-OFF 13
Winter 1996Raoul's, Portland
WINNERS:SHUFFLIN' TREMBLE (Gorham HS)
OTHERS:AGAPE (Bonny Eagle), AWKARD DOG (Yarmouth), BUNGMONKEY (Waterville),
CAPTAIN HORNET (Medomak Valley), IBIS (Wiscasset),MIDNIGHT JUSTICE
(Noble),
PIPEBOMB (Freeport) and SCROD (Windham)

ROCK-OFF 14
Spring 1997Granny Killam's, Portland
WINNERS:BLOOM (Gorham HS)
OTHERS:THE AGENTS OF TALL & DARK (Edward Little), AWKWARD DOG(Yarmouth),
BLISTER (Lubec), BOSS (Edward Little), CONTINUAL FLUX (Medomak Valley),
DIVE (Caribou), DUGEN (Old Town),HAPPY TO BE ALIVE (Massabesic),
JUNKBUCKETS (Livermore Falls), MOSSBOY (EdwardLittle),
SCHRODINGER'S CAT (Bonny Eagle), SINK (Greely),
THE TERRYFERGUSSEN TRIO (Yarmouth), TRIPWIRE (Gorham)
and YELLOW PISCES PUBLIC COUNCIL (Easton) IDLE MOMENTS (Kennebunk),

ROCK-OFF 15
Fall 1998Toucan Lounge, Lewiston
WINNERS: THE BOTTLE ROCKET KINGS (Buckfield HS)
OTHERS:AGRAFAB (Brewer), CHAPIZA (Penquis Valley), CORRIDOR (Windham),
DEFUNCT (Windham),HOWIE DAY (Brewer), JIVING MISS DAZY (MedomakValley),
LOTUS BLOSSOM (Cape Elizabeth), LUDICROUS (Brewer),MONOLITH (Hermon),
MOSAIC (Orono), POLAR GROOVE (Maranacook) and RANSOM (Cheverus)
NOTEWORTHY:

TICKET PRICES for the first ROCK-OFF event were $3 in advance, $4 at the door. Since then--for 15
years(except for a couple of events)--ticket prices have remained at the $5 price.

PRODUCTION COSTS, on the other hand, have risen 300%, from slightly over $1,000 in 1987 to an
average of about $3,500 in recent years. THE ROCK-OFF has never grossed any significant profit. In
fact, many years, the event ran in the "red." To date, the Producer has never been paid. While
production costs increased, support from local businesses and philanthropic individuals decreased
drastically since 1988.

PRIZES:
Top prize for the first few event was $100, plus a package of gift certificates, discount coupons and
merchandise donated by local businesses.
In 1987, the prize shifted from Cash to Recording. The top five bands each recorded two songs for a
compilation release.
Complications arose in 1989 and 1991, i.e. members of the winning bands were not available during
the summer, or went off to college the following fall. Consequently, the bands were unable to
complete their recordings and/or participate in promotional shows. The logistics and costs of
recording and releasing a product with the top five bands were rendering the prize as ineffective.
In 1992, the prize package was updated. The winning band won a "record deal," including the
recording and release of a full-length product.
Then, in 1994, a legal challenge was made by Rick Hautala, well-known horror novelist and father of
a member of the winning band, DEAD EYES EMERSON. Many months after the band had won, and
only after the band had recorded, Hautala claimed that Reindeer had no right to record and release
any product with his son's band. Reindeer claimed otherwise, noting a "reliance to participation"
regarding the band's compliance with the event guidelines, follow-up planning meetings and the
recording sessions themselves. Despite Hautala's wide-spread defamatory campaign (which
continues to date), Reindeer fulfilled its promise and released the product two years later.
In 1995 and 1996, while there were no legal issues or parental challenges, Reindeer again
experienced too many logistical problems with the winning bands...scheduling, lack of cooperation
with Reindeer criteria, lack of communication from the bands, etc.
In 1997, Reindeer determined that a "record deal" was far too valuable an opportunity and too time
consuming an award, and once again the prize configuration changed...to $1,000 cash prize. This
provides the winning band money to pursue their musical goals at their discretion, while preserving
the integrity of a "record deal."

L-A ROCK-OFF: A second annual event specifically for Lewiston-Auburn area bands was held in
January of 1986 at the Belview Theatre in Lewiston.

FLARO:
In 1997, Reindeer launched THE FLORIDA ROCK-OFF (FLARO), a carbon-copy of THE ROCK-OFF,
held annually in Tampa Bay. FLARO4 is upcoming in February, and is expected to draw 15-20
bands.

NOTEWORTHY TIDBITS....
ACES WILD grew from a trio in 90 to RUSTIC OVERTONES.
ILLEGAL JAM morphed into a popular band called THE SENSE, then became GOUD'S THUMB.
Eric Bennert who played in WHITE PAWN joined the popular Boston-based band CHUCKLEHEAD.
AERIAL SUITE moved to NH and became GLUESTICK.
Members of THEME PARK & BOB=X joined to become
Keyboardist Tom Snow of THE WIZZARDS continues his music career today.
Singer/Guitarist Ben Phillips of EUPHORIA continues his music career today.