Roadmaster was an American rock band from Indianapolis, Indiana, that was popular in the Midwest in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They recorded four albums for Village/Mercury Records. Members of the band played for several other successful rock acts with Midwestern roots from the ‘70s to the 1990s.

History Roadmaster started as Pure Funk, a popular Indiana college funk band, founded in 1969 by keyboard player Michael Read, vocalist Asher “Adam Smasher” Benrubi, and guitarist Rob Swaynie.Mitchell, Dawn. "Whatever Happened to Adam Smasher?", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, February 22, 2016. Retrieved on May 26, 2018. Bassist Toby Myers joined the band in 1971.Spitznogle, Nora. "Roadmaster", NUVO, Indianapolis, March 28, 2007. Retrieved on May 26, 2018. Guitarist Rick Benick met Read in the early 1970s when Benick moved to Indiana to join the Kokomo, Indiana rock band Nebula Spoon, but some time thereafter joined Pure Funk.Lindquist, David. "Benefit set for ailing Roadmaster guitarist Rick Benick", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, February 22, 2018. Retrieved on May 26, 2018. Drummer Steve Riley rounded out their lineup. In 1974 the band changed its name to Roadmaster and its musical style began to evolve into a big guitar and keyboard-centered “arena” rock sound.Spitznogle.

Roadmaster was discovered by Todd Rundgren, who invited the band to New York to record a demo, which led to a contract with Indianapolis record label Village Records. Rundgren produced three songs on their eponymous 1976 debut album. After that release, Smasher left the band, ultimately to pursue a career as a radio DJ, and former Nebula Spoon vocalist, Steve “Mac” McNally, replaced him. Riley also left, to be replaced by former Exile drummer Bobby Johns. With that lineup, Roadmaster recorded one more album for Village and two more for Mercury Records (which had acquired Village) from 1978 to 1980.Spitznogle.Lindquist.Dunkin, Zach. "Road Ends for Local Rock Band", The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, June 22, 1983. Retrieved on July 31, 2018.

In the late ‘70s, Roadmaster toured with Pat Travers and Blue Öyster Cult and opened throughout the Midwest for mainstream rock acts such as The Cars, Cheap Trick, Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, Todd Rundgren, Rush, and ZZ Top.Spitznogle.Lindquist. The band members wrote their own songs and their sound was similar to that of popular arena rock acts like Styx, Foreigner (their early material), Kansas (their hits), and REO Speedwagon.Allan, Marc. "Roadmaster show video picking up momentum", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, January 18, 1994. Retrieved on July 29, 2018. Their most popular songs included “Doesn’t Mean a Thing,” “Higher, Higher,” “Say You Wanna Be With Me,” “Hey World,” and their signature anthem, “Sweet Music.”Roadmaster, "Live + 5" RDM Records, 1989. Although they were very popular at home, Roadmaster was unable to break through nationally and their record deal with Mercury ended in 1980.Dunkin.Morrison, Pat. "Indy's Roadmaster to Headline Picnic", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, August 24, 1980. Retrieved on July 31, 2018. Soon afterwards, McNally left the band. Craig Watson and Frank Bradford sang with the band after his departure. Tim Berry also replaced Johns as the band's drummer.Lindquist. In 1982, Toby Myers left to play for the next decade and a half with Seymour, Indiana native John Mellencamp.Spitznogle. He was replaced by Peter Bailey and then by John Gennell. Roadmaster carried on for another year but broke up in 1983.Dunkin.

After the breakup, Benick, Read, and Berry played dates with Mitch Ryder.Lindquist.Reason, Betsy. "Remembering rocker Rick Benick", The Times, Hamilton County, Indiana, June 15, 2018. Retrieved on July 29, 2018. Mac McNally sang briefly in the early ‘80s with former members of The Knack in The Game. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Myers, Benick, and Read played with Brazil, Indiana, rocker, Henry Lee Summer.Lindquist. Original drummer, Steve Riley, played with W.A.S.P. in the mid-‘80s; in the late ‘80s he joined L.A. Guns and remained with them until recently. Later in the ‘90s through the early 2000s, Summer, Benick and Read, along with former Faith Band vocalist, Carl Storie, played in the Indianapolis cover band, the Alligator Brothers.Lindquist.Reason.

Roadmaster reunited for several shows in 1988-90, 1993, 1998, and 2018.Spitznogle.Warren, Jill. "Second time around is good for Roadmaster", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, February 25, 1990. Retrieved on July 31, 2018. In 1989, with their ’78-’80 lineup, they recorded their last album, which included live performances of their most popular songs.Warren. In April 1990, they appeared at Farm Aid IV in Indianapolis.Mitchell, Dawn. "RetroIndy: Farm Aid IV raised a bumper crop of cash", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, June 18, 2017. Retrieved on November 8, 2020. Videos of their 1993 performances were recorded and published by Retrospect Records.Allan. Mac McNally died of pancreatic cancer in 1998. Most recently, in February 2018, surviving members of the band reunited for a benefit concert for Rick Benick, who had been diagnosed with leukemia.Lindquist. A video of the concert was produced by JB Media and is available on YouTube. Benick died in June 2018.Lindquist, David. "Rick Benick, guitarist in Indianapolis rock band Roadmaster, dies at 66", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, June 14, 2018. Retrieved on June 24, 2018.

Steve Riley died in October 2023. Toby Myers died in January 2025.Jeffrey Glenn "Toby" Myers Obituary (2025) - Franklin, IN - Legacy.com

Band members Michael Read – keyboards, backing vocals (1969–1983, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2018) Steve Riley – drums (1969–1976; died 2023) Asher "Adam Smasher" Benrubi – vocals (1969–1976, 1998, 2018) Rob Swaynie – guitar (1969–1971) ??? – bass (1969–1971) Toby Myers – bass, backing vocals (1971–1982, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2018, died 2025) Rick Benick – guitar, backing vocals (1971-1983, 1988–1990, 1993, 1998, 2018, died 2018) Steven "Mac" McNally – vocals (1976–1980, 1989, 1990, 1993; died 1998) Bobby Johns – drums (1977–1980, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2018) Tim Berry – drums (1980–1983) Craig Watson – vocals (1980–1982) Frank Bradford – vocals (1982–1983) Peter Bailey – bass, backing vocals (1982) John Gennell – bass, backing vocals (1983)

Timeline

Discography Albums

Year Title Label 1976 Roadmaster VillageRoadmaster, "Roadmaster". 1978 Sweet Music VillageRoadmaster, "Sweet Music". 1979 Hey World MercuryRoadmaster, "Hey World". 1980 Fortress MercuryRoadmaster, "Fortress". 1989 Live + 5 RDMRoadmaster, "Live + 5". 1994 Live! One for the Road Retrospectretrospectrecords.com 2010 ST + Sweet Talk Utopia Naz Runt

Singles YearTitleAlbum1976"That Magic Feeling"Produced by Todd RundgrenRoadmaster"Who Can Sing Like Fatboy Do"1978"It Doesn't Mean A Thing"Sweet Music"Circle Of Love"1979"Hey World"Hey World1982"Back In My Arms Again"Single Only

See also

References

External links