Current members
Laurel Wood (vocals)
The classy dame who stepped out of a dream. The latest, now indispensable, addition to The Groovy Times. Her voice may not be versatile, but it’s perfect for the band. She doesn’t just sing but act out the lyrics, imbuing the words with the right saucy and goofy attitude. She is down for anything the song requires. Whether it be singing, crooning, chanting, speaking, or even… rapping.
Most people wouldn’t expect a chanteuse to join a hard-groovin’ rock band. Most people aren’t The Groovy Times. Laurel would’ve been right at home in the old days, singing in all the hotspots from Ciro’s to the Cocoanut Grove. She sadly missed out on the inexplicable 1990s swing revival. Her older sister Betty saved her from a life of swing nights by bringing her into the band.
Laurel is recognisable for her hair, big hat, and classy cocktail dress - all three of them black. She may have looks and voice like Julie London, but make no mistake. She can bounce like Anthony Kiedis or David Lee Roth. (Singing like them is... another matter.)
Betty Wood (lead guitar)
The tall cool one, making restraint sexy. Betty is the calm centre in the eye of The Groovy Times’ storm. She rides the funky rhythm with ease, playing exactly what's needed. Where Harley charges head first, Betty follows with cool restraint. Her philosophy is the best kind of showing off is the kind that’s invisible to the naked eye.
Taller and older than her bandmates, Betty is the unofficial sage of The Groovy Times. She is possessed of almost supernatural cool, and has never lost her temper or her patience. She glides through life with a serene smile on her face. She is a woman of few, well-chosen words. She helped complete the band lineup by recruiting her sister Laurel.
On stage, Betty likes to sustain notes during her solos so she can elegantly tip her hat to the audience. Her hobbies include yoga, meditation, and playing adventure games. Due to her unwavering calm and good cheer, she is an especially feared poker player.
Harley McLaren (rhythm guitar)
The wild one, who every band needs. Harley loves to live it up. She was kicked out of a previous band for her habit of speeding up tempos. When Stephen told her of his plan to relocate the band to Los Angeles, she laughed and replied, “Took you forever to grow a pair of balls!”. Naturally, she followed.
Harley is the chaos agent of The Groovy Times. She is physically incapable of playing guitar without headbanging. Thankfully, her exercise regimen and neck workouts help keep her neck in great shape. For Harley, rock achieved perfection with Van Halen’s 1984, and she is forever chasing that high. She would love to shred like Satriani or Vai, but is too lazy to practice tapping properly.
When not trying to shred or feedback, Harley loves one-night stands and the fast life. She is so terrible with money she is not allowed access to her own wallet. She is most happy when The Groovy Times are playing on the Sunset Strip.
Sunny Coral (keyboards)
The cute one, the scatterbrained sweetheart. Sunny befriended Stephen after he moved to Los Angeles and was one of the first to join The Groovy Times. She views her role as dancing between raindrops. Sometimes she slips between the vocals, guitars, bass, and drums. Other times she lays back and supports what they’re doing.
True to her name, Sunny is The Groovy Times’ ray of sunshine. Her heart is as golden as her hairstyle. Her mind is mercifully unburdened by thoughts. Sunny follows the footsteps of naïve yet kind greats like Irma Peterson, Suzie, and Melody Valentine. She takes everything at face value and is astonishingly literal-minded. She goes through life with a permanent goofy smile and cheerful giggle.
Sunny's keyboard work reflects her self-taught approach. She has almost no left and right hand coordination. She relies on overdubs in the studio, and on stage tends to mess up notes and giggle cutely. This makes her perfect for The Groovy Times, for sure.
Cherry Kane (bass)
The funkstress with thunder thumbs and fabulous fingers. Cherry holds down the rhythm in The Groovy Times, dancing with ease on top of Stephen’s beat.
Cherry replaced The Groovy Times’ previous bassist, Dale Nixon. After their first jam, Stephen proclaimed he had found his rhythmic soulmate. Cherry’s casual glamour builds on Stephen’s rhythmic foundation. She ensures that no matter what they experiment with, The Groovy Times always land on their beat.
Cherry is recognisable for her spiky red hair, green dress, and golden earrings. She helped Stephen develop his totally Californian accent when speaking English.
Stephen Big (drums, percussion)
The hard-hitter with the slippery grooves. Stephen began The Groovy Times as a drummer who said "Hey guys, let's try one of my songs!". As he grew older, he discovered an obsession with California. He knows plenty about the Golden State, good and bad. Being discovered by California Republic Records represented the opportunity of a lifetime. He took the leap, moved to Los Angeles, and assembled the current lineup of The Groovy Times.
Stephen picked up several instruments, drums being the last. His drumming inspirations depend on the song. Sometimes he wants to be Chad Smith. Other times, Alex van Halen. Other other times, Ringo Starr or Keith Moon.
Today, Stephen is happily married, lives in Los Angeles, and plays in a band with his best friends. In short, he is living the dream.
Associated people
Ann Morrison (manager, producer, co-lyricist, creative direction, visionary)
The Groovy Times’ vital manager and ultimate editor. Ann Morrison understands better than anyone else what the band actually is. Whatever idea the band brings her, she has a vision how to execute it. She critiques and shapes their ideas. She first hears any demos and leaves notes and instructions. She guides the band in polishing and completing songs. She co-writes lyrics and organises their imagery. She maintains the band’s aesthetic through album artwork and videos. No Groovy Times song leaves the studio without her final approval.
Ann and The Groovy Times enjoy a deep friendship and mutual trust. To Ann, they are her beloved assistants, helping realise brilliant art. To the band, she is their Maecenas, their trusted referee. Her presence gives them a sense of security and makes things go easier. She uses her considerable wealth to give them all a comfortable and easygoing life.
Ann is charming, smooth-tongued, and fast-talking, with a habit of calling everyone “dahling”. Her patter is almost indistinguishable from your smooth-talking Hollywood agent. Her short brown hair and cream-coloured waistcoat and pantsuit define her style. She enjoys jokingly beginning a sentence with “Dahlings, as your ruthless, greedy manager…”.
Terry Gunsell (engineer, mixer, mastering)
The Groovy Times’ tireless engineer. Terry has worked the boards for the band since Ice Cream Season 2, and helped set up their studio, the Rabbit Hole. While the band and Ann co-produce, Terry is in charge of capturing their sound.
Terry is the jovial taskmaster of the Rabbit Hole. In the studio, she runs a tight ship with zero tolerance for time-wasting. She and Ann keep the band a well-rehearsed, tight unit. Her endless good cheer makes even the toughest sessions feel easy. (Her cute assistants Ellen Katzen and Gilly Ossen help too.)
For the band, she’s the best engineer in Los Angeles. They could never imagine working with somebody else in the studio. Terry does her best to maintain this mindset. After all, what other band would flatter her so lavishly in an attempt to influence her mixing?
Tammy (fanclub president)
The Groovy Times’ first and most treasured fan. Tammy is a proud socialite from Northridge with a rich husband. Her favourite hobbies include getting dressed, admiring her own beauty, and shopping. She is a kind and sweet woman who loves to talk with anyone and to spend money. After all, if she didn’t spend it, it’d just sit in her bank account doing nothing.
Tammy first caught a Groovy Times concert by chance. She was the only one listening. Everybody else went to the toilet or to order drinks. It was love at first hearing. Ever since, Tammy has been their biggest supporter and attended all their gigs. She insisted that they should start a fan club, despite lacking a fanbase. Nobody in the band dared refuse Tammy. They made her president of the fan club instead.
Tammy is super easy to spot at Groovy Times concerts. She’s got the immense blonde hair, stylish black beret, and cute pink skirt suit. She’s also often the only one paying attention.
Former members
Dale Nixon (bass)
Bassist in 2021 and 2022.
Played on: Ice Cream Season, Pure Uncut Rock, Born Cool, and Ice Cream Season 2.
Bassist with a remarkably thick Southern accent. Band used to speculate whether she was Texan. Left due to difficulty playing funk.
Tobias B. Huge (guitar)
Guitarist in 2021.
Played on: Ice Cream Season.
Recruited in part due to his tubular stage name (and in part from no other candidates). Played rhythm guitar behind Harley's best surf guitar attempts. Band lost contact with him after the Surf's Up tour. (No relation to Paul "Tobias" Huge from Guns N' Roses.)
Jo Stockton (guitar)
Guitarist in 2021 and 2022.
Played on: Born Cool.
After recording Pure Uncut Rock as a quartet, band decided two guitarists better than one. Jo was hired to play guitar and sampler, and Harley moved to rhythm guitar. Band lost contact after she suddenly left for Brazil to marry a millionaire. This sank plans for concerts supporting Born Cool.
Anna Taz (guitar)
Guitarist in 2022.
Played on: Ice Cream Season 2.
Mysterious, beautiful, friendly woman who looked and dressed and talked exactly like Zatanna. Replaced Jo at short notice. Left by mutual agreement after Dockweiler State Beach gig. Band realised it couldn't match her amazing look. Eagerly awaiting the Groovy Times’ gigs in San Francisco.
Ed Whacker (drums)
Drummer in 2023.
Played on: Daily Lives with Cartoon Bombshells.
Session drummer. Played brush drums in the right channel on Daily Lives with Cartoon Bombshells. Stephen wanted a "double drum" sound for the album like Dick Dale's Tribal Thunder and Unknown Territory. Since he contributed to every song on the album, he was made honourary band member.