In the Beginning

Founded in spring 2005 by drummer Jason Miller, bassist Tim Fitzgerald and guitarist Ed Sable, Radio Tokyo was a labor of futility in its early stages. While it would seem easy, in a city the size of Pittsburgh, to find five like-minded musicians with the same dream, drive and determination, it proved to be a tedious task. With the ambition to make a cheap buck, riding the wave of glory manifested by playing other artists’ cheesy pop songs to audiences of intoxicated club goers, the search began to complete the band.

Poor little Timmy, Jason and Eddie spent literally years (yes, YEARS …) in search of the right personnel for the job. They sat through audition after audition searching for a front man. Each new hungry recruit would offer his assurances that, while the band already had been subjected to the most egregious parade of American Idol rejects, this particular prospect would be the answer to the boys’ prayers. Of course, none would ever live up to his own hype. One fellow, bless his misguided little heart, offered a full-throated guarantee that he was “the best singer they would ever hear.” He wasn’t. He sucked! Really, dreadfully sucked!

The fearless trio of visionaries sallied forth undaunted, however, never renouncing their prospects for the future. Each rejected candidate only further hardened the boys’ steadfast resolve … excluding the half-dozen times they considered quitting and selling their respective instruments for a 12-pack of Yuengling, a foot-long meatball hoagie and a used copy of the “Family Guy” box set.

Finally, after many disappointments and even an extended stint with a former front man (who, by the way, was the one who named the band Radio Tokyo), a light appeared at the end of the tunnel. A shot-in-the-dark cold call revealed the heretofore unimaginable; Gene Walker, noted front man of longtime Pittsburgh darlings “Sho ’Nuff,” had entered free agency! Even better, he was actually into the idea, exclaiming, “Uh … sure … yeah.… Wait, I get paid, right? OK, then, whatever. …” His ebullient enthusiasm sealed the deal and, needless to say, there was much rejoicing.

Radio Tokyo shut down operations for two months, and the retool commenced. But the heroes could not help but note that there was something still missing from the mix. They felt another body was needed to complete this blossoming cast of a “Barney Miller” revival. “We need some spice!” Ed exclaimed. “A bit of soy sauce for the international rock stir-fry stewing in our musical wok.”

The boys brainstormed about where they might be able to find some further ethnic diversity: perhaps a diminutive Pacific rim keyboard/guitar/drum-playing singer with a fu-manchu goatee, the ability to breakdance, a rehearsal space and professional recording studio where the band could practice and cut a demo for free … but a person also possessing just low enough self esteem to not recognize that he doesn’t need the rest of the band. But where to find such a fellow?

After what seemed like whole seconds of deliberation, little Timmy Fitz declared, “I’ve got it! The little dude who delivered my egg rolls last week had a cool kinda pan-Asian rockstar-esque vibe about him. Plus, I think he may play an instrument or two, and you can barely hear his accent.”

The bandmates agreed that he sounded worthy of a shot, so they placed an order for Kung Pow and sat in wait for the pending “audition.” Upon his arrival, the band came to find that he would be a perfect fit. In fact, the only accent he displayed was “Pittsburghese.” Walter Ino was a born-and-raised Pittsburgh “yinzer.” How serendipitous! He joined the group that night, and the band was off and running.

The Salad Days …

Now, with all the pieces in place, the boys’ vision was finally taking shape. It was time to hunker down and get to work. After no more than a month, the band emerged, sweat-drenched from its unair-conditioned, unventilated rehearsal room, with a lengthy, diverse playlist of some of the most popular party songs ever recorded. They also had a rabid appetite to experience the modest glory that comes with being a fake rockstar copying other artists’ material in a kick-ass cover band.

Now, with those daunting, mind-numbing days of uncertainty thankfully behind them, the band has played hundreds of shows from Chicago to College Park, MD. They have tirelessly traveled the highways and back roads of the Great Lakes region, intimately acquainting themselves with the merits of each and every truck stop and rest area along the I-70 and I-80 corridors, all while memorizing songs from “The Flight of the Concords.” They also sampled the menu fare at several dozen Panera locations, while occasionally stopping to blow the roof off a nightclub or two with a set list packed full of hits and top-notch performances by four world-class musicians… and Tim.

All joking aside, Radio Tokyo’s performances receive the highest of accolades again and again. For the band, playing music and entertaining crowds is what it’s all about. These guys definitely know how to mix it up and throw a party. And who in their right mind doesn’t like a party?