The Diversions

The Diversions were a Washington, D.C. based band that enjoyed regional success from 1980 to 1985. They played a mix of music including rockabilly, surf, ska, and were influenced by The Ventures, Dick Dale, Gene Vincent, Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.
The evolving ska scene was also important and is evidenced in some purely ska originals as well as a surf instrumental with a ska beat.
The love for early rock and roll was also evident in the music they wrote. They had well over an hour of surf instrumentals, and at one point opened for themselves as "The Surfin' Pharaohs". Also 20 to 25 original rockabilly songs and spirited renditions of several classics made for energetic live shows. A lot of the music was pop influenced by the Beatles and Marshall Crenshaw. The Diversions were adept and capable of moving back and forth between various genres effortlessly. "New York Rocker" magazine called the Diversions "one of the top bands in the burgeoning Washington, D.C. Rockabilly scene." The Diversions included Ralph Segal (aka Jimmy Torpedo) on drums, Brian Villalva (aka Brian Damage) on guitar and vocals.
Petr Liska (aka Lee Ska) on bass and vocals, and also included John Montgomery (aka John E. Strange) on guitar and vocals from 1980 to 1983. The earliest incarnation also included Jamie King on vocals and Halsey on guitar and vocals. The Diversions received moderate airplay nationally. The Diversions, Stevie Ray Vaughan concert at the Wax Museum Nightclub in Washington, D.C. was number 29 in "Billboard" in January 1983 top grossing concerts. The Diversions played rockabilly, blues, rock 'n' roll, surf and ska. Most of the music was written by Brian Villalva, with several songs written by Ralph Segal, Lee Ska, and John Montgomery. Collaborations were the norm and a rough draft original contribution could undergo considerable change before completion. "The Diversions" received positive press in the "Washington Post", "New Music Express", "New York Rocker", and "Billboard". In 1982 Washington's premier concert hall held a Battle of the Bands to promote the new venue with 200 bands entered. The contest was judged by well known music executives with a grand prize of $10,000.00. The final four bands included Black Market Baby, The Johnny Seaton Band, Evan Johns and the H Bombs, and The Diversions.

The Diversions placed second. The "Washington Post" article in the Style section headline read "Johnny Seaton narrowly edges The Diversions in Battle of the Bands".

The Diversions broke up in 1985 and have yet to play any reunion shows.

Discography

*1982 Single - Get up / backed w Little Lovin' Baby
*1983 Album - "Rock 'n' Roll Fever"
*1985 Album - "Here it is"ASCAP / BMI

References

* cite newspaper
last = Sasfy
first = Joe
title = Inventive Diversions at Desperados
publisher = Washington Post
location = Washington, D.C.
year = 1982
* cite newspaper
title = Style
publisher = Washington Post
location = Washington, D.C.
year = 1983
* cite journal
title = Top Grossing Concerts
journal = Billboard Magazine
year = 1983
* cite journal
title = New Music Express
year = 1982
* cite journal
title = New York Rocker
year = 1982