Bryan Gibson, Jason Brown, Tim Maloney, and Gary Howard have resurrected a monster that was laid to rest over 30 years ago. RIP started out with the name Rampage made up of Tim, Gary, and Bryan with a different guitar player but they never actually played a 
show. They only rehearsed together and never actually performed. Jason would hang out at the rehearsal admiring “the driving freight train” that Tim and Gary were as a rhythm section. Jason wanted in and it wasn’t long before the Rampage guitar player quit and Jason got his shot at an audition with 7 other guitar players and was chosen to be the new member. This was in 1982, “before the metal bands were dressing like chicks”.
Jason-“We did all covers at the time but Tim had a huge stash of originals up his sleeve.” Tim-”We had about one set worth of originals”. Vocalist Bryan Gibson shared his commitment to his band mates. “I have never been on stage performing without these three guys. This is the only thing I have ever done and if anyone else ever asked, I would have said no. I am only comfortable with these three guys.”
Bryan – “Gary would get to practice two hours before the rest of us.”
Jason – “And when we would finish practice, he would stay after us. The most practice regimented dude in the world.”
Gary – “Not anymore though.”
Jason – “You don’t need it!”
The gang shared memories of their first gig. “It was a Halloween party at Iowa Park community center. It was packed. Bryan was wheeled out on stage in a coffin, but there was a delay, so he was stuck in it for 15 minutes.” After the show they describe the aftermath as something you might see in a movie. “The place got torn up. The flag pole got bent. It was bent toward the building so it’s not like someone pulled it with a truck. No idea how that happened”. Fun fact: the first bar they ever played was the Flamingo Club, which is now Maximus.
After a while the rock & roll lifestyle got to Bryan and he felt that if he 
didn’t get out he would die. RIP’s last show with Bryan was right after the car accident that contributed to his decision to leave rock and roll. He played the show cut up and wearing casts. Bryan’s break from music led him into the Army and he never looked back. Jason and Gary went on to form AA Bottom and play with Johnny Cooper as well as other acts. AA Bottom has been jamming 30 years, produced 3 records, and they are still going strong. They were with Johnny Cooper 6 years and pushed 2 songs to #4 on Texas charts. Tim ended up in New England before moving back to the DFW area and played in numerous bands. He decided in the summer of 2016 that it was time to move back home.
This brings us to an unexpected reunion. Bryan recollects the reunion. “I was out watching Jason play with the Tuna Blues Band at Silver Dollar and did not know Tim had moved back to town. During the break Jason came and sat down and then all of a sudden Tim walks up, and right there they said ‘Bryan, how would you feel about doing a reunion gig?’ and it took me about half a second to decide. I hadn’t sung in about 35 years, but why not. At the time I thought they meant “gig”, as in singular. A reunion show, not a reunion year. I never in a million years would have thought that I’d be doing this again but, I’m sure glad it was more than one show because this is a lot of fun.”
Jason – “I’m having more fun and am busier now than when we were kids.”
All of the members, other than Bryan, play in several other bands. As for RIP, they plan on playing 1-2 shows a month, all local, and are booked through the end of the year. Rock & Roll. RIP it up!
Follow them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RIP-310481189328151
-David Fowler
