Buffalo Rising Online

Apr 3rd 2008, 12:55pm By Doug Sitler

29 years later, Ian Quail may be the only remaining major area band of the 1970’s that has never re-united. Given the popularity of recent reunions by some of their peer bands, Ian Quail never felt the urge or good reason to reunite. That changed when one of the founding IQ members, James Flynn received news from his friend and fellow musician, Mark Dux, that Mark’s son, Brian, had been in a terrible accident in England last November. Flynn reached out to the members of the old band to see if they would reunite for a one-night, one-time-only benefit concert to help Brian Dux. It was unanimous - they all agreed.

“It was our concern for Mark and his family, particularly Brian, that we all agreed to do whatever we could do to help, in some small way. We were only too happy to do it,” said Chet Folger an original member of the band.

Calls were sent out from Buffalo to ex-Quails Craig Korka, who lives in Miami and Stuart Ziff, who is the lead guitarist for the band WAR in Los Angeles. They will be joining other members Tom Tripi, Howard Wilson, Duane Skibinski, alongside Flynn and Folger at the Brian Dux benefit event at Town Ballroom this Saturday night from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tickets to the benefit are $30, which includes food, pop, beer, basketball games and live music. Tickets can be purchase at www.ticketmaster.com, the Town Ballroom box office or www.brianduxassistfund.com

Based in Buffalo, New York, and managed out of Atlanta, Ian Quail spent the majority of their four years together touring the Mid-West and South on the college town club circuit. During respites on tours, they played to a large and loyal fan base in the Buffalo area. The band played venues such as The Barrelhead, Harvey & Corky’s Stage One, and Poor House West. They were also one of the very few local bands to ever play dates at the infamous Belle Starr in Colden.

Mark Dux has been asked to play bass with the band during the concert set. Similar invitations have gone out to some area musicians to sit in with the band throughout the night.

“I heard about these guys when I was a kid growing up in Buffalo. They are great players and great people. I am really looking forward to seeing them and having a chance to sit in with the band at the Ballroom Benefit,” said Michael Lee Jackson about the event.

Proceeds from this benefit will go towards helping Brian’s long healing process. Brian started his recovery in England and has since traveled back to Buffalo by a special medical plane. Brian was placed in a rehabilitation ward at Erie County Medical Center where he made significant progress. On February 6th, he was allowed to move into his parents’ home in Orchard Park, New York. The family’s home has to undergo significant renovations to accommodate Brian and his special needs. Many Western New Yorkers are familiar with Brian’s exploits as a star basketball player for Orchard Park High School, Canisius College and London, England’s Guilford Heat.