Sabre was a hard rock band based out of Aberdeen, Washington from 1983-1986. The band members
included Wil "Fingers of Fury" Tommila - lead vocals and guitar, William Wayne (aka Bill Pitts)
- guitar and vocals, Nate Whorton - bass, vocals and keyboards, Darrel Harris - drums and
vocals (lineup #'s 1 & 3) and Bill Raymond - drums (lineup #2). The group performed at concerts,
dances, wedding receptions and bars. They occasionally opened for Metal Church and headlined
their own shows. The group recorded a four song original EP in 1985 at Steve Lawson Studios
with Terry Date and Kurdt Vanderhoof producing. The group had great help, from sound technicians
and roadies - Tim Kirsch, Tammy Kirsch, Mike Rosevear, Bill Cookston, Rod Mathwich, Gary Stacy,
Mark Eaton and others devoted their time to the band. The band never made it big, but those who
remember the shows and the music sure treated Sabre like they did.
The group was an original act that also played classic and contemporary covers.
In concert, they performed about 15 of their own tunes. At other gigs they covered songs by
Scorpions, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Foghat, Quiet Riot, Iron Maiden, etc.. Original songs
included - Love Attack, How, Final Stand, I Am Yours, The Wink, Sabre, Open The Door, Mr. Pickle,
Dressed Tight, Hot City Nights, Got To See It Through and Loving Light.
At the beginning,
the band was formed with former members of Hydro (Harris & Tommila), Black Ice (Wayne & Whorton)
and vocalist - Lori Hendrickson. Soon, the band got away from the female vocal sound and
began writing and performing often. The band's light show was second to none - they used
about 50 light pars and flash pots (bright flashes of fire that go boom!) Sabre practiced in
the back room of one of Nate's father's buildings - the summers were warm and the winters very cold.
Sabre was always more than four guys on stage, it was a team of many - and everyone worked hard and
had fun. In mid-1986, Tommila left the band and the group added Brian Cokeley and became Nykko.
Too bad we can't rewind the tape of life. Hopefully there will be more comments from
the group, sharing the memories for all to read. Stay tuned....
As a "Special note" I now have a copy of the Sabre EP on a cd and will post MP3 files soon!!
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g.h. music scene 
the dudes 
wowboards 
nathan whorton