Remember the Tulsa music scene in the Eighties? Original music spewed forth from dive bars like the Bleu Grotto, Bongo Silly’s, Dance Cafe and the Crystal Pistol.
Listen now on your favorite streaming app or purchase CDs!
Now available on CD!
No, that’s not a Certificate of Deposit. It’s a silver disk that looks like a coaster… but plays music! Working with our partners at Kunaki you can receive a real-live, hold it in your hand, audio CD of our highly original music!
Originally formed in 1980 as The Insects, the group changed its name to Radio Milan in 1985. Founding members Rex Brown and Scott Miller met in high school at Tulsa’s acclaimed Booker T. Washington High School. Playing music and writing songs in the living room eventually led to gigs at local live music venues.
Over the years band members included Kelley Duncan, Tony Dapolito, Barry Mace, Brian Plummer, David Burdick, Eric Kehr and Les James Mobley.
The Insects played at clubs like Tulsa’s legendary Bleu Grotto, the Crystal Pistol, Cain’s Ballroom, 424 and others. A television appearance on the KTUL late-night program Night Shift was also a notable highlight (see the video below). As Radio Milan the band branched out and made frequent road trips. Nuevo Wavo in Stillwater was always a favorite, along with the Bowery and VZDs in Oklahoma City and the Twilight Ballroom in Dallas.
Released in 1986 the Musica La Dolce cassette featured six songs: God Forbid, The Road Song, In the Confusion, Fellini Movies, Glued to a Teevee and Go, Fangio!
The players were Scott Miller, Eric Kehr, Les Mobley and Rex Brown.
Origin of Insects is four songs originally recorded in 1982, then digitized in 2025 from the 24-track tapes. This is the first time these recordings have been mastered and released. Included are Boy from the Sixties, So Many People, Vampire 4 U and Downtime.
Performers on this release are Tony Dapolito, David Burdick, Les Mobley, Rex Brown and Scott Miller.
The group’s only vinyl came in the form of a track on the Explosive Sampler, a double album featuring a slew of Tulsa talent. The track, Mille Miglia, was widely acclaimed and featured a sax solo by Bill Ungerman. In 1986 a six-song cassette called Musica La Dolce was released regionally.
Radio Milan’s last gig was opening for Wang Chung at the Tulsa Riverpark’s Amphitheater in 1987. It marked the end of an era and saw the members disperse to various corners of the country.
But for more than seven years the group wrote songs, played some memorable gigs, had a great time, met some wonderful people…
and played some pretty darn good music.
