Early History
Shooting Star was formed by childhood friends Ron Verlin and Van McLain in suburban Kansas City. They were next-door neighbors and instantly became good friends.
In February 1964, when the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, they, like so many other kids around the country, were hooked and they drove their parents crazy begging to take guitar lessons. They put a band together with their brothers, Craig McLain and John Verlin, and played along to Beatles records in Ron's dad's garage. Two years later, Van and Craig moved to a different school district and the band split up.
Upon entering Shawnee Mission South High School, Van and Ron met up again. With the '50s nostalgia craze of 1971 brewing, they jumped at the opportunity to put together a band that played classic '50s hits. After seeing Sha Na Na in the movie Woodstock, they added three dancers to the act and called the band The Shooting Stars featuring The Galaxies, the name inspired by Bill Haley & His Comets. The band played its first gig at a local school. Sock hops were so popular they received offers over the next three years to play frat parties, country clubs and schools throughout the Midwest.
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