Early Career
Stevens attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston from 1968-1971, majoring in film. He was one of the original students of The Studio For Interrelated Media.
Stevens left art school in late 1971 to go on the road with his first music group, Gross National Productions (or "GNP") as lead vocalist under the stage name "Matt Maverick." GNP recorded their debut album, "P Flaps and Low Blows" on Metromedia Records in 1972; the album was produced by George “Shadow” Morton and John Linde. Off the album, the band toured nationally, both headlining as well as opening for major acts such as Lee Michaels, Tommy James, Sha Na Na, Badfinger, Spirit, Jeremy Steig, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention.
Following GNP's breakup, Stevens (under the name "Red Stevens") co-wrote and directed the rock comedy musical theater production “Rockfights - Rich Amusement,” which played at the Overland Theater in Boston in 1976.
Read more about this topic: Red Peters
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