Local Band Reunites After 42 Years

After 42 years a local Glen Ellyn band is getting back together.

The band Grope will relive its rock ‘n roll past at this weekend’s 1971 class reunion for .

Phillip Milano grew up watching and idolizing Grope, his brother’s band, and is traveling from Florida to see his idols back in action.

“I would’ve driven across the country for this. They just sort of embodied everything I was interested in growing up as a teenager,” said Phillip Milano.  

Some members of the five-man group are flying in from as far as Los Angeles and South Dakota to make this weekend’s events.

Avid fans should get excited because band member Dean Milano said they’re all much better musicians now.

“It’s going to be fun to relive our past and to relive that period in music because it was a real, real great period in music,” said Dean Milano.

The band traveled around Glen Ellyn and Wheaton playing at churches, including , and even the Duane Street School, which is now the .

The group was a well-known cover band performing music by artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin but not the “bubble-gum” type of music that was popular in the late 60s.

This was no average garage band either. While playing at the teen clubs, Dean said Grope ocassionally opened up for bands who had radio-hits at the time, including Cryan’ Shames, Shadows of Knight, and The Buckinghams.  

Dean, who now lives in Elmhurst, went on to pen a book for the popular series “Images in America” entitled, "Chicago Music Scene: 1960s and 1970s."

Fans will also get a chance to hear the band this Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. at in downtown Glen Ellyn, 474 Forest Ave.