PB
Early 1980s trail • Washington, D.C.
Pump Blenders
Name note: sources use both Pump Blenders and Pumpblenders. This page keeps those spellings connected. The working live catalog begins in 1982, but the exact formation year remains open.
Early 1980s trailFull House eraGo-Go SwingWilmer’s ParkSmithsonian poster
Artist overview
Pump Blenders were more than a minor tape-circuit name. Richard Harrington’s major 1985 Washington Post Go-Go overview identified Pump Blenders among the younger bands being worked by Full House, and Maxx Kidd singled them out while discussing the next generation of the scene. Go-Go Mickey later remembered the Pump Blenders as the first Go-Go band he saw when he was 12. By the end of the decade the group appeared in David Rubin’s Go-Go Swing documentary, and Washington Post coverage continued into the 1990s.
1985 contemporary pressWashington Post places Pump Blenders inside the younger-band / Full House side of the Go-Go industry push.
Go-Go Mickey memoryIn a later TMOTTGoGo/Familiar Faces profile, Mickey says the Pump Blenders were the first Go-Go band he saw, when he was 12.
1989 documentary evidenceGo-Go Swing includes the Pumpblenders and identifies several members/management figures in its credits.
Smithsonian artifactThe Anacostia Community Museum preserves a 1992 Globe poster advertising Rare Essence, Pleasure and Pump Blenders at Capital City Pavilion.
Music
Go Go Live At Wilmer’s ParkWashington Post reviewed a Liaison release featuring Junk Yard Band, Young Groovers and Pumpblenders, recorded at Wilmer’s Park and produced by Reo Edwards / Future-Street Records.
COMMERCIAL LIVE RELEASELive performance repertoireA 1990 Washington Post concert review praised the Pump Blenders’ Go-Go versions of Jackson Five hits; exact song titles are not inferred here.
PERIOD PERFORMANCE REVIEWLive & PA archive
The working PA catalog begins with a 1982 LaSalle apartment-complex entry and continues through classic D.C. venues, a 1986 New York lead, 1990s releases/appearances and later reunion-era material. Public press and institutional sources independently confirm that Pump Blenders remained visible well beyond the earliest tape labels.
LaSalle apartment complex — 1982Earliest current I AM GO-GO working-catalog Pump Blenders lead.
Howard Theatre — 1983Working catalog preserves a Pump Blenders performance at the Howard.
Cheriy’s — Dec. 1984Working catalog preserves a December entry plus another 1984 Cheriy’s label featuring Redds.
Sursum Corda — 1984Working catalog preserves a neighborhood performance lead.
Annapolis — 1985Working catalog preserves a Maryland performance.
Ritz Hotel, New York — 1986Working catalog carries a New York lead; external confirmation remains open.
Capital Centre — 1990Washington Post reviewed Pump Blenders late in a large rap/R&B concert and said they got the remaining crowd moving.
Capital City Pavilion — Jan. 11–12, 1992Smithsonian Globe Poster Collection preserves a poster billing Rare Essence, Pleasure and Pump Blenders.
Black Hole — July 3, 1993Working catalog and Old School Go-Go preserve later Pump Blenders/Black Hole evidence.
Timeline
Earliest current working live lead
LaSalle apartment-complex entry opens the present catalog trail; formation year remains open.
LaSalle apartment-complex entry opens the present catalog trail; formation year remains open.
Washington Post Go-Go industry overview
Pump Blenders are named among younger bands being worked by Full House.
Pump Blenders are named among younger bands being worked by Full House.
Go-Go Swing documentary
David Rubin’s documentary includes Pumpblenders performance/interview material and named band/management credits.
David Rubin’s documentary includes Pumpblenders performance/interview material and named band/management credits.
Capital Centre performance review
Washington Post reports the group energizing a late-night crowd with Go-Go versions of Jackson Five material.
Washington Post reports the group energizing a late-night crowd with Go-Go versions of Jackson Five material.
Wilmer’s Park live release / Smithsonian poster
Washington Post reviews the multi-band Go Go Live At Wilmer’s Park release; Smithsonian preserves a dated Pump Blenders Globe poster.
Washington Post reviews the multi-band Go Go Live At Wilmer’s Park release; Smithsonian preserves a dated Pump Blenders Globe poster.
Black Hole trail
Public and working catalog evidence preserves Pump Blenders at Black Hole.
Public and working catalog evidence preserves Pump Blenders at Black Hole.
People
Fitz MasonHis official biography says he played trumpet with the local Go-Go band Pump Blenders during his college years.
George “Wildman” BrooksGo-Go Swing documentary credits identify Brooks with The Pumpblenders.
George Busey Jr.Go-Go Swing documentary credits identify Busey Jr. with The Pumpblenders.
George Busey Sr.Go-Go Swing credits identify him as manager of The Pumpblenders.
Kevin McClintonGo-Go Swing documentary credits identify McClinton with The Pumpblenders.
Kevin BuseyOld School Go-Go’s memorial page associates Kevin Busey with Pumpblenders; kept as a community personnel lead pending stronger roster evidence.
Connections
Pump Blenders connect several layers of Go-Go history at once: the younger-band industry push of 1985, the scene that inspired a teenage Go-Go Mickey, David Rubin’s documentary work, Wilmer’s Park live-record commerce, Future/Street Records, and the Globe Poster archive now held by the Smithsonian. That combination makes the band important to the living archive even though its exact formation story is still being researched.
Source trail
Washington Post — GO-GO (1985)Contemporary overview identifies Pump Blenders among younger bands being worked by Full House and discusses them in the next-generation scene.Contemporary press
TMOTTGoGo — Familiar Faces / Go-Go Mickey profileMickey says the Pump Blenders were the first Go-Go band he saw, when he was 12.Musician biography / memory
Go-Go Swing (1989) — documentary creditsCredits identify The Pumpblenders plus George Wildman Brooks, George Busey Jr., manager George Busey Sr. and Kevin McClinton.Documentary-credit source
Washington Post — MUSIC (1990)Reviews Pump Blenders at a large Capital Centre bill and notes their powerful Go-Go treatment of Jackson Five material.Contemporary performance review
Washington Post — Real Live Crew (1992)Reviews Go Go Live At Wilmer’s Park, featuring Pumpblenders, Junk Yard Band and Young Groovers.Contemporary record review
Smithsonian — Globe poster, Capital City Pavilion (1992)Anacostia Community Museum archive preserves a Jan. 11–12, 1992 poster for Rare Essence, Pleasure and Pump Blenders.Institutional artifact
Fitz Mason — official biographyMason says he played with the local Go-Go band Pump Blenders during his college years.First-party musician source
Old School Go-Go catalog — Pump BlendersPublic collector catalog preserves a 1993 Black Hole recording.Independent public catalog
Old School Go-Go — Kevin Busey memorial leadCommunity memorial page identifies Kevin Busey with Pumpblenders.Community personnel lead
I AM GO-GO working PA/live catalogPrivate working list preserves Pump Blenders from 1982 onward, including Howard Theatre, Cheriy’s, Sursum Corda and later appearances.Internal archive lead
Keep exploring
Stay inside the I AM GO-GO archive and follow the next trail.