December 6, 2016
Music - Tom Irwin
Illinois Times Arts and Entertainment
Without a doubt, F5 was one of the most popular and influential cover bands to play in Springfield during the last few decades, and on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Curve Inn, they play their last, final show. Tom Gaskins, the main F5 guy, disbanded the group in 2008 when he left town, then fired up the rocking machine again upon his return in 2015. The first F5 show ever happened at Bootlegger’s on Dec. 13, 1996; we’re plenty close enough to 20 years to call it a two-decade run.
During that incredible stretch, the group garnered 11 media awards, including several from IT’s “Best of Springfield” readers poll. Original members Robin Bosie, Stan Komperda and Tony Dyer return to join in the celebration and play a few tunes with the current F5, and who else but Ric “Skippy” Major will be in house to run sound, just like he did in the early days of the band’s initial success. On the Facebook invite page, Tom says, “Thank you everybody that followed us anytime during these last 20 years” and reminds all the F5 FB page will remain open to clue us in on possible upcoming reunion gigs.
