Band Members

Darrell Reynolds - Lead Guitar

Dennis Hageman - Bass Guitar

Mike Bartlett - Drums

Richard – Vocals

Peter Okada - Keyboards, vocals

 FLASHPOINT


Flashpoint started out as a 3 piece “heavy metal” band. We played stuff like Iron Maiden, Richie Blackmore, Deep Purple, and Zeppelin and we played it very loud! I guess we had to. There were only 3 of us and we had to fill every inch of the room with sound. Volume was the only way to do that. I remember that our guitar player, Daryl, had an amp that was so powerful, I kept blowing out speakers trying to get my bass to be heard! I finally gave in and bought a more powerful bass amp myself.

A little later, we added a keyboard player and another guitarist and started doing more “mainstream” cover songs. We did a recording session backing Mike Bartlett’s boss somewhere down the line. He (Steve Scully) had 2 songs that he had written and wanted to demo. They turned out pretty good! 

The breakup of Flashpoint started with Peter, the keyboard player. He was a Japanese kid going to school here in the U.S. He came into rehearsal one day and told us that his dad was making him go back to Japan to finish school. He was very upset because he really wanted to play music, not get into some family business, or whatever his dad had planned for him. It wasn’t long until the band completely disbanded.

Dennis Hageman


You are correct we started out as a 3 piece power trio, ala Cream. We added Peter Okada, (Darryl's friend) as a keyboard. At some point we also added A.J., never new his last name. He didn't last too long as I recall and then we got Skip, (again I don't recall his last name). 

We did record a couple of tunes with Steve Scully, "Run with me" and "Modern Day Woman". 

Peter did leave 1st as he was called to start the process of learning his father's lumber business to eventually take it over. I think Skip left as he had just gotten married. 

We also played a couple of gig's, one in El Segundo, I think it was something Brian Bianchi put together. We also played a party at Don Abrecht's. Cops came and claimed they had recieve complaints from the other side of Hawthorn Blvd, well over a mile away. Guess that new amp of yours paid off, uuh... I remember you and Darryl had just painted both your Pevey amps white and I had just bought a new set of Ludwig pearl white drums, we were so color coordinated.

We also played at Golden West College with Steve Scully, Gary Arnone, Joe Macalusa, and Flash Point. I think that was the gig where it was back to a 3 piece and we had just got Richard the singer.

Right after that we signed with Gary & Joe, (nothing ever happened with that) and then met Lilyanna, "Cosmic Sands". Nothing really happened with that either. Except we got to play at the club in Lido Isle in Newport Beach. As I recall, we packed the place.

I think the finale with Flash Point was when Darryl began playing with another band and we just sort of naturally all went our separate ways. Not long after you and I ran an ad and met Ted Keffalo, and so began the saga of "Gil Estel"!!!

Mike Bartlett