Frenay & Lenin Biography

Gary Frenay and Arty Lenin first performed together in 1977 in the CNY-based power pop band, The Flashcubes. They headlined throughout the Northeast, and shared the stage with the Ramones, the Police, the Romantics and Joe Jackson, to name a few. The Cubes released two 45's that have been reissued nationally on several sampler albums & CD's on Bomp, Big Deal and Rhino.

From 1980 to 1986 they continued to play together under the name Screen Test, releasing three more 45Ős and a cassette-only LP, "Screen Test 1986". Despite popular and critical acclaim, a video on MTV's "Basement Tapes" in August 1983 and opening gigs for U2, Bryan Setzer, Marshall Crenshaw, and Graham Parker, Screen Test disbanded in late 1986 when the drummer, Tommy Allen, moved to New York City.

For the next four years Gary & Arty performed almost exclusively as the Neverly Brothers Band while also concentrating on writing and recording for China Doll Music in NYC.

In 1991 Arty relocated to New York City, where he began working and writing with Paul Collins. Together they formed the Paul Collins Band (featuring ex-members of the db's and Television). They released a CD, "From Town To Town" in 1993, and toured extensively up and down the East Coast and in Europe, throughout Spain and France. His NYC stint also included writing and performing in Bruce Henderson & the Rain Kings with Saturday Night Live's G.E. Smith on bass.

While Arty was in NYC, Gary began performing as a solo singer/songwriter in Syracuse and all over the eastern United States. He released a retrospective casssette-only album "Gary Frenay Songbook" - 1991 and two critically- acclaimed CD's: "Armory Square" - 1993 and "Jigsaw People" - 1996. He shared the stage with Ani DiFranco, Stephen Stills, Richard Shindell, Catie Curtis and many others, performed abroad in England and Italy, and won SAMMY (Syracuse Area Music) Awards for Best Songwriter in both 1993 & 1994.

In 1996 Arty moved back to Syracuse where he and Gary gradually reformed, first with annual reunions of their 70"s band (The Flashcubes), and eventually as an acoustic duo (Frenay & Lenin), rock trio (Neverly Brothers Band) and recently in a new five-piece British Invasion tribute band (Fab Five).

The 90's has been a time of great resurgence for their music. As the Flashcubes, they released a retrospective multimedia CD ("Bright Lights" - 1997), appeared on tribute discs for The Raspberries, Paul Collins' Beat, and the Bay City Rollers and performed at the 1998 & 2000 International Pop Overthrows in Los Angeles, CA.

Closer to home, they've been performing together regularly for the last four years, with every Thursday night finding them at Vinny's Restaurant in Syracuse, NY. They marked a three-year stint at Pastabilities Restaurant, with the 1999's critically acclaimed CD "Live@Pastabilities". They were also honored at the 1999 SAMMY Awards with the Best Acoustic Act Award and, for Arty, the Best Rock Instrumentalist Award.