https://garyrue.com/nip-n-tuck

“Nip ‘n’ Tuck was born in 1976 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and consists of Gary Rue (guitar/vocal), Jeff Willkomm, bass/vocal), Tilly (drums/vocal). The group was heavily influenced by pop idols of the time: Todd Rundgren, The Raspberries, etc., and termed a ‘melodic rock band’ by the local press (with which the band agreed). Another in a long list of bands who were ‘this close’ then inexplicably disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle of pop history. But wait! Now they’re back!

From the press corps, circa 1976:

“…blindingly good……reminiscent of the Lovin’ Spoonful and the Who…”
~Metropolis

“…the band’s original compositions…catchy but tasteful…containing melodic and lyrical substance too often lacking in the pop tunes receiving AM radio overplay.”
~P. L. Christian

“…close harmonies, strong hooks, endearing melodies all charged up and ready to go with backbones of real rock energies…
~Laura Fissinger (freelance writer for, among others, Rolling Stone)

Gary Rue: Rue Nouveau, Gene Pitney (music director), theatrical composer, ‘jingle writer, songwriter (Nick Lowe, Helen Reddy), 2010 Inductee Mid America Hall of Fame, 2010 MN Music Hall of Fame.

Jeff Willkomm: Hermit’n Hermits, Gene Pitney, Lou Christy, Trova, 10 November, Gales of November (theater), educator.

Tilly: 2 time inductee into the Minnesota R N R Hall of Fame (Sleepers & City Mouse), Department of Defense USO musical representative, backing musician for the Coasters, Platters, Marvelettes and Gene Pitney​.”​

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http://www.newmusicarts.org/sleepers/

Performing songs like “We Gotta Get Out of This Place”, “You Really Got Me”, “Look Through Any Window”, “Heart Full of Soul”, “She’s Not There”, “Yeh Yeh”, and “Tobacco Road”, The Sleepers give their audiences a rare opportunity to hear those songs that are so often overshadowed by the greatness of John, Paul, George and Ringo, impeccably performed by the heirs apparent: The Sleepers. (Audiences are still bound to hear plenty of Beatles to satisfy: “Help!”, “Ticket To Ride”, “You Can’t Do That”, “A Hard Days Night”, and many more.)

The members of The Sleepers ALL cut their musical teeth on these songs. Between then and now, they have all done stints as sidemen with many of the American foundational groups of the sixties: The Coasters, The Drifters, Platters, Tommy Roe, Lou Christie, Jay (and The Americans) Black, Dion, The Shirelles, Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits) and (most notably) as the core-quartet for Gene Pitney.