Worked as a Hoodoo Gurus roadie for 4 years, then struck out on his own, moving to Canowindra to be in the heart of the burgeoning music scene. He earned a few bucks giving piano accordion lessons and there were a few gigs at the Royal Hotel. He was going nowhere, yet he dreamed of taking control of an audience and being a star.

It was during this time that Lenny Joh Drynkendorf Jr. was urged by friends to change his name if a recording career was to be in his future. His friends suggested the name Jimmy Sommerville, but he’s that poof in Bronski Beat. He ultimately took his stage name from the family company, Stainless Insert Flange Company in Aston, Pennsylvania.

Captain Flange was born. But it wasn't an easy process. It took some time to find the soul of the Flange.

“When I discovered I was adopted, and had never been to the ancestral home, it struck hard. I decided to take on the business name of my biological family. It made a huge difference to my approach. Tim McGraw told me it had the same effect on him.”

He experienced his first major break in the music industry when he was chosen from 250 other hopefuls as lead singer for the popular Schnitzel Trio, which later became Las Vegas based The Heroes Avenue Jam Band.

“It all happened so fast.” Flange reflects, “I was doing the RSL circuit in the Central West of NSW, then all of a sudden, Vegas. New Orleans. Memphis”.

Other bands followed and he traveled the world. "Tesura" was a huge success in Northern Mexico. “Interstate” took jazz fusion to percussive heights. “Sharp Young Men” was a hit on the shuffleboard circuit. "Meat Impulse" had a good run on the Sunset Strip. Then the wave of nostalgia hit and the innovator created his most successful act to date, Diamond Romeo.

All of this emerged as a reflection of Lenny Joh’s personal growth and artistic evolution. But it almost ended, forever.

“The 50s vibe took control of my life. I was eating 6 or 7 burgers a day and washing them down with thick shake after thick shake. I packed on so much weight that my roadies had to re-enforce the piano bench.”

After a 6 month break to reconnect with his spirituality, he bounced back.

“I decided to focus on the small things. The hot nude yoga and protein diet showed me the way”

His new heartfelt urgings of the peace on earth and compassion became consistent themes. The focus became reaching people with a gentle manner on his records and at live performances.

His humanitarian work continues to strengthen our global village, and his dynamic celebration of life, spirit and nature is a powerful inspiration to us all.

“After I got it together, in my head, I decided that I’d give something back. I decided to dedicate time to the people”.

The message of love continues with the debut EP from Captain Flange, “The Walmsley Sessions” due in August.

TRADEMARK MOVES:

The Jankle Lock, The Spanish-Fly, The 420, The Jaeger-Plex, The Stupor-Plex, "Hajime-Snake Style-Eagle Claw!"