Very few rock performers have remained as vital through the
1960's, 70's, 80's, and 90's as have Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman... and as
The Turtles, featuring Flo & Eddie, they continue to maintain a vigorous
tour schedule.
After a string of hits and international success, The
Turtles folded in 1970. Mark, Howard and Jim Pons joined Frank Zappa's Mothers
of Invention, for one of the most entertaining incarnations of that ensemble.
Due to contractual restrictions made early in their career,
Mark and Howard were prevented from using the name "The Turtles", as
well as their own names, in a musical context. In order to circumvent this,
they became "The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie" (later shortened to
"Flo and Eddie").
In 1984, as "The Turtles ...featuring Flo &
Eddie", (together with three other groups from the 60's; Gary Puckett,
Spanky & Our Gang, and The Association), they travelled across the US and Canada as "The Happy Together
Tour". The tour was very successful and was the standard bearer for a
resurgence in the interest of 60's music.
The following year they got together with The Buckinghams,
Gary Lewis, and The Grass Roots, for a 1985 version.
For the eight months the tour was on the road it was
consistently one of the top 10 grossing tours in the country.