The news hit me yesterday through a Facebook post: Terry Draper had passed — ten days earlier. At 73, the world lost not just a musician, but a true rock & roll legend. This one hurts.
If you’ve never heard of Klaatu… where have you been? Their 1976 debut 3:47 EST sparked wild rumors that they were actually The Beatles, secretly reunited under a new name. The resemblance in sound was uncanny. Go listen to Sub-Rosa Subway and try to convince yourself that’s not them.
But here’s the truth: I got lucky. I got to know the real Klaatu.
No, they weren’t The Beatles. But they were something just as magical in their own right. And my journey with them—especially with Terry Draper—is one I’ll never forget.
Let me take you back to the beginning.
I was 15 or 16, wandering a flea market in New Milford called The Elephant’s Trunk with my dad. Amid the chaos of trinkets and treasures, we stumbled upon a record: 3:47 EST, its cover glowing in the sunlight. My dad grabbed it for a couple of bucks, smiling. He couldn’t wait to tell me the story behind it—the mystery, the Beatles rumors, the music that once lit up his youth.
When we got home and dropped the needle on that vinyl… I was hooked.
At the time, I had no plans to be a musician. I was just a “normal” kid dreaming of becoming a marine biologist. But bands like Klaatu—and The Posies—lit a spark in me. They changed my path forever. I’ll always be grateful for that.
Years later, I wrote a song with Frankie Siragusa called Isolated Dew. It was inspired by that exact moment of musical discovery. There’s a line that goes:
“It’s past the time it’s supposed to be,
As I remember the best song to me
Was Apology on Dear 23,
Klaatu on the radio pretending not to be
The Beatles, you know it’s true…
Take me back to 3:47 Eastern.”
That track has since evolved into my upcoming single Some Way, releasing June 26th, but the original version lives on at Jebbsmusic’s Bandcamp. That version will always hold a special place in my heart.
My podcasting journey began with Jebb & Green, but it truly found its identity in Unlikely Places—named after a Posies track. Terry Draper was my first guest ever (hear that here). I followed that up with interviews with Tino Troy of Praying Mantis and Jon “Soda” James. At the time, I had no idea my radio path would lead me to 99.1 PLR—home to local legends like Chaz, AJ, and Lappy. But there I was, just getting started.
Terry was generous, kind, and genuinely curious. He let me ask anything—and gave me one of the best interviews I’ve ever done. Nervously, I asked if he’d ever want to do a song together. I didn’t expect a yes.
But he said it.
This rock & roll legend said yes—to me.
That led to Your Friend Jebb, a short-lived but magical project featuring members of Klaatu and The Posies. I was living a dream. In many ways, I still am. Listen to that here
Terry was also a voice actor on my co-written 20 song plus space concept rock album found here.
Terry and I stayed in touch. We had plans to finally meet—he’d drive through Connecticut on his trips from Canada to his place in Florida, Swamp Manor. Sadly, it never happened. But he left me with priceless gifts from his personal Klaatu “prize closet”—memories I’ll treasure forever.
Through Terry, I also became friends with Dee Long. Our team signed him to Robo Jack Records—right before my mental health took a hit and I had to shut the label down. I want to sincerely apologize to everyone involved. That moment still weighs on me.
Terry, you are not forgotten. This isn’t goodbye. Every time a Klaatu album plays, you’re right there with me.
So when you get to rock & roll heaven, give John Lennon and George Harrison my love.
Until we meet again…
With all my heart,
Your Friend,
J