Sunblind Lion: From Plymouth Garages to Classic Rock Legends

For more than five decades, Sunblind Lion has stood as a testament to the enduring power of rock and roll. Formed in Wisconsin in the 1970s, the band carved out a loyal following through powerful live shows and albums that fused progressive rock’s technical ambitions with deeply heartfelt songwriting. Today, their music continues to resonate, finding new life through licensing with APM Music.

For founding members Keith Abler and Mike Dellger, the journey began with a spark that many of their generation shared: watching the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. “It all goes back to February 9, 1964, watching Ringo Starr,” Abler recalled. “I knew right then, that’s what I wanted to do.” Dellger echoed the sentiment, adding that the Beatles’ American television debut was a before-and-after moment for countless young musicians. “That moment was huge. Our family gatherings always turned into sing-alongs, so music was already there for me. But the Beatles lit the fire.” 

Growing up in Plymouth, Wisconsin, population five thousand at the time, the duo watched the British Invasion ignite their own small-town scene. “After the Beatles, suddenly there were five or six bands in our little town,” Dellger said. “We all started in garages, learning the Beatles, the Dave Clark Five, and the Rolling Stones. Pretty soon, we wanted to write our own songs.” Abler and Dellger eventually found themselves in The Love Society, a late-1960s band that released a handful of singles on national labels such as RCA and Mercury. “The A-sides were usually covers,” Abler remembered. “But eventually, we knew we wanted to focus on our own material.”

As their ambitions grew, so did their identity as Midwestern musicians. “Small-town work ethic, good people,” Abler explained. “We liked what we were doing, and nobody bothered us for doing it. When we recorded one of our early albums and took it out to L.A. to be remixed, someone said, ‘That’s good old Midwest rock and roll.’ That felt right.” Dellger added that while Sunblind Lion embraced progressive rock on record, they never lost touch with the region’s gritty live energy. “We loved to rock out live, Bob Seger, REO Speedwagon, Styx. We even opened for Rush and Dr. Hook. There was a raw energy in the Midwest scene that shaped us.” 

Sunblind Lion fully took shape in the 1970s as Abler and Dellger began collaborating more deeply. With Abler focused on music and Dellger on lyrics, they became, in Dellger’s words, “the Elton and Bernie of Plymouth, Wisconsin.” Guitarist Dave Stefan and other musicians rounded out the lineup, cementing the band’s place in the Midwest rock landscape. 

The pair’s creative process combined structure with spontaneity. “Usually, I’d have lyrics finished, or Keith would bring a melody,” Dellger explained. “We’d dissect the words, fit the music, and bring it to rehearsal. Much like the Beatles, we worked songs out as a band, organic and in the room.” Abler agreed, emphasizing the importance of that live collaboration. “That interaction was key. Later, when we recorded in 2013, we did some remote collaboration using Pro Tools. It worked, but you miss that immediate, organic feel when everyone’s together in the studio.” 

Even as times changed, storytelling remained at the heart of Sunblind Lion’s music. Dellger once penned a novella about a tuberculosis sanatorium outside Plymouth in the 1920s, which became the basis for a full album. “Our writing has always been about storytelling,” he said. That spirit, paired with the band’s knack for melody and musicianship, has allowed their catalog to endure and now reach new audiences through licensing opportunities. 

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Listen to Sunblind Lion’s Albums 

Reflecting on their journey, Abler stays focused on the joy of making music. “Through it all, it’s still about that joy of playing together, of making music that connects,” he said. Dellger added a touch of nostalgia. “I miss those days of figuring it out together. That’s where the real magic was.” 

From Plymouth garages to stages alongside Rush, Sunblind Lion’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and love for music. And judging by their enduring legacy, that magic is still alive.