It was the year 1980 when the three lads pictured above started futzing around with original music in Mark’s basement (located in Euclid, Ohio). Prior to this, all three played together in a “normal” rock band (Bastille) which played an assortment of cover tunes by Led Zeppelin, Kiss, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, etc. During Bastille’s tenure (1978-79), George Wright in particular became an astonishingly dexterous lead guitarist (with Mark Tiborsky on rhythm guitar, and Bob Lanphier on bass). After the breakup of Bastille, Mark and George played together in another short-lived cover band (The Time Between). Shortly thereafter, Bob and Mark joined forces in yet another cover band (The Dream).
But when George or Bob (or both) would come over to Mark’s house, the guitars (and an old keyboard or two) would inevitably come out… and the music being played was most often NOT covers, and not really “rock” in the traditional sense. The original music being created was mostly instrumental, and was/is a very odd mixture of different styles. When George and Mark would unite, it would tend towards jazz and classical (but often with an absurdist bent). When Bob and Mark would get together, the music would lean more folkish and semi-rock (though the oddness would penetrate there as well). When all three would unite, the music would sometimes veer into complex interplay in a style that’s difficult to pin down (along with some of the trio’s most whacked-out creations). Each session was dutifully recorded by Mark T. – first on a mono cassette recorder, then a GE stereo boombox (which recorded quite well), then by bouncing tracks on 2 cassette decks with a mixer. By 1986, Mark had obtained a nice Tascam 4-track cassette recorder. No recorded sessions with all 3 of the Bean boys exist from after 1986 – however, there are 4 track sessions from 1986-1990 that feature George/Mark and Bob/Mark.
This pattern continued throughout the 1980’s, as George Wright went off to study music at the University of Cincinnati, and Bob Lanphier (who had also become a fabulous lead guitarist) played in his own Cleveland-based blues rock bands (most notably Fine Young Minds). Meanwhile, Mark Tiborsky also stayed busy in a variety of area rock bands during the ’80s. But each time any configuration of the three got together at Mark’s house to play, it was all this oddball original music that was being created. Thus, Bean Philosopher was/is not a “band” per se… it was/is a more relaxed creative outlet for all three musicians while they were otherwise kept busy playing more standard forms of music.
The last Bean Philosopher 4 track sessions happened in 1990, when George came up to Cleveland from Ft. Thomas, KY to record some material with Mark. He had gotten married, and settled in Ft. Thomas. Bob was also married at that time and had a daughter – he was very busy with a popular Cleveland original band (Cat Free Air). Mark married in 1991, and kept musically busy though the 1990’s with The Cells (featuring songwriter Christopher Strauch) and the progressive rock band Intra (led by Ray “Mato” Tomorowitz), along with several wedding-type bands.
But the Bean Philosopher story does not end in 1990! Fast forward to November 2011, when Mark T. began what became a real labor of love. He started listening to all the 60 or so Bean Philosopher tapes, separating the worthy stuff from the (sometimes meandering) long acid jams, and converting it all to digital. As many of the earlier tapes were just 2 or 3 guitars (sometimes keyboards) recorded live sitting around the GE stereo boombox, Mark felt immediately compelled to add bass & other instruments to flesh the tunes out. By 2016, he had 8+ hours of semi-fleshed out material in the can. 8 (unofficial & unreleased) compilation CD’s were made, but mainly to organize for a future official release. The old stuff was sounding pretty good at this point… but, Mark felt that the material still needed some additional instrumentation (without trampling on the original raw recordings) along with improved mastering. He pecked away at the Bean Philosopher stuff for several more years, until…
Fast forward to April, 2023… Bean Philosopher finally has its first official album release! Bowl O’ Bean is available worldwide in digital form. There is surely much more to follow… Mark T. is already busy polishing up the tracks for the next release.
Sadly, George Wright, who was not only Mark’s musical cohort but also his dear friend, passed away in 2015 at age 54. He was the true maestro of the collaboration, and also the funniest one (in the most twisted way).
Bob Lanphier is (as far as we know) down in Nashville leading his own group, but hasn’t been in touch with Mark for some time. If anyone has his current contact info, please email it to sponyak@gmail.com.
As for Mark Tiborsky, he’s still busy with preparing more Bean Philosopher music for future release (after releasing his first two solo albums under the moniker M.T. Sky).
A quick story of the name “Bean Philosopher”… it began as a somewhat absurd possible name, made up by Mark, for the group with Mark & George that’s mentioned in the top paragraph (The Time Between). Mark and the drummer (Ken) actually liked it but George and the bassist (Walt) said “no way”. A year or so later… since he was the one recording everything, Mark said to both George and Bob, “I’m gonna call this original stuff Bean Philosopher music.” Both George and Bob were fine with that.
But what meaning did it have then? Nothing, really… it was just a strange name that Mark T. made up. It wasn’t until recent years that Mark discovered that there was a deeper, previously unknown meaning to the moniker. As it turns out, the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras thought that excessive flatulence would release parts of a person’s soul, or “life force”; therefore, beans to him were evil and a no-no. More like anti-Bean Philosopher!
Here is an (as of yet) unadorned Bean Philosopher track, recorded live in Mark’s backyard sometime in the early 1980’s. For obvious reasons, we called this Cicada Improv. All acoustic guitars – Mark on 12 string, George on nylon string, and Bob on 6 string. Enjoy!
M.T. Sky Music 