04 Apr 2026 Back on stage 50 years later

By KD Reep

In the late 1970s, a group of young Morrilton musicians climbed onto the roof of a shopping center in North Little Rock, instruments in hand, as police officers below aimed their weapons. It looked like a scene from a movie, but it was something else entirely: the cover of the first Fyter album.

More than 40 years later, Fyter is back, and this time, their music is reaching far beyond Arkansas. “We just wanted something cool,” said Travis Johnson, lead guitarist and vocalist, about the album cover. “We took our guitars, climbed up there and made it look like we were the bad guys in a movie.”

The moment was staged with help from the North Little Rock Police Department, thanks to a connection through the band’s manager. What started as a creative idea became a striking visual that still turns heads today. Back then, Fyter was like many young bands in Central Arkansas. Formed by musicians who crossed paths in competing groups, the band came together organically. The local music scene was limited, especially for musicians not yet old enough to play in bars, but the band performed at proms, Knights of Columbus halls and wherever they could. “There weren’t that many places, but we made it work,” said bassist Kevin Compton.

Like many bands of the era, Fyter dreamed bigger. After being turned down by record companies, they took matters into their own hands and recorded their first album in Oklahoma City in 1978. “We always wanted to make an album,” said Mike Newman, lead singer and rhythm guitarist. “When nobody else would do it, we just did it ourselves.”

They pressed about 1,000 copies, selling them at shows and placing a few in local record stores. At the time, it was a modest effort. Today, those same records have become collector’s items. “People still reach out and say they have one,” Compton said. “It’s kind of cool after all these years.”

Eventually, the band members went their separate ways. Life moved forward with careers, families and distance, though music never fully left them. Then came an unexpected email. Years later, the band was contacted by a European music publication, It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine (psychedelicbabymag.com), which focuses on obscure and collectible bands. At first, the message seemed questionable. “I thought it was junk,” Newman admitted. “But they followed up and said it was legit.”

The band agreed to answer questions, and soon their story appeared online. That exposure led to something even more surprising. A record label in Spain, working through publisher Out-Sider Records and distributed by Guerssen Records, expressed interest in re-releasing Fyter’s original album. They also wanted to release a second album made up of previously unreleased songs. “We didn’t go looking for it,” Newman said. “They came to us.”

And the deal came with another surprise. “You don’t pay us,” the label told them. “We pay you.”

In March 2025, both albums were released simultaneously. A limited run of colored vinyl sold out within days, snapped up by collectors worldwide. “Apparently, there’s a network of collectors who watch for these things,” Johnson said. “They grab them as soon as they come out.”

What was once a small, self-produced album from Arkansas is now circulating internationally, often selling for far more than its original price. With renewed interest in their music, the band decided to do something they had not done together in decades: get the band back together and perform. 

On March 7, Fyter took the stage at Cedar Lounge in Morrilton.

The show sold out well in advance, with a waiting list for tickets. Fans traveled from multiple states to attend. “The first thing we thought was, ‘Do people really want to see a bunch of older guys play?’” Newman said. “But it sold out, so that answered that.”

For the band, the night was more than a performance: it was a reminder of the impact they made years earlier. And on stage, something clicked. “You realize you’re part of people’s lives,” Johnson said. “They come up and tell you they met their spouse at one of your shows. You don’t always realize that at the time. I had moments where I thought, ‘This is what I’m supposed to be doing. I felt at home again.”

Getting back to that point was not effortless. The band had to shake off the years during rehearsals, held at Johnson’s home in Mayflower. Still, the chemistry returned faster than expected. “It was rusty,” Compton said. “But not as bad as we thought it would be.”

The current lineup includes Johnson, Compton, Newman and drummer Steve Braud, who stepped in following the loss of the band’s first drummer. Together, they blend original songs with covers, creating a show that resonates with longtime fans and new listeners alike. “Most people don’t know our original songs,” Compton said. “But they recognize the covers, and then they discover the rest.”

For Fyter, this second chapter is not about chasing fame. It is about rediscovery, connection and joy. “It’s about live rock and roll,” Johnson said. “There’s still a place for it. There’s still a reason for it.”

Upcoming performances at Cedar Lounge are scheduled for April 10 and May 23, giving fans more opportunities to experience the band’s revival. More than four decades after their first album, Fyter is once again doing what they set out to do in the beginning: making music, connecting with people and living fully in the moment.