By Marg guerrero
Mickey & the Invaders played a variety of venues. In the surf world they played the legendary Rendevous Ballroom, where they opened for Dick Dale himself. They played other Orange County surf venues, such as the Pavalon Ballroom in Huntington Beach, and Retail Clerks Hall in Buena Park. They also put out a surf single, "Blast Off" on the small Lap Record label. It was actually the "B" side of "Land of Broken Hearts," but a DJ flipped it over and started playing "Blast Off." At the same time they were playing the appropriate music that served the tastes of the people on the East L.A. circuit, at venues such as the Big and Little Union Halls, Montebello Ballroom, Kennedy Hall, and El Monte Legion Stadium. They also played one of the now legendary rock & roll shows at East Los Angeles College. (Mickey also played bass on East L.A. singing star Little Ray's classic recording of "I Who Have Nothing" on Bob Keane's Donna Label.)