Forerunner of DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, BANG BANG featured Portland native Julian Raymond (ex MOVIE STAR and KEVIN WET) and guitarist Ronnie Mancuso who had previously recorded with CHEATER in his home town of Buffalo, New York.

Raymond and de Villar put DEAR MR. PRESIDENT together following BANG BANG's demise. Mancuso went on to form MODERN DESIGN and, ultimately, BEGGARS AND THIEVES after recording with VANILLA FUDGE for the reunion album 'Mystery'. During 1984 Mancuso featured as session player and singwriter on the DANNY SPANOS album 'Looks Like Trouble'.

A very early incarnation of the BANG BANG band featured none other than GILBY CLARKE on guitar. He was responsible for introducing bassist C.J. (Tristan) De Villar to the fray before departing when the direction of the band became way too poppy for his tastes. De Villar and Clarke would work together over a decade later when Gilby, having long since settled for the guitar and played in CANDY, KILL FOR THRILLS, GUNS N' ROSES and SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, would invite the bassist to work with him on his second solo album 'The Hangover' in 1997.