Article taken from clepunk.com
The most often told story about SOSUMI is how we came up with our name. Originally named Synthetic Products, after the plastics factory in Collinwood, we decided to put out a single with a picture of the factory on the cover - this was pre-desktop publishing days. So to get the right font and all, we just took a picture.. This was no problem. But when I made flyers to promote the single and then put them up in University Circle, an employee of said company took the flyers and went about putting them up within the company. That's when we heard from them. First the foreman called and wanted to know what we sounded like, maybe we could play the company picnic. I told him we had some singles at an E.185th Street record store, which he bought all of. Then we heard from the lawyers - btw, don't put your home phone no. on your records. He told us we had to change the name of the band, destroy all the covers (no problem there, they were just xeroxed), or we'd be sued. When he asked what we would change our name to, Chuck replied, "So sue me". (Malcom Ryder)

Back in the seventies my friends and I were into what was called space rock. The highlight of the year was when Hawkwind would return to town. We would pool our cash to buy a block of seats and what cash we had left went for buying as much LSD we could. So to say I was a bit excited to share the same stage with the band years latter at the Empire would be an understatement. I spent weeks getting my party favors together. Some black Afgani hash, some Peruvian flake, and some of Oregon's best skunk. The night of the show we PARTIED OUR ASSES off with the premier space heads of our time. Our time came and we played like we had never played before. It was one of those magic nights when everybody played their parts like they are supposed to. I had left a big old hunk of hash and some lines for the guys while we played. I believe it was about the fourth song when I saw Dave and the band standing to side watching and grooving. After we finished our set ans tore down our gear(the real glamourous part of rock and roll). We went back stage where Dave Brock told me "You guys are a bit of alright". Soon it was time for the band that everyone had come to see to go on. One by one they ran out from back stage to take their place and begin. One problem. Alan Davey had gotten so stoned he forgot and left his bass back stage. So off he ran to retrieve it. Upon returning and running up to the stage he almost tripped and went staggering accross the stage, plugged in and the show started. A splendid time was had by all. And the next time Hawkwind came to town who do you think they called? P.S. Remind me to tell you about opening for GWAR sometime.

Chuck Ryder