Joe Behrend left Madison, South Dakota to chase his dreams and launch his music career. As a keyboardist with the Flamin’ Ohs, he was part of a group that was one of the first to record a music video for MTV. The group was extremely popular regionally and Behrend was embarking on a new music project when he was murdered in 19 August 1989. He had been bludgeoned to death in the music room of his apartment on Columbus Avenue South. Family members, friends and musical colleagues have continued to wonder who killed Joe, and why. Investigators share their frustration and continue to work this case, but need a little help from someone, anyone, with any information that may lead to the arrest of the person who murdered musician Joe Behrend.

If you have any information you might have with investigators by calling the MPD Tip Line at 612-692-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip through Crimestoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or texting “Tip747 plus your tip” to 274637.

New Mpls. Cold Case Squad seeks answers in decades-old homicides

Families of victims – and a reorganized Minneapolis police unit – are pushing for answers in decades-old cold cases.
By Sharyn Jackson Star Tribune   |   AUGUST 20, 2016 — 6:55PM

Every year on her wedding anniversary, Barbara Behrend made a call to the Minneapolis Police Department. She was looking for any new information about the killing of her husband, Joseph.

The keyboardist for Minneapolis rock band the Flamin’ Oh’s, Joseph Behrend was slain in his apartment in the early morning of Aug. 19, 1989. The 36-year-old musician had been bludgeoned to death with his own guitar. A suspect was arrested, but without enough evidence to charge him, the case went cold.

For decades, Barbara longed for closure — or at least assurance that the police hadn’t forgotten Joseph, a balding, big-hearted musical prodigy. So she kept calling.

Last March, she got a call back.

Sgt. Jane Moore with the MPD was spearheading a reorganization of the cold case unit. She hoped that by applying today’s forensic technology to decades-old evidence, she could crack Joseph’s case.

Barbara once again would have to share details about her and Joseph’s rocky romance amid Minneapolis’ fast-paced, drug-fueled music scene of the ’80s. Worse, she would have to relive her anguish over losing him in such a brutal way.

She thought, “Screw it, I’ll do it.” Friends who had never forgotten his killing were aging; others had died. “This is the last chance we have,” she decided. “It shouldn’t end like this.”

In a warehouse on the edge of Minneapolis, boxes filled with yellow and pink duplicates are stacked next to mounds of evidence: furniture, luggage, bicycles — and Joseph Behrend’s prized red Epiphone guitar. This is where Sgts. Jane Moore and Chris Karakostas look for answers.

As the force behind the MPD’s rejuvenated Cold Case Squad, they pore through old files and follow leads in cases that reached the limits of what science could — and witnesses would — tell them. Over time, though, labs have gotten better; people loosen their tongues, “and the answer,” Karakostas said, “is probably in that box.”

With the popularity of true crime stories such as the podcast “Serial” and Netflix’s “Making a Murderer,” the MPD is tapping into a cultural moment with the Cold Case Squad. Since its launch last March, it has premiered slick videos about several cases on the MPD’s new website, InsideMPD.com. The videos have a dual purpose: soliciting tips from viewers and boosting the MPD’s image.

“This is a visual world,” Moore said. “Everybody is on social media. Why not use it to our advantage as well?”

Sonicbouquet wrote a song for Joseph.

Published on Apr 25, 2016
*JOSEPH BEHREND COLD CASE UPDATE* Blackberry Way Records was proud to host Channel 5 ABC Eyewitness News investigative reporter Eric Chaloux as he interviewed Barb Behrend and Terri (Braatz) Owens for a report on Josephs cold case expected to air on Ch 5 Thur April 28th @ 10:00. As many of you know Joseph was tragically murdered in Aug of 1989. The Minneapolis Police Cold Case Unit is trying to bring this tragic event to a close. Terri Owens, Josephs band-mate in the Flamin’ Oh’s, composed a song for Joseph to help bring attention to the case. Performed by Sonicbouquet, the song will be featured in the report and will bring a tear to your eyes. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call the MPD Tip Line @ 612 692-8477. The report will be repeated on the morning show April 29th.Here is a link to the song and video: Joseph (Will We Ever Know). Please Share we need to get this out to the masses.

South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association:

Behrend became an accomplished pianist while growing up in rural Madison. He was born in 1953 and died a violent death in his Minneapolis apartment in August 1989.

Behrend left Madison in 1971 with a goal of launching a music career. He received classical training at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis and joined the Flamin’ Oh’s, a Minneapolis band that was to become legendary.
The Flamin’ Oh’s, which had several aliases including Flamingo and The Oh’s, recorded seven albums, an extended play record and a 45-rpm single. They were one of the first bands to record videos for MTV.

The Flamin’ Oh’s’ songs “I Remember Romance” and “Stop!” were listed in Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 and received a large amount of airplay. The Flamin’ Oh’s played new wave, power pop and punk rock music and toured the U.S. and Bogota, Columbia.

The Flamin’ Oh’s regional venues for performances were located in South Dakota and Minnesota and included the Minnesota Zoo, Minneapolis Aquatennial and the Cabooze and Longhorn bars.

The Flamin’ Oh’s opened for musicians and musical groups such as Ozzy Osborne, Motor Head, .38 Special, Taj Mahal and Lamont Cranston. The band continues to perform under singer-songwriter Robert Wilkinson’s leadership. The band’s drummer, Bobby Meide, was also from Madison.

Behrend was described as the clown prince of the music scene. Flamin’ Oh’s fans appreciated the part of the Flamin’ Oh’s performances when Behrend sang his original satirical songs such as “Medical Mess,” “New Boyfriend” and “Skinny Legs.”

Behrend had studied as a French chef and created French cuisine for the band and his friends. He married Barbara Behrend during his time in Minneapolis and despite having a rocky marriage, they maintained a loving relationship.
He had left the Flamin’ Oh’s a few years before his death at age 36 but maintained friendships with his old bandmates.
In 1989, Behrend was embarking on a new music project in Minneapolis with a singer-songwriter from California. On Aug. 19, 1989, Behrend was found bludgeoned to death with his own guitar in his apartment. The police arrested a suspect but later had to release the man due to lack of evidence.

In March 2016, the Minneapolis Police Department reopened Behrend’s homicide as a cold case. After reviewing the old files and evidence in Behrend’s murder, the police found a new “person of interest” in the case.
After his death, many local bands held a benefit for Behrend. On the anniversaries of his death, Barbara Behrend would contact the police to see if any new information was unearthed about her husband’s death. She and his friends believed Behrend’s life deserved a better ending than an unsolved murder.

On April 12-13, the 2019 South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association will hold Friday performances and a Saturday induction ceremony and concert at the Ramkota Exhibit Hall.

The organizers have scheduled a Friday jam session starting at 8 p.m. in the exhibit hall. The performances, which are open to the public, will feature several Hall of Fame inductees. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and organizers will collect any donations at the door.

This is on the Flamin Oh’s website:

August 15, 2002

I found your website and loved it. I sure hope they release the third album (I didn’t know it existed). Should you hear of its release I’d love to be notified!

Reading your site I notice references to the death of the keyboard player.
May I ask what or how it happened?

Finally, thank you for all your hard work. They were extremely influential to me and my new record release credits them as such.

Thanks, Jack

>Subject: Re: Flamin’ Oh’s
>Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 09:30:12 -0500
>
> Hi Jack: Yes, sadly Joseph Behrend was murdered August 19, 1989 and his case is still unsolved.

>WCCO’s Dimension did a report that told the story of how Joseph was found in his apartment bedroom bludgeoned to death with his own guitar and how, basically the only suspect the police had was Bill Behrend, Joseph’s brother.

> Joseph’s life was taken way too early. —

>Monty

I’m so saddened by this. Its hard to believe but, as with John Lennon, sometimes the worship of people you have admiration for, such as a music or sports persona, leads demented souls to sick compulsions. I didn’t know any of the Oh’s personally, other than a few brief conversations, but you could just tell Mr. Behrend was in all likelihood a good-natured fellow who truly enjoyed entertaining with his musical gifts. I’ll pass this on to my sister who I know will feel what I’m feeling now.

Thanks though for sharing with me what must be hard news to deliver.

Peace to you and prayers for his family.
Jack

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