Growing Up In Rock 'n Roll

[Deleted member 394512]

Here's how it started. Black Oak Arkansas bought the resort next door to ours in the tiny hamlet of Oakland, Arkansas, in 1976. They found out my Dad had a CDL and didn't drink or do drugs. They hired him to drive their tour bus, which he did for 3 years. Next, he worked for Heart. By that time he had such an excellent rep in the business that bands called him for the next 3 decades.

Oakland! I'm thinking of moving from Gassville to Oakland or Three Brothers. 2000 people is too much here.

I bet your dad and my father figure (dad) crossed paths a few times. Some of the larger acts in your list. I miss the stories.

Did BOA really come out of the caves by Bull Shoals to that resort?

 

[Sternodox]

Oakland! I'm thinking of moving from Gassville to Oakland or Three Brothers. 2000 people is too much here.

I bet your dad and my father figure (dad) crossed paths a few times. Some of the larger acts in your list. I miss the stories.

Did BOA really come out of the caves by Bull Shoals to that resort?

I would choose Oakland over Three Brothers, primarily due to its proximity to the lake. I dated a Gassville gal in high school. Don't know about the caves, LOL.

 

[Ron Spencer]

I love reading these stories, Your dad ( and you) have got to experience what we all love from behind the scenes

 

[Sternodox]

I love reading these stories, Your dad ( and you) have got to experience what we all love from behind the scenes

I was extremely lucky to have had such an amazing Dad.

 

[Five or Six]

Ah, Ted Rocks! If I had one place that I could ever wish to play, it would be Red Rock's! Your Pops was a lucky man.

 

[Sternodox]

He took so many kids back stage that it just makes me smile to know that there are hundreds of people out there that I've never met, whose fondest memories include my Dad.

 

[Sternodox]

Out of all the folks I met because of my Dad, my favorites will always be Ann and Nancy Wilson. ZERO egos! Super nice. One of those deals where you feel you've been friends for years. Incredible jokesters. They bought my Dad a truck.

 

[dougjwray]

I'm loving this thread!

 

[Sternodox]

Here's how he met the Plasmatics. He was driving for Gary Numan and was in a bar in New York. A girl jumps up on his table, being all punk and stuff, and kicks Dad's drink off the table. Well, Dad had this special withering look, which he turned on the girl, who got scared and bought him a replacement drink. It was Wendy O. Williams. She and Dad became close friends and it broke his heart when she killed herself.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

View attachment 5485643

Ruby Starr lived across the street from me. Here we're in her living room in 1977. R.I.P. Connie!

Go Jim dandy...GO JIM DANDY!!....GO!!!!!

 

[SemiDriven]

For 35 years my Dad drove tour busses and equipment trucks for bands. I got so many backstage passes! Thanks Dad and R.I.P.

Here's who he worked for:

Black Oak Arkansas
Heart
Firefall
Plasmatics
Grateful Dead
Allman Brothers
Aerosmith
Ted Nugent
Gary Numan
Michael Jackson
Blackfoot
Supertramp
Amazing Rhythm Aces
Ruby Starr
Wild Cherry
Blackstone (magician)
Foghat
Willie Nelson
Billy Joel
Burton Cummings
Cher
Tom Petty
Kansas
Wishbone Ash
Delbert McClinton
Carlene Carter
Gallagher
Charlie Daniels
Chuck Mangione
Hank Williams Jr.
Linda Rondstadt
Eddie Money
Village People
Roy Clark
Stevie Wonder
Little Feat
Kenny Rogers
Mötley Crüe

Respect!

Great stories!

Thank you for your post! (current semi-driver)

 

[Sternodox]

Respect!

Great stories!

Thank you for your post! (current semi-driver)

Be safe, brother!

 

[Pdaddy1978]

You sir.... have a seriously cool backstory.
And your Dads story .... wow.
By the way... I dig his shotguns on his rifle rack too.
Have you ever thought about writing a book?..
I'd read it.......l in a heartbeat!

 

[Sternodox]

You sir.... have a seriously cool backstory.
And your Dads story .... wow.
By the way... I dig his shotguns on his rifle rack too.
Have you ever thought about writing a book?..
I'd read it.......l in a heartbeat!

Thank you! Hoo boy ... I've already written one book ... The Encyclopedia of Arkansas Music. I'm 70 and teaching myself guitar, drums, and keyboard. Along with, you know, life. Lol. I just have no time for additional projects.

 

[J Wilson]

God Rest him, he must have been a mighty man.

Away from the stage, it takes, strong, straight, solid people to make the wheels go 'round and 'round, and he was one of them. I'm pretty sure I remember him from a show or two.

All the Best,

JW

 

[Sternodox]

God Rest him, he must have been a mighty man.

Away from the stage, it takes, strong, straight, solid people to make the wheels go 'round and 'round, and he was one of them. I'm pretty sure I remember him from a show or two.

All the Best,

JW

Thanks, JW. That means a lot.

 

[Sternodox]

Dad and Jim Dandy backstage ... probably around 1978.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Thank you! Hoo boy ... I've already written one book ... The Encyclopedia of Arkansas Music. I'm 70 and teaching myself guitar, drums, and keyboard. Along with, you know, life. Lol. I just have no time for additional projects.

Well.....if you ever do.....I'm on pre-order.

 

[TypeRasta]

This thread is super cool.

 

[Ostie]

One time Dad caught Ted Nugent charging kids $10 for an autograph. Dad told him if he ever saw him doing that again he'd beat the sh*t out of him. Dad was 6' 4" and weighed 260. Solid muscle.

Those kids worshipped Ted Nugent, but your dad was the real hero in the room. Sounds like a really cool dude.