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We need a Youtube vid of this. Could see that going viral.
We need a Youtube vid of this. Could see that going viral.
I've thought of it, many times... believe you... me... and the rest of'em.
As I was reading through these stories and sharing them with my girl she reminded me that my story didn't end after Shagnasty and moving back from Watertown NY.
I have a local fame story that has us chuckling to this day.
Once back in Western New York I soon started to play for a band, I will use a pseudonym "Angry Coleslaw" for the band name to protect the names of the innocent. The guitar player and the drummer were VERY good in their own rights. The lead singer and his brother the rhythm guitar player, founders of the band... we're very basic musicians and a source of constant discontent amongst the other members (they would never practice their parts).
I started playing for this band soon after I returned to WNY, the bassist they had quit out of frustration and formed a new band (6 years ago in 2012 and is still going strong today). I stepped in but not before asking the previous bassist why he left so I knew what to expect. Now, this was classic rock, classic hard rock band and had been a staple in this area for the past 20 years. They had a regular monthly spot in the casino circuit and was one of the highest paying bands that I've ever played in. I can only believe that was possible because they had a strong local following. The local fame part came when I traveled the 20 minutes to the next town over to peruse the local Walmart, as My girl and I were shopping someone pipped up and said "HEY, YOU'RE THE BASSIST FOR ANGRY COLESLAW" and a friendly conversation ensued with a gratuity picture for the fan. Never would I ever had expected that... and that wasn't the first time, there were at least 2 more times that when I was in that area that I was singled out and talked to, the girlfriend would always giggle and say I was famous in B******....
Anyway, I ended up getting fired, reason given.. "you play one of those 5 string basses and it's too much" I was thankful because by this time (just under a year) I wanted out and was having a hard time quitting when I was getting paid so well.
I have a local fame story that has us chuckling to this day.
Once back in Western New York I soon started to play for a band, I will use a pseudonym "Angry Coleslaw" for the band name to protect the names of the innocent. The guitar player and the drummer were VERY good in their own rights. The lead singer and his brother the rhythm guitar player, founders of the band... we're very basic musicians and a source of constant discontent amongst the other members (they would never practice their parts).
I started playing for this band soon after I returned to WNY, the bassist they had quit out of frustration and formed a new band (6 years ago in 2012 and is still going strong today). I stepped in but not before asking the previous bassist why he left so I knew what to expect. Now, this was classic rock, classic hard rock band and had been a staple in this area for the past 20 years. They had a regular monthly spot in the casino circuit and was one of the highest paying bands that I've ever played in. I can only believe that was possible because they had a strong local following. The local fame part came when I traveled the 20 minutes to the next town over to peruse the local Walmart, as My girl and I were shopping someone pipped up and said "HEY, YOU'RE THE BASSIST FOR ANGRY COLESLAW" and a friendly conversation ensued with a gratuity picture for the fan. Never would I ever had expected that... and that wasn't the first time, there were at least 2 more times that when I was in that area that I was singled out and talked to, the girlfriend would always giggle and say I was famous in B******....
Anyway, I ended up getting fired, reason given.. "you play one of those 5 string basses and it's too much" I was thankful because by this time (just under a year) I wanted out and was having a hard time quitting when I was getting paid so well.
It still exists. But I stated it incorrectly. (must be gray matter) It's Club 400. On Williams Street. Arcoss from the mexican restaurant with the trains as a theme
Oh, Right across from La Estacion. We have brunch there a few times a year. I'll have to poke in there and see what sort of memorabilia they have around. I currently live about 5 blocks East of his grave site. My daughter goes to South where Kurt & Sammy went. The drummer from my old band is friends with Sammy. Small world...
I played 2 gigs with these guys.
I was asked by a mutual friend (John, who later became their agent)to join them. The gig was at Hannon's across from Waukesha state bank
There were about 30 to 40 people in the room when we started the first set. By the time we finished the 3rd song, the room cleared. Really bad vocals.
The second time that happened, I quit.
I grew up in Waukesha, so I have a large number of stories I could share.
Cheers
Forgot, I also played with my brother's band a couple times in Raleigh/Durham, NC several years ago when I was visiting. He got a call the morning after I got there asking if the band would play on the local NPR station. The special guest was Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy, author of several books, sister of author David Sedaris) who he had a major crush on so of course he said yes. We got to meet her and take pictures with her. Super sweet and seemed to enjoy the music. His band went on to tour with The Mountain Goats and they did fairly well, but were never picked up by any labels.
Yup.
When Slow broke up they reformed into Copyright and were dumping the bass player but didn't want him to know to know, but he owned the bass gear. The new bass player who was an acquaintance of mine from the fish plant without a loud amp so he borrowed my Ampeg V4B and cab for the initial rehearsals in a secret location.
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If you ever feel like sharing, PM me. I'm a big fan of listening to first person stories. Something I feel the younger generation is sorely lacking. People on this site know more about my musical past than my own kids do. Every time I try to tell them a story, they roll their eyes and walk away.
I'm still not famous; but, I just found a copy of the 45 record I played on that I personally autographed for an
ex-girlfriend back in 1979 that is currently for sell on the Discogs website for $30.00.
She moved to Arizona back then and eventually back to Pennsylvania a few years ago.
I should dig out a batch of them I have and try to sell them. HA, HA!
ex-girlfriend back in 1979 that is currently for sell on the Discogs website for $30.00.
She moved to Arizona back then and eventually back to Pennsylvania a few years ago.
I should dig out a batch of them I have and try to sell them. HA, HA!
Seriously? That's a pretty lame response. In fairness, I did tell the story, just not all the gory details. Besides, I'd rather not speak ill of the dead in a public forum (that's also another hint). If anyone happens to guess who it is, which is unlikely, I'd let them know privately.
So what's your story? You don't have to be detailed. Or perhaps you're just jealous because you don't have one?
you're such a tease...
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,941
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Gonna add one more thing (for now) that isn't a close call, but I always thought it was kinda freaky...
My inspiration to buy a guitar and get into a band was born around 1975-76. At that time my brother just started playing drums. His band rehearsed in his bass players basement (he used to let me tag along from time to time), and then my parent's basement.
The bass player in his band was James Lomenzo, and the singer/guitar player was Steve Augeri (Journey). They were kids. No idea at the time how their future was going to unfold. 2 guys who traveled 2 completely different paths (they both went their own way after that band) and wound up in some of the most famous bands in the world.
I'll add, even as teenagers, both those guys had some real magic going on. They were the nicest most laid back guys you'd ever want to know, and they were loaded with presence. They made me say, I want to do that!!!! I wanted the magic they had.
My inspiration to buy a guitar and get into a band was born around 1975-76. At that time my brother just started playing drums. His band rehearsed in his bass players basement (he used to let me tag along from time to time), and then my parent's basement.
The bass player in his band was James Lomenzo, and the singer/guitar player was Steve Augeri (Journey). They were kids. No idea at the time how their future was going to unfold. 2 guys who traveled 2 completely different paths (they both went their own way after that band) and wound up in some of the most famous bands in the world.
I'll add, even as teenagers, both those guys had some real magic going on. They were the nicest most laid back guys you'd ever want to know, and they were loaded with presence. They made me say, I want to do that!!!! I wanted the magic they had.
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- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,941
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Gonna tell my last one, though there's more.
1978-79. 3 piece band called The Team. I played guitar.
Bass player, singer, band leader, who I still talk with daily, was a super talented dude. Wrote some weird, very original stuff I'll link to at the end of this. In less than a year, our band was doing incredibly well. We won a HUGE NYC WPIX battle of the bands in Central Park, had some news write-ups, yada, yada. Our drummer had an uncle who knew a guy, who knew a guy, who happened to be this dude Danny (Daniel) Glass (wound up being senior vice president of Chrysalis records). Dan came down to a rehearsal, LOVED us and took us under his wing.
He immediately booked us some shows at the biggest clubs in NY at the time and blocked out a bunch of time at Columbia studios in NYC to start doing some recordings he wanted to present to his bigger people. Dan was an A&R guy at the time. He started doing things to impress us. Got us into some of the most exclusive clubs (to hang out), introduced us to women, essentially... started treating us like rock stars. He got Nick Lowe to write a song for us that would be on our first album, should it happen.
We were kids. We were idiots. Alcohol, qualudes, tuinols, and cocaine were very popular in the late 70s. Band leader was a big Who fan. We thought, actually the 2 other guys more than me, we were the Who and started burning everything down. Almost literally. There were fights whenever we played, mostly because of a song we had called the Ashtray (people started throwing ash trays around the clubs we played when we played it), our following were punks who were truly just a bunch of punks - not the Mohawk kind but rather the dyed in the wool Who fan kind... and in an effort to keep this short, we crashed and burned within a few short months. When we went to Columbia to record, our singer/BL popped a handful of Tuinols beforehand, because it was the R&R thing to do. There was a big police incident at one of the shows we did that started because of the ban... we had contracts we were nogotiating and after that last police incident, Dan said he had enough. Told us that had we been signed to them it would have made him liable for any damages, and he was far too smart a guy for that kind of thing. As much as he liked us, it was a done deal.
There were of course lots of other stories within that story, and the stories actually continued for a long time afterward. Drummer in that band made headlines for taking a rifle to his girlfriends new boyfriend's house, killing him and the guy's father, and then himself.
Again... ya can't make this stuff up.
I have a very colorful past.
Here's a link to something I put on myspace about that band, when Myspace was popular. Remember that the recordings are from 1978-79, and were salvaged off of cassettes that were beer soaked and abused for over a decade. The music was very original for the time.
I look younger and healthier now than I did in 1979. I'm the guy with the Tele and cigarette. Drugs are bad for you, kids.
Link Removed
1978-79. 3 piece band called The Team. I played guitar.
Bass player, singer, band leader, who I still talk with daily, was a super talented dude. Wrote some weird, very original stuff I'll link to at the end of this. In less than a year, our band was doing incredibly well. We won a HUGE NYC WPIX battle of the bands in Central Park, had some news write-ups, yada, yada. Our drummer had an uncle who knew a guy, who knew a guy, who happened to be this dude Danny (Daniel) Glass (wound up being senior vice president of Chrysalis records). Dan came down to a rehearsal, LOVED us and took us under his wing.
He immediately booked us some shows at the biggest clubs in NY at the time and blocked out a bunch of time at Columbia studios in NYC to start doing some recordings he wanted to present to his bigger people. Dan was an A&R guy at the time. He started doing things to impress us. Got us into some of the most exclusive clubs (to hang out), introduced us to women, essentially... started treating us like rock stars. He got Nick Lowe to write a song for us that would be on our first album, should it happen.
We were kids. We were idiots. Alcohol, qualudes, tuinols, and cocaine were very popular in the late 70s. Band leader was a big Who fan. We thought, actually the 2 other guys more than me, we were the Who and started burning everything down. Almost literally. There were fights whenever we played, mostly because of a song we had called the Ashtray (people started throwing ash trays around the clubs we played when we played it), our following were punks who were truly just a bunch of punks - not the Mohawk kind but rather the dyed in the wool Who fan kind... and in an effort to keep this short, we crashed and burned within a few short months. When we went to Columbia to record, our singer/BL popped a handful of Tuinols beforehand, because it was the R&R thing to do. There was a big police incident at one of the shows we did that started because of the ban... we had contracts we were nogotiating and after that last police incident, Dan said he had enough. Told us that had we been signed to them it would have made him liable for any damages, and he was far too smart a guy for that kind of thing. As much as he liked us, it was a done deal.
There were of course lots of other stories within that story, and the stories actually continued for a long time afterward. Drummer in that band made headlines for taking a rifle to his girlfriends new boyfriend's house, killing him and the guy's father, and then himself.
Again... ya can't make this stuff up.
I have a very colorful past.
Here's a link to something I put on myspace about that band, when Myspace was popular. Remember that the recordings are from 1978-79, and were salvaged off of cassettes that were beer soaked and abused for over a decade. The music was very original for the time.
I look younger and healthier now than I did in 1979. I'm the guy with the Tele and cigarette. Drugs are bad for you, kids.
Link Removed
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- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,166
- 256,977
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Maybe this song holds a few clues.
I was called the flying Dutchman in Ireland for my cycling, when I lived there at the sea.
But then again, there's a tendency of calling any Dutchman that is around in English speaking territory 'flying'.
One of our songs 'Jazzy Kid" had the line 'What will you do with your life?' and a reply in it.
The rocket ship line kind of reminds me of the time I was visiting Irish friends with one of the band's guitarists, and we all ended up taking acid while going out in Antwerp.
(The guitarist was shouting out about going off like a rocket while some Americans were watching us on a terrace.)
I was called the flying Dutchman in Ireland for my cycling, when I lived there at the sea.
But then again, there's a tendency of calling any Dutchman that is around in English speaking territory 'flying'.
One of our songs 'Jazzy Kid" had the line 'What will you do with your life?' and a reply in it.
The rocket ship line kind of reminds me of the time I was visiting Irish friends with one of the band's guitarists, and we all ended up taking acid while going out in Antwerp.
(The guitarist was shouting out about going off like a rocket while some Americans were watching us on a terrace.)
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