And I'm not even a Greatfull Dead fan at all.
The first band I played drums in was a true Garage band composed of my two brothers and another friend. We played our own stuff and some Kiss and Deep Purple. Then we saw the Ramones on Don Kirchner's Rock Concert TV show and tried to become Punk but that band fell apart when two of us got girl friends.
The first gig I played was with a band I put together with some friends from school in 1975 but we had a horn section and played stuff like the Hawaii 5-0 theme and TSOP. so it was no way punk, more like jazz.
Later in 1976 I joined a band that actually got paid for our efforts. I was 15 and everyone else was over 40. But that was a country band. Still can't stand Country more than a song or two at a time. Unless Johnny Cash counts.
Then there was the Classic Rock / Blues band that had a house band gig as well as playing out around Kansas City a lot. That was fun, but not punk.
I played in another band that played several gigs and included my best friend on lead vocals. He had a voice like Bon Scott but was not healthy enough to keep it going for very long. Not punk either.
Then I answered a "Drummer Wanted" add and went to the audition. Somehow (must have been fate) I passed the audition and joined my first REAL PUNK band Ludikrus Behavior. I had played blues oriented rock and roll for so long I never should have made it but did. It changed my life. The singer/song writer "Buzz" Michael Dean Flanagan "Rocko" gave me a crash course in Punk. I ended up renting a room from him for a while. Played with them for a few years and thought we were almost "Rock Gods" He is gone now but I will never forget him. Such an amazing talent. If we'd had the internet then we would be.....
After an ugly break with them I got religion, married, had a son and became too busy raising a family and trying to pay bills to do much musically. I did play for a few years in an alternative Christian band (we played some NIN) that was kind of fun for a while.
Now my youngest is 17 such a good kid and I've been feeling the urge to pound on some skins again. In fact I have an audition on Saturday with a Horror Punk band from Norfolk VA that lost their drummer.
Here we go again!!!
