![]() That still sounds plausible to me, though anyone can come up with “heavy” records predating those the point is 1968 seems like an agglomeration point, the year a real genre was born. The narrative has usually been that heavy metal started sometime in 1968, the year when Blue Cheer released Vincebus Eruptum Iron Butterfly blessed us with “In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida” Steppenwolf released their first two albums and Jimmy Page, who’d briefly marshaled the remnants of the old Yardbirds as the New Yardbirds, formed Led Zeppelin. But who cares, I find it every bit as dynamite today as I did on first hearing it, when it was less than a decade old I can only imagine that makes it as dynamite today, or very nearly so, as it was the day it was released. But it was far from the first power popper, and so has no real “pioneering” placement. I’d do it again.“Ticket to Ride” is absolutely power pop, in fact it’s still a definitive example. I would later come to find I was hunting something that was hunting me all along. In times like this, one must remember to keep his cool and slowly approach his prey. Now only one small detail stood in my way to rock & roll immortality. ![]() My thoughts of all the possibilities began to proliferate one after another: rock stardom, money, limos & ladies filled the vestiges of my young mind with the sweet anticipation of lust and money. Can you imagine what I felt at that moment hearing those words? Not to mention, the source of those words? At last. He told me if I thought I was good enough to play with Bim Bam, I might like to audition for Redbone. I recall Tony’s face when I unveiled my intentions. With my swagger in full gear, I proceeded with my plan. If I had approached Butch first this would have drastically altered my path. ![]() I couldn’t see approaching Butch even though he was the leader of the band. I would tape the show, learn the tunes, and ask for a shot at playing for Bim Bam. With my swagger now fully decalcified after months of abuse, I developed a plan of attack. The reason I had hope was because I noticed Bim Bam was using different drummers from week to week. I was still working with Horace four nights a week but now I had hope. I knew if they saw I was a friend, I'd be in for sure. I was not old enough yet to get in so I waited for Tony. I remember going out that cold and rainy night. A door now reveled itself and I had a key. The way I saw it, it was either go for it or have died there with Horace and this was not to be my fate. Although my swagger had taken some direct blows in recent days that left me feeling less than invincible, my swagger talked me into it. After all, I had been playing in bands for years. At the very least I’d finally get a chance to talk with Tony T-bone Bellamy as a colleague. Was this the miracle I had been waiting for? After all I was at my musical crossroads. The fact that they were playing at Bill Medley’s nightclub was a sign I could not ignore. He was a great player and still is.īutch played drums on “Come And Get Your Love” on the Wovoka album and on the Beaded Dreams and Message from a Drum albums.īutch is the younger brother of Barry Rilera, the guitarist for The Righteous Brothers. Tony is also responsible for a big part of the Redbone sound and much of their success. Tony had played on several Redbone albums. Tony Bellamy and Butch Rilera had a gig on Monday nights. At the time I did not question these things. I now know the hand that directs me in my life is not my own. I have no recollection of ever being told by anyone of Tony & Butch’s gig at Bill Medley’s Nightclub in Fountain Valley, Ca.
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