The 1968-1975 Wisconsin Music Scene From My Eyes

I came back to tell you about the music scene in Wisconsin from my eyes, it was an exciting time. It is difficult to know where to start. The Beatles arrived in ’64, I saw the Doors in the arena in ’67, Cream, Hendrix and the Allman Brothers played at the Scene, directed by Benadetta Balistrieri in the late 1960s. The Midwest Rock Festival would arrive at State Fair Park in the 69 with Blind Faith, Joe Cocker & the Grease Band, Jethro Tull, along with my favorite local bands Soup and Ox. This was an era of excellent music feeding the souls of the young …!

In ’68 there were CYO dances where the bands had the opportunity to play along with Strobe and other clubs. We had the Messengers, the Destinations, the Corporation, the Baroque, the Sidewalk Skipper Band, the Skunks, the Tony’s Tygers, the Robbs, and don’t forget the Goodwill Industry building on N. 92nd, it had 1200 people and always packed it. There were other great bands that would soon arrive on the scene. The first Summerfest I remember in ’68 was on the hill with the stage at the foot of the Art Center on Lake Dr, New Colony Six and many classic rock groups. This is the scene I had before ’69, those were the best days of my life (name that song?)! The music leading up to ’68 / ’69 was just amazing. You had Byrd’s Mr. Tambourine Man, Eight Miles High, The Temptations, Jefferson Airplane, Paul Revere & the Raiders with Kicks and Good Thing, the Young Rascals; They had a ton of hits, Wilson Pickett, Smokey, The Supremes. You have to remember that in those days music was the most important thing in our lives and we could listen to Pop, Hard Rock, R&B, Soul, Blues, Jazz and Country. We could hear it all and be great …! In fact, we need to bring the music back, but not this processed garbage. Going back to the real stuff … I can’t list all the great songs because there are so many, although I’ll include a few. The Lovin Spoonful, The Yardbirds- Shapes of Things WOW, Donovan, The Stones, The Kinks-Who will be the next in line, You Really Got Me, Dedicated Fashion Follower, Classic, Animals-Don’t Bring me Down House of the Risin Sun, the British invasion in general. Do you realize that they pulled American blues records off the ships, put their spin on it, and sold it to us again? How many of you knew that? Music feeds the soul … it comes anyway! These were all my influences too, along with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, Howlin Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson.

He had been playing drums for 6 years, practicing a lot. I joined my first group “The Epilogue” with Dale Peterson from the Chessman, they rehearsed a couple blocks from me. They were great, we played rock, blues, pop (British invasion pop). I started learning to interpret my music, not just to play it, I was hooked, there is no going back now! I kept playing and practicing. I was offered a job with a group called “Prism”, I was excited. We had a singer, so we played a wide range of material, from Jefferson Airplane to Billie Holiday with Jim Appleby on guitar. Later that year, Rick Cier, one of the best keyboardists in town, joined us. Eventually things fell apart like rock bands, drugs, alcohol, and simple personalities. I met a guitarist who was forming a band, Jeff Dagenhardt, the band “Comus”. He played with all the blues greats Sam Lay, Muddy, everyone, I was honored. That lasted a year, they offered me a concert with a group called “Short Stuff”, they were the best blues band in town and I was 16 years old. Junior, the keyboard player used to drop me off in high school, looking back at what era. . My family was very supportive while I got my grades. They held it above my head, no grades, no music …! I learned a lot from Junior and Kenny Berdall. Jimmy Liban only did a few shows when I was in the group and he moved to Nashville. Jimmy is a great talent. Heard Junior does a Little Richard impersonation in Las Vegas. Looks like him. Junior Luv and Bud. Same for you Jimmy and Kenny! I was getting more into Zeppelin and heavy blues. A band called “Tongue” was looking for a drummer. They played heavy blues. I was the 54th drummer who auditioned and I got the gig.

“Tongue” was where I wanted to be. They already had a large following. We did great shows, we would perform in Eagle River WI, there was a stage and 3,000 people waiting for us. We had a road crew, Bunny, Rube, and finally Woody, all we had to do was have two beers and go play. They set up the equipment and took it down when we finished, in the next town. We traveled by limousine, life was the best! This continued for 4 years. Colorado, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, we played mostly, we also gained a lot of fans. We were in Hollywood for the first time at the Tropicana and I forget the name of the restaurant downstairs, Al’s, I don’t remember, but the best burgers. We were filming at Hollywood Central Studios, we had lunch at Southtown, a soul food joint in Wilcox. Going back to the studio, I was with John Rhys, who was the owner of the studio and he was producing us, and I saw this beautiful black woman, now I’m only 17 years old. I said wow, look at her, John said, look at her feet, I said what. …? Look at her feet, well, they were so big they hung over her shoes. John said that Teddy watches and learns, that he is not a woman, that he is a man dressed as a woman, well, it goes without saying that when I see a woman the first thing I do is look at his feet, have him since 1972. That night we went Whiskey and couldn’t believe it. The Whos were there, and later that night we ran into Keith Moon at Denny’s on Sunset. For a 17-year-old that was exciting. Our album was never released due to legal issues, because you young players have lawyers on your side.

We played Denver on the way home and that’s where I met Bobby Barth, who would later start “AX.” He was a great composer, I loved his material. So let’s go back to Milwaukee. The fun places to play now were the Stone Toad, Teddy’s, the Electric Ballroom, the Saloon, the Alternate Site on the lakefront, and more in Milwaukee. Wisconsin had a great music scene. “Tongue” played the same venues as Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Clicker, and Luther Allison. With my friend Jimmy Solberg, an amazing blues guitarist. The music in Wisconsin was steaming. Headliners, the Nitty Gritty in Madison, The Barr in Oshkosh and Eau Claire, the London Inn, the Lord Jefferies Eau Claire pub, the Modernaire Bar on Eagle River, the Rathskellar in Fondy and all the festivals. I will never forget we were passing through Tennessee and bought 1/2 truck full of fireworks and Sunday after a killer show on Saturday. At night, we woke up laden in a rowboat and hid it until dark. We said Hop, who was the owner, look at this, we had pushed the boat and tapped it, blue like Mt St. Hellens. Fireworks were flying everywhere, still can’t believe the men in blue never came …? Then there was Pine Point at Menomonie, and so much more. We had all kinds of places to play. Again the Music helped the soul …! Many groups went on to great things. I wish Soup’s Doug Yankus didn’t pass away (what a talent), Ox’s Jon Paris continued with Johnny Winter and many others. If you are in New York, go see Jon on Monday nights at BB Kings in Times Square, he is the host for the night. Don’t forget Bull Ring and Sweetbottom, Daryl joined Genesis. Tongue broke, I moved to LA (see LA ’75 -’76) We had some wonderful music here and it continues, we’ll get into the 80s next time, fasten your seat belts for that one. Let the music come back … See you soon.