Gentlemen,

It was an honor and a privilege playing with you.
The evening seemed magical, like going back in time, especially
afterwards when we were down at the falls.
Lot's of fun and always very much appreciated by the residents who
attend, which makes it well worth the effort in my book, and the main
reason why I keep doing it, just for the satisfaction of giving a little
something back to those who have served our country so proudly.

Thanks, I appreciate it and have a good Monday!  
GO TIGERS!!!!!!
Bob

Last night was probably the most fun I've had in ages!  It was so much fun playing with Dale, Bob, and Mike again.  The parts that went off perfectly were awesome.  The parts that didn't turn out,well, at least we could say "So What?" and move on.  If I'd have done a face-plant on Wipeout at the teen center I would have been totally mortified.  But last night I just cracked up.  And we tried it again.  I would play with BWDF again in a heartbeat.

 Note to Mike:  It was a good thought about getting me a Viagra, but I don't think it helps when it's your arms that turn to jelly!  :)=)

Hey guys,    Just want to say I had a wonderful time this evening playing with you guys again as BWDF.  I never ever thought I would say that...  especially to Mike!   I was really apprehensive about doing this gig.  I know Bob and Mike have kept busy with their respective bands over the years , and Terry would bring the drums out of mothballs from time to time doing things with the church.  But the fact I hadn't played guitar in 13 years and the four of us not playing together for 33 years really had me worried. 

After the first two or three songs tonight in front of a receptive crowd at the Vets Facility those worries were quickly put to rest.   Things I thought I'd forgotten quickly came back to me.  It's like we'd never separated and all of us were teenagers again.  I thought we did pretty damn good for winging it.

I remember the countless practices we had in 1973 and it never seemed to do a bit of good.  We still sounded like crap!  It wasn't just the cheap equipment either.  We were young and very inexperienced musicians at the time.

Through those 33 years we gained experience with the various bands each of us were with.  We also owe a huge part of it to those three great teachers along the way.... Buddy Lou, Buddy Ed, and of course King Batwipe.

Actually, tonight BWDF  had a collective total of 132 years of music experience on that stage...  33 years for each of us.  So if you think about it that way it's not so surprising we pulled it off with virtually no practice at all. 

It was extra special to have King Batwipe and Buddy Ed joining in.  They were great! A night I initially was fearful of... turned out to be one I didn't want to end.  I loved it that we were back together and perhaps playing real music for the first time.  And most importantly, I got to visit a bunch of old friends I haven't seen in ages.  It was great to see Frizzy Bri, Vicky and their children.  And Amy (Bob's sister)... cant believe I was starring at a women who was still in Queen Batwipe's belly when I first met Bob in the early seventies. Amy's the one who gave me my nickname which I will never forget.. "Hugga."  She was just a toddler at the time.

It was nice to see Mindy and her husband.  Bob was right when he said Mindy married a wonderful guy who takes good care of his "Min."  It was wonderful to see Terry's sister Linda and her family. I haven't seen Linda in 30 or so years.

And all of my sisters were there too along with Tom Firme.  I can't believe there was a short time I was worried about this nite.

Because of the all those who attended our Reunion Concert including the three guys on stage with me..... 3/31/07 will always be A Night to Remember.  

Terry.... add this one to the BWDF History Timeline.  It's a keeper! 

 Dale Nosepick Hugga

I met my old buddies on the 'Net one night

They seemed insane as ever, I just smiled.

And we talked about some old times, in a band that hurt your ears,

Still Batwipe after all these years.

Oh, Still Batwipe After All These Years!!

Four Little Batwipes

  On a balcony.

One climbed the railing...

  Then there were three.

Three little Batwipes

  Wonder what to do.

"Race up seven flights? I'm IN!"

  Then there were two.

Two little Batwipes

  Dining in the sun.

One ate too much Slob Fish:

  Then there was one.

One lonely Batwipe

  Didn't understand

had a beat-strokey

  And re-joined the band.

-AMEN

-The Muse-

One particular memory I have of Buddy Lou is the time he took Dale and me out to Dunkin' Donuts on Plainfield.  I can't remember the gist of the conversation but I said something to the effect of "I assume."  He showed me what happened when you "ass | u | me."  I've seen it since and used it a few times myself, but that was the first time I saw it. 

It meant a lot to me, too, that time at the Degage' when he said it was good that "you guys had a drummer that knew what he was doing."  I really had no clue that I had a clue!  About all I had in my bag of tricks was 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &, with an occasional rat-tat-a-tat-a on the snare!  But he must have seen something I didn't. 

And forgive me if I'm getting totally maudlin, but there's one other memory I want to pass along.  One time we had a gig at the Cottage Bar up in Rockford, or thought we did.  We got there and another band was already set up; they'd double booked and we came in second.  So we sat and had a few beers (might as well not waste the trip) and so help me Hannah, everybody that came in the place knew your dad! 

I'm sorry he won't be there in person to jam with KB and Buddy Ed.  But we're all gonna take a little Lou on that stage with us.  I think we should play For The Good Good Times in his memory.  All in favor?   Ter

MIKE WRITES: Nyyyyoooow Fellows,   I would love to practice, but - as Bob pointed out - I'm going to be working my big white ass off next weekend already.  We're at one club Friday and another Saturday; that's a lot of hauling, setting up and of course, playing.   I think we'll probably be okay Sunday, even without rehearsal.  And if we're not, I personally plan to blame it all on Dale.  He's the one who hasn't picked up his instrument in over a decade!  I've kept my mediocre chops up, as has Bob.  Even Terry plays from time to time.   So, we're all agreed then, right?  Say it with me: "It's DALE'S fault!!!"   Sorry about rehearsal, fellows, but really, we'll do fine I think.  Or will we?   M

DALE RESPONDS: Noooooowwwwwwwwwwwww  Michaellllllllll!!!!  You know that isn't true.  If you will remember it was YOU who told Bob, Ter, and I  it was just a "business thing" when you up and quit the Batwipes and left us out in the cold. The three of us wanted to continue BWDF, but you destroyed everything we had worked so hard to accomplish in those two short years.  Ultimately this led to my putting the bass guitar in mothballs for several years. It effected me to the point where I could never trust anyone again. If you hadn't DIVORCED BWDF we would still be together and I wouldn't have had no need to go into early retirement from the world of music.  So next Sunday night if you hear a D# coming from my bass guitar when you're playing a B note....  think about what I've written here.    Actually, I've been practicing a little on my own with the Peavey head Bob was kind enough to let me borrow. I've been playing along with some of the old audio tapes I have.  Actually I'm quite surprised at what I find myself remembering.  The first tape was from November 6, 1982 Vegas Night at the Creston Post when I was in my dad's band (Goldmine.)  Some of the tunes I can still play inside and out, and others... completely lost.  Of course my dad was always good at throwing in those damned seventh and augmented chords. I believe most of those chords he played were taken to the grave with him never to be heard on a guitar again. I think Bob  referred to them as "Lou Chords!"  Overall I recall about 80% of the chord arrangements on that tape. I've a few other tapes to go through before the 25th and Bob is going to stop by here Monday after work for a mini practice for about an hour.   Listening to that 1982 recording sure brought back the memories though.  Hearing my dad singing and playing guitar was very emotional for me.  Even more so as I began to play my bass along with the tape.  It was as if I was in "Goldmine" again standing right beside dad. Hard to believe at the time I was 8 years removed from BWDF.  Dad played a ton of the music he grew up with.  Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, Tex Ritter, Hank Williams Sr., Elvis Presley, etc, etc.  I always respected that music and dad's decision to play it....  but eventually I wanted to get into a band again, with my peers.  A band where I was able to play the music I grew up with.  I'd been in "Goldmine" for about three years and finally wanted to move on.   I was trying to come up with a way to tell dad I wanted out without upsetting him.  It took me  awhile to build up the courage.  Finally one night, as we were tearing down from a wedding reception gig I told him. I also added how difficult it was for me to tell my own father I was quitting his band.   His reaction took me by surprise. He was completely understanding.  He said, "Dale, I've been in music long enough to tell you this happens all the time.  People come, and people go."   He added, "I can't begin to tell you all the bands I've been in all my life."  "I understand why you want to move on so don't feel bad... I want you to be happy."  "Just because we're father and son doesn't change the music business."   The last thing he said really stuck with me....  "Ever since I taught you your first tune when you were a little boy... my dream was to, one day, have my son in a band with me."  ""We'll now I can say my dream has come true."  "It wouldn't have mattered if it had lasted a couple of play jobs or a year....  I can proudly say my son and I were in a band together, and we were together for three years and that was more then I could ever have asked for."   So when I was strumming my bass to dad's music of 25 years ago, and knowing he's been gone since 1994... I would give anything just to be at his side again on stage playing even one song!    

MIKE REPLIES: You've got to post that last e-mail on the blog, Dale.  Seriously.  It's not often one of us schmucks comes up with something that's really heartfelt.   Buddy Lou really was something, though, wasn't he?  I still remember all those "Lou Chords" you mentioned - not how to play them, of course, but I remember Lou playing them and thinking to myself, "What the hell was that?"  The guy was like "Guitar George," from "Sultans of Swing": "Guitar George, he knows all the chords; but he's strictly rhythm, he doesn't want to make it cry or sing."   The world lost a real talent when Lou died, and I mean that.  He was one of those old time tough musicians, like Johnny Cash or Neal Young ... his voice was all honesty and authority.  There was no bullshit in it.   I can understand why you miss him.  A lot of people do; he left a big footprint on the earth when he passed.    On a lighter note, I'm glad to hear you remember something about playing the bass.  I'm actually beginning to think we're going to do okay next Sunday, but I probably shouldn't jinx it by saying so.