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.