THE LAST WIGS SHOW MILWAUKEE

THE WIGS

     So where do I start? 1980-81 I worked at this sound company. We rented out PA’s to touring bands. The biggest act in Milwaukee at the time, Yipes! Was signed on RCA records and their soundman quit to go out with Neil Sedaka. I got his job with Yipes! because I built the PA that the band was using. There was a band called The Wigs that opened for us and another band I worked for named Arroyo. When I moved to Los Angeles in 1985 I called The Wigs who moved there in 83. I ended up working for them as their lighting guy/roadie.

     There was this new guy Val McCallum who was their smoking hot guitarist. Marty and Jim from The Wigs proceeded to tell me that David McCallum, (The Man From Uncle) was his dad and Charles Bronson was his step dad. Fresh out from Milwaukee and knowing those 2 were jokers I replied “yeah right, and Chuck Norris is my uncle.”  Turns out they weren’t kidding. Val was the opposite of what I imagined actor’s kids were. He is honest, trustworthy, kind, great morals and values, AND can rip on guitar like no one I ever knew. He fit in perfectly with The Wigs. The chemistry was there. But I digress.

     The Wigs are this awesome power pop band that was a perfect act for the time. They HAD to get signed. They did all the music and were in this movie, My Chauffeur, so they were bound to reach national success. Jim and Marty wrote hit after hit but it seems that the songs never fell in to the right ears. These guys welcomed me into the organization like family. I became a band member whose picture wasn’t on the poster. I did show after show with them. They packed Madame Wong’s in Santa Monica every time they played there. Ester the club owner liked how much everyone drank. It seems like some nights 1/3 of the audience were Wisconsin transplants.

     After the movie release, they went back to play Summerfest in 87 or 88. The Wigs packed the rock stage. The festival people told us that was the biggest draw of any un-signed act in the history of that stage so far.

     Then Marty Ross got snagged away to be one of The New Monkee’s. They changed the band name to The 57 Braves. (Milwaukee World Series champions.) Did I mention that they played at my wedding in 88?

     Fast foreword to 2013. The Wigs want to do a final show in Milwaukee. I have worked for weeks putting this show together. I started my year with Rihanna, then Violent Femmes at Coachella, (first shows in 6 years) Yipes! Got inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry hall of fame, (first show in 30 years) and now The Wigs last show (first show in 5 years). Am I getting too old for this?
     The night before I left for this show I spoke with a friend who is here rehearsing with a huge act.. He told me that they needed a touring production assistant. I said, “I’m there.” He said you need to be at rehearsals tomorrow. That just figures. I told him I can’t because I’m tour managing an act and leave for a week tomorrow. He asked if I could get out of it and I said no way. I’m family to these guys and would never even consider cancelling. Not for a million dollars. I hope to work the rehearsals when I get back.

     So I go to Milwaukee to pull The Wigs show together. I hired the soundman, the guitar tech, booked the rehearsal space, etc… I had all of this pre production stuff to do, get the amps, return the ones they don’t want, build a small stage for 1 song, get bubble guns for our go-go dancers that will be on stage for the last 2 songs, and the list goes on. I have to make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time. I had to make sure parking was available, feed the meters while in rehearsal, gas up the drummers truck, get food, FOUR trips to get working bubble guns, do the accounting, etc… This is more work than Rihanna! I’m not complaining because I thrive on the adrenalin rush I get doing this and it’s for my extended family.

     Show Day: Load out of the studio, load into the club, everyone showed up on time for sound check, a miracle!

Sound check done. Lights programmed and focused. Off to dinner.

     First act goes on for 15 minutes! The club owner approaches me and says put the next act on early. I'm thinking "What? I work for the Wigs not the other acts". Needless to say I don’t hesitate and go round up the second act. Thank God they’re all friends and people I’ve worked for years ago and they went on early for me. I ran lights for about ½ of their set. It was awesome seeing 5 guys on stage from 4 different bands I’ve worked for in my career. The guitarist got me into the biz by taking me under his arm in the first band that I ever worked for. Which reminds me we need an Arroyo and an Einstein’s Rice Boys reunion this year to make my year complete. But I digress again.

     When The Wigs took the stage I was blown away. I knew every word, every chord played and every drumbeat. (except 3 new songs) It was like 10 years ago and no one ever skipped a beat. This was awesome seeing another real band with no playback or “protools” guy. I guess you really have to know how to play if you’re from Milwaukee, and play they do.

     Millions of memories from a hundred past shows flooded my mind for the third time this year. (Violent Femmes and Yipes!) ½ way through the second set they played a song from the movie My Chauffer. Memories of scenes in that movie came to mind. Then I thought that this will be the last time that I see this song live. This now has become the saddest song of the night for me. I can’t believe this is ending, it’s like we are just starting up again. This show is in the top 5 if not the best Wigs show I’ve ever seen. I have probably seen them more than anyone, about 100 shows.
     I looked over at our sound engineer a few songs in and complimented him on the mix. His response was “It’s easy when you're mixing for a great band.” This means a lot coming from a guy that won producer of the year, (WAMI) mixes all the time for everyone, guitarist for Beatallica and in Violent Femmes he plays guitar, mandolin, sings, and plays bass on 1 song. He had Marty and Jim’s vocal effects perfect. Looks like I got the right guy.

     All of the special production things we had planned went to shit at the last moment. The “B” stage got shot down by the club owner, the special Elvis microphones that Marty bought looked better than they sounded so we didn't use them, and the “dancers” showed up late, one was very drunk and 1 had no ID. Thank God they didn’t let them in. 4 trips to get working bubble guns, down the drain. That’s rock and roll! I think this was a sign from a higher power proving that they don’t need any of this. They did a great job of rocking the place and putting on as, or more professional of a show than some of the national touring acts I work for. Between sets the band called me in to the dressing room and presented me with an engraved chrome cowbell. It reads worlds best roadie. It was awesome! It was the coolest thing any band ever gave me. This includes the Metallica baseball jersey and cigar ash trey. (they rule ya know!) I must have done something right.

     Almost all of the region’s top musicians were there. None of them were back at the bar during the show and everyone stayed for the second set. After the show the compliments flowed from them. It’s pretty cool when your peers like you especially in this ego driven business. It was a great night and an awesome show with a bit of a sad “last show” overtone. Now it’s just another memory. No one can take that from me. I guess it’s good to go out with a bang, and that they did!

2013 OFF TO A GOOD START

What a year it's been so far.
NAMM show, worked with Alex Skolnick from Testament
3 weeks with Rihanna,
1 week with Violent femmes, rehearsal and gig at Coachella
Went to Milwaukee for the first national act I mixed sound for's induction to the Wisconsin music hall of fame
Hung with Ron Jeremy at The Rainbow
1 more week with Violent femmes, gig at Coachella
Back to Milwaukee in June for The Wigs 30 year reunion
2 Warped tour dates CANCELLED due to crazy fans trying to book it
And summer isn't even here yet.
It will be a good year for tours, McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, The Stones, Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains, New Order and the list goes on.

I can't wait to get back in the Bonanza and fly to Lake Havasu City many times this summer for endless hours of jet-ski fun.

I got to thinking that I had a boring year but after looking at my picture file I guess I was busy after all. 9 flights in the Bonanza in 6 months. No frequent flyer miles but I logged some hours.
I guess after seeing this list my year wasn't so bad after all, I could be shoveling snow in Wisconsin.

1/19-1/27/12 Went to the NAMM show with my friend for the release of his signature guitar

2/5/12 Saw a couple of friends play the Superbowl half time show. Pretty surreal. If the Packers were going, so was I but it didn't happen.

2/29/12 Got together with 2 of the New Monkee’s for lunch to mourn the death of one of the original Monkee’s

3/15/12 spent the day with an old friend/band mate Jim Wall who was here with his family

3/24-3/25/12 Prod manager for 2 shows with very famous Russian band, Mumy Trol in LA and San Diego

4/18-4/26/12 HAWAII for 8 days with my beautiful wife

4/29-5/2/12 New York City for my friend’s gig. I ran the light.

5/16/12 Xander record release party in Silverlake

6/1-6/4/12 Flew the Bonanza to Lake Havasu City to jet ski in the 100 degree plus heat.

6/12-6/14 Laser Bob shows up with Chickenfoot and hangs with me for a few days.

6/30/12 House party with Xander in San Diego

7/7/12 Droo’s record release party

7/12/12/Flew the Bonanza to Lake Havasu City to jet ski in the 112 degree heat for a few days. Instead we got hit with a monsoon and it was AWSOME!

7/21/12 Saw Ringo Starr at the Greek theatre

8/5/12  The New Monkees reunion at Universal City

8/23/12 Saw my gravesite which my wife bought 2 of. Kind of a creepy experience.

8/6/12  Seal in San Diego, guests of the band, we ate drank and watched opening act Macy Grey from the side of the stage, than we ate and drank again before assuming our barstools at the soundboard for Marcus, and Seal.

9/2/12 biking on beach with Guy Hoffman of Violent Femmes fame. Later that day cookout at Marcus’s house

9/21/12  watched the space shuttle attached to a jet, buzz 200 FEET over my head at LAX 3 TIMES! That was way cool!

9/24/12 Flew the Bonanza to Lake Havasu City to jet ski and condo assn. meeting.

10/5-10/7/12 Tour managed Run Run Run, Xander’s band for 2 opening shows for New Order. Oakland and at The Greek in LA.

10/26/12 Been married for 20 years as of today. I made it!
10/28/12 Packer Bar with Guy Hoffman

10/31/12 Halloween headliner for West Hollywood Halloween party. I was production manager for Tranzkuntinental.

11/16/12 Flew the Bonanza to Lake Havasu City to work on Harley’s and the Wetbike

12/2/12/Packer bar with Pete Strand ESQ

12/18/12 Sold my 30-caliber M-1 assault rifle in lew of the Connecticut school shooting. It went to a safe and sane friend who only target shoots.

12/30/12 Packer bar with Marcus Brown and converted him to a cheese head, Packer fan.

1/1/13 To the Rosebowl for the Badger game.

Off to 2013

Will you ever learn?

I don't want to be a negative blogger, (there's another guy that does that) but I have a friend who never learns from his mistakes. I'm sure we all have one. I told him this joke and he didn't get it. Too bad common sense isn't something you can get a college degree in. I know a few people that could use a bachelors degree in it. Here's the joke:

• A hunter goes into the woods hunting for a bear. When he is deep in the woods he feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns to see an enormous grizzly towering above him. Before he can fire, the beast rips the rifle out of his hands and proceeds to sodomize him. Mortified, the hunter retreats to his cabin, arms himself with a double-barreled shotgun, and races back into the woods to find and kill his furry assailant. But once again, the bear sneaks up behind the hunter, pulls the weapon from his hands and has his lusty way with him. Undeterred, the hunter equips himself with a machine gun and treks back into the woods where he is again ambushed, disarmed and raped by the bear. Now, apoplectic with moral outrage, the hunter flies to a third world country where he buys a heat-seeking, shoulder-launched, nuclear-tipped rocket from an international arms dealer. Convinced he finally has the upper hand, he returns to the woods, tracks the bear to his lair and patiently waits to vaporize him. And yes, again, the bear surprises, disarms and sexually assaults him. But this time, before the hunter can run off to acquire more lethal armaments, the bear enfolds him in his massive arms and says, "You don't really come out here to hunt, do ya?"
• My friend thought the moral was "beware of homosexual bears."

I give up

makeup in San Fran

So, I’m in San Francisco with my friends who are in this touring rock-band. They did their sound check at the venue, in the afternoon, then, we had a couple of hours to kill.  The keyboardist and bassist said that they needed to go to the MAC store. I needed an adapter for my ipod, so, I thought, “Great!, I'll join! them".  So, I hailed a cab and off we went. After paying the fare, I was standing on the sidewalk looking up and down the street for the Mac store… which really shouldn’t be hard to spot because their storefronts are usually so easy to spot… hmmm, where the hell…?

I noticed that the other 2 were walking away, and I figured that they surely must know where they were going, when- damn it!  They went into the MAC MAKEUP STORE!!?? How could this be? Well, I should have known, after all it is a glam-band. So, I went in and went into security mode for the 2 rock stars I was with. Our Bass player got recognized right away by a very flamboyant male employee who wanted to do his make-up (amongst other things) so I waited at a distance.

My phone rings and it’s the guitarist and my good friend of many years asking where we were. I said the MAC store and he asked to see if they have this software…and I stopped him and said the MAC make-up store. Now this is one of the manliest men I know… which is why when he then proceeded to ask me to get him some black eye liner and black eye shadow with sparkles, I had a good chuckle inside. I'm thinking, you gotta be kidding me, so, I told him, “I would rather buy tampons for my wife!”, but, I then came to the reality of where I was, and the roadie creed in my blood said, “the show must go on!”. I have never bought make-up in all my years in the music business, not even when I worked for glam bands in the early 90's. So, away to the counter I went, and in my manliest, lowest, gravely voice I asked this very flamboyant clerk for some black eyeliner and eye shadow………with sparkles. The clerk looked at me funny, as I felt my face turning beat red. 

This reminded me of the time I was 14 and tried to buy an adult magazine, and at the register, the clerk yelled to the back of the convenience store, “Hey, Herb, can we sell Playboy magazines to minors?”. My friends, waiting eagerly outside, heard that and took off running like I was robbing the place. Like that time, I felt every set of eyes in the store looking at me. I got the makeup, and upon leaving, I felt this sigh of relief like I did when I bought beer at 17. I felt like I had just gotten away with something, so it wasn’t so bad after all.

Hawaii Oct 2010

DAY 1   MON 10/11/10

Flew to Oahu Hawaii and landed at noon. The minute I walked out of the airport with my luggage and took a deep breath of the Hawaiian air, the excitement began. I'm back, for 3 weeks this time. The pick-up van was waiting for me so I climbed aboard and cranked some Metallica on the ride into Waikiki.  So I go to check in to my hotel and Yoko (no kidding) the hot Asian woman at the desk tells me my room isn’t ready and asks me to sign a paper that says no smoking or a $200 fine will be levied on my credit card. I explained to her that I requested a smoking room and showed it to her on my paperwork. (a little known secret for a better room) She then said she has a room ready now and she would have to upgrade me to a better room for free. She said she was going to give me a partial (ocean view) 

First day, swimming in ocean, free,

sushi for lunch, $12.00,

beer at Dukes, $9.50,

getting hit on by 2 drunk milf’s at Dukes, priceless!

Watched the sun set ocean front as I ate my chicken salad at Wolfgang Pucks. I was thinking that my life is a fantasy. My dreams have actually come true this last year.

I brought all my toys that I’ve acquired in the last year, gps, i-pod, laser pointers, binoculars, camera, and tripod. I’m set.

As I walk the streets of Waikiki after dark. 

DAY 2 10/12/10

Up at 10 breakfast at Dennys than got 2 pair of losable breakable sunglasses for $20. I bought a beach mat from the ABC store and off to the beach behind The Outrigger.

Body surfed for 2 hours, a beer at Dukes than off to the Coffee Bean for free internet. I had to make my Jet Ski reservations for Friday. Sushi for dinner than walk over to the condo to check it out.

Back from the condo and HOLY SHIT!!  I’ve been living in the slums of Waikiki. (which is paradise) The condo rocks with a huge beach, cheap sushi, and a park next door. It’s on the sand in a very classy upscale area. I’ve died and gone to heaven! Nam is going to love it. I added 6 more days at this Hotel so I don’t have to move until Nam gets here in a week. Than it’s off to condo land, on the sand for 9 days.

So I decided at midnight I would walk to the Big Kahuna bar a block away. I met a local named Nemo from California via Detroit and he works at California Pizza Kitchen. I was going to eat there soon because I saw it earlier tonight walking to the condo. Now I know the cook. I can’t wait to see what day 3 has in store for me.