Help!

Hello friends,

I am beginning this blog as a meeting point to start a book about the many, many rock musicians  from the Cassville, WI area who played in bands in the 60's and 70's and beyond and I'd like to get as much from you as soon as possible. We have lost some members of our groups already, so . . .  I am Greg Koelker, and I played with the likes of Don Schnering, Greg Lenz, Roy Mosely, John Schmidt, Kim Klauer, Rob Ploesl, Mike Shier, Karl Wallin, Jim Placko, John Lau, Jeff Glass, Mitch Hochausen, Steve Bernhardt, Dave Eckstein, Larry Bernhardt, and Kirb Toberman.  These guys and many, many others played in bands like the ones I played in, The Livin' End, Before and After, The Mississippi Mud Band, GMC, The Mark IV, Buffalo County, Just Friends, and Shake Rattle and Roll.  I remember The Ruins, Muddy Hollow Band, The Bamboo Steamers, and Arrow Carpet Service.  I know there are more like how much did you make doing this, what did instruments cost, other?  Gas?  Hotels?  Camping?  Nicknames - I hated mine.  Fun outside of music. There were great venues and places to practice like the sand bar and the Sand Bar, the Youth and Ag Building, Kite's, Tino's, the slaughterhouse, Twinorama, and so on.  Hangouts like Timmerman’s DX/Sunoco, Kite’s, Eckstein’s, etc. What I hope to hear from people about are the stories of how you came to play the guitar or drums or organ or bass, how you got a band going, how much fun or hard work or trouble you had with it, what inspired you.  If you are a parent or remember what your parents did or said regarding your music career, that would be great.  PICTURES are a must.  I know there are some out there, probably in a box somewhere in black and white, band posters or photos or them would be great.  Perhaps you were a sibling or significant other or a teacher even.  This is your opportunity to help make something important remembering a great time in our lives.  What were your influences, bands, songs, cars, clothes, girls, hangouts, things to do, places to hang out, food and drink, etc.  All good.  Even what became of you is good. 

Now, how do you start?  Well, anyplace you want.  I started with how I first knew I needed to be in a band, the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964.  How I got my first guitar, and started my first band and who it with and what songs first learned what our first gig was.  I also started adding some Cassville history and history of the times.

Here are some ideas of where to start and where to go:

Stories are important!  Help us learn something about and from your stories.

Make it real – little details and conversations, jokes, happenings help with this.  Have a beginning middle and ending.  Drama, suspense, conflict are all good.  The little scenes, little stories that are pieced together to tell a larger story are like building blocks.  What did the characters and place look like, smell like, the weather, etc. Intimate details, stuff others wouldn’t easily imagine. You could interview people who were around you and your band and such.  Try to describe with specifics. Dialogue is good.  What was said by whom. great quotes maybe.  Try to make what you put down as natural as possible. Think how you would tell it to the guys over beer at The Town Pump for example. Got a song you wrote?  Share it with chords and lyrics.  Got a song or songs that were influential or have special meanings.  For example, every time I hear “Color My World” by Chicago, I think of dancing with my girlfriend at the high school gym.  Think like TV, a scene, characters, dialogue, action, your inner point of view.  What were you thinking?

Resolution, Q and A is good

Ask questions of yourself and others who were around that will lead into stories, I remember … so far, everyone I’ve talked has had three or more stories to share and laugh about.  People are really positive about this idea.

Each storie /scene should have a beginning and an end

A story could be a day in the life of a rocker – you, or an electrical engineer that turns into Buddy Holly on Saturday night.  Feel free to jump around in time

Chronologic is okay but . . . think  of Forrest Gump and how that story moved about and all those little stories turned into a big one.

Here are some possible questions to ask yourself or others:

How did I get started in R and R?

Who did I get into it with?

What did you play?

Where did you play?

What kind of instruments did you have?

What did your family think of it?

How did R and R affect school, sports, jobs, love life, etc.

Cars you drove? Band vans – we had Greg’s Cadillac pulling the PBR trailer.

Parties?  Mishaps? Best or worst performance ever? Best concert you ever saw –why?

What was the first tune(s) you learned?
Is your family musical?
Describe your family member's musical interests and abilities.
Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?
Which famous musicians have you learned from?
Who was your first teacher?  Other teachers?
Describe your first instrument. Other instruments.
What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?
Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?
Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? CD's?
Have you been in competitions?
Do you perform in public? Describe those occasions? Concerts, radio, TV?
Did you play for dances?
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition?
What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?
Do you attend sessions? What makes a good session?
How often and for how long do you practice?  Where did you practice? Describe it?
What do you practice - exercises, new tunes, hard tunes, etc.?
Do you teach music?
How do/did you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job?
The specific music questions and topics above are in addition to the standard name, address, age, places lived, and other family and career data that you might obtain for completeness of documenting an individual.

I stole many of these questions,  but most of them should help generate some story or memory I think. 

Good Luck and get started.  Hail, Hail Rock and Roll!

My email address is: koelker@mwt.net but send scanned or digital pictures to: koelker.photography@gmail.com,  my phone is 608-457-2273, and my address is: N2436 Proksch Coulee Road, Stoddard, WI 54658.