Dr. Chud's X Ward October 14 2006

 On October 14 2006 I was not expecting to go to any shows that day. Some friends of mine called me up and said that The former drummer of "The Misfits" had his own band and was playing down the street at the local National Guard Armory. So , why not go and check it out.

  A little backstory is kind of necessary here. I was not an original follower of punk music. I learned of the Misfits from Metallica covering "Last Caress" and "Green Hell" on their 1987 "Garage Days: Re-Revisited $5.98" E.P. But when I did, it was an instant addiction of mine. I had to get everything I could of the Original Misfits and all things Glenn Danzig. Now the Original Misfits had disbanded in 1983. Then reformed without Danzig in 1995. Dr. Chud was from this 1995 line up. Now I was aware of this new formation of the band. And even bought both albums that they had released. I didn't dislike it, but a part of me said "No Danzig,No Misfits". So I kind of just listened to them a few times and then pushed them to the side and forgot about them. But My friends were a little more enthusiastic about the new line up, and had went to Chicago a few times and seen them without me. And then some things happened and that version of the band had split up as well. Which brings us to this point. Dr. Chud with his own album and band out on tour. I love live music and am always up for a fun time so why not.

  We get to the armory and I really have no expectations for this show. I didn't know any of his album, and barely new his stuff from the Misfits. None the less, on with the show. I felt a little out of place, most of the audience was made up of young teenagers. I am around 32 at this time. The crowd wasn't very big, but they were full of energy. And the band were even more so. Dressed in bloody medical garb, The band was good! And since the show was at an armory. The good Doctor was dressed in a special "Army of The Dead" costume. I really hadn't been to any shows where costume was a part of the shtick. But all of them looked great. It was Halloween time and it worked. My friends and I stayed off to the side and watched the madness. I loved it. I thought they sounded more Metal than Punk, but it's all Rock n Roll when you boil it down. After the show, I bought the album on CD. and Doctor Chud graciously penned his autograph on the cover. I told him I really enjoyed the show and thought that was it. Little did I know, My friend had other plans.

  As The Doctor was signing autographs, the rest of the band and roadie were packing up. My friend Tim was off to the side chatting up the bass player. One Sal Bee. We made our way to their tour bus and he invited us in for a little after party. A little funny cigarette got lit and was beginning to make it around. I passed. Not really my thing. Then Doctor Chud came in. And it was like being busted by dad! "I told you not to do that shit on the bus! It messes with my throat. And I can't have that when we're on tour!" I thought the party was over, but it was not really an argument. More like brothers just bickering. Everything was cool. After the bus had been loaded up, Tim (Always wanting to keep the party going) invited the whole band down to the Corner Pub for a few drinks before they hit the road. And I'll be damned they accepted. so a group of us all walked the three blocks down the street and decided to just take over a corner of the bar. Now this band that some still had some make up on their face and with their thick New Jersey accents, all piled into this little red neck bar. We got some funny looks to say the least but all was good. We just had some drinks and sat around a shot the shit for awhile. Quizzing Dr. Chud about the Misfits. Listening to road stories and just having a fine old time.

   It didn't last too long, because the band had a long haul ahead of them to the next gig and had to get going. So we all walked back to the bus. Sal Bee gave us all CDs of his band Sardonica. And we said our goodbyes. I listened to both those CDs I got that night for quite a while after that night. And even gave the Misfits albums that I had once shunned another listen. Giving them a chance to stand on their own without linking them to Danzig. And I'm glad I did. They are great. But the chance to connect with these people on a personal level, face to face is the main thing I will take away from this show. They are some awesome human beings that treat their fans like gold! And they made some lifelong fans that night. It helps that the music is fun too.

  I don't have a setlist from this show, but it was primarily made up of Dr. Chuds 2004 release "Diagnosis For Death" Album, The songs that he had a hand in writing in the Misfits, and some from previous bands of his. I also didn't have my camera (Something that haunts me to this day!) so, no pics. But here is an online announcement and a flyer from the show.

The Guess Who June 30 2018

  I'm going to jump ahead here as this one is still fresh in my head. Every year in my hometown There is the Haynes Apperson Festival. A weekend festival celebrating the achievements of a couple of local automobile manufacturers from the early 20th century. It used to be a weeklong festival in my youth that took over most of the downtown area. It has sense been regulated down to a couple of days around the 4th of July weekend and moved to a local park (Foster Park) which is half the size of what it used to be. One thing that has improved though is the entertainment. The park has a nice permanent stage for bands to play on, and the shows are free to the public. Most of the bands are bands that are not quite in the limelight anymore. Most are missing most of their original members or are regional favorites that didn't quite make it to said limelight. That being said, all of the bands that I have seen have always put on a good show and given 100%.
  This years act was The Guess Who. Known for some great hits like "American Woman". I don't always make it down to see the bands play and have missed a few I would have liked to see. I really wasn't planning to go to this one at first, but then gave it a second thought when I found out that Rudy Sarzo had joined The Guess Who on bass. Now I've never really given The Guess Who much of a thought. Not saying that they aren't a good band. They just came a little before my time and not really what I would normally listen to. But Rudy Sarzo has been apart of my music library for almost my entire life. As a young child, my early music influence was my older sister. She is 6 years older than me and we shared a room when in the early 80's. So I pretty much listened to whatever she listened to. Thankfully she was into hard rock at the time and was my introduction to the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, and Quiet Riot. Quiet Riot's "Metal Health" album was the second cassette tape I had bought for myself and was in heavy rotation in my walkman along with my first tape "Bark At The Moon" by Ozzy. Now when I latch onto something I go in full force. I try to learn everything about the bands I listen to and try to connect on a more personal level. And The Ozzy Osbourne Band was no exception. I started collecting all of his back catalog from Black Sabbath to the brilliance of the Randy Rhoads era. The "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman" albums really made an impression! Then in 1987 Ozzy Osbourne released the "Randy Rhoads Tribute" album. It was the first "Live" album I had ever bought and it blew me away! I have listened to that album more than almost any other album in my music library over the past 30 years. And playing that great bass riff in the song "Believer" on that album was Rudy Sarzo. So when I found out that he was going to be in my hometown playing with The Guess Who, I told myself I needed to go and witness this major part of my youth.
   The day of the show, I was thinking my wife and I could walk down to the festival on a urban trail system that led pretty much from my back door straight to the park on what used to be a part of the Nickle Plate Railroad system. It was only a 1.7 mile walk and shouldn't be much of a problem. BUT! I had worked a 10 hour shift already getting up at 4 AM. The temperature was in the low 90's. And by the time I had got off from work, I had made up my mind that I wasn't going to make it. I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and get tired pretty easily. I was telling my wife my original plan and she seemed pretty excited about the idea of the walk. She loves to go on walks. So I decided to give it the old college try. I grabbed my camera and headed down the rails (of the Crazy Train!)
   We got to the park and the opening band was still playing. We walked around a bit killing time before The main act hit the stage. Most of the area around the stage was already full of people who had brought chairs and had camped out in the blazing sun.We sat off to the side in the shade on the ground for a bit while waiting. Then the band took the stage. We got up, and There he was! I started taking some pics and listening to songs that I had really never heard before. As I watch all I could do was picture Rudy wailing away next to Randy and Ozzy. The band sounded great, but The heat and walk got to me pretty quick. And we still had to walk home. During the only song that I heard that I recognized ("No Sugar Tonight") I decided I wasn't going to make it for the whole show. So we decided to head out. We were walking past the back of the stage. There was like nobody back there. It's not like a typical backstage as it was open to go behind. I stopped my wife for a second and said I wanted to take a few more pictures from that angle. Just then The band ended the song it was playing and Rudy stepped to the side of the stage to get a drink of water. As he stood there catching his breath facing my direction, I decided to try to get his attention. I waved and yelled "Rudy!" And I'll be damned he actually looked! I was by myself about 50 feet away from the back of the stage so I knew he was looking at me. I couldn't believe it! I got his attention! I had to think quick. What do I say? So I raised my "Horns" and I shouted out "YOU ROCK!!!" Rudy then pointed at me and gave me the old "Thumbs up" then turned back to the stage to continue rocking out for the rest of the crowd. In that moment, I connected with one of the people that had been a part of my life for so long that previous to this moment, only came out of speakers. He doesn't know me ,but I've known him for 30 plus years. He won't remember that small 3 second interaction, but I will never forget it. I turned to my wife to bask in my happiness and SHE WASN'T THERE!! She had decided to go sit down on a rock and missed my moment! I was on cloud nine! Felt like a giddy little schoolgirl! But my body was still telling me it was time to go home. So we headed off. She didn't see our interaction but she got to hear about it all the way home!
   Here is the full setlist via Setlist.fm, although I missed most of it
  Bus Rider
  Clap for the Wolfman
  Undun
  No Sugar Tonight
  Haunted Heart
  Shakin' All Over
  Hand Me Down World
  Share the Land
  American Woman
  In America
  These Eyes
  No Time

 And here are some of the pictures I took. And might I add, Rudy Sarzo is one of the most photogenic people I've ever seen!


   *****UPDATE******
  Since I wrote this, a lot has happened! I had also posted these pictures on my facebook page. One week later, Rudy tagged himself in one of the pics from his personal account. I was ecstatic! I know it's just a little tag on a social media account, but he saw my picture of him. He liked my picture enough to tag himself in it. That means a lot to me. So just like my moment behind the stage, I decided to try and reach out. I sent him a message saying how much it meant to me that he liked my picture and asked if he had a spare minute, he could read this blog. And I included a link to this original post. It was late at night and I was ready for bed so I didn't wait around for a reply. Then I woke up to his response.

I know some people might think I'm getting a little over excited about this, but I don't care. Yes I'm a little star struck, but music has been such a huge part of my life. And Rudy was there for most of it. This put me over the top!