PHOTOS & MISC.
Derek Morris Meets Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues !!
Songwriter, Singer & Lead Guitarist of The Moody Blues
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
(The Moody Blues: After the Beatles, The Best Band Of All Time!)
(Justin Hayward: After Lennon/McCartney, Best Singer-Songwriter Of All Time!)
Why Are The Moody Blues Not In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame !!!
Songwriter, Singer & Lead Guitarist of The Moody Blues
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
(The Moody Blues: After the Beatles, The Best Band Of All Time!)
(Justin Hayward: After Lennon/McCartney, Best Singer-Songwriter Of All Time!)
Why Are The Moody Blues Not In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame !!!
Every Picture Tells A Story: I am in Santa Monica in August of 1986, visiting Robert and Annamarie Stanton for a few days. They get a call from a friend of theirs (who I had met once) who works for Jerry Weintraub, legendary concert promoter, film producer and then current manager of the Moody Blues. There are some extra tickets for their second and final show at Universal Amphitheatre that night. Did we want to go? Yes we do!! The timing couldn't have been more perfect.
The Moodies are playing two nights at Universal during their "The Other Side Of Life" album tour. The band is going through a big resurgence, fourteen years after they were perhaps the biggest band in the world in 1972-73. "Your Wildest Dreams" is a huge hit single on radio and MTV. Here they are in Los Angeles, center of the rock music world, managed by Jerry Weintraub, selling out shows in the LA concert market, and getting a ton of press from local and national media. For that brief moment in time, they are the toast of the town, and were even featured on the local Los Angeles TV news the night before.
We attend the show. Great seats. Performance is phenomenal. Afterwards, I try to talk Robert and Annamarie into hanging out and trying to get backstage, but they are ready to go home, not being hardcore fans like myself. We have taken separate cars just in case. So we say goodbye. I have no idea if I can get back stage. Their friend who works for Weintraub had not been asked about this possibility. But I'm going to try to find their Weintraub employee friend and make a valiant attempt!
Luckily, she is not hard to find - at the side of the stage monitoring the backstage guest list. (Wish we could remember her name - I'll find it sometime and add it.) She isn't even supposed to be at that post - she's substituting for someone who's been called back to deal with another issue. I re-introduce myself ... "hey remember me? - friends with Robert and Annamarie? Thanks so much for the tickets ... great show, etc etc." We chat briefly, and she then waves me in to join the small number of others (maybe 50-75 people?) for the backstage party. I'm in!
(Remember, this was 1986, before the era of highly marketed and expensive "VIP Access" tickets - a practice which I detest! - where people get charged another $100-200+ on top of the show price to "meet and greet" the band. VIP ... yeah right. I can't stand this practice. There must be a better hybrid way for serious fans to get to meet the band rather than simply auctioning spots off to the highest bidder. It seems like not the best way for the band to connect with long time fans who helped them get to the level they are at. More a way to extract money from the bubble-headed fake-tit bleach blonde and her tatted-up roided-out Ed Hardy-wearing douchebag boyfriend who wants to impress her by purchasing backstage access so he can get laid. Don't we have post-concert douchebag detector systems yet? Sadly, the Moodies today pull the VIP backstage bullshit often. Just another potential income stream in 2017 for them. They have done some other irritating marketing stuff in recent years - they are constantly spamming their "newsletter" list with new merchandise offers and new stuff they are selling; it is a constant sell sell vibe that is a total turnoff. Wish they could see how this spam appears to the typical fan. We want to connect with the band - not be sold shit. And their newsletter has nothing to offer in terms of "news" - it is all sales garbage today. A really stupid backasswards practice. But hey that is another story. That is today. Looking back at that 1986 moment in time, I'm right there in the middle of a true organic gathering of fans!)
Tangent ... back to the story.
So at this point I'm backstage at the party and starting to mingle. Everybody is excitedly talking to each other but still glancing over their shoulders, watching and waiting for a band member to appear. There is great catered food and beverages and waiters and waitresses and white tablecloths etc - a nice set-up. Some real true fans are there. I can tell.
After maybe fifteen minutes, in walks Justin Hayward. The crowd parts subtly and slowly, like Moses parted the Red Sea. He is quite tall - 6' 2" and quite lean and wearing dress shoes with heels - the overall effect is quite imposing; he was a track star/sprinter in his college years and used to be called "Legs" - I can now see why. He is dressed immaculately with a tie and freshly-pressed button down blue dress shirt. He looks like he had just showered and cleaned up after the show before going backstage to meet the fans which was nice of him; he was not the sweat-drenched, post-show rock star. He starts to slowly circulate; he is not mobbed and it is a well-behaved polite gathering. And after a while, as I subtly slide over in his direction, I find myself having a one-on-one conversation with Justin Hayward himself! I am surprised how accessible he is and that I didn't have to fight off fifty raving maniac fans to be able to speak with him! We speak for at least five minutes one-on-one. Perhaps longer - time is standing still at that moment; I'm amazed that I am connecting with Justin Hayward for as long as I am. Sorry to sound like a fanboy, but this is a dream come true. Am I really speaking to my musical hero, Justin Hayward?
What I remember best of our conversation (I'm surprised I remember anything) is that we discuss the sound equipment / guitar amps / effects devices he uses on stage versus the equipment he uses in the studio to get that great soaring violin-like sound on his signature red Gibson ES-335. Suffice it to say that he is not able to reproduce that unique sound that night. It was a studio creation then, though the technology is much better these days. A little closer but still not there.
I'm finding Hayward to be down-to-earth, polite, soft spoken, thoughtful, with no trace of arrogance or inflated ego or "Hey I'm a star look at me" vibe. Which confirms other accounts I've heard of the guy. He looks at me directly when he speaks and chooses his words carefully and is quite sincere. Hey, he is a human being! Go figure! He does not give off the vibe that he wanted to get the hell out of this, just another fan conversation, the type he has had thousands of times, but is respectful and treats me as an individual and is appreciative that I'm a fan of their music.
Some say, "never meet your heroes - you'll be disappointed." And often this is quite true. But that certainly is not the case here. Justin Hayward lives up to expectations. Again, pardon the fanboy gushiness.
Hayward also graciously agrees to pose for a photo. I later meet and speak briefly and take pictures with John Lodge and Graeme Edge. Lodge is friendly and upbeat and a bit distracted, allowing himself to be pulled in many directions at once by various fans backstage. He never seems to settle down to really speak with anyone, which is quite understandable. Graeme Edge is his typical playful wascally wascal, whimsical self, wisecracking, making faces, and goofing around but never settling down to talk with anybody either. A quick quip and on to the next group to perform again. He seems to already have had a few drinks in him by then. Edge and Lodge both seem understandably pumped up after a successful two-show run as the post-show party is starting on a Friday night at the end of their LA two-night run. Plus Edge has just worked his ass off playing drums for an hour and a half and he was probably exhausted. Drumming is incredibly draining. So let Edge party like a drummer! Ray Thomas never appears at the party. He has always seemed like the quietest, shyest and least animated band member.
Patrick Moraz is there but I have no interaction with him and make no effort in that regard. He seems to spend most of his time speaking in French to some friends who visiting from Switzerland, introducing his visiting longtime fellow Swiss friend "Bunny" (a guy) to a few people (I oddly remember this for some reason.).
Again, my impression of Justin is that he made more of an effort to have a one-on-one connections with the fans. The photos here of me with Justin and the other Moodies backstage were taken by a hardcore Moody Blues fan I met at the party, Patty Throckmorton. She lives in San Jose and who has seen dozens of Moodies shows over the years and was "following them" for a few west coast shows during the current tour. She has attended the private annual Moody Blues Christmas party on the Thames in London. She has followed many tour legs over the years. I have not brought a camera of my own that evening; we have been told by the Amphitheatre "absolutely no cameras allowed period" so I don't bother hassling it. And this is the pre-cell phone camera era! A little harder to conceal a fat regular camera. I'm so lucky to have met Patty Throckmorton that night. Somehow she is able to bring in her camera. I owe her eternal thanks for offering to take the pictures and sending me the photos in the mail a couple of weeks later, after she got back home to San Jose and had the photos developed. (Remember the pre-digital photography era when photos were "developed?")
Derek Morris Meets John Lodge of The Moody Blues !!
Songwriter, Singer & Bassist of The Moody Blues
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
Songwriter, Singer & Bassist of The Moody Blues
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
Derek Morris Meets Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues !!
Drummer, Songwriter & Spoken Word Vocalist - The Moody Blues
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
Drummer, Songwriter & Spoken Word Vocalist - The Moody Blues
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
Derek Morris Meets The Moody Blues !!
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
Derek Morris Meets The Moody Blues !!
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
Universal Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, California - August 29, 1986
Derek Morris Meets David Crosby
Twice Inducted Into Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame
Byrds, Crosby Stills & Nash & Young
Santa Barbara City College - Santa Barbara, California - March 2016
(photo to follow)
David Crosby visited a songwriting classs I was taking at SBCC taught by Music Dept Chair John Clark. (Crosby is a nearby Santa Ynez resident who spent a lot of his younger years in Santa Barbara and who once attended SBCC. He has visited some SBCC songwriting classes in the past at Clark's invitation.)
Crosby spent an hour and a half sharing some of his thoughts about the music business, songwriting, and answering questions. He also grabbed a guitar (he did not bring one with him) and performed live, with voice and guitar, the songs Guinnevere and DeJa Vu from the albums Crosby Stills Nash and Crosby Stills & Nash & Young. They were both mesmerizing and brought back memories. Both songs have the exact same altered guitar tuning, which I did not realize up until then. Crosby was masterful in quickly changing the tuning without the aid of any sort of new fangled digital tuner!
Crosby also brought a thumb drive and played a couple of soon to be released recordings from a new album that he just had completed. One of the songs has a surprising Steely Dan vibe to it. The new album included keyboard work by Crosby's son, the very talented James Raymond, who has also toured with the CSN band as keyboardist. Crosby told the story of not knowing that his son even existed until they connected sometime in the late 1990's when it was revealed that Raymond resulted from a short term relationship Crosby had with a woman in the early 1970's. A remarkable story.
Always outspoken, with an edge of anger to his personality, Crosby talked openly about his current health issues, his liver transplant of twenty years ago, and past drug problems that led to his "drying out" in prison many years ago. ("The best thing that ever happened to me.") He also spoke of his recent falling out with Graham Nash and Steve Stills and Neil Young, and expressed regret for some things he had been quoted as saying, implying that they were misinterpreted or a privately expressed frustration not meant for publication. He also railed about Spotify and other current digital "streaming" platforms as "unfairly unperpaying performers and songwriters." Crosby has been one of the well known critics of streaming who has been quoted elsewhere complaining about the "small" streaming revenues that artists receive, etc. Unfortunately, he is trying to bring back a past that does not exist anymore. One thing he did not acknowledge: the music business has changed radically and few musicians are making money on recordings anymore except for a very small group of mainstream "pop" type performers and (yecch!) rap acts. But the reality is is that streaming has saved the record labels and is offering artists some source of revenue on their recordings, now that piracy is no longer an issue. Crosby, as great an artist as he has been, has not quite acknowledged that is no longer a mega selling superstar in a mega selling band - he is a solo artist in the rock (folk-rock?) genre that sadly is not as popular and dominant as it once was in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Plus streaming is the standard method of distribution now - the days of sales of bloated overpriced $16.99 + album CD's are long gone - where often the CD's would have one or two decent songs. CD sales have plummeted; album popularity has also declined - it is primarilty a singles-oriented streaming world today. Another thing Crosby did not address, record labels take a huge cut of non-independent artist royalties from streaming. He is still attached to a (small) record label as a solo artist though it is a small label and who knows the financial arrangements. With CSN he is attached to Atlantic, a mega label that takes a big cut of the revenue before distribution to artists. So he is comparing apples and oranges. Independent artists who are "their own" record label control have a much better royalty arrangement. But is is a crowded business, with all the genres and lack of a single unified rock and roll culture dominating the music business like it did when Crosby was in his heyday; is is hard for any rock artist to be noticed these days. Example: Joe Walsh put out a great album, Analog Man, in 2012 with songs like Analog Man and Lucky That Way. But it tanked. Walsh continues to tour with the Eagles selling out mega stadium venues, but his new solo recording, as good as it was, was barely noticed. Of course a small group of pop type performers on major labels have the advantage of breaking through if the label launches a major marketing campaign, etc. But that seems to be reserved for the Taylor Swifts (yecch!) of the world or the rap acts (yeech!) of the world these days. Crosby, if he were still part of CSN or the even more lucrative CSNY could keep touring forever making money from nostalgic Baby Boomers, but breaking through as a solo artist today is very difficult for anybody, even a past superstar. I still haven't forgiven CSNY for skipping the "too small" SB Bowl on their tour in the late 2000's. When Neil Young decided to participate he insisted reportedly on super large venues where they can make more money - that eliminated the beautiful but relatively small 5500 seat Santa Barbara County Bowl; Crosby claimed that he tried to get the band to play his home town SB venue but the larger venues won out. Who knows what the truth is. I had seen CSN perform maybe four times, including twice at the SB Bowl twice, maybe around 2004 and maybe 2007. To this day I have never seen CSN and Young. The best CSN show I ever saw was around 2004 when they had guitarist Jeff Pevar, who used to live in SB, as part of the band. He added so much to the guitar solos - he and stills were great together. Reportedly Stills wanted more stage time with the audience focused on his guitar skills, so Pevar did not get invited to the next tour. I met Pevar in town - he was living in SB at the time and actually stopped in at another songwriting seminar I was taking - great guy - and I later ran into him at a local Lazy Acres health food store. H was very diplomatic about the situation with Stills. But Pevar added so much to the show, including harmony vocals at times. That has always been the rap of live CSN shows - that the vocals and harmonies are always off (ie they don't have he vocal perfection and chops of the Eagles! - and nowhere near the perfection of their great early records (probably mostly due to Stills - his voice has really declined though he is still a monster guitarist). But with Pevar with them the whole sound - including vocals, were up another level higher. Too bad Stills' ego won out.
Crosby spent an hour and a half sharing some of his thoughts about the music business, songwriting, and answering questions. He also grabbed a guitar (he did not bring one with him) and performed live, with voice and guitar, the songs Guinnevere and DeJa Vu from the albums Crosby Stills Nash and Crosby Stills & Nash & Young. They were both mesmerizing and brought back memories. Both songs have the exact same altered guitar tuning, which I did not realize up until then. Crosby was masterful in quickly changing the tuning without the aid of any sort of new fangled digital tuner!
Crosby also brought a thumb drive and played a couple of soon to be released recordings from a new album that he just had completed. One of the songs has a surprising Steely Dan vibe to it. The new album included keyboard work by Crosby's son, the very talented James Raymond, who has also toured with the CSN band as keyboardist. Crosby told the story of not knowing that his son even existed until they connected sometime in the late 1990's when it was revealed that Raymond resulted from a short term relationship Crosby had with a woman in the early 1970's. A remarkable story.
Always outspoken, with an edge of anger to his personality, Crosby talked openly about his current health issues, his liver transplant of twenty years ago, and past drug problems that led to his "drying out" in prison many years ago. ("The best thing that ever happened to me.") He also spoke of his recent falling out with Graham Nash and Steve Stills and Neil Young, and expressed regret for some things he had been quoted as saying, implying that they were misinterpreted or a privately expressed frustration not meant for publication. He also railed about Spotify and other current digital "streaming" platforms as "unfairly unperpaying performers and songwriters." Crosby has been one of the well known critics of streaming who has been quoted elsewhere complaining about the "small" streaming revenues that artists receive, etc. Unfortunately, he is trying to bring back a past that does not exist anymore. One thing he did not acknowledge: the music business has changed radically and few musicians are making money on recordings anymore except for a very small group of mainstream "pop" type performers and (yecch!) rap acts. But the reality is is that streaming has saved the record labels and is offering artists some source of revenue on their recordings, now that piracy is no longer an issue. Crosby, as great an artist as he has been, has not quite acknowledged that is no longer a mega selling superstar in a mega selling band - he is a solo artist in the rock (folk-rock?) genre that sadly is not as popular and dominant as it once was in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Plus streaming is the standard method of distribution now - the days of sales of bloated overpriced $16.99 + album CD's are long gone - where often the CD's would have one or two decent songs. CD sales have plummeted; album popularity has also declined - it is primarilty a singles-oriented streaming world today. Another thing Crosby did not address, record labels take a huge cut of non-independent artist royalties from streaming. He is still attached to a (small) record label as a solo artist though it is a small label and who knows the financial arrangements. With CSN he is attached to Atlantic, a mega label that takes a big cut of the revenue before distribution to artists. So he is comparing apples and oranges. Independent artists who are "their own" record label control have a much better royalty arrangement. But is is a crowded business, with all the genres and lack of a single unified rock and roll culture dominating the music business like it did when Crosby was in his heyday; is is hard for any rock artist to be noticed these days. Example: Joe Walsh put out a great album, Analog Man, in 2012 with songs like Analog Man and Lucky That Way. But it tanked. Walsh continues to tour with the Eagles selling out mega stadium venues, but his new solo recording, as good as it was, was barely noticed. Of course a small group of pop type performers on major labels have the advantage of breaking through if the label launches a major marketing campaign, etc. But that seems to be reserved for the Taylor Swifts (yecch!) of the world or the rap acts (yeech!) of the world these days. Crosby, if he were still part of CSN or the even more lucrative CSNY could keep touring forever making money from nostalgic Baby Boomers, but breaking through as a solo artist today is very difficult for anybody, even a past superstar. I still haven't forgiven CSNY for skipping the "too small" SB Bowl on their tour in the late 2000's. When Neil Young decided to participate he insisted reportedly on super large venues where they can make more money - that eliminated the beautiful but relatively small 5500 seat Santa Barbara County Bowl; Crosby claimed that he tried to get the band to play his home town SB venue but the larger venues won out. Who knows what the truth is. I had seen CSN perform maybe four times, including twice at the SB Bowl twice, maybe around 2004 and maybe 2007. To this day I have never seen CSN and Young. The best CSN show I ever saw was around 2004 when they had guitarist Jeff Pevar, who used to live in SB, as part of the band. He added so much to the guitar solos - he and stills were great together. Reportedly Stills wanted more stage time with the audience focused on his guitar skills, so Pevar did not get invited to the next tour. I met Pevar in town - he was living in SB at the time and actually stopped in at another songwriting seminar I was taking - great guy - and I later ran into him at a local Lazy Acres health food store. H was very diplomatic about the situation with Stills. But Pevar added so much to the show, including harmony vocals at times. That has always been the rap of live CSN shows - that the vocals and harmonies are always off (ie they don't have he vocal perfection and chops of the Eagles! - and nowhere near the perfection of their great early records (probably mostly due to Stills - his voice has really declined though he is still a monster guitarist). But with Pevar with them the whole sound - including vocals, were up another level higher. Too bad Stills' ego won out.
Derek Morris meets Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits - Lobero Theater - Santa Barbara, California - October 2017
Derek Morris Meets Peter Noone Of Herman's Hermits !!
Lobero Theater - Santa Barbara, California - October 10, 2017
Hey - Peter Noone and I are getting the band back together! We have resolved our issues. I'm (finally) going to be the cute, non-threatening, clean-cut, well-scrubbed front man (again) from now on. Here we are in October 10, 2017 at Lobero in Santa Barbara along with one of our early Herman's Hermits publicity photos from 1965 taken in a London or Manchester studio. We still open our shows with (Something Tells Me) I'm Into Something Good and below is a link to the YouTube clip using that song from the classic first Naked Gun movie with Leslie Nielsen.
Lobero Theater - Santa Barbara, California - October 10, 2017
Hey - Peter Noone and I are getting the band back together! We have resolved our issues. I'm (finally) going to be the cute, non-threatening, clean-cut, well-scrubbed front man (again) from now on. Here we are in October 10, 2017 at Lobero in Santa Barbara along with one of our early Herman's Hermits publicity photos from 1965 taken in a London or Manchester studio. We still open our shows with (Something Tells Me) I'm Into Something Good and below is a link to the YouTube clip using that song from the classic first Naked Gun movie with Leslie Nielsen.
RV Trip 1999-2000. 15 months, 43 States, 37,000 miles.
Leigh, Derek, Buddy & Biscuit
Leigh, Derek, Buddy & Biscuit
RV Trip 1999-2000. 15 months, 43 States, 37,000 miles.
Leigh, Derek, Buddy & Biscuit
Leigh, Derek, Buddy & Biscuit
Derek Morris Meets Jim Messina of Loggins & Messina !!
And Rusty Young of Poco !!
And Rusty Young of Poco !!
Derek Morris Meets Jim Messina of Loggins & Messina !!
Songwriter, Singer, Guitarist, and Producer
of Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield and Poco
And Rusty Young of Poco !!
Songwriter, Singer, Guitarist, & Pedal Steel Guitarist of Poco
Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, California - September 13, 2015
Songwriter, Singer, Guitarist, and Producer
of Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield and Poco
And Rusty Young of Poco !!
Songwriter, Singer, Guitarist, & Pedal Steel Guitarist of Poco
Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, California - September 13, 2015
Derek Morris Meets Comedian Lisa Lampanelli
Standup comedian and insult comic Lisa Lampanelli rose to national prominence after her outrageous performance at the Comedy Central Roast of Chevy Chase. Since then she has been featured on the Roasts of Denis Leary, Pamela Anderson, Jeff Foxworthy, Flavor Flav, William Shatner, David Hasselhoff, Donald Trump, and Larry the Cable Guy.
(Here Lisa and I are engaged in a "gang signs" competition.)
Arlington Theater - Santa Barbara, California - February 8, 2008
(Here Lisa and I are engaged in a "gang signs" competition.)
Arlington Theater - Santa Barbara, California - February 8, 2008
Derek Morris Meets Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane!
"Monterey Pop Revisited" Symposium
Monterey, California - June 15-16-17, 2001
"Monterey Pop Revisited" Symposium
Monterey, California - June 15-16-17, 2001
Jorma is Guitarist, Singer & Songwriter - Jefferson Airplane & Hot Tuna
and is an inductee in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
(Jefferson Airplane: After The Eagles, The Best American Band Of All Time !)
and is an inductee in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
(Jefferson Airplane: After The Eagles, The Best American Band Of All Time !)
Derek Morris Meets Roger McGuinn of The Byrds !!
NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Trade Show / Convention
Anaheim, California - January 1987
NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Trade Show / Convention
Anaheim, California - January 1987
Roger is the Legendary Guitarist, Singer, and Songwriter of The Byrds and an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Roger McGuinn was at NAMM show event for Rickenbacker Guitars
Derek Morris Meets Actor Malcolm McDowell !!
Ojai Film Festival - Ojai, California - May, 1989
Ojai Film Festival - Ojai, California - May, 1989
Malcolm McDowell Co-Wrote & Starred In
One Of My Favorite Movies Of All Time: "O Lucky Man"
This event was a showing of the 1979 movie "Time After Time" starring McDowell and Mary Steenburgen followed by a Q&A with the stars. (Note: This [photo was taken by Malcolm's then-wife, Mary Steenburgen. I forgot to get a photo of Mary because though I like her, Malcolm McDowell was the priority!
One Of My Favorite Movies Of All Time: "O Lucky Man"
This event was a showing of the 1979 movie "Time After Time" starring McDowell and Mary Steenburgen followed by a Q&A with the stars. (Note: This [photo was taken by Malcolm's then-wife, Mary Steenburgen. I forgot to get a photo of Mary because though I like her, Malcolm McDowell was the priority!
Derek Morris Meets Huey Lewis !!
Backstage After Huey Lewis & The News Show
Greek Theatre - U.C. Berkeley - June 8, 1984
Backstage After Huey Lewis & The News Show
Greek Theatre - U.C. Berkeley - June 8, 1984
This was second time my then-girlfriend Maggie and I both met Huey Lewis. The first time was right after what was probably his final "small club show" at the place where he got his start - Uncle Charlie's in Corte Madera in 1982. He was just exploding on to the national scene by that time. In fact when we first saw him that night, he had just released his second album, had just been on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and his album "Picture This" and the single "Do You Believe In Love"were climbing up the charts.But he kept his prior commitment to play the smaller Uncle Charlie's club though he was soon to embark on playing larger venues throughout the world.
It was a phenomenal two hour show that night.
After Huey's show at Uncle Charlie's that Saturday night, we hung out and waited for the crowds to leave - at this point the place is almost empty and roadies (they even had roadies by then!) are taking out the last bit of amps and equipment etc. Huey was just hanging around chatting with fans, cracking jokes, etc. We walked up to him and he could not have been more welcoming and friendly. We ended up haveing a great talk with him for maybe ten minutes. Very charismatic in all respects. I was already a super fan and he recognized I was very familiar with his music. In fact I told him that I had been writing rock critics all over the country - snail mail letters - including Rolling Stone - to pay attention to this guy and had copied Huey's manager Bob Brown. Huey liked that! (copy of a letter will be posted soon).
Anyway here is the takeaway. By the time we said goodbye to Huey at Uncle Charlie's it is maybe 2:30 am - it was a bar/club and they had played right up 'til closing time. Huey was unbelievably gracious and friendly to a couple of random fans - he must have been exhausted after a two hour show but still hung around to say hello and chat. So by this time Maggie and I are starving and still buzzing from the show. We finally leave the club and jump in the car and drive to a nearby Denny's for breakfast - it is only about a half mile away on side streets in Corte Madera.
So after we have been in the Denny's for about 10 minutes, we look out at the parking lot and see Huey Lewis walk in with his "entourage" of a few friends - we are on the "exit" side of the restaurant and he doesn't see or notice us (and we wouldn't expect him to!) at all and just heads for the back to perhaps private booth where others are waiting for him. (I might add that Denny's was "the" post Uncle Charlies hangout breakfast place -it was the only game in town for people drinking beer to sober up, eat and have some coffee before getting back on the freeway to go home.) Maggie and I continue to eat our breakfasts, still glowing after that great show and talking about how great it was to meet Huey Lewis. We were both convinced he was going to be the "next big thing" (which he ended up becoming!).
So maybe a half hour later as we are finishing our breakfasts, Maggie and I are still sitting at our table next to an aisle that leads to the exit door. In the corner of my eye I see Huey and he crew heading out towards the exit - and they are about to walk right by us. I'm assuming he won't notice us and I wasn't going to say anything - he had already been so generous with his time after the show at the club - I didn't want to bother him anymore. So we quietly look up and smile as Huey passes by. Huey then stops for a moment, looks at us straight in the eye, smiles and says - "Hey Derek and Maggie, it was GREAT speaking with you two! See you later!" And we of course smile and say our goodbyes to him and he walks out followed by his entourage.
This little anecdote shows how brilliant and charismatic Huey Lewis is. The guy is reportedly a genius and has a photographic memory - he sscored 1600 on his math and English SAT's, and had a scholarship to Cornell before he dropped out to do music. With that brilliant mind coupled with the genius of a true entertainer, he actually remembered our names - stored it in his photographic memory brain - and recalled our names as he was saying goodbye to us. This just blew our minds that he would even remember our names - we were just one of many fans who gushed over him after the show an hour earlier that night.
Can you imagine how many times he has done this same thing over the years with other fans - and where he similarly blew their minds and made them feel extra special and "acknowledged?" I'd like to say I made a great impression on Huey and he remembered my name because he was so impressed with me and with Maggie and the fact that we were such fans of his music - but the truth is that he is a genius who also has 'the touch' in dealing with people. No wonder everybody who has ever dealt with Huey Lewis goes away very impressed and just about everybody in the entertainment business speaks well of the guy!
Anyway, back to the above two photos: they are from the Greek Theatre show (there are no photos from the Uncle Charlie's or Denny's meetings!!) happened because Maggie and I went to the show with my friend Lee Spelman and his girlfriend Lauren. Lee grew up in Mill Valley in Marin and so did Huey Lewis (Huey Cregg). Lee's older brother went to high school with Huey at Tamalpais HIgh School in Mill Valley. Lee had briefly met Huey as a kid but never really knew him well, but Lee's older brother and Huey used to hand out a lot in high school. So I talk Lee into going to the back stage "entrance" after the show and sending a note to Huey via a security guard to see if we can get backstage. Lee hands the guy the note and gives a convincing story of his "Huey connection" and five minutes later.... viola... we are let in to join in the backstage party! We ate the food and drank the beers etc - and briefly said hi to Huey as he was inundated by well-wishers. I managed to shake hands with Huey amid the craziness of the backstage crowd and Maggie got a picture of him signing an autograph for somebody (not me - I don't care about autographs! haha)
(higher resolution photo to follow)
It was a phenomenal two hour show that night.
After Huey's show at Uncle Charlie's that Saturday night, we hung out and waited for the crowds to leave - at this point the place is almost empty and roadies (they even had roadies by then!) are taking out the last bit of amps and equipment etc. Huey was just hanging around chatting with fans, cracking jokes, etc. We walked up to him and he could not have been more welcoming and friendly. We ended up haveing a great talk with him for maybe ten minutes. Very charismatic in all respects. I was already a super fan and he recognized I was very familiar with his music. In fact I told him that I had been writing rock critics all over the country - snail mail letters - including Rolling Stone - to pay attention to this guy and had copied Huey's manager Bob Brown. Huey liked that! (copy of a letter will be posted soon).
Anyway here is the takeaway. By the time we said goodbye to Huey at Uncle Charlie's it is maybe 2:30 am - it was a bar/club and they had played right up 'til closing time. Huey was unbelievably gracious and friendly to a couple of random fans - he must have been exhausted after a two hour show but still hung around to say hello and chat. So by this time Maggie and I are starving and still buzzing from the show. We finally leave the club and jump in the car and drive to a nearby Denny's for breakfast - it is only about a half mile away on side streets in Corte Madera.
So after we have been in the Denny's for about 10 minutes, we look out at the parking lot and see Huey Lewis walk in with his "entourage" of a few friends - we are on the "exit" side of the restaurant and he doesn't see or notice us (and we wouldn't expect him to!) at all and just heads for the back to perhaps private booth where others are waiting for him. (I might add that Denny's was "the" post Uncle Charlies hangout breakfast place -it was the only game in town for people drinking beer to sober up, eat and have some coffee before getting back on the freeway to go home.) Maggie and I continue to eat our breakfasts, still glowing after that great show and talking about how great it was to meet Huey Lewis. We were both convinced he was going to be the "next big thing" (which he ended up becoming!).
So maybe a half hour later as we are finishing our breakfasts, Maggie and I are still sitting at our table next to an aisle that leads to the exit door. In the corner of my eye I see Huey and he crew heading out towards the exit - and they are about to walk right by us. I'm assuming he won't notice us and I wasn't going to say anything - he had already been so generous with his time after the show at the club - I didn't want to bother him anymore. So we quietly look up and smile as Huey passes by. Huey then stops for a moment, looks at us straight in the eye, smiles and says - "Hey Derek and Maggie, it was GREAT speaking with you two! See you later!" And we of course smile and say our goodbyes to him and he walks out followed by his entourage.
This little anecdote shows how brilliant and charismatic Huey Lewis is. The guy is reportedly a genius and has a photographic memory - he sscored 1600 on his math and English SAT's, and had a scholarship to Cornell before he dropped out to do music. With that brilliant mind coupled with the genius of a true entertainer, he actually remembered our names - stored it in his photographic memory brain - and recalled our names as he was saying goodbye to us. This just blew our minds that he would even remember our names - we were just one of many fans who gushed over him after the show an hour earlier that night.
Can you imagine how many times he has done this same thing over the years with other fans - and where he similarly blew their minds and made them feel extra special and "acknowledged?" I'd like to say I made a great impression on Huey and he remembered my name because he was so impressed with me and with Maggie and the fact that we were such fans of his music - but the truth is that he is a genius who also has 'the touch' in dealing with people. No wonder everybody who has ever dealt with Huey Lewis goes away very impressed and just about everybody in the entertainment business speaks well of the guy!
Anyway, back to the above two photos: they are from the Greek Theatre show (there are no photos from the Uncle Charlie's or Denny's meetings!!) happened because Maggie and I went to the show with my friend Lee Spelman and his girlfriend Lauren. Lee grew up in Mill Valley in Marin and so did Huey Lewis (Huey Cregg). Lee's older brother went to high school with Huey at Tamalpais HIgh School in Mill Valley. Lee had briefly met Huey as a kid but never really knew him well, but Lee's older brother and Huey used to hand out a lot in high school. So I talk Lee into going to the back stage "entrance" after the show and sending a note to Huey via a security guard to see if we can get backstage. Lee hands the guy the note and gives a convincing story of his "Huey connection" and five minutes later.... viola... we are let in to join in the backstage party! We ate the food and drank the beers etc - and briefly said hi to Huey as he was inundated by well-wishers. I managed to shake hands with Huey amid the craziness of the backstage crowd and Maggie got a picture of him signing an autograph for somebody (not me - I don't care about autographs! haha)
(higher resolution photo to follow)
Derek Morris Meets Adam Carolla !!
Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, California - February 16, 2013
Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, California - February 16, 2013
** Note: The paragraphs below were written around 2015. Before Carolla really turned into a right wing nut job. I've come to increasingly loathe this jerk. He is a getting more and more far right in his views and I just can't listen to him anymore. He is isolated in trying to appeal to the MAGA base - the only people who will listen to him. Kimmel is sick of his bullshit and he hasn't been on Kimmel's show in three years and he used to be a very requent guest. Now he is just an embarrassment. He is a Jan 6 apologist and seems to love Trump, Tucker Carlson, and the Fox News Disinformation machine. The bizarre thing is that he still is very funny. But he interjects his far right opinions so much it is impossible to listen to him. He is a chronic malcontent. I stopped to listening to any of his podcasts a couple of years ago. He is a total hypocrite. "Education and family." Yeah right Adam. High school dropout who hates education whose wife divorced him and one of his young kids reportedly won't speak to him. The guy is just an asshole! But a very funny asshole with original innovative comedic ideas - too bad so many of his political views are twisted. I have never turned so much on an entertainer. I once thought he was such a unique comedy voice. Now he is just a funny blowhard. **
Adam Carolla hosts the most popular podcast in the world - "The Adam Carolla Show," which runs five days per week, along with a large number of other weekly podcasts from Carolla Digital including "Reasonable Doubt" with Mark Geragos, "CarCast" and "Ace On The House." Past credits include co-hosting, for ten years, the syndicated radio show "Loveline" with Dr. Drew Pinsky as well as "Loveline" on MTV, creating "The Man Show" and "Crank Yankers" with Jimmy Kimmel, and writing and directing the feature films "The Hammer," "Road Hard" along with the documentaries "Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman" and "The 24-Hour War." Carolla and Pinsky are now back together with a daily half hour podcast called "The Adam and Dr. Drew Show," which has a similar format to the original "Loveline." Carolla has been a frequent guest on ABC's Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (prior to Maher's Real Time on HBO) and was a regular weekly commentator on (the now defunct) The O'Reilly Factor. He had a recent series for two years on Spike called "Catch a Contractor," and recently had a "live" home improvement show on Spike called "Adam Carolla And Friends Build Stuff Live." Upcoming documentaries that he is producing include a biography on race car driver Willie T. Ribbs and a multi-part film about the early years Los Angeles rock radio station K-Rock (KROQ), where he and Jimmy Kimmel both met and got their start in LA radio. It is also at KROQ where Carolla joined Loveline with Dr. Drew Pinsky. He is also working on a documentary about politically correct orthodoxy on college campuses called "No Safe Spaces." He crowd-funded the "Road Hard" rom-com and is also crowd funding the No Safe Spaces doc, which will feature him and Dennis Prager.
One notable thing Carolla has done in recent years which he should get more credit for is fighting off Texas-based patent trolls company Personal Audio which was suing him over their bogus claim of copyright infrigement of certain podcast technology. The whole lawsuit against Carolla was a total cynical money grab based on nothing. The patent itself was a joke. Carolla organized a lot of other podcasters to help him fight the suit and developed a crowd funding campaign to fund the counter lawsuit. After Carolla directed a lot of media attention towards Personal Audio, they finally dropped the lawsuit with an undisclosed settlement. Meanwhile, Carolla has spent over $475,000 of crowd-funded money and reportedly $300,000 of his own money in attorney fees fending off the lawsuit. Carolla did not get any reimbursement for attorney fees in the settlement, but he did not have to pay anything either, and there was agreement that he would not be sued again. A rather weak settlement, as the The Electronic Frontier Foundation article linked below states, but perhaps the best possible under the circumstances. Also below is link to Wikipedia story about the lawsuit. Carolla really should get credit for raising the alarm about these slimy patent trolls and for publicly fighting them rather than caving in and settling as many media companies have done in the past.
Carolla has also had numerous voiceover roles in movies and TV, including the Disney movie "Wreck It Ralph" and recurring roles in Seth McFarlane's animated TV series "The Family Guy" (playing "The Grim Reaper"). Carolla holds the record as the most frequent guest ever on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - with approximately 38 appearances as of early 2017. Kimmel brought in Carolla as chief writer and "joke consultant" for Kimmel's very well-received hosting of the 2017 Academy Awards in February 2017. Kimmel praised Carolla publicly for being the most significant contributing writer for the show. Kimmel is hosting the 2018 awards and is now apparently in line to be a semi-permanent host of the awards show.
Carolla is not only a brilliant and insightful analyst of contemporary culture and of people, but also in my opinion the most consistently funny and most prolific comedian in the country. His improvisational comedy skills and ability to tell hilariously funny stories with an underlying message are unmatched. Many other comedians spend a year developing an hour "set" that they then take on the road, repeating the same material over and over again in venue after venue. Carolla in real time improvises material every day that is more funny than that of 95% of the laboriously-created memorized boring crap that I hear from the majority of today's stand-up comedians.
Despite his achievements, Carolla still seems to be underrated by some as a comedic talent. This mystifies me. I think it is based on jealousy - other comics can't do what Carolla does. Is it perhaps because of this comedic range and his totally uncensored, honest take on the world, where he is not afraid to express opinions which at times offend some people? Well Boo Hoo! Hey. those who are offended by his "microaggressions," get over yourself! Develop a sense of humor will you? Nobody has ever accused the left of having a great sense of humor (nor the right for that matter).
Almost no subject is off limits with Carolla. From the smallest to the largest. And he weaves his perspectives and stories into totally entertaining and coherent comedy bits that have a serious message reflecting someone with a serious and well thought-out perspective. It is a compelling broadcast, made that much more intimate because of the intimate nature of audio entertainment. Carolla is joined by two great sidekicks on the podcast, Gina Grad on news and Bryan Bishop on sound effects, Mike Dawson the announcer and sound engineer, along with a recurring group of comics that include Joy Koy, Greg Fitzsimmons, Dave Damashek, David Allen Grier, The Deaf Frat Guy, plus Matt Achity of Rotten Tomatoes and David Wild of Rolling Stone magazine. And Carolla producer Gary Smith is also part of the show in the background, doing Internet look-ups as topics arise discussing music, TV clips, commercials, or other broadcasts and doing fact checks and occasional clarifications. It is a fast-paced show that comedian Larry Miller, a frequent guest in the past and good friend of the show, has described as requiring comedic dexterity similar to playing with sophisticated jazz musicians.
Sure, it is true that Carolla is self-absorbed and talks too much in general about himself and his own stories, as fascinating as they are. He is constantly complaining about something and sometimes this gets old - but his insights are brilliant. Sometimes, as guests Sarah Silverman has complained, he barely lets his guests get a word in edge-wise. He has guests on the show but don't explain a long discussion that "gets to know" the guest. His guests are there to deliver the comedy or provide some interesting factual information and not to reveal their innermost thoughts and life story, unless Carolla thinks it is pertinent. Carolla does talks incessantly about his childhood raised by boring, depressed, and inattentive parents who didn't seem to want children to begin with, who never attended his high school football games, and in general were shitty parents - and he uses the show to vent this pain, which is still deeply seated, in a highly comedic manner.
I disagree strongly with a few of the musical artists that Carolla loves (John Hiatt and Graham Parker? Yawn!). His obsession with John Hiatt's music to me is bizarre. And I am baffled why he hates the Eagles, who I love - I'm wondering if Don Henley or Glenn Frey stole his girlfriend or something - Carolla's dislike of the Eagles is so bizarre and inexplicable. Yet on the other hand he doesn't have the guts to label Rap and Hip Hop for the pure unadulterated bullshit that it is. He has more saved up venom over the Eagles by far than he does for Rap or Hip Hop. This is one instance when I think he is holding himself back from expressing his true feelings and is indeed being politically correct -though he will give some excuse that he doesn't understand Rap- I say bullshit to this - I think he doesn't want to be labeled a racist of something - not sure. For example, Carolla vehemently despises disco and dance music and hates EDM (as do I) but still can't muster up the vitriol towards Rap and Hip Hop? Which is also total shit! I personally think this is a cop out on his part. But on the other hand, at times I totally agree with his musical insights and am amazed by his musical observations and recollections of when certain songs were hits - so even on the subject of music we do have a lot of common ground.
I don't understand why Carolla's name is not mentioned by the so-called "comedy elite" as being among the great comedians to our current age. The truth is, it seems that many other stand-up comedicans - his "competition" - are a bit intimidated by Carolla's skills, though they won't admit it. They cannot do what he does or even come close. They are stuck on the "one hour per year" mentality. They cannot match wits with him when sharing a stage or having a conversation. Carolla is always the funnier and more entertaining of the two, without particularly trying to be a "one-upper." He is totally improvisational and probably doesn't have the discipline to develop a comedy "set" that he repeats over and over again -he would be bored to death and would not and could not do it. But if a comedian keeps up with him on stage, Carolla gives the other person plenty of space to entertain and does not "compete." He is supportive of his guests. But they better keep up with him or he'll dominate the conversation and the dhow - his commitment is to keep the show alive and funny and he excels at this! He is just that good, with a quick, facile and funny perspective - and he can deliver laughs time after time with amazing consistency - all extemporaneously. And Carolla also is a phenomenal interviewer, able to converse with a wide range of people on a wide range of subjects, despite his barely high school education, zero college, admittedly poor reading skills, and his early adult years spent in boring dead-end jobs cleaning carpets and construction sites by himself without any human interaction other than listening to talk radio.
Carolla does indeed sometimes offend the politically correct orthodoxy, and at times I detest some of his backasswards political views. This idiot even almost seems to be a Trump supporter, which is unforgiveable. In fact I've grown sick of this Orange Man apologist and for now am no longer subscribing to the show. I wish Adam would just stick to comedy. His political view are so up his ass it is ridiculous. But many of his political observations are brilliant and insightful and he often sees beyond the surface and somes up with unpredictable analysis. But to tag him with any political label is wrong - he is a mix of political views. Often times find myself agreeing with him and other times I can't relate to his political rant. But he seems to be getting more right wing by the day and frankly I'm a little sick of the guy at this point. He has a weird right wing demo that shows up at his live shows which he is still holding in the middle of the Covid pandemic - in places that isnore Covid precautions like Houston, Nashville, and Phoenix. Quite bizarre. I'm pretty much sick of the guy these days. Too bad because he is so funny and insightful at times.
But the overriding issue for me is the great comedy and the brilliant social commentary. And the cumulative volume of original comedy material that Carolla has generated on radio and on podcasts over the last 20 years is probably unmatched by any other comedian, with the possible exception of another comedic genius with a prior background in radio (and now also with a great podcast), Phil Hendrie.
Adam Carolla hosts the most popular podcast in the world - "The Adam Carolla Show," which runs five days per week, along with a large number of other weekly podcasts from Carolla Digital including "Reasonable Doubt" with Mark Geragos, "CarCast" and "Ace On The House." Past credits include co-hosting, for ten years, the syndicated radio show "Loveline" with Dr. Drew Pinsky as well as "Loveline" on MTV, creating "The Man Show" and "Crank Yankers" with Jimmy Kimmel, and writing and directing the feature films "The Hammer," "Road Hard" along with the documentaries "Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman" and "The 24-Hour War." Carolla and Pinsky are now back together with a daily half hour podcast called "The Adam and Dr. Drew Show," which has a similar format to the original "Loveline." Carolla has been a frequent guest on ABC's Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (prior to Maher's Real Time on HBO) and was a regular weekly commentator on (the now defunct) The O'Reilly Factor. He had a recent series for two years on Spike called "Catch a Contractor," and recently had a "live" home improvement show on Spike called "Adam Carolla And Friends Build Stuff Live." Upcoming documentaries that he is producing include a biography on race car driver Willie T. Ribbs and a multi-part film about the early years Los Angeles rock radio station K-Rock (KROQ), where he and Jimmy Kimmel both met and got their start in LA radio. It is also at KROQ where Carolla joined Loveline with Dr. Drew Pinsky. He is also working on a documentary about politically correct orthodoxy on college campuses called "No Safe Spaces." He crowd-funded the "Road Hard" rom-com and is also crowd funding the No Safe Spaces doc, which will feature him and Dennis Prager.
One notable thing Carolla has done in recent years which he should get more credit for is fighting off Texas-based patent trolls company Personal Audio which was suing him over their bogus claim of copyright infrigement of certain podcast technology. The whole lawsuit against Carolla was a total cynical money grab based on nothing. The patent itself was a joke. Carolla organized a lot of other podcasters to help him fight the suit and developed a crowd funding campaign to fund the counter lawsuit. After Carolla directed a lot of media attention towards Personal Audio, they finally dropped the lawsuit with an undisclosed settlement. Meanwhile, Carolla has spent over $475,000 of crowd-funded money and reportedly $300,000 of his own money in attorney fees fending off the lawsuit. Carolla did not get any reimbursement for attorney fees in the settlement, but he did not have to pay anything either, and there was agreement that he would not be sued again. A rather weak settlement, as the The Electronic Frontier Foundation article linked below states, but perhaps the best possible under the circumstances. Also below is link to Wikipedia story about the lawsuit. Carolla really should get credit for raising the alarm about these slimy patent trolls and for publicly fighting them rather than caving in and settling as many media companies have done in the past.
Carolla has also had numerous voiceover roles in movies and TV, including the Disney movie "Wreck It Ralph" and recurring roles in Seth McFarlane's animated TV series "The Family Guy" (playing "The Grim Reaper"). Carolla holds the record as the most frequent guest ever on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - with approximately 38 appearances as of early 2017. Kimmel brought in Carolla as chief writer and "joke consultant" for Kimmel's very well-received hosting of the 2017 Academy Awards in February 2017. Kimmel praised Carolla publicly for being the most significant contributing writer for the show. Kimmel is hosting the 2018 awards and is now apparently in line to be a semi-permanent host of the awards show.
Carolla is not only a brilliant and insightful analyst of contemporary culture and of people, but also in my opinion the most consistently funny and most prolific comedian in the country. His improvisational comedy skills and ability to tell hilariously funny stories with an underlying message are unmatched. Many other comedians spend a year developing an hour "set" that they then take on the road, repeating the same material over and over again in venue after venue. Carolla in real time improvises material every day that is more funny than that of 95% of the laboriously-created memorized boring crap that I hear from the majority of today's stand-up comedians.
Despite his achievements, Carolla still seems to be underrated by some as a comedic talent. This mystifies me. I think it is based on jealousy - other comics can't do what Carolla does. Is it perhaps because of this comedic range and his totally uncensored, honest take on the world, where he is not afraid to express opinions which at times offend some people? Well Boo Hoo! Hey. those who are offended by his "microaggressions," get over yourself! Develop a sense of humor will you? Nobody has ever accused the left of having a great sense of humor (nor the right for that matter).
Almost no subject is off limits with Carolla. From the smallest to the largest. And he weaves his perspectives and stories into totally entertaining and coherent comedy bits that have a serious message reflecting someone with a serious and well thought-out perspective. It is a compelling broadcast, made that much more intimate because of the intimate nature of audio entertainment. Carolla is joined by two great sidekicks on the podcast, Gina Grad on news and Bryan Bishop on sound effects, Mike Dawson the announcer and sound engineer, along with a recurring group of comics that include Joy Koy, Greg Fitzsimmons, Dave Damashek, David Allen Grier, The Deaf Frat Guy, plus Matt Achity of Rotten Tomatoes and David Wild of Rolling Stone magazine. And Carolla producer Gary Smith is also part of the show in the background, doing Internet look-ups as topics arise discussing music, TV clips, commercials, or other broadcasts and doing fact checks and occasional clarifications. It is a fast-paced show that comedian Larry Miller, a frequent guest in the past and good friend of the show, has described as requiring comedic dexterity similar to playing with sophisticated jazz musicians.
Sure, it is true that Carolla is self-absorbed and talks too much in general about himself and his own stories, as fascinating as they are. He is constantly complaining about something and sometimes this gets old - but his insights are brilliant. Sometimes, as guests Sarah Silverman has complained, he barely lets his guests get a word in edge-wise. He has guests on the show but don't explain a long discussion that "gets to know" the guest. His guests are there to deliver the comedy or provide some interesting factual information and not to reveal their innermost thoughts and life story, unless Carolla thinks it is pertinent. Carolla does talks incessantly about his childhood raised by boring, depressed, and inattentive parents who didn't seem to want children to begin with, who never attended his high school football games, and in general were shitty parents - and he uses the show to vent this pain, which is still deeply seated, in a highly comedic manner.
I disagree strongly with a few of the musical artists that Carolla loves (John Hiatt and Graham Parker? Yawn!). His obsession with John Hiatt's music to me is bizarre. And I am baffled why he hates the Eagles, who I love - I'm wondering if Don Henley or Glenn Frey stole his girlfriend or something - Carolla's dislike of the Eagles is so bizarre and inexplicable. Yet on the other hand he doesn't have the guts to label Rap and Hip Hop for the pure unadulterated bullshit that it is. He has more saved up venom over the Eagles by far than he does for Rap or Hip Hop. This is one instance when I think he is holding himself back from expressing his true feelings and is indeed being politically correct -though he will give some excuse that he doesn't understand Rap- I say bullshit to this - I think he doesn't want to be labeled a racist of something - not sure. For example, Carolla vehemently despises disco and dance music and hates EDM (as do I) but still can't muster up the vitriol towards Rap and Hip Hop? Which is also total shit! I personally think this is a cop out on his part. But on the other hand, at times I totally agree with his musical insights and am amazed by his musical observations and recollections of when certain songs were hits - so even on the subject of music we do have a lot of common ground.
I don't understand why Carolla's name is not mentioned by the so-called "comedy elite" as being among the great comedians to our current age. The truth is, it seems that many other stand-up comedicans - his "competition" - are a bit intimidated by Carolla's skills, though they won't admit it. They cannot do what he does or even come close. They are stuck on the "one hour per year" mentality. They cannot match wits with him when sharing a stage or having a conversation. Carolla is always the funnier and more entertaining of the two, without particularly trying to be a "one-upper." He is totally improvisational and probably doesn't have the discipline to develop a comedy "set" that he repeats over and over again -he would be bored to death and would not and could not do it. But if a comedian keeps up with him on stage, Carolla gives the other person plenty of space to entertain and does not "compete." He is supportive of his guests. But they better keep up with him or he'll dominate the conversation and the dhow - his commitment is to keep the show alive and funny and he excels at this! He is just that good, with a quick, facile and funny perspective - and he can deliver laughs time after time with amazing consistency - all extemporaneously. And Carolla also is a phenomenal interviewer, able to converse with a wide range of people on a wide range of subjects, despite his barely high school education, zero college, admittedly poor reading skills, and his early adult years spent in boring dead-end jobs cleaning carpets and construction sites by himself without any human interaction other than listening to talk radio.
Carolla does indeed sometimes offend the politically correct orthodoxy, and at times I detest some of his backasswards political views. This idiot even almost seems to be a Trump supporter, which is unforgiveable. In fact I've grown sick of this Orange Man apologist and for now am no longer subscribing to the show. I wish Adam would just stick to comedy. His political view are so up his ass it is ridiculous. But many of his political observations are brilliant and insightful and he often sees beyond the surface and somes up with unpredictable analysis. But to tag him with any political label is wrong - he is a mix of political views. Often times find myself agreeing with him and other times I can't relate to his political rant. But he seems to be getting more right wing by the day and frankly I'm a little sick of the guy at this point. He has a weird right wing demo that shows up at his live shows which he is still holding in the middle of the Covid pandemic - in places that isnore Covid precautions like Houston, Nashville, and Phoenix. Quite bizarre. I'm pretty much sick of the guy these days. Too bad because he is so funny and insightful at times.
But the overriding issue for me is the great comedy and the brilliant social commentary. And the cumulative volume of original comedy material that Carolla has generated on radio and on podcasts over the last 20 years is probably unmatched by any other comedian, with the possible exception of another comedic genius with a prior background in radio (and now also with a great podcast), Phil Hendrie.
"The Fab Four" Beatles Tribute Group
"The Fab Four" Beatles Tribute Group
L to R: Andy Sarraf (Paul), Erik Fidel (Ringo),
Gavin Pring (George), Ron McNeil (John)
L to R: Andy Sarraf (Paul), Erik Fidel (Ringo),
Gavin Pring (George), Ron McNeil (John)
Derek Morris Meets The Beatles !!
Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr
Abbey Road Studios, London - During White Album Recording Sessions
(NOT "The Fab Four" Beatles Tribute Group !)
Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, California - Sept 23, 2011
L to R: Andy Sarraf (Paul), Gavin Pring (George), Derek Morris (Derek),
Ron McNeil (John), Erik Fidel (Ringo)
"The Fab Four" and "Rain" (below) are the two best Beatles tribute bands in the country and probably the world. I've seen Fab Four four times and Rain eight times over the years ... not enough!
Ron McNeil (John), Erik Fidel (Ringo)
"The Fab Four" and "Rain" (below) are the two best Beatles tribute bands in the country and probably the world. I've seen Fab Four four times and Rain eight times over the years ... not enough!
"Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles"
"Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles" L to R: Joey Curotolo (Paul), Joe Bithorn (George), Ralph Castelli (Ringo), Steve Landes (John)
"Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles" L to R: Joey Curotolo (Paul), Ralph Castelli (Ringo), Joe Bithorn (George), Steve Landes (John)
Derek Morris Meets "Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles" !!
Backstage at Harrah's in South Lake Tahoe August 2002
Backstage at Harrah's in South Lake Tahoe August 2002
L to R: Joey Curotolo (Paul), Joe Bithorn (George), Derek Morris (Derek), Steve Landes (John), Ralph Castelli (Ringo), Mark Lewis (Founder, Keyboardist)
Derek Morris Meets Future Senator & Governor Pete Wilson
Derek Morris Meets Future Senator & Governor Pete Wilson
Location: Home of Patricia and Joseph Destein. Sausalito, California. September, 1982. My three partners and I at First Republic Capital had hired Patricia Destein, a securities compliance consultant, to help us in connection with obtaining approvals in connection with our NASD Broker/Dealership. We got to know Pat and Joe Destein socially during that time period - visiting their "country" home and vineyard on five acres in Ross a couple of times, etc - great people - and they invited us (very generously ... at no cost on our part!) to this fundraising event for Pete Wilson at their phenomenal home overlooking the water on the cliffs in Sausalito.
I think tickets / required donations to attend the event were something like $2500 and in 1982 (or any time) this was a great example of a "high roller" type of political fundraising event. Many well know Bay Area and California movers and shakers, politicians, and especially donors were in attendance. I particularly remember seeing renowned developer Gerson Bakar (Levi's Plaza in SF, Carmel Plaza Shopping Center at the top of Ocean Ave. in Carmel, and numerous other office, retail, and luxury apartment developments throughout Northern California) making a splashy entrance as he walked in with two very beautiful and quite young women, one on each arm. That got everybody's attention!
Here, Pete Wilson, then current San Diego Mayor and prior to that a California Assemblyman, was running for United States Senate against Jerry Brown in the upcoming November 1982 election. Wilson went on to defeat Jerry Brown. However the politically ambitious Wilson, in his mind perhaps on the road to the Presidency, did not even serve a single full six-year Senate term. Towards the end of his Senate term, Wilson successfully ran for California Governor in 1991, defeating former SF Mayor Dianne Feinstein. Less than two years later, Feinstein actually won Wilson's vacated Senate seat in 1992, defeating the guy Governor Wilson himself appointed to his old Senate seat, a business and real estate guy and former Anaheim mayor John Seymour. Seymour lost to Feinstein by a huge landslide - one of the largest defeats in California Senate history. Seymour was a decent enough guy and a moderate but not a great politician, and the demographic and political tide was turning against him anyway. Seymour was the last Republican to hold statewide office, with the exception of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And remember that 1992, the year Bill Clinton first got elected President, was termed the "year of the woman." In 1992, both Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (who actually was my former Marin County Supervisor before winning the late Phil Burton's highly gerrymandered House of Representatives seat around 1983) were elected to the U.S. Senate from California.
Getting away from the politics, on a personal level I found Wilson to be a very charming and fun. He was an outgoing person who was great to talk to. He moved though the relatively small party very deliberately and spent time chatting one on one with everybody it seemed. He had a great dry sense of humor, was extremely bright, anwered questions with authority, and didn't seem to take himself too seriously - the opposite of stiff and pompous. I remember a month or two later watching him on TV debating Jerry Brown - who in a debate is no slouch himself. In that debate Wilson by all accounts destroyed Brown and won handily. He was very well prepared and quick on his feet. I particularly remember when Brown tried to embarass Wilson with some arcane question about some remote African country and US policy in the region. Wilson was quick to respond with in depth knowledge and knew much more of the issue than Brown. It was embarrassing for Brown who was trying to one-up Wilson; his obvious ploy had backfired.
Regarding Wilson at the Sausalito party, there was nothing formal about
him at all in that setting. Some might find this surprising because over the years Wilson seemed to have a less and less appealing public persona it seemed. Every time I saw him on TV over the years he seemed a little more rigid and uncomfortable. To his credit, he also over the years unfortunately did develop some throat problems that eventually resulted in throat surgery to remove a nodule that had developed from apparently what the doctors termed too much public speaking where the throat was stressed and developed callous-like nodule. Perhaps the increasingly right wing positions he found himself taking to solidify his spot in the Republican party caused further stress on his voice - who knows. Because of his voice problems and the effect that his weak voice was having on his declining campaign, Wilson ultimately dropped out of the race for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination, which was eventually won by Bob Dole who in turn lost to Bill Clinton in securing his second term.
Pete Wilson's political fortunes and long run political prospects had declined later in his second term as Governor when he made a huge political strategic blunder by leading what many perceived as the anti-immigrant Prop. 187 campaign as well as soem other super unpopular Republican-type of causes. But Wilson was responsible leading the campaign for passing the Three Strikes law which at the time many believed was a way of balancing out the past pro-criminal Rose Bird court decisions. In retrospect, the three strikes referendum was probably an over-reaction, where even petty crimes got counted as third strikes, sending third-strikers to jail for 25 years to life. And the three strikes law finally got reversed by initiative many years later, around 2004. But the issue of rising violent crime was surely of the reasons Wilson defeated Jerry Brown at the time in 1982 because of the public perception that Brown had appointed many "soft on crime" judges to the Rose Bird-dominated California Supreme Court - particularly Rose Bird herself, who had, with other justices, overturned each and every death penalty appeal case that came before her court. She and the two other justices were ultimately removed in a highly charged re-confirmation campaign in 1986.
(The above photo was taken by a reporter/photographer - forget her name - for the San Rafael Independent Journal who I asked to take our picture - and I later paid her directly for a couple of prints.)
Location: Home of Patricia and Joseph Destein. Sausalito, California. September, 1982. My three partners and I at First Republic Capital had hired Patricia Destein, a securities compliance consultant, to help us in connection with obtaining approvals in connection with our NASD Broker/Dealership. We got to know Pat and Joe Destein socially during that time period - visiting their "country" home and vineyard on five acres in Ross a couple of times, etc - great people - and they invited us (very generously ... at no cost on our part!) to this fundraising event for Pete Wilson at their phenomenal home overlooking the water on the cliffs in Sausalito.
I think tickets / required donations to attend the event were something like $2500 and in 1982 (or any time) this was a great example of a "high roller" type of political fundraising event. Many well know Bay Area and California movers and shakers, politicians, and especially donors were in attendance. I particularly remember seeing renowned developer Gerson Bakar (Levi's Plaza in SF, Carmel Plaza Shopping Center at the top of Ocean Ave. in Carmel, and numerous other office, retail, and luxury apartment developments throughout Northern California) making a splashy entrance as he walked in with two very beautiful and quite young women, one on each arm. That got everybody's attention!
Here, Pete Wilson, then current San Diego Mayor and prior to that a California Assemblyman, was running for United States Senate against Jerry Brown in the upcoming November 1982 election. Wilson went on to defeat Jerry Brown. However the politically ambitious Wilson, in his mind perhaps on the road to the Presidency, did not even serve a single full six-year Senate term. Towards the end of his Senate term, Wilson successfully ran for California Governor in 1991, defeating former SF Mayor Dianne Feinstein. Less than two years later, Feinstein actually won Wilson's vacated Senate seat in 1992, defeating the guy Governor Wilson himself appointed to his old Senate seat, a business and real estate guy and former Anaheim mayor John Seymour. Seymour lost to Feinstein by a huge landslide - one of the largest defeats in California Senate history. Seymour was a decent enough guy and a moderate but not a great politician, and the demographic and political tide was turning against him anyway. Seymour was the last Republican to hold statewide office, with the exception of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And remember that 1992, the year Bill Clinton first got elected President, was termed the "year of the woman." In 1992, both Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (who actually was my former Marin County Supervisor before winning the late Phil Burton's highly gerrymandered House of Representatives seat around 1983) were elected to the U.S. Senate from California.
Getting away from the politics, on a personal level I found Wilson to be a very charming and fun. He was an outgoing person who was great to talk to. He moved though the relatively small party very deliberately and spent time chatting one on one with everybody it seemed. He had a great dry sense of humor, was extremely bright, anwered questions with authority, and didn't seem to take himself too seriously - the opposite of stiff and pompous. I remember a month or two later watching him on TV debating Jerry Brown - who in a debate is no slouch himself. In that debate Wilson by all accounts destroyed Brown and won handily. He was very well prepared and quick on his feet. I particularly remember when Brown tried to embarass Wilson with some arcane question about some remote African country and US policy in the region. Wilson was quick to respond with in depth knowledge and knew much more of the issue than Brown. It was embarrassing for Brown who was trying to one-up Wilson; his obvious ploy had backfired.
Regarding Wilson at the Sausalito party, there was nothing formal about
him at all in that setting. Some might find this surprising because over the years Wilson seemed to have a less and less appealing public persona it seemed. Every time I saw him on TV over the years he seemed a little more rigid and uncomfortable. To his credit, he also over the years unfortunately did develop some throat problems that eventually resulted in throat surgery to remove a nodule that had developed from apparently what the doctors termed too much public speaking where the throat was stressed and developed callous-like nodule. Perhaps the increasingly right wing positions he found himself taking to solidify his spot in the Republican party caused further stress on his voice - who knows. Because of his voice problems and the effect that his weak voice was having on his declining campaign, Wilson ultimately dropped out of the race for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination, which was eventually won by Bob Dole who in turn lost to Bill Clinton in securing his second term.
Pete Wilson's political fortunes and long run political prospects had declined later in his second term as Governor when he made a huge political strategic blunder by leading what many perceived as the anti-immigrant Prop. 187 campaign as well as soem other super unpopular Republican-type of causes. But Wilson was responsible leading the campaign for passing the Three Strikes law which at the time many believed was a way of balancing out the past pro-criminal Rose Bird court decisions. In retrospect, the three strikes referendum was probably an over-reaction, where even petty crimes got counted as third strikes, sending third-strikers to jail for 25 years to life. And the three strikes law finally got reversed by initiative many years later, around 2004. But the issue of rising violent crime was surely of the reasons Wilson defeated Jerry Brown at the time in 1982 because of the public perception that Brown had appointed many "soft on crime" judges to the Rose Bird-dominated California Supreme Court - particularly Rose Bird herself, who had, with other justices, overturned each and every death penalty appeal case that came before her court. She and the two other justices were ultimately removed in a highly charged re-confirmation campaign in 1986.
(The above photo was taken by a reporter/photographer - forget her name - for the San Rafael Independent Journal who I asked to take our picture - and I later paid her directly for a couple of prints.)
The Moody Blues - Santa Barbara County Bowl
Saturday, August 20, 1988
Review by Derek Morris Published in Ojai Valley Voice, Sept 1988
Saturday, August 20, 1988
Review by Derek Morris Published in Ojai Valley Voice, Sept 1988
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Note from DM: My rather naive 1988 article portrays Mike Pinder's departure in a pretty benign way. Since then, I've learned that there was a lot of acrimony and discord in connection with the recording of Octave that led to his departure, and it appears that Mike was the source of much of the discord.
What follows is pieced together from various stories and reports as well as anecdotes from friends who knew various people in the Moodies' organization, but lots of this is still of course rather speculative. Everybody in the Moody Blues has been very tight lipped about what actually happened.
Mike Pinder had moved to the United States "permanently" after the band "broke up" after an extensive tour that ended in 1974. They were all very burned out from a long '73-'74 world tour and apparently Pinder was making noises that he was through touring period. In the eyes of many, the Moodies had broken up - but most including the Moodies called it a long hiatus. It was not clear what was going to happen next with the band. In the intervening four years between 1974 and 1978, Mike got divorced, remarried an American woman, and moved to the United States, where he was trying to establish permanent residency. He was concerned that his immigration status would be threatened if he left the US to record the next album in England.
Pinder had released a solo album in 1976. The result was in my opinion a disappointing and rather pompous "let me tell you how it is from on high" solo album called "The Promise" that was poorly received. With his solo career not taking off, perhaps he was more open to re-connecting with his bandmates. Plus time had passed and emotional wounds accumulated from a long stressful tour had healed a bit, etc. And of course the financial incentive was certainly there for the Moodies to get back together and the record label was sure pushing it. When they took the hiatus in 1974, they were one of the largest touring acts in the world. In fact during 1973 and 1974, they perhaps were the biggest rock band in the world.
(I was fortunate to see the Moody Blues on January 31, 1974 in their original incarnation with Mike Pinder at Oakland Coliseum on January 31, 1974. This was the third to last performance of the 1973-74 tour - and therefore one of the last three shows Pinder ever performed with the band. A photo that I found of that show is below.)
Because of Pinder's reluctance to leave the United States, the others agreed that Octave would be recorded in the US for the first time - in Malibu at a state-of-the-art recording studio, Indigo Ranch, of which Pinder was co-founder and co-designer. After "The Promise," "Octave" was the second album ever recorded at Indigo Ranch, which by all reports was a very impressive recording facility in a phenomenal location on 50 acres in the Malibu hills.
But the California recording sessions were full of conflict and discord. This was the first time the Moody Blues recorded outside of their home base of London, away from their homes and families and their normal recording "routine." Additionally, the Los Angeles weather in January and February was uncharacteristically rainy - record shattering in fact. Justin Hayward and longtime legendary Moodies producer Tony Clarke were involved in a traffic accident on the Pacific Coast Highway that in part was caused by the rains and the very dangerous PCH which is the only route to Malibu. Hayward and Clarke were quite shaken up by the experience; the specifics of their injuries are unknown but it took two weeks for them to recover. And apparently the accident was one more factor that contributed to Clarke's nervous breakdown. Clark ended up returning to England and a new producer was brought in. Other problems included a fire in the Malibu studio and temporary relocation to Mike Pinder's home studio, where a subsequent landslide took place, cutting off the Pinder's property from access until the roads could be repaired and isolating everybody in the band in that house for a while. So the entire Octave sessions were full of problems and very stressful for all involved; it is a miracle that an album as good as Octave still resulted.
Also, the Octave album was different in that the Mellotron was only used in one song - Pinder's "One Step Into The Light." This makes you wonder how engaged Pinder was at all, especially since this was a rejected song from The Promise recording sessions and not one of his best efforts (in my opinion). A Hammond B-3 organ was used for the first time in some songs, and three Moodies songs used real strings played by outside session musicians rather than Pinder's Mellotron or Chamberlain strings. This was the first time the Moody Blues used real strings, though Justin Hayward and John Lodge used strings very successfully in their 1975 Blue Jays album. Again, one wonders how much effort Pinder put into the project if he was not programming the Mellotron and Chamberlain and not arranging the orchestral sounds. Plus, normally each member would contribute two songs to an album; here Pinder contributed only one song while the others contributed two and Hayward contributed four.
There was an expectation that Mike Pinder would tour with the band after Octave was released. But he backed out of touring and this caused embarrassment with the public and further hostility from the remaining band members. Pinder left the recording sessions before the album was completed. For the tour, keyboardist Patrick Moraz was hired to replace Pinder on keyboards (but not vocals).
As the tour was set to start, Pinder sued the band and the record label in England for an injunction to prevent them from billing themselves as The Moody Blues on the tour. Pinder lost the lawsuit. How he was compensated as a result of his final exit from the band is not clear, but it appears that he completely sold his interest to the rest of the Moody Blues for a surprisingly low dollar figure and has not participated in any subsequent Moody Blues concert revenue - at least that is what most reports say but nobody really knows. One number I saw reported was $50,000. He reportedly had large legal expenses resulting from the lawsuit, where under English law, the loser in a tort case pays the winner's legal expenses. (Too bad the US is not this way - it would cut down on frivolous lawsuits!) So reportedly part of the "buyout" of his interest involved relieving him of his legal debts.
Again, this is educated speculation and the Moody Blues and Justin Hayward have been tight lipped, though I have noticed that Hayward has been more forthcoming lately in interviews, dropping hints and bits and pieces here and there about the past relationship with Pinder. Hopefully Justin is saving the whole for his autobiography. Hurry up Justin and write it, Justin!
One additional thing on an interpersonal note. Pinder from all reports had some nasty conflicts with members of the band as well as to Tony Clarke during the recording sessions. Lots of acrimony apparently. The most famous incident which has been widely reported: in the middle of a session, Justin is discussing a song with Graeme Edge. Pinder hears them and loudly interjects to Justin: "Why are you asking him about the song? He's only the drummer." Many years later, Pinder apologized profusely to Graeme Edge in a clip that can be found on YouTube. It was really a full throated "I'm sorry, please forgive me" kind of apology.
Though I would love it if Pinder rejoined the Moody Blues and if the original band would tour again, from all interviews I've heard and read, there is no way the existing remaining three Moody Blues - Justin Hayward, John Lodge, and Graeme Edge (Ray Thomas retired in 2006) will ever work again with Pinder. In every interview, Justin has left absolutely zero room for that possibility in the future. Of course, if the Moodies ever get inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, that might change the dynamics a bit and propel some sort of re-unification, however short-lived. But the Rock Hall of Fame, controlled by Jann Wenner and his hand selected cabal of so-called "rock journalists" and record label executives, is proving itself to be more inclined to induct zero-talent but politically correct hacks like Patty Smith, Lou Reed, NWA, Run DMC, Joan Jett, etc. So I am not expecting a Moody Blues induction any time soon. Unless Jann Wenner somehow goes away (which we can only hope!). ~ DM
What follows is pieced together from various stories and reports as well as anecdotes from friends who knew various people in the Moodies' organization, but lots of this is still of course rather speculative. Everybody in the Moody Blues has been very tight lipped about what actually happened.
Mike Pinder had moved to the United States "permanently" after the band "broke up" after an extensive tour that ended in 1974. They were all very burned out from a long '73-'74 world tour and apparently Pinder was making noises that he was through touring period. In the eyes of many, the Moodies had broken up - but most including the Moodies called it a long hiatus. It was not clear what was going to happen next with the band. In the intervening four years between 1974 and 1978, Mike got divorced, remarried an American woman, and moved to the United States, where he was trying to establish permanent residency. He was concerned that his immigration status would be threatened if he left the US to record the next album in England.
Pinder had released a solo album in 1976. The result was in my opinion a disappointing and rather pompous "let me tell you how it is from on high" solo album called "The Promise" that was poorly received. With his solo career not taking off, perhaps he was more open to re-connecting with his bandmates. Plus time had passed and emotional wounds accumulated from a long stressful tour had healed a bit, etc. And of course the financial incentive was certainly there for the Moodies to get back together and the record label was sure pushing it. When they took the hiatus in 1974, they were one of the largest touring acts in the world. In fact during 1973 and 1974, they perhaps were the biggest rock band in the world.
(I was fortunate to see the Moody Blues on January 31, 1974 in their original incarnation with Mike Pinder at Oakland Coliseum on January 31, 1974. This was the third to last performance of the 1973-74 tour - and therefore one of the last three shows Pinder ever performed with the band. A photo that I found of that show is below.)
Because of Pinder's reluctance to leave the United States, the others agreed that Octave would be recorded in the US for the first time - in Malibu at a state-of-the-art recording studio, Indigo Ranch, of which Pinder was co-founder and co-designer. After "The Promise," "Octave" was the second album ever recorded at Indigo Ranch, which by all reports was a very impressive recording facility in a phenomenal location on 50 acres in the Malibu hills.
But the California recording sessions were full of conflict and discord. This was the first time the Moody Blues recorded outside of their home base of London, away from their homes and families and their normal recording "routine." Additionally, the Los Angeles weather in January and February was uncharacteristically rainy - record shattering in fact. Justin Hayward and longtime legendary Moodies producer Tony Clarke were involved in a traffic accident on the Pacific Coast Highway that in part was caused by the rains and the very dangerous PCH which is the only route to Malibu. Hayward and Clarke were quite shaken up by the experience; the specifics of their injuries are unknown but it took two weeks for them to recover. And apparently the accident was one more factor that contributed to Clarke's nervous breakdown. Clark ended up returning to England and a new producer was brought in. Other problems included a fire in the Malibu studio and temporary relocation to Mike Pinder's home studio, where a subsequent landslide took place, cutting off the Pinder's property from access until the roads could be repaired and isolating everybody in the band in that house for a while. So the entire Octave sessions were full of problems and very stressful for all involved; it is a miracle that an album as good as Octave still resulted.
Also, the Octave album was different in that the Mellotron was only used in one song - Pinder's "One Step Into The Light." This makes you wonder how engaged Pinder was at all, especially since this was a rejected song from The Promise recording sessions and not one of his best efforts (in my opinion). A Hammond B-3 organ was used for the first time in some songs, and three Moodies songs used real strings played by outside session musicians rather than Pinder's Mellotron or Chamberlain strings. This was the first time the Moody Blues used real strings, though Justin Hayward and John Lodge used strings very successfully in their 1975 Blue Jays album. Again, one wonders how much effort Pinder put into the project if he was not programming the Mellotron and Chamberlain and not arranging the orchestral sounds. Plus, normally each member would contribute two songs to an album; here Pinder contributed only one song while the others contributed two and Hayward contributed four.
There was an expectation that Mike Pinder would tour with the band after Octave was released. But he backed out of touring and this caused embarrassment with the public and further hostility from the remaining band members. Pinder left the recording sessions before the album was completed. For the tour, keyboardist Patrick Moraz was hired to replace Pinder on keyboards (but not vocals).
As the tour was set to start, Pinder sued the band and the record label in England for an injunction to prevent them from billing themselves as The Moody Blues on the tour. Pinder lost the lawsuit. How he was compensated as a result of his final exit from the band is not clear, but it appears that he completely sold his interest to the rest of the Moody Blues for a surprisingly low dollar figure and has not participated in any subsequent Moody Blues concert revenue - at least that is what most reports say but nobody really knows. One number I saw reported was $50,000. He reportedly had large legal expenses resulting from the lawsuit, where under English law, the loser in a tort case pays the winner's legal expenses. (Too bad the US is not this way - it would cut down on frivolous lawsuits!) So reportedly part of the "buyout" of his interest involved relieving him of his legal debts.
Again, this is educated speculation and the Moody Blues and Justin Hayward have been tight lipped, though I have noticed that Hayward has been more forthcoming lately in interviews, dropping hints and bits and pieces here and there about the past relationship with Pinder. Hopefully Justin is saving the whole for his autobiography. Hurry up Justin and write it, Justin!
One additional thing on an interpersonal note. Pinder from all reports had some nasty conflicts with members of the band as well as to Tony Clarke during the recording sessions. Lots of acrimony apparently. The most famous incident which has been widely reported: in the middle of a session, Justin is discussing a song with Graeme Edge. Pinder hears them and loudly interjects to Justin: "Why are you asking him about the song? He's only the drummer." Many years later, Pinder apologized profusely to Graeme Edge in a clip that can be found on YouTube. It was really a full throated "I'm sorry, please forgive me" kind of apology.
Though I would love it if Pinder rejoined the Moody Blues and if the original band would tour again, from all interviews I've heard and read, there is no way the existing remaining three Moody Blues - Justin Hayward, John Lodge, and Graeme Edge (Ray Thomas retired in 2006) will ever work again with Pinder. In every interview, Justin has left absolutely zero room for that possibility in the future. Of course, if the Moodies ever get inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, that might change the dynamics a bit and propel some sort of re-unification, however short-lived. But the Rock Hall of Fame, controlled by Jann Wenner and his hand selected cabal of so-called "rock journalists" and record label executives, is proving itself to be more inclined to induct zero-talent but politically correct hacks like Patty Smith, Lou Reed, NWA, Run DMC, Joan Jett, etc. So I am not expecting a Moody Blues induction any time soon. Unless Jann Wenner somehow goes away (which we can only hope!). ~ DM
The Moody Blues - Santa Barbara County Bowl - Saturday, August 20, 1988
The Moody Blues - Oakland Coliseum Arena
January 31, 1974
(Band members (L to R): John Lodge, Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder)
I was at this show at Oakland Coliseum Arena in 1974 - my first Moodies concert ever. I was a senior at UC Berkeley at the time. I went to the show with a friend who I grew up with in Monterey, Alan Herren, who was also going to school at Berkeley. We both vividly remember the vibe at the show as we got out of my car in the Coliseum parking lot and walked towards the concert hall. Everybody was oddly quiet - it was not a party atmosphere outside at all as one might expect, but more like some sort of religious pilgrimage!
I think for most people this was probably the first time they had seen the Moody Blues "live" and the anticipation level was off the charts. And as it turned out (as discussed above) this was the first and last time any of us in attendance would see the "original" five Moody Blues which included Mike Pinder, the keyboard-Mellotron genius singer-songwriter. This was the third-to-last show of the entire 1973-74 tour and as it turned out this was the third-to-last show Mike Pinder ever performed with the Moody Blues. (Pinder participated in the recording of the "reunion" album Octave in 1978 but quit the band due to internal conflicts before the Octave album was completed; meanwhile Patrick Moraz was hired to play keyboards on the Octave tour.)
Anyway, as we walked towards the Coliseum from the parking lot that night, we felt like we were all collectively being pulled into the Coliseum like some sort of tractor beam that had taken control over our bodies. It was like an huge Coliseum-sized alien spaceship had landed and we were robotically drawn towards the ship. Nobody approaching the building was talking it seemed - the people were oddly quiet and almost meditative but determined as if on a mission. I know this sounds rather overstated and hyped but I've spoken with others there that night who had the same experience. There was such a high level of anticipation - quite naive obviously - as if somehow this concert was going to change our lives and transform us into another level of consciousness. Yeah right! Ha ha. It is funny now but that was the pre-show atmosphere and vibe that Alan and I and many others experienced that evening. It was a combination of the deeply touching and profound and brilliant Moody Blues music as well as the naivete of the times perhaps. The show itself was great; I believe there was a bit of a delay between a couple of songs as Pinder fixed some glitch in the Mellotron, which was not uncommon given the complex tape loop technology that was prone to periodic breakdowns. But oddly, though the show itself was great and it was a thrill to hear the Moodies "live" for the first time, for some reason the most striking memory was the mystical pre-show "hive-mind" kind of vibe!
January 31, 1974
(Band members (L to R): John Lodge, Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder)
I was at this show at Oakland Coliseum Arena in 1974 - my first Moodies concert ever. I was a senior at UC Berkeley at the time. I went to the show with a friend who I grew up with in Monterey, Alan Herren, who was also going to school at Berkeley. We both vividly remember the vibe at the show as we got out of my car in the Coliseum parking lot and walked towards the concert hall. Everybody was oddly quiet - it was not a party atmosphere outside at all as one might expect, but more like some sort of religious pilgrimage!
I think for most people this was probably the first time they had seen the Moody Blues "live" and the anticipation level was off the charts. And as it turned out (as discussed above) this was the first and last time any of us in attendance would see the "original" five Moody Blues which included Mike Pinder, the keyboard-Mellotron genius singer-songwriter. This was the third-to-last show of the entire 1973-74 tour and as it turned out this was the third-to-last show Mike Pinder ever performed with the Moody Blues. (Pinder participated in the recording of the "reunion" album Octave in 1978 but quit the band due to internal conflicts before the Octave album was completed; meanwhile Patrick Moraz was hired to play keyboards on the Octave tour.)
Anyway, as we walked towards the Coliseum from the parking lot that night, we felt like we were all collectively being pulled into the Coliseum like some sort of tractor beam that had taken control over our bodies. It was like an huge Coliseum-sized alien spaceship had landed and we were robotically drawn towards the ship. Nobody approaching the building was talking it seemed - the people were oddly quiet and almost meditative but determined as if on a mission. I know this sounds rather overstated and hyped but I've spoken with others there that night who had the same experience. There was such a high level of anticipation - quite naive obviously - as if somehow this concert was going to change our lives and transform us into another level of consciousness. Yeah right! Ha ha. It is funny now but that was the pre-show atmosphere and vibe that Alan and I and many others experienced that evening. It was a combination of the deeply touching and profound and brilliant Moody Blues music as well as the naivete of the times perhaps. The show itself was great; I believe there was a bit of a delay between a couple of songs as Pinder fixed some glitch in the Mellotron, which was not uncommon given the complex tape loop technology that was prone to periodic breakdowns. But oddly, though the show itself was great and it was a thrill to hear the Moodies "live" for the first time, for some reason the most striking memory was the mystical pre-show "hive-mind" kind of vibe!
Derek Morris Meets Patrick Moraz of Moody Blues
Derek Morris Meets Patrick Moraz of Moody Blues (!?!?)
NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Trade Show
Anaheim Convention Center, California - January 1987
NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Trade Show
Anaheim Convention Center, California - January 1987
Moraz is former keyboardist for the Moody Blues from 1978 - 1991. Moraz was hired as their keyboardist in 1978 for the upcoming Octave album tour following the rather sudden resignation of band co-founder, Mellotron innovator and singer-songwriter Michael Pinder.
Moraz was with the Moody Blues at the time of this 1987 photo, taken at NAMM - the world's largest musical instrument trade show. Moraz was there demonstrating Kurzweil keyboards, synthesizers and sound modules.
Now, Moraz is quite a talented keyboardist and synthesizer expert and was an expert with the cutting-edge Kurzweil synthesizer technology. But in my mind, Moraz was never really a fit for the Moody Blues, though he lasted 12 years. I never cared for his keyboard style; full of cute little "tricks" and sequenced passages and over-stylized flourishes, sometimes with interesting sounds, but much of it to me rather mechanical and passionless. Too cute by a half. Moraz did not sing nor write songs so he had no vocal or song crafting influences within the band. But he did a good job in replicating Pinder's keyboard parts on stage. And some his instrumental parts - like the opening album instrumental intro preceeding "The Voice" (which he should have received songwriting credit for) were well done. And for hardcore fans, it is admittedly impossible to fill Mike Pinder's shoes.
More significantly, based on my personal experience with the guy, I found Moraz to be arrogant, condescending, and pretentious. After the above photo op, Moraz became irritated and dismissive anytime a question about the Moodies was asked by those visiting the booth. Moraz seemed to forget that the only reason he was at NAMM representing Kurzweil was because he had made a name for himself as keyboard player with the Moody Blues. As talented as he was, nobody gave a crap about his so-called solo "career," yet this narcissist seemed so offended when asked about the Moody Blues. It was quite bizarre to experience his reactions.
When asked about the Moodies, his typical reaction was controlled exasperation. His comments were essentially "hey I just play part time with that band - I do other things musically you know - the Moody Blues are just one of the many important musical projects I'm involved in." That is the vibe he gave off and what he was communicating. Again, the arrogance ... bordering on eccentric narcissistic nuttiness! He could have been a much better representative for Kurzweil and the Moody Blues. The response of many of us who witnessed this interaction seemed to be "wow, this guy really is an ass."
The Moodies must have gotten sick of dealing with Moraz. The more they knew him the less they liked him. That is what I have heard but who knows. Moraz was quite demanding from the very beginning in terms of his business relationship as a hired member of the band. It must have been exhausting to deal with him. The ongoing tension with Moraz apparently built up over the 12 years he was there. Reportedly the last straw was when Moraz was publicly highly critical and dismissive of The Moodies in an interview in Keyboard Magazine in 1991, where he stated that that he was bored with the Moody Blues' style which had become "stagnant." To him the Moodies presented "no more interesting musical challenges" to him. In another interview he said that the only other musicians in his league are Beethoven and Brahms. The guy is a self-deluded narcissist! Definitely a talent but who would want to deal with this guy as a "bandmate?" Now Moraz frankly may have been accurate in his assessment of the Moodies in that era - they were nothing like the 1967-1972 "classic seven albums" band that had created such magical material. Their post 1972 work has been spotty, admittedly. But to publicly trash the band - his employer - was just plain suicidal. What did he expect. The guy was delusional.
So soon after that the Keyboard Magazine interview came out in 1991, Moraz was finally terminated. He then sued the Moodies for wrongful termination and for his "partnership share" in the band earnings, claiming he was actually a full partner entitled to his proportionate share of tour earnings. The case went to trial quite quickly in Los Angeles, sometime in late 1992.
Moraz claimed in the suit that there was an "oral agreement" that made him a full partner in the band. Moody Blues lawyer Don Engel proceeded to systematically destroy the very weak Moraz case. Engel did an excellent, thorough job. If one watches the trial on YouTube, one can see that clearly there was no evidence of an oral agreement let alone a written agreement. It was funny watching Moraz and his attorney's dance around this issue when they had no facts to back them up. And Moraz himself was an embarassment on the stand.
The 1992 trial was shown on Court TV and extensive clips of the trial can now be found via a search on YouTube. It is 23-part series that runs over ten hours and includes almost all of the video recordings from the trial, including testimony from Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas, Moraz, the Moodies manager, Moraz' wife, attorneys and some other witnesses. For anybody into the Moody Blues history, the trial was fascinating, though at times boring and plodding. One thing that is clear from the trial: Patrick Moraz not only had a weak case, but he also hired an idiot for a lawyer - "entertainment attorney" (in quotes) Neville Johnson. I was completely unimpressed with the Moraz lawyer's wandering, meandering inability to ever get to the point; the lawyer even got a lot of historical band facts and chronologies wrong in his tangential opening statement, and meandered with totally unrelated side stories. Was he perhaps trying to distract the judge and jury in weaving his weak case? No I just think he was an idiot. He wasted so much time on irrelevant trivia. And all his questions of members of the Moodies who were on the stand sounded like fishing expeditions - as if they were being deposed for the first time (they had already all been individually deposed by the time of the trial). The Moraz attorney did not seem to have any sort of game plan and almost seemed to be making it up as he went, constantly fishing for little inconsistencies in testimony of the Moodies and he hoped to expose. But he found nothing and only succeeded in irritating the judge, jury and everyone there. As one Court TV commentator said, Johnson was fishing around with questions hoping for different answers than he received, and continuously got slammed back in the face with testimony that further and further weakened his position.
Towards the end of the trial, the judge admonished Moraz for his poor behavior throughout the trial and for his evasive responses to questions while on the stand. Everybody was getting exasperated by Moraz. The judge, Hon. Paul Noland, said that Moraz was making a mockery of the trail as the result of his evasive behavior as a witness in not answering questions directly. Judges don't admonish plaintiffs in this manner very often!
The judge similarly admonished Moraz' attorney, Neville Johnson, for being unprepared to present the case and for Johnson's own inappropriate behavior during the proceedings. The judge's comments for Moraz and Johnson were quite harsh and quite well-deserved. The experienced Court TV attorney guest commentators, all experienced litigators themselves, said that they have never seen a judge come down so harshly on both a plaintiff and their attorney for inappropriate and unprofessional behavior during the trial. Highly unusual. Yet for a Moodies fan, this trial is totally mesmerizing and entertaining!
Of course, Moraz lost the trial. And he made an idiot of himself throughout the proceedings and showed what a questionable character he is. Brilliant, well spoken, artistic, accomplished, but a bit nuts! Anybody watching this video can observe what a pompous and self-aggrandizing narcissistic ass he is. An immensely talented keyboard player, but probably impossible to deal with as a person. So the Moodies canned him. What took them so long?! Good riddance!
Moraz had sued for $3.8 Million and after fourteen days of trial and testimony of witnesses, the judge ruled in favor of the Moody Blues. It was not a partnership. He was a contract employee, hired and fired at will. All that remained at this point was a dispute over past royalties which was left to the jury. A number of accountants reviewing the books testified. The jury awarded Moraz a total $77,000 in his royalty claim. After the attorney's take of 1/3, Moraz is left with about $52,000. Ironically, before the trial started, the Moodies had offered to settle with Moraz for $400,000! But Moraz, genius that he is, decided to proceed with the trial ... and lost!
After the trial was all over, in watching the Court TV interview with the foreman of the jury, the foreman surprisingly said that the jury very much sympathized with Moraz and in deliberations wanted to award him punitive damages for his termination! Many in the jury felt that Moraz was treated unfairly by the Moodies in being fired and wanted to punish the Moodies for letting Moraz go. This jury believed and sympathized with Moraz, which I find incredible! I found Moraz to be a bald-faced evasive nutty liar on the stand. Plus his attorney was horrible!
Luckily for the Moodies, the jury was restricted in what they could do - the judge decided the partnership issue. That key issue was solely the judge's decision. The judge ruled that there was never a partnership; Moraz was an employee and a hired hand. And in the opinion of Court TV commentators, the final reward of $77,000 was more of an attempt by the jury to simply just give Moraz as much money as possible on his royalties claim because he had lost so badly in the partnership part of the dispute. Sort of a minor "jury nullification" in a way. So juries can be quite unpredictable! Again, luckily for the Moodies, the jury did not decide the partnership issue - it was set up as a bifurcated trial, where the judge made the decision on the partnership issue followed by the jury making the decision on any damages and monetary awards. (Don't know the legal / judicial mechanics of why it is done this way but that is how the case was conducted from the start.)
Hardcore Moody Blues fans will get a kick out of this series of 23 YouTube videos. Especially parts 17 and 18 of the YouTube clips where Moraz is testifying and getting hammered by the Moodies lawyer.
Moraz was with the Moody Blues at the time of this 1987 photo, taken at NAMM - the world's largest musical instrument trade show. Moraz was there demonstrating Kurzweil keyboards, synthesizers and sound modules.
Now, Moraz is quite a talented keyboardist and synthesizer expert and was an expert with the cutting-edge Kurzweil synthesizer technology. But in my mind, Moraz was never really a fit for the Moody Blues, though he lasted 12 years. I never cared for his keyboard style; full of cute little "tricks" and sequenced passages and over-stylized flourishes, sometimes with interesting sounds, but much of it to me rather mechanical and passionless. Too cute by a half. Moraz did not sing nor write songs so he had no vocal or song crafting influences within the band. But he did a good job in replicating Pinder's keyboard parts on stage. And some his instrumental parts - like the opening album instrumental intro preceeding "The Voice" (which he should have received songwriting credit for) were well done. And for hardcore fans, it is admittedly impossible to fill Mike Pinder's shoes.
More significantly, based on my personal experience with the guy, I found Moraz to be arrogant, condescending, and pretentious. After the above photo op, Moraz became irritated and dismissive anytime a question about the Moodies was asked by those visiting the booth. Moraz seemed to forget that the only reason he was at NAMM representing Kurzweil was because he had made a name for himself as keyboard player with the Moody Blues. As talented as he was, nobody gave a crap about his so-called solo "career," yet this narcissist seemed so offended when asked about the Moody Blues. It was quite bizarre to experience his reactions.
When asked about the Moodies, his typical reaction was controlled exasperation. His comments were essentially "hey I just play part time with that band - I do other things musically you know - the Moody Blues are just one of the many important musical projects I'm involved in." That is the vibe he gave off and what he was communicating. Again, the arrogance ... bordering on eccentric narcissistic nuttiness! He could have been a much better representative for Kurzweil and the Moody Blues. The response of many of us who witnessed this interaction seemed to be "wow, this guy really is an ass."
The Moodies must have gotten sick of dealing with Moraz. The more they knew him the less they liked him. That is what I have heard but who knows. Moraz was quite demanding from the very beginning in terms of his business relationship as a hired member of the band. It must have been exhausting to deal with him. The ongoing tension with Moraz apparently built up over the 12 years he was there. Reportedly the last straw was when Moraz was publicly highly critical and dismissive of The Moodies in an interview in Keyboard Magazine in 1991, where he stated that that he was bored with the Moody Blues' style which had become "stagnant." To him the Moodies presented "no more interesting musical challenges" to him. In another interview he said that the only other musicians in his league are Beethoven and Brahms. The guy is a self-deluded narcissist! Definitely a talent but who would want to deal with this guy as a "bandmate?" Now Moraz frankly may have been accurate in his assessment of the Moodies in that era - they were nothing like the 1967-1972 "classic seven albums" band that had created such magical material. Their post 1972 work has been spotty, admittedly. But to publicly trash the band - his employer - was just plain suicidal. What did he expect. The guy was delusional.
So soon after that the Keyboard Magazine interview came out in 1991, Moraz was finally terminated. He then sued the Moodies for wrongful termination and for his "partnership share" in the band earnings, claiming he was actually a full partner entitled to his proportionate share of tour earnings. The case went to trial quite quickly in Los Angeles, sometime in late 1992.
Moraz claimed in the suit that there was an "oral agreement" that made him a full partner in the band. Moody Blues lawyer Don Engel proceeded to systematically destroy the very weak Moraz case. Engel did an excellent, thorough job. If one watches the trial on YouTube, one can see that clearly there was no evidence of an oral agreement let alone a written agreement. It was funny watching Moraz and his attorney's dance around this issue when they had no facts to back them up. And Moraz himself was an embarassment on the stand.
The 1992 trial was shown on Court TV and extensive clips of the trial can now be found via a search on YouTube. It is 23-part series that runs over ten hours and includes almost all of the video recordings from the trial, including testimony from Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas, Moraz, the Moodies manager, Moraz' wife, attorneys and some other witnesses. For anybody into the Moody Blues history, the trial was fascinating, though at times boring and plodding. One thing that is clear from the trial: Patrick Moraz not only had a weak case, but he also hired an idiot for a lawyer - "entertainment attorney" (in quotes) Neville Johnson. I was completely unimpressed with the Moraz lawyer's wandering, meandering inability to ever get to the point; the lawyer even got a lot of historical band facts and chronologies wrong in his tangential opening statement, and meandered with totally unrelated side stories. Was he perhaps trying to distract the judge and jury in weaving his weak case? No I just think he was an idiot. He wasted so much time on irrelevant trivia. And all his questions of members of the Moodies who were on the stand sounded like fishing expeditions - as if they were being deposed for the first time (they had already all been individually deposed by the time of the trial). The Moraz attorney did not seem to have any sort of game plan and almost seemed to be making it up as he went, constantly fishing for little inconsistencies in testimony of the Moodies and he hoped to expose. But he found nothing and only succeeded in irritating the judge, jury and everyone there. As one Court TV commentator said, Johnson was fishing around with questions hoping for different answers than he received, and continuously got slammed back in the face with testimony that further and further weakened his position.
Towards the end of the trial, the judge admonished Moraz for his poor behavior throughout the trial and for his evasive responses to questions while on the stand. Everybody was getting exasperated by Moraz. The judge, Hon. Paul Noland, said that Moraz was making a mockery of the trail as the result of his evasive behavior as a witness in not answering questions directly. Judges don't admonish plaintiffs in this manner very often!
The judge similarly admonished Moraz' attorney, Neville Johnson, for being unprepared to present the case and for Johnson's own inappropriate behavior during the proceedings. The judge's comments for Moraz and Johnson were quite harsh and quite well-deserved. The experienced Court TV attorney guest commentators, all experienced litigators themselves, said that they have never seen a judge come down so harshly on both a plaintiff and their attorney for inappropriate and unprofessional behavior during the trial. Highly unusual. Yet for a Moodies fan, this trial is totally mesmerizing and entertaining!
Of course, Moraz lost the trial. And he made an idiot of himself throughout the proceedings and showed what a questionable character he is. Brilliant, well spoken, artistic, accomplished, but a bit nuts! Anybody watching this video can observe what a pompous and self-aggrandizing narcissistic ass he is. An immensely talented keyboard player, but probably impossible to deal with as a person. So the Moodies canned him. What took them so long?! Good riddance!
Moraz had sued for $3.8 Million and after fourteen days of trial and testimony of witnesses, the judge ruled in favor of the Moody Blues. It was not a partnership. He was a contract employee, hired and fired at will. All that remained at this point was a dispute over past royalties which was left to the jury. A number of accountants reviewing the books testified. The jury awarded Moraz a total $77,000 in his royalty claim. After the attorney's take of 1/3, Moraz is left with about $52,000. Ironically, before the trial started, the Moodies had offered to settle with Moraz for $400,000! But Moraz, genius that he is, decided to proceed with the trial ... and lost!
After the trial was all over, in watching the Court TV interview with the foreman of the jury, the foreman surprisingly said that the jury very much sympathized with Moraz and in deliberations wanted to award him punitive damages for his termination! Many in the jury felt that Moraz was treated unfairly by the Moodies in being fired and wanted to punish the Moodies for letting Moraz go. This jury believed and sympathized with Moraz, which I find incredible! I found Moraz to be a bald-faced evasive nutty liar on the stand. Plus his attorney was horrible!
Luckily for the Moodies, the jury was restricted in what they could do - the judge decided the partnership issue. That key issue was solely the judge's decision. The judge ruled that there was never a partnership; Moraz was an employee and a hired hand. And in the opinion of Court TV commentators, the final reward of $77,000 was more of an attempt by the jury to simply just give Moraz as much money as possible on his royalties claim because he had lost so badly in the partnership part of the dispute. Sort of a minor "jury nullification" in a way. So juries can be quite unpredictable! Again, luckily for the Moodies, the jury did not decide the partnership issue - it was set up as a bifurcated trial, where the judge made the decision on the partnership issue followed by the jury making the decision on any damages and monetary awards. (Don't know the legal / judicial mechanics of why it is done this way but that is how the case was conducted from the start.)
Hardcore Moody Blues fans will get a kick out of this series of 23 YouTube videos. Especially parts 17 and 18 of the YouTube clips where Moraz is testifying and getting hammered by the Moodies lawyer.
R.V. TRIP THROUGHOUT U.S.A. - 15 CONTINUOUS MONTHS 1999 through 2000 -- 42 STATES & 37,000 MILES
Photo collage and 'faux newsletter' below were created halfway through the trip while spending Winter throughout Florida. We were waiting for the rest of the United States weather to settle down so we could resume travel to other states and head up the East Coast. The second newsletter for the second half of the trip was never fully completed, but more pics and excerpts from the draft with "second half highlights" will be added sometime in the future.
(1) Kalaloch Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington
(2) Padre Island National Seashore Mustang Island, Texas
(3) Bayou Bend Houston, Texas
(4) Clam Pass Beach Naples, Florida
(5) With U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, 10/7/99 dedication, Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado
(6) The Rocket Garden,Kennedy Space Center, Florida
(7 & 15) EPCOT Center, Disney World, Orlando FL
(8) Buffalo preserve, Thermopolis Wyoming
(9) "SuperMax" Federal Prison (home of Timothy McVeigh, Ted Kaczynsky etc). Cañon City, Colorado
(10) Space Shuttle, Liquid Fuel Tank, and Solid Rocket Booster, Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida
(11) Astronaut training, Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida
(12) Cliff Dwellings Mesa Verde National Monument, New Mexico
(13) Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington
(14) Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado
(16) John Ringling Mansion on grounds of Ringling Circus Museum & Art Museum, Sarasota, Florida
(17) The Alamo, San Antonio Texas
(18) Oak Alley, the most spectacular antebellum plantation in the U.S., Vacherie (New Orleans), Louisiana
(19) White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, New Mexico
(20) Aspen, Colorado
(21) Photo on wall of State Senate Chambers Austin, Texas in 1999 - of then current Gov. George W. Bush
(22) Mountain biking down a ski trail (after taking lift to top): Mt. Baldy Sun Valley, Idaho
(23) Saturn V Rocket, Apollo Complex, Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida
(24) Seaside, Florida,the architecturally phenomenal real town featured in Jim Carrey's "The Truman Show"
(25 & 25) Backstage with Mischu - Ringling Brothers Circus' "smallest man in the world " at 33 inches tall. At debut of Ringling Brothers '"Red" touring unit in Tampa, Florida - Ringling Winter Headquarters.
(27) Elk buck, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
(28) Lighthouse, built circa 1880 Sanibel Island, Florida
(29) Salt Creek, Olympic National Park, Washington
(30) Wizard Island, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
(31) Shuttle artwork from flight patch of launch that we saw on Dec 19, 1999 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
(32) Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavor at Kennedy Space Center, FL at 8:50PM Dec 19, 1999. Photo by Leigh
(33) Tower Falls, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
(34) Craters Of The Moon National Monument, Idaho
(36 & 37) Stagecoach Recreation Area, Steamboat Springs, Colorado (w/ dogs Buddy & Biscuit)
(38) Telluride, Colorado
(2) Padre Island National Seashore Mustang Island, Texas
(3) Bayou Bend Houston, Texas
(4) Clam Pass Beach Naples, Florida
(5) With U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, 10/7/99 dedication, Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado
(6) The Rocket Garden,Kennedy Space Center, Florida
(7 & 15) EPCOT Center, Disney World, Orlando FL
(8) Buffalo preserve, Thermopolis Wyoming
(9) "SuperMax" Federal Prison (home of Timothy McVeigh, Ted Kaczynsky etc). Cañon City, Colorado
(10) Space Shuttle, Liquid Fuel Tank, and Solid Rocket Booster, Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida
(11) Astronaut training, Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida
(12) Cliff Dwellings Mesa Verde National Monument, New Mexico
(13) Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington
(14) Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado
(16) John Ringling Mansion on grounds of Ringling Circus Museum & Art Museum, Sarasota, Florida
(17) The Alamo, San Antonio Texas
(18) Oak Alley, the most spectacular antebellum plantation in the U.S., Vacherie (New Orleans), Louisiana
(19) White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, New Mexico
(20) Aspen, Colorado
(21) Photo on wall of State Senate Chambers Austin, Texas in 1999 - of then current Gov. George W. Bush
(22) Mountain biking down a ski trail (after taking lift to top): Mt. Baldy Sun Valley, Idaho
(23) Saturn V Rocket, Apollo Complex, Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida
(24) Seaside, Florida,the architecturally phenomenal real town featured in Jim Carrey's "The Truman Show"
(25 & 25) Backstage with Mischu - Ringling Brothers Circus' "smallest man in the world " at 33 inches tall. At debut of Ringling Brothers '"Red" touring unit in Tampa, Florida - Ringling Winter Headquarters.
(27) Elk buck, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
(28) Lighthouse, built circa 1880 Sanibel Island, Florida
(29) Salt Creek, Olympic National Park, Washington
(30) Wizard Island, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
(31) Shuttle artwork from flight patch of launch that we saw on Dec 19, 1999 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
(32) Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavor at Kennedy Space Center, FL at 8:50PM Dec 19, 1999. Photo by Leigh
(33) Tower Falls, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
(34) Craters Of The Moon National Monument, Idaho
(36 & 37) Stagecoach Recreation Area, Steamboat Springs, Colorado (w/ dogs Buddy & Biscuit)
(38) Telluride, Colorado
PHOTO KEY
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BELOW: A TONGUE-IN-CHEEK
FAUX 'TRAVEL NEWSLETTER'
TO 'INVESTORS' - CREATED MIDWAY
THROUGH THE 15-MONTH TRIP
DURING A WINTER STOPOVER IN FLORIDA
FAUX 'TRAVEL NEWSLETTER'
TO 'INVESTORS' - CREATED MIDWAY
THROUGH THE 15-MONTH TRIP
DURING A WINTER STOPOVER IN FLORIDA
Clancy and Rainey - 2012
Rainey - 2017
Simms, Clancy, and Rainey - 2014
Buddy at Big Dog Parade - Santa Barbara - 2004
Blackie in Monterey - 1970
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Buddy/Derek Face-Off - 1996
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Buddy and Biscuit
Buddy does an Andy Whore-Wall style photo (Bore-Wall?)
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Buddy and Clancy
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This photo, from the Shades Of California statewide historical photo project and book series, is hanging on wall upstairs at the main branch of Monterey Library
PHOTO COLLAGES
Names in above photo collages: Andrew McIver, Actor Malcolm McDowell, Adrianna Goddard, Alan Baron, Alan Herren, Alan Weiss, Ali Moezzi, Alisa Rose Goddard, Andrew Johnson, Andy Oram, Annamarie Stanton, Betsy Connor, Bill Stahl, Billy Miller, Blackie the collie with her puppies (including Roxie), Bob Ayres, Bob Holt, Bob Maxwell, Bob McNally, Bob Severson, Bob Stanton, Bob Weiss, Bradley Shepard, Brad Gray, Brad Hawes, Brian Kennedy, Bruce McGowan, Bud Phelps, Buddy The Dog, Calvin Krebs, Carolyn Connor Miller, Carolyn Johnson, Cary Kohler, Cathy Ponton, Charlene Guasasco, Charlie Mason, Cheetah at Marine World/Africa USA, Chispa and Cuate - Mark Bibler's Macaws, Chris Smith, Cindy Knibbs, Clancy The Dog, Clark Rabano, Craig Davey, Curtis Monar, Dan Kallenberger, Dan McGuire, Dan Smith, Dan Vawter, Dana Cronk, Danny Dent, Danny Maxwell, Dave Demers, Dave Diaz, Dave Leist, Dave Thornton, Dave Throckmorton, Dave Weingarten, David Cumming, David Evans, Dennis Andrews, Dennis Artman, Dennis McQuaid, Derek Morris, Dick Clements, Dick Revoir, Don Burgess, Don Davison, Don Miller, Duke Quinones, Eddie Cunningham, Edward "Ned" Connor, Eric Hahn, Ernie Campbell, Freeway Philharmonic, Gary Hutchinson, Gayle Taylor, George Converse, George Harrison, George Soares, Gerald Anderson, Gladys Burns, Glen Kern, Gloria Hawes, Gordon Civetz, Greg "Gig" Harris, Greg Stickler, Gretchen Schilling, Gus Tarantino, H.M. Harry Harris, Hans Smith, Happy the beagle, Harriet Wichin, Harry Van Houtte, Heather Carpenter, Herb Caen, Huey Lewis, Jack Holt, Jaime Davega, James Madison Taylor, Jane Connor, Janet McClure, Jay Argust, Jay Jones, Jeanne Conley, Jeanne Moreau, Jeb Morris, Jed Jones, Jeff Phillips, Jeff Silveira, Jeff Sumida, Jerry Argust, Jerry Dunham, Jim Anderson, Jim Burns, Jim Heiland, Jim Hinwood, Jim Hiserman, Jim Kinslow, Jim O'Donnell, Jim Russo, Jim Weaver, Joanne Risedorph Herren, Joe Solis, Joe Zeppi Cutrufelli, John Burns, John Campbell, John Clancy, John Coustette, John Kempkey, John Kennedy, John Lennon, John Lodge (Moody Blues), John Mangini, John Merhaut, John Napoli, John Oliveira, John Pira, Jon Wren, Joni Shepard, Judy, Julie Taylor, Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Justin Mayer, Kathleen Mouille, Kathryn Soter, Kathy Bossenmeyer, Kathy Lane, Kathy Rock, Kathy Salm, Ken Hart, Kent Hughes, L. Dale Harris, Lady The Collie, Larry Hawes, Larry McGregor, Larry Morris, Lawrence Morris, Lawrance Morris, Larry Tuttle, Larry Weisgal, Lauren Rotar, Laurie Edgcomb, Lee Spelman, Leigh Taylor, Leo Kohler, Lester Morris, Linda McCay, Lisa Smith, Louise Graff Connor, Maggie White, Mal Silveira, Malcolm McDowell, Marie Graff Miller, Mario Balesteri, Mark Bibler, Mark Deming, Mark Lightner, Marty Takagawa, Mary Rose Dunne, Matt Bossenmeyer, Matt Conley, , Mike Balesteri, Mike Basayne, Mike Cardinalli, Mike Culala, Mike Dubrasich, Mike Gerdes, Mike McNally, Milchor Green, Millicent Morris, Millie Morris, Miriam Mangini, Mitchell Torres, Monica Burns, Mr. & Mrs. Crowson, Mr. Muggins The Cat, Mudhead The Dog, Musician Huey Lewis, Musician John Lodge (Moody Blues), Musician Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Musician Larry Tuttle (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues), Musician Robert Stanton (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Roger McGuinn (Byrds), Nancy Coss, Nancy Crowson Burns, Nancy Kincheloe, Nello Torri, Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), OJ The Fish - San Francisco, Ora Herren, Pat Burns, Pat Singh, Patrick Moraz, Patty Throckmorton, Paul McCartney, Paul Ridley, Paul Rink, Peggy Morris, Pete Dayton, Peyton Hudson, Phil Calabrese, Phil Roy, Polly Kallenberger, Rainey The Dog, Randy Harris, Rian Taylor, Ringo Starr, Robert "Bob" Goddard, Robert Blair, Robert Holt, Robert Stanton, Robert Van Houtte, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), Ron Marston, Roxie The Half-Collie (daughter of Blackie), Russell Hagood, Rusty Vandervort, Sal Rombi, Scott Ayres, Scott Culala, Selange, Sheila Gale Kandlbinder, Simmy The Dog, Skunky the unsuccessfully-rescued baby skunk from Marin Headlands, Stacy Metcalf, Steve Bartolomeo, Steve Fox, Steve McClure, Steve Myrick, Steve Vilcone, Steve Weingarten, Sue Ridge, Sue Wood, Susan Bibler, Susie Clements, Susie Karahalios, Tad Lacey, Ted Durien, Ted Locicero, Teresa Graff, Teri Miller, Terry Albert, Terry Mason, Terry Nance, Thomas Tad Lacey, Tim Baird, Tom Burns, Tom Dewar, Tom Harper, Tom Metz, Tom Russo, Tony Stearns, Tony Miller, Trevor Burns, Uncle Gary (KSBW-TV Salinas Kiddie TV Show), Vernon Ayres, Vicki Rombi, Vinnie Mowry, (Wilhelmina) Willie Kempkey
Names in above photo collages alpha by last name: Terry Albert, Gerald Anderson, Jim Anderson, Dennis Andrews, Jerry Argust, Jay Argust, Dennis Artman, Scott Ayres, Vernon Ayres, Bob Ayres, Tim Baird, Mario Balesteri, Mike Balesteri, Alan Baron, Steve Bartolomeo, Mike Basayne, Happy the beagle, Mark Bi Terry Albert, Gerald Anderson, Jim Anderson, Dennis Andrews, Jerry Argust, Jay Argust, Dennis Artman, Scott Ayres, Vernon Ayres, Bob Ayres, Tim Baird, Mario Balesteri, Mike Balesteri, Alan Baron, Steve Bartolomeo, Mike Basayne, Happy the beagle, Mark Bibler, Susan Bibler, Roxie The Half-Collie (daughter of Blackie), Robert Blair, Musician Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), John Lodge (Moody Blues), Musician Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues), Musician John Lodge (Moody Blues), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Matt Bossenmeyer, Kathy Bossenmeyer, Don Burgess, John Burns, Trevor Burns, Gladys Burns, Monica Burns, Nancy Crowson Burns, Pat Burns, Tom Burns, Jim Burns, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), Musician Roger McGuinn (Byrds), Herb Caen, Phil Calabrese, John Campbell, Ernie Campbell, Mike Cardinalli, Heather Carpenter, Mr. Muggins The Cat, Gordon Civetz, John Clancy, Dick Clements, Susie Clements, Lady The Collie, Jeanne Conley, Matt Conley, Edward "Ned" Connor, Jane Connor, Louise Graff Connor, Betsy Connor, George Converse, Nancy Coss, John Coustette, Dana Cronk, Mr. & Mrs. Crowson, Scott Culala, Mike Culala, David Cumming, Eddie Cunningham, Joe Zeppi Cutrufelli, Jaime Davega, Craig Davey, Don Davison, Pete Dayton, Dave Demers, Mark Deming, Danny Dent, Tom Dewar, Dave Diaz, Rainey The Dog, Simmy The Dog, Buddy The Dog, Mudhead The Dog, Clancy The Dog, Mike Dubrasich, Jerry Dunham, Mary Rose Dunne, Ted Durien, Laurie Edgcomb, David Evans, Steve Fox, Mike Gerdes, Alisa Rose Goddard, Adrianna Goddard, Robert "Bob" Goddard, Teresa Graff, Brad Gray, Milchor Green, Charlene Guasasco, Russell Hagood, Eric Hahn, Tom Harper, Randy Harris, Greg "Gig" Harris, L. Dale Harris, H.M. Harry Harris, George Harrison, Ken Hart, Brad Hawes, Gloria Hawes, Larry Hawes, Skunky the unsuccessfully-rescued baby skunk from Marin Headlands, Jim Heiland, Ora Herren, Alan Herren, Joanne Risedorph Herren, Jim Hinwood, Jim Hiserman, Robert Holt, Jack Holt, Bob Holt, Peyton Hudson, Kent Hughes, Gary Hutchinson, Andrew Johnson, Carolyn Johnson, Jay Jones, Jed Jones, Judy, Dan Kallenberger, Polly Kallenberger, Sheila Gale Kandlbinder, Susie Karahalios, (Wilhelmina) Willie Kempkey, John Kempkey, Brian Kennedy, John Kennedy, Glen Kern, Nancy Kincheloe, Jim Kinslow, Cindy Knibbs, Cary Kohler, Leo Kohler, Calvin Krebs, Thomas Tad Lacey, Tad Lacey, Kathy Lane, Dave Leist, John Lennon, Musician Huey Lewis, Huey Lewis, Mark Lightner, Ted Locicero, Chispa and Cuate - Mark Bibler's Macaws, Miriam Mangini, John Mangini, Ron Marston, Terry Mason, Charlie Mason, Danny Maxwell, Bob Maxwell, Justin Mayer, Paul McCartney, Linda McCay, Janet McClure, Steve McClure, Malcolm McDowell, Actor Malcolm McDowell, Bruce McGowan, Larry McGregor, Dan McGuire, A. McIver, Bob McNally, Mike McNally, Dennis McQuaid, John Merhaut, Stacy Metcalf, Tom Metz, Teri Miller, Marie Graff Miller, Billy Miller, Carolyn Connor Miller, Tony Miller, Don Miller, Ali Moezzi, Curtis Monar, Patrick Moraz, Jeanne Moreau, Derek Morris, Larry Morris, Lawrance Morris, Lawrence Morris, Peggy Morris, Lester Morris, Millicent Morris, Millie Morris, Kathleen Mouille, Vinnie Mowry, Steve Myrick, Terry Nance, John Napoli, Jim O'Donnell, John Oliveira, Andy Oram, Bud Phelps, Freeway Philharmonic, Musician Robert Stanton (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Larry Tuttle (Freeway Philharmonic), Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Jeff Phillips, John Pira, Cathy Ponton, Duke Quinones, Clark Rabano, Dick Revoir, Sue Ridge, Paul Ridley, Paul Rink, Kathy Rock, Vicki Rombi, Sal Rombi, Lauren Rotar, Blackie the collie with her puppies (including Roxie), Phil Roy, Jim Russo, Tom Russo, Kathy Salm, OJ The Fish - San Francisco, Gretchen Schilling, Selange, Bob Severson, Joni Shepard, Bradley Shepard, Uncle Gary (KSBW-TV Salinas Kiddie TV Show), Jeff Silveira, Mal Silveira, Pat Singh, Lisa Smith, Hans Smith, Dan Smith, Chris Smith, George Soares, Joe Solis, Kathryn Soter, Lee Spelman, Bill Stahl, Bob Stanton, Robert Stanton, Annamarie Stanton, Ringo Starr, Tony Stearns, Greg Stickler, Jeff Sumida, Marty Takagawa, Gus Tarantino, Rian Taylor, James Madison Taylor, Gayle Taylor, Julie Taylor, Leigh Taylor, Dave Thornton, Dave Throckmorton, Patty Throckmorton, Mitchell Torres, Nello Torri, Larry Tuttle, Cheetah at Marine World/Africa USA, Harry Van Houtte, Robert Van Houtte, Rusty Vandervort, Dan Vawter, Steve Vilcone, Jim Weaver, Dave Weingarten, Steve Weingarten, Larry Weisgal, Bob Weiss, Alan Weiss, Maggie White, Harriet Wichin, Sue Wood, Jon Wren
bler, Susan Bibler, Roxie The Half-Collie (daughter of Blackie), Robert Blair, Musician Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), John Lodge (Moody Blues), Musician Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues), Musician John Lodge (Moody Blues), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Matt Bossenmeyer, Kathy Bossenmeyer, Don Burgess, John Burns, Trevor Burns, Gladys Burns, Monica Burns, Nancy Crowson Burns, Pat Burns, Tom Burns, Jim Burns, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), Musician Roger McGuinn (Byrds), Herb Caen, Phil Calabrese, John Campbell, Ernie Campbell, Mike Cardinalli, Heather Carpenter, Mr. Muggins The Cat, Gordon Civetz, John Clancy, Dick Clements, Susie Clements, Lady The Collie, Jeanne Conley, Matt Conley, Edward "Ned" Connor, Jane Connor, Louise Graff Connor, Betsy Connor, George Converse, Nancy Coss, John Coustette, Dana Cronk, Mr. & Mrs. Crowson, Scott Culala, Mike Culala, David Cumming, Eddie Cunningham, Joe Zeppi Cutrufelli, Jaime Davega, Craig Davey, Don Davison, Pete Dayton, Dave Demers, Mark Deming, Danny Dent, Tom Dewar, Dave Diaz, Rainey The Dog, Simmy The Dog, Buddy The Dog, Mudhead The Dog, Clancy The Dog, Mike Dubrasich, Jerry Dunham, Mary Rose Dunne, Ted Durien, Laurie Edgcomb, David Evans, Steve Fox, Mike Gerdes, Alisa Rose Goddard, Adrianna Goddard, Robert "Bob" Goddard, Teresa Graff, Brad Gray, Milchor Green, Charlene Guasasco, Russell Hagood, Eric Hahn, Tom Harper, Randy Harris, Greg "Gig" Harris, L. Dale Harris, H.M. Harry Harris, George Harrison, Ken Hart, Brad Hawes, Gloria Hawes, Larry Hawes, Skunky the unsuccessfully-rescued baby skunk from Marin Headlands, Jim Heiland, Ora Herren, Alan Herren, Joanne Risedorph Herren, Jim Hinwood, Jim Hiserman, Robert Holt, Jack Holt, Bob Holt, Peyton Hudson, Kent Hughes, Gary Hutchinson, Andrew Johnson, Carolyn Johnson, Jay Jones, Jed Jones, Judy, Dan Kallenberger, Polly Kallenberger, Sheila Gale Kandlbinder, Susie Karahalios, (Wilhelmina) Willie Kempkey, John Kempkey, Brian Kennedy, John Kennedy, Glen Kern, Nancy Kincheloe, Jim Kinslow, Cindy Knibbs, Cary Kohler, Leo Kohler, Calvin Krebs, Thomas Tad Lacey, Tad Lacey, Kathy Lane, Dave Leist, John Lennon, Musician Huey Lewis, Huey Lewis, Mark Lightner, Ted Locicero, Chispa and Cuate - Mark Bibler's Macaws, Miriam Mangini, John Mangini, Ron Marston, Terry Mason, Charlie Mason, Danny Maxwell, Bob Maxwell, Justin Mayer, Paul McCartney, Linda McCay, Janet McClure, Steve McClure, Malcolm McDowell, Actor Malcolm McDowell, Bruce McGowan, Larry McGregor, Dan McGuire, A. McIver, Bob McNally, Mike McNally, Dennis McQuaid, John Merhaut, Stacy Metcalf, Tom Metz, Teri Miller, Marie Graff Miller, Billy Miller, Carolyn Connor Miller, Tony Miller, Don Miller, Ali Moezzi, Curtis Monar, Patrick Moraz, Jeanne Moreau, Derek Morris, Larry Morris, Peggy Morris, Lester Morris, Millicent Morris, Kathleen Mouille, Vinnie Mowry, Steve Myrick, Terry Nance, John Napoli, Jim O'Donnell, John Oliveira, Andy Oram, Bud Phelps, Freeway Philharmonic, Musician Robert Stanton (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Larry Tuttle (Freeway Philharmonic), Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Jeff Phillips, John Pira, Cathy Ponton, Duke Quinones, Clark Rabano, Dick Revoir, Sue Ridge, Paul Ridley, Paul Rink, Kathy Rock, Vicki Rombi, Sal Rombi, Lauren Rotar, Blackie the collie with her puppies (including Roxie), Phil Roy, Jim Russo, Tom Russo, Kathy Salm, OJ The Fish - San Francisco, Gretchen Schilling, Selange, Bob Severson, Joni Shepard, Bradley Shepard, Uncle Gary (KSBW-TV Salinas Kiddie TV Show), Jeff Silveira, Mal Silveira, Pat Singh, Lisa Smith, Hans Smith, Dan Smith, Chris Smith, George Soares, Joe Solis, Kathryn Soter, Lee Spelman, Bill Stahl, Bob Stanton, Robert Stanton, Annamarie Stanton, Ringo Starr, Tony Stearns, Greg Stickler, Jeff Sumida, Marty Takagawa, Gus Tarantino, Rian Taylor, James Madison Taylor, Gayle Taylor, Julie Taylor, Leigh Taylor, Dave Thornton, Dave Throckmorton, Patty Throckmorton, Mitchell Torres, Nello Torri, Larry Tuttle, Cheetah at Marine World/Africa USA, Harry Van Houtte, Robert Van Houtte, Rusty Vandervort, Dan Vawter, Steve Vilcone, Jim Weaver, Dave Weingarten, Steve Weingarten, Larry Weisgal, Bob Weiss, Alan Weiss, Maggie White, Harriet Wichin, Sue Wood, Jon Wren.
Locations & places 1: Aptos, Backyard chicken coop Peter's Gate Monterey, Buchart Gardens Victoria BC Canada, Capitol Records Building Hollywood & Vine Los Angeles, Carmel, Empress Hotel Victoria BC Canada, The Farm - Upper Ojai, Full Circle Farm - Ojai, Ford Econoline Van 1963 before 1975 Mexico trip, 1955 Ford Ranch Wagon (The Pink Bomb), Garden Of The Gods Colorado Springs CO, Haunted Herren Halloween Mansion with 21st century car salesman/psycho doctor San Leandro, KSBW-TV Salinas Uncle Gary Show, Larkspur Ferry Terminal, Lummi Island WA, Marin Headlands, Moab UT, Monterey, Napa Valley, New York City - Manhattan, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose Airport, San Leandro, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, Taos NM, Tiburon Ferry Terminal, Vancouver BC Canada, Walnut Creek, World's Fair Vancouver BC Canada, California, Santa Barbara California.
Locations & places 2: Aptos, Berkeley, Bethesda MD, Boulder CO, Capitola, Carmel Valley, Concord Pavillion, Encinitas, Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona, Hirshhorn Museum Outdoor Sculpture Gallery Smithsonian Washington DC, Larkspur, Los Angeles - South Central, Marine World / Africa USA Theme Park - Vallejo, Mill Valley, Moab UT, Monterey, Monterey Babe Ruth League Baseball, Monterey Herald Little League Baseball, Monterey High School, Monterey High School Galleon Newspaper, Monterey High Tennis Team, Monterey Little League Baseball, Monterey Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Mueller's Nursery School in Pacific Grove, Oakland, Oakland Coliseum, Pacific Grove, Pat Burn's "Sextathlon Plus 2" eight-event athletic extravaganza, Saddle Mountain Ranch Carmel Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Rafael, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College, Smithsonian, Strawberry Point Mill Valley - Marin County, Swami's Beach Encinitas, Temecula, U.C. Berkeley, Walter Colton Jr. High, Washington DC, Yosemite National Park.
Locations & places 3: Airplane from SF to San Diego for Over The Line tournament, Anaheim, Babe Ruth Baseball 13-year-old all-stars, Babe Ruth League Baseball Monterey, Bel Air, Bethesda MD, Beverly Glen, Beverly Hills, Bourbon Street New Orleans Louisiana, Carmel Valley Park, Chalk Mountain (The Chalks) Trails Big Basin State Park Santa Cruz County, Greek Theatre U.C. Berkeley, Lake Tahoe, Larkspur, Laundromat Santa Cruz during boat trip, Los Angeles, Lummi Island WA, Marin Headlands, Mill Valley, Monterey, Monterey Herald Little League Baseball, Morro Bay, NAMM Show Anaheim, Ojai, Olympic Club San Francisco, Over-The-Line (OTL) Softball Tournament Fiesta Island Mission Bay San Diego, Pacific Grove, Rocky-the-rescued-raccoon Santa Monica, San Diego, San Rafael, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Beach & Boardwalk, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County Coast, Squaw Valley, Under Golden Gate Bridge in SF on boat on way back from Santa Cruz trip, Universal Amphitheatre Los Angeles, Vancouver BC Canada, White Christmas Tennis Tournament Pacific Grove.
Names in above photo collages alpha by last name: Terry Albert, Gerald Anderson, Jim Anderson, Dennis Andrews, Jerry Argust, Jay Argust, Dennis Artman, Scott Ayres, Vernon Ayres, Bob Ayres, Tim Baird, Mario Balesteri, Mike Balesteri, Alan Baron, Steve Bartolomeo, Mike Basayne, Happy the beagle, Mark Bi Terry Albert, Gerald Anderson, Jim Anderson, Dennis Andrews, Jerry Argust, Jay Argust, Dennis Artman, Scott Ayres, Vernon Ayres, Bob Ayres, Tim Baird, Mario Balesteri, Mike Balesteri, Alan Baron, Steve Bartolomeo, Mike Basayne, Happy the beagle, Mark Bibler, Susan Bibler, Roxie The Half-Collie (daughter of Blackie), Robert Blair, Musician Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), John Lodge (Moody Blues), Musician Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues), Musician John Lodge (Moody Blues), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Matt Bossenmeyer, Kathy Bossenmeyer, Don Burgess, John Burns, Trevor Burns, Gladys Burns, Monica Burns, Nancy Crowson Burns, Pat Burns, Tom Burns, Jim Burns, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), Musician Roger McGuinn (Byrds), Herb Caen, Phil Calabrese, John Campbell, Ernie Campbell, Mike Cardinalli, Heather Carpenter, Mr. Muggins The Cat, Gordon Civetz, John Clancy, Dick Clements, Susie Clements, Lady The Collie, Jeanne Conley, Matt Conley, Edward "Ned" Connor, Jane Connor, Louise Graff Connor, Betsy Connor, George Converse, Nancy Coss, John Coustette, Dana Cronk, Mr. & Mrs. Crowson, Scott Culala, Mike Culala, David Cumming, Eddie Cunningham, Joe Zeppi Cutrufelli, Jaime Davega, Craig Davey, Don Davison, Pete Dayton, Dave Demers, Mark Deming, Danny Dent, Tom Dewar, Dave Diaz, Rainey The Dog, Simmy The Dog, Buddy The Dog, Mudhead The Dog, Clancy The Dog, Mike Dubrasich, Jerry Dunham, Mary Rose Dunne, Ted Durien, Laurie Edgcomb, David Evans, Steve Fox, Mike Gerdes, Alisa Rose Goddard, Adrianna Goddard, Robert "Bob" Goddard, Teresa Graff, Brad Gray, Milchor Green, Charlene Guasasco, Russell Hagood, Eric Hahn, Tom Harper, Randy Harris, Greg "Gig" Harris, L. Dale Harris, H.M. Harry Harris, George Harrison, Ken Hart, Brad Hawes, Gloria Hawes, Larry Hawes, Skunky the unsuccessfully-rescued baby skunk from Marin Headlands, Jim Heiland, Ora Herren, Alan Herren, Joanne Risedorph Herren, Jim Hinwood, Jim Hiserman, Robert Holt, Jack Holt, Bob Holt, Peyton Hudson, Kent Hughes, Gary Hutchinson, Andrew Johnson, Carolyn Johnson, Jay Jones, Jed Jones, Judy, Dan Kallenberger, Polly Kallenberger, Sheila Gale Kandlbinder, Susie Karahalios, (Wilhelmina) Willie Kempkey, John Kempkey, Brian Kennedy, John Kennedy, Glen Kern, Nancy Kincheloe, Jim Kinslow, Cindy Knibbs, Cary Kohler, Leo Kohler, Calvin Krebs, Thomas Tad Lacey, Tad Lacey, Kathy Lane, Dave Leist, John Lennon, Musician Huey Lewis, Huey Lewis, Mark Lightner, Ted Locicero, Chispa and Cuate - Mark Bibler's Macaws, Miriam Mangini, John Mangini, Ron Marston, Terry Mason, Charlie Mason, Danny Maxwell, Bob Maxwell, Justin Mayer, Paul McCartney, Linda McCay, Janet McClure, Steve McClure, Malcolm McDowell, Actor Malcolm McDowell, Bruce McGowan, Larry McGregor, Dan McGuire, A. McIver, Bob McNally, Mike McNally, Dennis McQuaid, John Merhaut, Stacy Metcalf, Tom Metz, Teri Miller, Marie Graff Miller, Billy Miller, Carolyn Connor Miller, Tony Miller, Don Miller, Ali Moezzi, Curtis Monar, Patrick Moraz, Jeanne Moreau, Derek Morris, Larry Morris, Lawrance Morris, Lawrence Morris, Peggy Morris, Lester Morris, Millicent Morris, Millie Morris, Kathleen Mouille, Vinnie Mowry, Steve Myrick, Terry Nance, John Napoli, Jim O'Donnell, John Oliveira, Andy Oram, Bud Phelps, Freeway Philharmonic, Musician Robert Stanton (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Larry Tuttle (Freeway Philharmonic), Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Jeff Phillips, John Pira, Cathy Ponton, Duke Quinones, Clark Rabano, Dick Revoir, Sue Ridge, Paul Ridley, Paul Rink, Kathy Rock, Vicki Rombi, Sal Rombi, Lauren Rotar, Blackie the collie with her puppies (including Roxie), Phil Roy, Jim Russo, Tom Russo, Kathy Salm, OJ The Fish - San Francisco, Gretchen Schilling, Selange, Bob Severson, Joni Shepard, Bradley Shepard, Uncle Gary (KSBW-TV Salinas Kiddie TV Show), Jeff Silveira, Mal Silveira, Pat Singh, Lisa Smith, Hans Smith, Dan Smith, Chris Smith, George Soares, Joe Solis, Kathryn Soter, Lee Spelman, Bill Stahl, Bob Stanton, Robert Stanton, Annamarie Stanton, Ringo Starr, Tony Stearns, Greg Stickler, Jeff Sumida, Marty Takagawa, Gus Tarantino, Rian Taylor, James Madison Taylor, Gayle Taylor, Julie Taylor, Leigh Taylor, Dave Thornton, Dave Throckmorton, Patty Throckmorton, Mitchell Torres, Nello Torri, Larry Tuttle, Cheetah at Marine World/Africa USA, Harry Van Houtte, Robert Van Houtte, Rusty Vandervort, Dan Vawter, Steve Vilcone, Jim Weaver, Dave Weingarten, Steve Weingarten, Larry Weisgal, Bob Weiss, Alan Weiss, Maggie White, Harriet Wichin, Sue Wood, Jon Wren
bler, Susan Bibler, Roxie The Half-Collie (daughter of Blackie), Robert Blair, Musician Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), John Lodge (Moody Blues), Musician Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues), Musician John Lodge (Moody Blues), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Matt Bossenmeyer, Kathy Bossenmeyer, Don Burgess, John Burns, Trevor Burns, Gladys Burns, Monica Burns, Nancy Crowson Burns, Pat Burns, Tom Burns, Jim Burns, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), Musician Roger McGuinn (Byrds), Herb Caen, Phil Calabrese, John Campbell, Ernie Campbell, Mike Cardinalli, Heather Carpenter, Mr. Muggins The Cat, Gordon Civetz, John Clancy, Dick Clements, Susie Clements, Lady The Collie, Jeanne Conley, Matt Conley, Edward "Ned" Connor, Jane Connor, Louise Graff Connor, Betsy Connor, George Converse, Nancy Coss, John Coustette, Dana Cronk, Mr. & Mrs. Crowson, Scott Culala, Mike Culala, David Cumming, Eddie Cunningham, Joe Zeppi Cutrufelli, Jaime Davega, Craig Davey, Don Davison, Pete Dayton, Dave Demers, Mark Deming, Danny Dent, Tom Dewar, Dave Diaz, Rainey The Dog, Simmy The Dog, Buddy The Dog, Mudhead The Dog, Clancy The Dog, Mike Dubrasich, Jerry Dunham, Mary Rose Dunne, Ted Durien, Laurie Edgcomb, David Evans, Steve Fox, Mike Gerdes, Alisa Rose Goddard, Adrianna Goddard, Robert "Bob" Goddard, Teresa Graff, Brad Gray, Milchor Green, Charlene Guasasco, Russell Hagood, Eric Hahn, Tom Harper, Randy Harris, Greg "Gig" Harris, L. Dale Harris, H.M. Harry Harris, George Harrison, Ken Hart, Brad Hawes, Gloria Hawes, Larry Hawes, Skunky the unsuccessfully-rescued baby skunk from Marin Headlands, Jim Heiland, Ora Herren, Alan Herren, Joanne Risedorph Herren, Jim Hinwood, Jim Hiserman, Robert Holt, Jack Holt, Bob Holt, Peyton Hudson, Kent Hughes, Gary Hutchinson, Andrew Johnson, Carolyn Johnson, Jay Jones, Jed Jones, Judy, Dan Kallenberger, Polly Kallenberger, Sheila Gale Kandlbinder, Susie Karahalios, (Wilhelmina) Willie Kempkey, John Kempkey, Brian Kennedy, John Kennedy, Glen Kern, Nancy Kincheloe, Jim Kinslow, Cindy Knibbs, Cary Kohler, Leo Kohler, Calvin Krebs, Thomas Tad Lacey, Tad Lacey, Kathy Lane, Dave Leist, John Lennon, Musician Huey Lewis, Huey Lewis, Mark Lightner, Ted Locicero, Chispa and Cuate - Mark Bibler's Macaws, Miriam Mangini, John Mangini, Ron Marston, Terry Mason, Charlie Mason, Danny Maxwell, Bob Maxwell, Justin Mayer, Paul McCartney, Linda McCay, Janet McClure, Steve McClure, Malcolm McDowell, Actor Malcolm McDowell, Bruce McGowan, Larry McGregor, Dan McGuire, A. McIver, Bob McNally, Mike McNally, Dennis McQuaid, John Merhaut, Stacy Metcalf, Tom Metz, Teri Miller, Marie Graff Miller, Billy Miller, Carolyn Connor Miller, Tony Miller, Don Miller, Ali Moezzi, Curtis Monar, Patrick Moraz, Jeanne Moreau, Derek Morris, Larry Morris, Peggy Morris, Lester Morris, Millicent Morris, Kathleen Mouille, Vinnie Mowry, Steve Myrick, Terry Nance, John Napoli, Jim O'Donnell, John Oliveira, Andy Oram, Bud Phelps, Freeway Philharmonic, Musician Robert Stanton (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Larry Tuttle (Freeway Philharmonic), Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Musician Novi Novog (Freeway Philharmonic), Jeff Phillips, John Pira, Cathy Ponton, Duke Quinones, Clark Rabano, Dick Revoir, Sue Ridge, Paul Ridley, Paul Rink, Kathy Rock, Vicki Rombi, Sal Rombi, Lauren Rotar, Blackie the collie with her puppies (including Roxie), Phil Roy, Jim Russo, Tom Russo, Kathy Salm, OJ The Fish - San Francisco, Gretchen Schilling, Selange, Bob Severson, Joni Shepard, Bradley Shepard, Uncle Gary (KSBW-TV Salinas Kiddie TV Show), Jeff Silveira, Mal Silveira, Pat Singh, Lisa Smith, Hans Smith, Dan Smith, Chris Smith, George Soares, Joe Solis, Kathryn Soter, Lee Spelman, Bill Stahl, Bob Stanton, Robert Stanton, Annamarie Stanton, Ringo Starr, Tony Stearns, Greg Stickler, Jeff Sumida, Marty Takagawa, Gus Tarantino, Rian Taylor, James Madison Taylor, Gayle Taylor, Julie Taylor, Leigh Taylor, Dave Thornton, Dave Throckmorton, Patty Throckmorton, Mitchell Torres, Nello Torri, Larry Tuttle, Cheetah at Marine World/Africa USA, Harry Van Houtte, Robert Van Houtte, Rusty Vandervort, Dan Vawter, Steve Vilcone, Jim Weaver, Dave Weingarten, Steve Weingarten, Larry Weisgal, Bob Weiss, Alan Weiss, Maggie White, Harriet Wichin, Sue Wood, Jon Wren.
Locations & places 1: Aptos, Backyard chicken coop Peter's Gate Monterey, Buchart Gardens Victoria BC Canada, Capitol Records Building Hollywood & Vine Los Angeles, Carmel, Empress Hotel Victoria BC Canada, The Farm - Upper Ojai, Full Circle Farm - Ojai, Ford Econoline Van 1963 before 1975 Mexico trip, 1955 Ford Ranch Wagon (The Pink Bomb), Garden Of The Gods Colorado Springs CO, Haunted Herren Halloween Mansion with 21st century car salesman/psycho doctor San Leandro, KSBW-TV Salinas Uncle Gary Show, Larkspur Ferry Terminal, Lummi Island WA, Marin Headlands, Moab UT, Monterey, Napa Valley, New York City - Manhattan, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose Airport, San Leandro, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, Taos NM, Tiburon Ferry Terminal, Vancouver BC Canada, Walnut Creek, World's Fair Vancouver BC Canada, California, Santa Barbara California.
Locations & places 2: Aptos, Berkeley, Bethesda MD, Boulder CO, Capitola, Carmel Valley, Concord Pavillion, Encinitas, Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona, Hirshhorn Museum Outdoor Sculpture Gallery Smithsonian Washington DC, Larkspur, Los Angeles - South Central, Marine World / Africa USA Theme Park - Vallejo, Mill Valley, Moab UT, Monterey, Monterey Babe Ruth League Baseball, Monterey Herald Little League Baseball, Monterey High School, Monterey High School Galleon Newspaper, Monterey High Tennis Team, Monterey Little League Baseball, Monterey Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Mueller's Nursery School in Pacific Grove, Oakland, Oakland Coliseum, Pacific Grove, Pat Burn's "Sextathlon Plus 2" eight-event athletic extravaganza, Saddle Mountain Ranch Carmel Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Rafael, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College, Smithsonian, Strawberry Point Mill Valley - Marin County, Swami's Beach Encinitas, Temecula, U.C. Berkeley, Walter Colton Jr. High, Washington DC, Yosemite National Park.
Locations & places 3: Airplane from SF to San Diego for Over The Line tournament, Anaheim, Babe Ruth Baseball 13-year-old all-stars, Babe Ruth League Baseball Monterey, Bel Air, Bethesda MD, Beverly Glen, Beverly Hills, Bourbon Street New Orleans Louisiana, Carmel Valley Park, Chalk Mountain (The Chalks) Trails Big Basin State Park Santa Cruz County, Greek Theatre U.C. Berkeley, Lake Tahoe, Larkspur, Laundromat Santa Cruz during boat trip, Los Angeles, Lummi Island WA, Marin Headlands, Mill Valley, Monterey, Monterey Herald Little League Baseball, Morro Bay, NAMM Show Anaheim, Ojai, Olympic Club San Francisco, Over-The-Line (OTL) Softball Tournament Fiesta Island Mission Bay San Diego, Pacific Grove, Rocky-the-rescued-raccoon Santa Monica, San Diego, San Rafael, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Beach & Boardwalk, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County Coast, Squaw Valley, Under Golden Gate Bridge in SF on boat on way back from Santa Cruz trip, Universal Amphitheatre Los Angeles, Vancouver BC Canada, White Christmas Tennis Tournament Pacific Grove.
LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY - MONTEREY CALIFORNIA - 1968
Derek Morris and Mark Bibler, Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA 1968
hoto by Mike Blaisdell
hoto by Mike Blaisdell
Derek Morris and Mark Bibler, Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA 1968
Photo by Mike Blaisdell
Photo by Mike Blaisdell
Derek Morris and Mark Bibler, Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA 1968
Photo by Mike Blaisdell
Photo by Mike Blaisdell
LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY - DRIVING THE "PINK BOMB" - MY 1ST CAR
A 1956 FORD RANCH WAGON; CAR COLOR WAS "CORAL"
(SOME CRUELLY CALLED IT PINK!)
Speeding through laps at Laguna Seca with Mark Bibler and Derek Morris where we almost reached speeds of 65 mph! (Photo by Mike Blaisdell - he knew how to sneak onto the empty Laguna Seca Raceway!)
A 1956 FORD RANCH WAGON; CAR COLOR WAS "CORAL"
(SOME CRUELLY CALLED IT PINK!)
Speeding through laps at Laguna Seca with Mark Bibler and Derek Morris where we almost reached speeds of 65 mph! (Photo by Mike Blaisdell - he knew how to sneak onto the empty Laguna Seca Raceway!)
MONTEREY HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS TEAM
(Photo by Monterey High Newspaper & Yearbook Photographer Russ Levin)
Monterey High School Tennis Team
vs. Robert Louis Stevenson School
Carmel Valley Racquet Club - May, 1970
1st Doubles. Derek Morris & Alan Weiss vs. Marco Haas & Jim Kinslow
Morris & Weiss (in above photo) won this 1st Doubles match.
MHS defeated RLS by an overall score of 6-3 that day.
Our Monterey High Varsity Tennis Team finished in 1st place in the Monterey Bay League (MBL) for the third straight year. We were undefeated in league play with an 18-0 league record, winning twice against league teams Alisal, Aptos, Harbor, North Salinas, Salinas, Santa Cruz, Seaside, Soquel, and Watsonville High Schools. The MHS tennis team was 4-1 in non-league play, splitting two matches against Robert Louis Stevenson School, and winning matches against Carmel High, Pacific Grove High, and York School. In the MBL League Championships at the end of the season, Alan Weiss won the MBL singles championship and the doubles team of Mike Stokman-Dick Clark won the doubles title.
MHS Tennis Team Singles Rankings: 1) Alan Weiss; 2) Mike Stokman; 3) Derek Morris; 4) Dick Clark; 5) Dan Lane; 6) Tom Bekeny.
MHS Tennis Team Doubles Rankings: 1) Alan Weiss & Mike Stokman; 2) Derek Morris & Dick Clark; 3) Dan Lane & Tom Bekeny.
Other players that season included Scott Satow, Steve Page, Jim Murray, Harold McQuinn, John Allen, Chris Cocker, Howard Esaki, Vince Silva, Dave Turner, Mike Gabrielson, John Darling, Bill Yuan, and Rodney Oka.
vs. Robert Louis Stevenson School
Carmel Valley Racquet Club - May, 1970
1st Doubles. Derek Morris & Alan Weiss vs. Marco Haas & Jim Kinslow
Morris & Weiss (in above photo) won this 1st Doubles match.
MHS defeated RLS by an overall score of 6-3 that day.
Our Monterey High Varsity Tennis Team finished in 1st place in the Monterey Bay League (MBL) for the third straight year. We were undefeated in league play with an 18-0 league record, winning twice against league teams Alisal, Aptos, Harbor, North Salinas, Salinas, Santa Cruz, Seaside, Soquel, and Watsonville High Schools. The MHS tennis team was 4-1 in non-league play, splitting two matches against Robert Louis Stevenson School, and winning matches against Carmel High, Pacific Grove High, and York School. In the MBL League Championships at the end of the season, Alan Weiss won the MBL singles championship and the doubles team of Mike Stokman-Dick Clark won the doubles title.
MHS Tennis Team Singles Rankings: 1) Alan Weiss; 2) Mike Stokman; 3) Derek Morris; 4) Dick Clark; 5) Dan Lane; 6) Tom Bekeny.
MHS Tennis Team Doubles Rankings: 1) Alan Weiss & Mike Stokman; 2) Derek Morris & Dick Clark; 3) Dan Lane & Tom Bekeny.
Other players that season included Scott Satow, Steve Page, Jim Murray, Harold McQuinn, John Allen, Chris Cocker, Howard Esaki, Vince Silva, Dave Turner, Mike Gabrielson, John Darling, Bill Yuan, and Rodney Oka.
Past Clinton Impeachment 1998
Mark Bibler and Derek Morris - Encinitas, CA
Mark Bibler and Derek Morris - Encinitas, CA
Future Trump Impeachment 2018
Mark Bibler and Derek Morris - Encinitas, CA
Mark Bibler and Derek Morris - Encinitas, CA
1964 Monterey Little League All-Stars - American League
Top Row: Curtis Monar, Derek Morris, Sal Rombi, Bob Stanton, Joe Solis, John Pira.
Middle Row: Louie Banka, Mike Cardinalli, Mark Smith, Tim Dimaggio, Mark Riso, Dave Evans.
Bottom Row: Alan Martin, Mike Muniz, Robert Mehlert, Danny Dent, Manager Frank "Stoney" Bruno.
Top Row: Curtis Monar, Derek Morris, Sal Rombi, Bob Stanton, Joe Solis, John Pira.
Middle Row: Louie Banka, Mike Cardinalli, Mark Smith, Tim Dimaggio, Mark Riso, Dave Evans.
Bottom Row: Alan Martin, Mike Muniz, Robert Mehlert, Danny Dent, Manager Frank "Stoney" Bruno.
13-Year-Old Babe Ruth League All-Stars "Tri-Cities" - 1965
Monterey, Pacific Grove & Carmel Babe Ruth Baseball
Top Row: Manager George Soares, Derek Morris, Joe Solis, Coach (Curtis) Duke Quinones, Eddie Cunningham, (Russell) Rusty Vandervort, Coach H.M. Harry Harris.
Middle Row: Dave Diaz, Danny Dent, Sal Rombi, Terry Nance, John Napoli.
Bottom Row: John Pira, Clark Rabano, Curtis Monar, Batboy Johnny Russell, Terry Mason, Tom Russo. Missing: John Casas, Bill Conlon.
(We won the Monterey County 13-Year-Old All-Star championships (single elimination) at the Veterans' Memorial Park Ballfields in Hollister by beating Fort Ord, Hollister, and then Salinas Valley in the finals. We then lost in the regional finals to Arroyo Grande, winner of the San Luis Obispo County championship tournament that was held the prior week in San Luis Obispo. Arroyo Grande then went on to compete in the California State Championships in Hayward.)
Monterey, Pacific Grove & Carmel Babe Ruth Baseball
Top Row: Manager George Soares, Derek Morris, Joe Solis, Coach (Curtis) Duke Quinones, Eddie Cunningham, (Russell) Rusty Vandervort, Coach H.M. Harry Harris.
Middle Row: Dave Diaz, Danny Dent, Sal Rombi, Terry Nance, John Napoli.
Bottom Row: John Pira, Clark Rabano, Curtis Monar, Batboy Johnny Russell, Terry Mason, Tom Russo. Missing: John Casas, Bill Conlon.
(We won the Monterey County 13-Year-Old All-Star championships (single elimination) at the Veterans' Memorial Park Ballfields in Hollister by beating Fort Ord, Hollister, and then Salinas Valley in the finals. We then lost in the regional finals to Arroyo Grande, winner of the San Luis Obispo County championship tournament that was held the prior week in San Luis Obispo. Arroyo Grande then went on to compete in the California State Championships in Hayward.)
BOB GODDARD'S FULL CIRCLE FARM - OJAI, CALIFORNIA
My Cabin at Full Circle Farm - Ojai, California
Stitched-Together 360° Panorama of Full Circle Farm - Ojai, California
"Pink Moment" - Ojai Valley - 1989
Char Guasasco - U.C. Davis - 1972
CALIFORNIA BOYS STATE
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
SUMMER, 1969
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
SUMMER, 1969
Monterey Peninsula Girls and Boys State Representatives
At The American Legion Post #41 Dinner - October, 1969
We All Spoke About Our Experiences at Boys and Girls State That Summer
(L-to-R) Maryedith Smith (Santa Catalina School), Karen Jewell (Monterey High), Derek Morris (Monterey High), Terrill Tanaka (Pacific Grove High)
At The American Legion Post #41 Dinner - October, 1969
We All Spoke About Our Experiences at Boys and Girls State That Summer
(L-to-R) Maryedith Smith (Santa Catalina School), Karen Jewell (Monterey High), Derek Morris (Monterey High), Terrill Tanaka (Pacific Grove High)
(OK, I agree... this picture from our Boys and Girls State Monterey American Legion dinner is pretty bad ... the Herald photographer who had us pose like this should have been banned from having a future phototography career; his camera should have been hot-glued and spot-welded to an anvil and tossed into Lake El Estero ... this photographer managed to make me look like a self-absorbed Little Lord Fauntleroy and he made the others look like an adoring throng of fawning acolytes at a Moonies and Scientologists convention.
It almost appears that I had just delivered a "hellfire and brimstone" sermon and am about to prepare the congregation for the collection plate ... imploring true believers to "GIVE, GIVE, GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS!" ... as I look skyward towards the heavens for divine inspiration. And check out Maryedith on the far left - giving me that look of "who the hell do you think you are, you poseur!" haha. It is hilarious. Seriously, I don't know how we were talked into this by the photographer. So embarassingly bad back then but today quite funny.
Here is my conspiracy theory: the goofiest and most embarassing photo possible was the plan of the photographer all along, to put the American Legion in the worst possible light during a time when the hugely unpopular Vietnam War was still raging. This photo may have been a slick and subtle underground anti-war protest. Well I was happy to sacrifice my dignity to help end the war! Go ahead, call me a hero if you wish.
In summary, my excuse: hey all of us are only 17 years old here! Give us (i.e. me!) a break; we were manipulated by the media to help advance a political agenda (which I agreed with - see below). ~DM
It almost appears that I had just delivered a "hellfire and brimstone" sermon and am about to prepare the congregation for the collection plate ... imploring true believers to "GIVE, GIVE, GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS!" ... as I look skyward towards the heavens for divine inspiration. And check out Maryedith on the far left - giving me that look of "who the hell do you think you are, you poseur!" haha. It is hilarious. Seriously, I don't know how we were talked into this by the photographer. So embarassingly bad back then but today quite funny.
Here is my conspiracy theory: the goofiest and most embarassing photo possible was the plan of the photographer all along, to put the American Legion in the worst possible light during a time when the hugely unpopular Vietnam War was still raging. This photo may have been a slick and subtle underground anti-war protest. Well I was happy to sacrifice my dignity to help end the war! Go ahead, call me a hero if you wish.
In summary, my excuse: hey all of us are only 17 years old here! Give us (i.e. me!) a break; we were manipulated by the media to help advance a political agenda (which I agreed with - see below). ~DM
California Boys State - Sacramento CA - June 1969
California Boys State - Sacramento CA - June 1969
California Boys State
Sacramento - June 1969
Boys State and Girls State are "mock California government" events helf each year at the state capital of Sacramento. Every high school in the state participates, sending one girl and one boy representative to the week-long events. It happens every summer in all fifty states, and those attending are high school kids between their junior and senior years. The 1969 event I went to was the 32nd year it has been held, so it started I guess in the late 1930's. It is still going to this day.
Boys State has a bit of an illustrious history and some very famous "graduates," including politicians, business people, and military leaders. Remember that photo where Bill Clinton as a high school kid meets and shakes hands with John F. Kennedy on the south lawn of the White House? That was a Boys' State event; to be more accurate it was Boy's Nation, an offshoot of Boys State. Clinton had been selected to attend "Boys Nation" in Washington DC at his Arkansas Boys State convention; each state event sends two representatives to the one week Boys Nation, where for a week they get exposed to the workings of the federal government. And as shown in the famous Clinton-Kennedy photo, the week also typically includes a "meet and greet" with the President of the United States.
Boys State is actually a fascinating learning experience for anybody interested in legislation and the workings of state government in general - lots of lectures and Q&A's and seminars with experts and politicians and high-up government officials, along with guided tours of various parts of the the Capitol, State Legislature, and various buildings and departments. Boys State is completely non-partisan and no political agenda or philosophy of any type is pushed whatsover. Even the political party names for those running for office are nondescript - "Whigs" and "Federalists." They develop their own party platforms, elect party leaders, etc etc. I must say that there was a "2-party" bias built into the system back in 1969 - I'm not sure if that is still the norm today.
Regarding accomodations, all the guys at my year's event in 1969 camped out in the hot summer for about seven days and six nights at the Sacramento Fairgrounds in massive bunkbed "cities" scattered within a few large open exhibition buildings. It was rather primitive. Massive fans and air conditioners ran to cool down the huge space. Temporary shower facilities and kitchens were installed. Kind of like how you would imagine that a military invasion would be supported with all the logistics involved. It was pretty basic - kind of like a suburban campout - but worked and had been done that way for a number of years in the past. It was a cheap way to house 850 students plus advisors and supervisors. It sounds strange but it worked fine. Of course the whole event was free for us participants, including transportation to Sacramento from all over the state by special buses that picked up people at designated areas at designated times - another big logistics operation. Girls State was held in a better location with better housing at the same time as Boys State - the dorms at CSU Sacramento. Today CSU Sacramento hosts both Boys and Girls State which are now held on two separate weeks in mid June / early July.
At Boys State, one can choose to run for office, whether it be a city, county or state office. Some people don't run for anything but generally somebody runs for something at these events - it is almost expected though certainly not required - but it is kind of fun. Plus most of the kids attending were chosen by their school because they had been involved in some sort of student government at their school and had run for office before, so it was not much of a stretch to run for office at Boys State.
I actually ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction - a non-partisan position. My whole campaign was based on lambasting the actual current highly unpopular Superintendent - the controversial and reactionary and highly disliked Max Rafferty! Remember Max Rafferty? He was a good target - horribly outspoken and disliked for his reactionary views at the time - which would be considered just average "conservative" today - he was sort of like Donald Trump but not quite as much of a sociopath and as psychotic and erratic as Trump. Rafferty at least had a philosophy that was rather consistent and well spoken though irritating to most. More like a Ted Cruz type without the Ted Cruz charm. Anyway, I did well in my primary campaign and finished in the top two spots in the primaries, but lost in the "general election" to somebody who actually had some good ideas. I think my continued criticism of Rafferty is what helped people remember me so I got into the finals. But I was sort of a one trick pony though - didn't have much more to offer except criticize Rafferty! It was quite an experience just to speak in the "statewide" meeting, before a group of over 1000 people. And I did it twice, once in the primary and once in the general election! I was scared out my mind but managed to pull it off off OK I guess with a prepared speech in front of me. There was no way I was capable at the time of ad-libbing! Too scared to death! But I even cracked a couple of jokes that I had written - one of which unexpectedly got a huge laugh, which in itself was a thrill to hear a crowd of 1000 people laugh at your joke. I can see how comedians get addicted to the laugher of the crowd!
Regarding the local Monterey American Legion event pictured above: the ironic thing about that dinner was that, at the time of the event in 1969, the USA was in the middle of the Vietnam War! We had an average of 550,000 troops in Vietnam in 1969, and 11,616 American soldiers were killed in 1969 alone. Overall the Vietnam War killed over 58,000 American soldiers along with an estimated 1.1 million Vietnamese, plus 275,000 Cambodians and 62,000 Laotians.
So as a 17 year old, my rear end was threatened with the potential upcoming draft when I turned 18. This would be a Vietnam death sentence as far as I was concerned. This was some serious stuff. Something no participation trophy winning child these days could ever relate to. And of course something many members of the "greatest" generation who fought the "good war" in WW II could not relate to.
So though I may look like an ass-kissing flag-waving robotic brainwashed American Legion nerd in this picture, I had already been making serious plans to avoid the Vietnam War that Tricky Dick Nixon inherited from Lyndon Baines Johnson. At the time this photo was taken, I had already met two or three times with draft attorney Herb Schwartz of Heisler & Stewart in Carmel. They were nationally famous draft attorneys whose offices were fortunately just five miles from my house. Kind of fortuitous that the best known draft attorneys in the country were based in Carmel - you would think they would be in a major city - but they liked Carmel and for what they did could be located anywhere. I was amazed that I was able to get an appointment to meet with attorney Herb Schwartz, their top draft attorney who was spearheading the firm's effort in this area.
So Herb Schwartz helped advise me in registering as a "Conscienscious Objector. Among others, Herb was representing Joan Baez's husband and antiwar activist David Harris at the time (a "paying" client through organized donation efforts etc), but he took time out of his busy schedule to advise me on three separate occasions - all on a "pro-bono" basis. He was a great guy. He now lives and practices law in Garberville in Humboldt County and we last talked about five years ago - I just tracked him down to thank him after all these years.
At this critical time in 1969, I was assuming that everybody and his brother near draft age in the Monterey area was seeking out draft attorneys or any sort of draft advisors for help, especially when there was a firm in the area as famous in at least some circles as Heisler and Stewart. But I found out that I was one of the few people in the Monterey area who had ever even contacted them asking for help. They worked with clients all over the state and country but just had a modest amount of Monterey area draft clients. This alone was a shock to me. It proves that many high school guys then were either not aware of what was happening, or thought it would not happen to them, or were just lazy screwups who didn't care, or alternatively supported the war and were open to fighting in it if they were drafted. For me, the cloud of turning 18 and registering for the draft and potentially getting drafted was terrifying. I knew I would get a student deferment in college but didn't know how long a student deferment would last. And what a scam that was - a "student deferment." haha. A quick and easy way to grab all the dumb guys and screwoffs and quasi patriotic guys in the country to go to war while people with a few brain cells to rub together who could game the system could get out of it. What a royal scam!
In general, the "what me worry" on the part of my peers who were also close to draft age was a mind-blower. But I will say that a couple of my friends paid attention to what I was doing and followed in my footsteps, using the guidelines I got from Schwartz and filing "C.O." - without ever meeting Schwartz or any other "draft advisor." They got student deferments also through 1974 when they graduated - so as it turned out were never in danger of being drafted.
Anyway, Schwartz gave me some written guidelines he had put together to help me craft my conscientious objector status essay and he reviewed the essay two separate times, helping me be consistent in my statements and fill out the related forms correctly etc. I think I did a real good job on my essay - it wasn't that difficult, and he complimented me on it. I had some separate letters supporting me from Presbyterian minister Rev. Elmer Roy, a teacher from my high school Alex Brumbaugh, a social worker family friend and youth group leader Joseph Calmes, and a businessman family friend Bob Sherry who was known in the community and I figured might be known by the Salinas draft board! My parents were totally supportive of what I was doing. Ultimately if the Draft Board tried to classify me 1A I would have to fight it out with the local Salinas Draft Board - or alternatively flee to Canada or whatever. So I filed for C.O. the same day I registered for Selective Service, just a couple of days after turning 18.
So in the above picture, I'm all "smiley" as I speak to his local "pro-Vietnam War" veterans group, I'm sure all of whom were big Vietnam War suppporters (who were actually very gracious and welcoming people). But in the background I was quietly preparing all my papers as well as putting together the accompanying "testimonial letters." And a few months after that speech, a couple of days after my 18th birthday, I filed for Conscientious Objector status simultaneously with registering for Selective Service!
Luckily my C.O. request never got "contested." I kept my student deferment throughout college until I graduated in 1974, though my draft lottery number that was drawn in the summer of 1971 was VERY VERY low, almost as low as you can get, and I certainly would have been drafted in 1970 or 1971 if not for my student deferment. By the time 1974 rolled around when I graduated from college and about to lose my student deferment, the war was essentially over anyway, nobody was being drafted, and an all-volunteer Army had been established. So I was lucky - some guys my age without student deferrments got drafted in 1969, 1970 and 1971 and died in Vietnam. There was no way I was going to die in LBJ's and Tricky Dick's Vietnam deathtrap! I hated the draft as well as the Vietnam War and could not believe that many in the country still supported it. It reminds me of the people continuing to support Trump despite how badly the wheels fall off of that psycho's presidential campaign; at what point is "enough enough?"
The only thing I can say that is good about the draft is that it mobilized those of us guys who are threatened with being drafted. It spurred us into action and into some sort of resistance. Mine was more of a passive and strategic personal resistance. I never demonstrated in the streets or carried a sign or went to even one anti-war rally anywhere. It seemed like a waste of time to be honest (though in retrospect it was very effective cumulatively). I just took steps to protect myself from this direct threat to my continued existence. Nowadays our country fights wars with volunteer soldiers who have then been called up for multiple tours - even reservists end up deploying multiple times. The accumulated PTSD effect alone on these people is staggering and scary as is its effect on our culture and society. Lots of the mass shootings and crazy violence these days is committed by veterans. And the suicide rate of US miliary veterans is staggering - these people are getting released from the military and going back into society after experiencing the horrors of war; and they obviously as kids don't have the tools to readjust back to society and civilian life. Studies indicate that most of the homeless dudes on the streets are veterans! If young people today were threatened with a draft, perhaps this country would be less likely to pursue military adventurism with foreign wars, which seem to always be led by chicken hawk hypocrites who never served in the military themselves - people like Dick Cheney and Donald Trump.
End of rant!
~DM
Sacramento - June 1969
Boys State and Girls State are "mock California government" events helf each year at the state capital of Sacramento. Every high school in the state participates, sending one girl and one boy representative to the week-long events. It happens every summer in all fifty states, and those attending are high school kids between their junior and senior years. The 1969 event I went to was the 32nd year it has been held, so it started I guess in the late 1930's. It is still going to this day.
Boys State has a bit of an illustrious history and some very famous "graduates," including politicians, business people, and military leaders. Remember that photo where Bill Clinton as a high school kid meets and shakes hands with John F. Kennedy on the south lawn of the White House? That was a Boys' State event; to be more accurate it was Boy's Nation, an offshoot of Boys State. Clinton had been selected to attend "Boys Nation" in Washington DC at his Arkansas Boys State convention; each state event sends two representatives to the one week Boys Nation, where for a week they get exposed to the workings of the federal government. And as shown in the famous Clinton-Kennedy photo, the week also typically includes a "meet and greet" with the President of the United States.
Boys State is actually a fascinating learning experience for anybody interested in legislation and the workings of state government in general - lots of lectures and Q&A's and seminars with experts and politicians and high-up government officials, along with guided tours of various parts of the the Capitol, State Legislature, and various buildings and departments. Boys State is completely non-partisan and no political agenda or philosophy of any type is pushed whatsover. Even the political party names for those running for office are nondescript - "Whigs" and "Federalists." They develop their own party platforms, elect party leaders, etc etc. I must say that there was a "2-party" bias built into the system back in 1969 - I'm not sure if that is still the norm today.
Regarding accomodations, all the guys at my year's event in 1969 camped out in the hot summer for about seven days and six nights at the Sacramento Fairgrounds in massive bunkbed "cities" scattered within a few large open exhibition buildings. It was rather primitive. Massive fans and air conditioners ran to cool down the huge space. Temporary shower facilities and kitchens were installed. Kind of like how you would imagine that a military invasion would be supported with all the logistics involved. It was pretty basic - kind of like a suburban campout - but worked and had been done that way for a number of years in the past. It was a cheap way to house 850 students plus advisors and supervisors. It sounds strange but it worked fine. Of course the whole event was free for us participants, including transportation to Sacramento from all over the state by special buses that picked up people at designated areas at designated times - another big logistics operation. Girls State was held in a better location with better housing at the same time as Boys State - the dorms at CSU Sacramento. Today CSU Sacramento hosts both Boys and Girls State which are now held on two separate weeks in mid June / early July.
At Boys State, one can choose to run for office, whether it be a city, county or state office. Some people don't run for anything but generally somebody runs for something at these events - it is almost expected though certainly not required - but it is kind of fun. Plus most of the kids attending were chosen by their school because they had been involved in some sort of student government at their school and had run for office before, so it was not much of a stretch to run for office at Boys State.
I actually ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction - a non-partisan position. My whole campaign was based on lambasting the actual current highly unpopular Superintendent - the controversial and reactionary and highly disliked Max Rafferty! Remember Max Rafferty? He was a good target - horribly outspoken and disliked for his reactionary views at the time - which would be considered just average "conservative" today - he was sort of like Donald Trump but not quite as much of a sociopath and as psychotic and erratic as Trump. Rafferty at least had a philosophy that was rather consistent and well spoken though irritating to most. More like a Ted Cruz type without the Ted Cruz charm. Anyway, I did well in my primary campaign and finished in the top two spots in the primaries, but lost in the "general election" to somebody who actually had some good ideas. I think my continued criticism of Rafferty is what helped people remember me so I got into the finals. But I was sort of a one trick pony though - didn't have much more to offer except criticize Rafferty! It was quite an experience just to speak in the "statewide" meeting, before a group of over 1000 people. And I did it twice, once in the primary and once in the general election! I was scared out my mind but managed to pull it off off OK I guess with a prepared speech in front of me. There was no way I was capable at the time of ad-libbing! Too scared to death! But I even cracked a couple of jokes that I had written - one of which unexpectedly got a huge laugh, which in itself was a thrill to hear a crowd of 1000 people laugh at your joke. I can see how comedians get addicted to the laugher of the crowd!
Regarding the local Monterey American Legion event pictured above: the ironic thing about that dinner was that, at the time of the event in 1969, the USA was in the middle of the Vietnam War! We had an average of 550,000 troops in Vietnam in 1969, and 11,616 American soldiers were killed in 1969 alone. Overall the Vietnam War killed over 58,000 American soldiers along with an estimated 1.1 million Vietnamese, plus 275,000 Cambodians and 62,000 Laotians.
So as a 17 year old, my rear end was threatened with the potential upcoming draft when I turned 18. This would be a Vietnam death sentence as far as I was concerned. This was some serious stuff. Something no participation trophy winning child these days could ever relate to. And of course something many members of the "greatest" generation who fought the "good war" in WW II could not relate to.
So though I may look like an ass-kissing flag-waving robotic brainwashed American Legion nerd in this picture, I had already been making serious plans to avoid the Vietnam War that Tricky Dick Nixon inherited from Lyndon Baines Johnson. At the time this photo was taken, I had already met two or three times with draft attorney Herb Schwartz of Heisler & Stewart in Carmel. They were nationally famous draft attorneys whose offices were fortunately just five miles from my house. Kind of fortuitous that the best known draft attorneys in the country were based in Carmel - you would think they would be in a major city - but they liked Carmel and for what they did could be located anywhere. I was amazed that I was able to get an appointment to meet with attorney Herb Schwartz, their top draft attorney who was spearheading the firm's effort in this area.
So Herb Schwartz helped advise me in registering as a "Conscienscious Objector. Among others, Herb was representing Joan Baez's husband and antiwar activist David Harris at the time (a "paying" client through organized donation efforts etc), but he took time out of his busy schedule to advise me on three separate occasions - all on a "pro-bono" basis. He was a great guy. He now lives and practices law in Garberville in Humboldt County and we last talked about five years ago - I just tracked him down to thank him after all these years.
At this critical time in 1969, I was assuming that everybody and his brother near draft age in the Monterey area was seeking out draft attorneys or any sort of draft advisors for help, especially when there was a firm in the area as famous in at least some circles as Heisler and Stewart. But I found out that I was one of the few people in the Monterey area who had ever even contacted them asking for help. They worked with clients all over the state and country but just had a modest amount of Monterey area draft clients. This alone was a shock to me. It proves that many high school guys then were either not aware of what was happening, or thought it would not happen to them, or were just lazy screwups who didn't care, or alternatively supported the war and were open to fighting in it if they were drafted. For me, the cloud of turning 18 and registering for the draft and potentially getting drafted was terrifying. I knew I would get a student deferment in college but didn't know how long a student deferment would last. And what a scam that was - a "student deferment." haha. A quick and easy way to grab all the dumb guys and screwoffs and quasi patriotic guys in the country to go to war while people with a few brain cells to rub together who could game the system could get out of it. What a royal scam!
In general, the "what me worry" on the part of my peers who were also close to draft age was a mind-blower. But I will say that a couple of my friends paid attention to what I was doing and followed in my footsteps, using the guidelines I got from Schwartz and filing "C.O." - without ever meeting Schwartz or any other "draft advisor." They got student deferments also through 1974 when they graduated - so as it turned out were never in danger of being drafted.
Anyway, Schwartz gave me some written guidelines he had put together to help me craft my conscientious objector status essay and he reviewed the essay two separate times, helping me be consistent in my statements and fill out the related forms correctly etc. I think I did a real good job on my essay - it wasn't that difficult, and he complimented me on it. I had some separate letters supporting me from Presbyterian minister Rev. Elmer Roy, a teacher from my high school Alex Brumbaugh, a social worker family friend and youth group leader Joseph Calmes, and a businessman family friend Bob Sherry who was known in the community and I figured might be known by the Salinas draft board! My parents were totally supportive of what I was doing. Ultimately if the Draft Board tried to classify me 1A I would have to fight it out with the local Salinas Draft Board - or alternatively flee to Canada or whatever. So I filed for C.O. the same day I registered for Selective Service, just a couple of days after turning 18.
So in the above picture, I'm all "smiley" as I speak to his local "pro-Vietnam War" veterans group, I'm sure all of whom were big Vietnam War suppporters (who were actually very gracious and welcoming people). But in the background I was quietly preparing all my papers as well as putting together the accompanying "testimonial letters." And a few months after that speech, a couple of days after my 18th birthday, I filed for Conscientious Objector status simultaneously with registering for Selective Service!
Luckily my C.O. request never got "contested." I kept my student deferment throughout college until I graduated in 1974, though my draft lottery number that was drawn in the summer of 1971 was VERY VERY low, almost as low as you can get, and I certainly would have been drafted in 1970 or 1971 if not for my student deferment. By the time 1974 rolled around when I graduated from college and about to lose my student deferment, the war was essentially over anyway, nobody was being drafted, and an all-volunteer Army had been established. So I was lucky - some guys my age without student deferrments got drafted in 1969, 1970 and 1971 and died in Vietnam. There was no way I was going to die in LBJ's and Tricky Dick's Vietnam deathtrap! I hated the draft as well as the Vietnam War and could not believe that many in the country still supported it. It reminds me of the people continuing to support Trump despite how badly the wheels fall off of that psycho's presidential campaign; at what point is "enough enough?"
The only thing I can say that is good about the draft is that it mobilized those of us guys who are threatened with being drafted. It spurred us into action and into some sort of resistance. Mine was more of a passive and strategic personal resistance. I never demonstrated in the streets or carried a sign or went to even one anti-war rally anywhere. It seemed like a waste of time to be honest (though in retrospect it was very effective cumulatively). I just took steps to protect myself from this direct threat to my continued existence. Nowadays our country fights wars with volunteer soldiers who have then been called up for multiple tours - even reservists end up deploying multiple times. The accumulated PTSD effect alone on these people is staggering and scary as is its effect on our culture and society. Lots of the mass shootings and crazy violence these days is committed by veterans. And the suicide rate of US miliary veterans is staggering - these people are getting released from the military and going back into society after experiencing the horrors of war; and they obviously as kids don't have the tools to readjust back to society and civilian life. Studies indicate that most of the homeless dudes on the streets are veterans! If young people today were threatened with a draft, perhaps this country would be less likely to pursue military adventurism with foreign wars, which seem to always be led by chicken hawk hypocrites who never served in the military themselves - people like Dick Cheney and Donald Trump.
End of rant!
~DM
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(Poster graphic art by Lou Hidas. Photos by Russ Levin)
(Note - in retrospect including this above bullfighting scene in the promotional poster I put together to "sell" a summer school experience in Guadalajara was a real bad idea - it is a sick disgusting example of animal cruelty for entertainment - I actually didn't didn't know took place at bullfights at the time - I was that ignorant - my only excuse is I was a dumb 17-year-old kid at the time!)
Colegio Victoria - Guadalajara, Jalisco,Mexico
One of my high school-era (senior year) part time jobs was as a recruiter for Colegio Victoria, a summer language and arts school for American high school kids in Guadalajara, Mexico. Run by a great guy named Richard Schultz (no relation to the Starbucks CEO!) who was an English professor at Western Washington State University in Bellingham, Washington. I almost attended the school the prior summer but changed my mind. But I got to know the guy through some phone calls and letters and talked him into "letting" me be a recruiter for him the following summer. He co-owned the school with his cousin who lived in Mexico. They actually leased a private girls' school facility every year for the summer and via the cousin in Mexico arranged for housing for students with local families in Guadalajara.
I arranged to have the posters printed - maybe 250 or so. The smaller photos had been taken some time ago by Russ Levin, who was our school newspaper photographer. The larger photo of the bullfight, which I regret using (see below), was provided by Russ via some copyright-free source he had at the time.
The lettering was generously provided by Lou Hidas, a graphic artist at the Herald (who also did the artwork for many of the Little League Yearbooks in that era). The basic design of the poster and arrangement of photos, placement of lettering, etc and the printing was done by Hal and Betty Hallet, owners of Herald Printers. They were great people to work with. (Herald Printers was not related to the Herald newspaper, by the way.)
I distributed the posters to select high schools all over the place in California and other western states, where I thought the demographics were favorable. Distributed by hand locally and also by mail and followed up with calls to ask if they would please get posted. etc. I also placed ads in the Herald Classified section - which I was able to get for free because my father worked at the newspaper and ran the classified advertising department!
I was convinced that I'd make some big bucks in commissions in placing say five hundred or more so students that summer - at $90 commission per student. $45,000 sounded pretty good! I tried recruiting other Boys State high school kids to work with me as recruiters in other western states. I had a whole campaign for direct sales to students and another campaign to recruit "recruiters."
As it turned out, nobody signed up from outside the local Monterey area. It was all local people via the newspaper ads. As it turned out I placed a total of eight students. I made a very modest profit after printing and mailing and phone expenses. Considering the time put in, it was much less than minimum wage. And every one of the placements were "local" resulting from ads in the Herald! So the poster campaign did not help much. But it was a great experience - this was my first entrepreneurial venture. I learned a lot - not easy recruiting people work for you remotely. Not easy to sell remotely. Not easy to sell via a poster! Not easy recruiting people to go to Mexico and have their parents be comfortable with the idea - even then in the pre-cartel drug gang era! And I should have simplified the pitch also - keeping it simple stupid etc. And I was way overestimating the potential demand - though the price and quality was excellent. I will say that all of the eight people that I recruited were very pleased with their experience.
Anyway, re the poster: I regret including the bullfighting picture in the poster. Because as a kid I didn't have any idea of what actually takes place in bullfights and had no idea how cruel and sick they are. I actually didn't know the animals got slowly tortured and killed! Yes I was pretty naive. I stupidly thought they just waved a cape around to get the bulls to chase them. I admit I was totally clueless, totally unaware (or in denial maybe?) of the animal suffering taking place. And today I still am bothered by the fact that the names of the (&*ing Monterey High School sports teams are the "Torreadores", "Matadores", and "Picadores." Yecch. That is sick and so outdated. I mean bullfighting has been banned in most of Spain and much of Mexico (not enough). Monterey High should change those stupid, disgusting, outdated names, but that is another subject.
Now as a contrast to the above photo - here is a "palate cleanser" if you will. Or maybe a change of pace - some counter programming. Behold the now famous photo of a bull in Spain getting his sweet revenge on bullfighter Julio Aparicio in 2010 in Madrid. What an outrageous photo.
Colegio Victoria - Guadalajara, Jalisco,Mexico
One of my high school-era (senior year) part time jobs was as a recruiter for Colegio Victoria, a summer language and arts school for American high school kids in Guadalajara, Mexico. Run by a great guy named Richard Schultz (no relation to the Starbucks CEO!) who was an English professor at Western Washington State University in Bellingham, Washington. I almost attended the school the prior summer but changed my mind. But I got to know the guy through some phone calls and letters and talked him into "letting" me be a recruiter for him the following summer. He co-owned the school with his cousin who lived in Mexico. They actually leased a private girls' school facility every year for the summer and via the cousin in Mexico arranged for housing for students with local families in Guadalajara.
I arranged to have the posters printed - maybe 250 or so. The smaller photos had been taken some time ago by Russ Levin, who was our school newspaper photographer. The larger photo of the bullfight, which I regret using (see below), was provided by Russ via some copyright-free source he had at the time.
The lettering was generously provided by Lou Hidas, a graphic artist at the Herald (who also did the artwork for many of the Little League Yearbooks in that era). The basic design of the poster and arrangement of photos, placement of lettering, etc and the printing was done by Hal and Betty Hallet, owners of Herald Printers. They were great people to work with. (Herald Printers was not related to the Herald newspaper, by the way.)
I distributed the posters to select high schools all over the place in California and other western states, where I thought the demographics were favorable. Distributed by hand locally and also by mail and followed up with calls to ask if they would please get posted. etc. I also placed ads in the Herald Classified section - which I was able to get for free because my father worked at the newspaper and ran the classified advertising department!
I was convinced that I'd make some big bucks in commissions in placing say five hundred or more so students that summer - at $90 commission per student. $45,000 sounded pretty good! I tried recruiting other Boys State high school kids to work with me as recruiters in other western states. I had a whole campaign for direct sales to students and another campaign to recruit "recruiters."
As it turned out, nobody signed up from outside the local Monterey area. It was all local people via the newspaper ads. As it turned out I placed a total of eight students. I made a very modest profit after printing and mailing and phone expenses. Considering the time put in, it was much less than minimum wage. And every one of the placements were "local" resulting from ads in the Herald! So the poster campaign did not help much. But it was a great experience - this was my first entrepreneurial venture. I learned a lot - not easy recruiting people work for you remotely. Not easy to sell remotely. Not easy to sell via a poster! Not easy recruiting people to go to Mexico and have their parents be comfortable with the idea - even then in the pre-cartel drug gang era! And I should have simplified the pitch also - keeping it simple stupid etc. And I was way overestimating the potential demand - though the price and quality was excellent. I will say that all of the eight people that I recruited were very pleased with their experience.
Anyway, re the poster: I regret including the bullfighting picture in the poster. Because as a kid I didn't have any idea of what actually takes place in bullfights and had no idea how cruel and sick they are. I actually didn't know the animals got slowly tortured and killed! Yes I was pretty naive. I stupidly thought they just waved a cape around to get the bulls to chase them. I admit I was totally clueless, totally unaware (or in denial maybe?) of the animal suffering taking place. And today I still am bothered by the fact that the names of the (&*ing Monterey High School sports teams are the "Torreadores", "Matadores", and "Picadores." Yecch. That is sick and so outdated. I mean bullfighting has been banned in most of Spain and much of Mexico (not enough). Monterey High should change those stupid, disgusting, outdated names, but that is another subject.
Now as a contrast to the above photo - here is a "palate cleanser" if you will. Or maybe a change of pace - some counter programming. Behold the now famous photo of a bull in Spain getting his sweet revenge on bullfighter Julio Aparicio in 2010 in Madrid. What an outrageous photo.
Berkeley
Not Exactly The Place To Keep Your Head Straight
Not Exactly The Place To Keep Your Head Straight
This is a classic article from the Daily Cal U.C. Berkeley newspaper that I stumbled upon when attending grad school at U.C. Berkeley. It is written by Danelle Morton and it brilliantly "explains" the bizarreness and the onslaughts one encounters on a daily basis as a student and resident of Berkeley, California! It hit me so very powerfully when I read it that I've kept the article in a scrapbook for many years; when I just found it I thought I'd put it online. It is a great remembrance of Berkeley. Everything in this 1978 article is still true about Berkeley! Some things never change. ~DM
Berkeley
Not Exactly The Place To Keep Your Head Straight
by Danelle Morton - The Daily Cal - February 10, 1978
Berkeley is a town filled with people who are on the verge of committing suicide. The place exudes a spiritual and intellectual hysteria found nowhere else. Where people attempt to discuss philosophy with coleus plants and lovers bicycle down the street conjugating irreguilar German verbs.
I sometimes feel the place is surging and rolling under my feet. This quality wouldn't be especially disturbing if Berkeley didn't have the appearance of a small, middle-class town. Recently, I was walking home in the afternoon, enjoying the scattered sunlight through the flatland trees. I could imagine for a moment that I had left Berkeley behind and was enjoying an afternoon in Petaluma. But before me a seemingly normal man was smiling benignly as he pissed against a tree. As I rounded the corner I saw a well-dressed woman who had left her car to kick and scream at a traffic diverter. Never let your defenses down in Berkeley.
After you've lived here awhile you begin to think you have it licked. You begin to think that you can filter out all the indigents and droolers by looking determinedly ahead or smiling as if you are one of them. I always walk down Telegraph Avenue with my hands in my coat pockets. If anyone bothers me I tell them that I don't have any hands. A friend of mine thought he also had built up sufficient defenses when a fairly normal looking fellow in double knit pants approached. He appeared to be a little lost and asked for help. When my friend responded the stranger asked, "Excuse me, could you help me find a vigina without any teeth in it?" Tricked again.
I used to like this kind of insanity but I think now, with the rest of the increasingly conservative student population, I'm getting a little set in my ways. I don't like opening my bedroom window and seeing somebody staring at me from a tree. And I must admit I was more than a little disturbed to find a woman in the cereal section of the Co-op beating a box of Count Chocula senseless under the "Would you feed your child candy for breakfast?" sign. I think many of these people who I consider totally crazy could probably justify any of these highly bizarre actions by saing they were political actions, because Berkeley is, after all, a community that lives totally in the realm of the mind.
I can't count the number of times I've left an argument with a Berkeley progressive on the edge of committing a violent act myself. This is not because I disagreed with their politics, but because they can't tell right from wrong. A Berkeley woman, full in her political confusion, once told me not to get angry at rape because rape was a political act. Society produces rapists and we should punish society first. Or, the time I watched the news with a Ward Street man who, after a news item about a man who blew off his mother's head with a 12 gauge shotgun, seriously said that he could really understand that impulse, psychologically speaking, because think about how much parents fuck up their kids.
What is all this pseudo-psychological horseshit? I don't think it is peculiar to Berkeley, but I do think Berkeley has a higher per capital concentration of it than any other place. The progressive Berkeleyans are at times so caught up in finding and adopting the latest trendy philosophy, their minds so full of relativistic concepts of value, and conspiracy theories that a realistic view of the world becomes impossible. At which Berkeley zoning hearing did I hear a woman accuse the post office of being in league with the military to build a military installation on University Avenue? Where else could you hear someone claim that you were violating her human rights by taking her unlicensed dog to the pound.
Every town has its required number of crazies, but in this town they hold positions of power, they teach in the university and get federal funding. I supposed this could be viewed as part of the progressive attitude, that crazy people can lead meaningful lives and perform useful functions in society.
At this point the tried and true Berkeleyans are probably saying to themselves that I'm just too much negative energy and why don't I leave town. Which I feel is a fair criticism and I would gladly do so if my life weren't so firmly tied into the university. But when my contract with the university is up I'll be first on the next train out of town. I just hope this moment comes before insane acts begin appearing normal to me, before the next time I find someone asleep in the corner traffic diverter and I take a pistol and blow him away, saying that he had violated my rights as a pedestrian and I wasn't up for any heavy one-on-one contact scene.
~ Written by Danelle Morton - The Daily Cal - UC Berkeley newspaper - Feb 10, 1978
------------------------------
Note from DM: This article really struck a nerve because on the weekend before this article's publication, I was at the U.C. Berkeley campus early on a cold Saturday morning in February. The streets and sidewalks were pretty empty at 7:45AM on a cold Saturday. I was on my way to a special seminar on campus that started at 8AM. After parking at the underground Bancroft Structure near Hearst Gym under the tennis courts, I step out onto Bancroft ... and see this bearded grungy street person dude and this grungy woman screaming at each other on the sidewalk. They must have been up all night or sleeping outside in People's Park or in some alley near Telegraph Avenue. I could not tell if they were drunk or high - if they were it wasn't obvious.
The woman is crying and implores him: "I got the money from my brother. I got the money from my brother." And he's calling her a "whore" repeatedly. "But I got the money from my brother, from my brother," she keeps saying. "You're a whore," he screams at her. "You're a xxx-ing whore." "I'm not a whore - the money's from my brother," etc etc.
She continues to scream at the guy, slowly following him as he walks up Bancroft, begging him to believe her. It becomes apparent that the guy had found $20 in her purse and accused her of prostituting herself to make that money. And she was insisting that she got the $20 from her brother! And he sure didn't believe her! She apparently must have had a history of "whoring" and he was indignant that she was back to her old "whoring ways?"
(So I guess when you boil it down this was just a typical lover's spat where guy finds money in woman's purse, guy accuses her of being a prostitute! You know, standard run of the mill arguments that most American couples get into all the time!)
Again, this is happening right near Sather Gate, the main U.C. Berkeley campus entrance. They continue for another minute - more accusations and denials. He continues walking up the street as she continues to follows screams at him. After pushing her away a few times, she then gets physical, grabbing him by the arm with her one hand and hitting him with the purse in her other hand. At this point he turns around, grabs her purse, and in fairly short order wrestles it away from her. In one fluid motion, like an Olympian throwing the hammer, he grabs the purse straps and with one roundhouse swing launches the purse over a 15 foot tall chain link fence bordering Bancroft, on to the Girls Softball field. It was a pretty smooth move on his part - the purse sailed cleanly over that tall fence. Calling her a " ____ing whore" one last time, he storms off for good as she falls to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
After watching all this bizarreness, I just kept moving, heading to my campus seminar. I turned around halfway down the block, and the woman is still on her knees in the middle of the sidewalk crying. And all this time I'm thinking to myself: "Only in Berkeley. Only in Berkeley."
And just a few days later I read Danelle's article in the Daily Cal newspaper; the timing couldn't have been more perfect. She confirmed my suspicions; this really is an everyday type of occurrence in Berzerkeley! ~DM
Berkeley
Not Exactly The Place To Keep Your Head Straight
by Danelle Morton - The Daily Cal - February 10, 1978
Berkeley is a town filled with people who are on the verge of committing suicide. The place exudes a spiritual and intellectual hysteria found nowhere else. Where people attempt to discuss philosophy with coleus plants and lovers bicycle down the street conjugating irreguilar German verbs.
I sometimes feel the place is surging and rolling under my feet. This quality wouldn't be especially disturbing if Berkeley didn't have the appearance of a small, middle-class town. Recently, I was walking home in the afternoon, enjoying the scattered sunlight through the flatland trees. I could imagine for a moment that I had left Berkeley behind and was enjoying an afternoon in Petaluma. But before me a seemingly normal man was smiling benignly as he pissed against a tree. As I rounded the corner I saw a well-dressed woman who had left her car to kick and scream at a traffic diverter. Never let your defenses down in Berkeley.
After you've lived here awhile you begin to think you have it licked. You begin to think that you can filter out all the indigents and droolers by looking determinedly ahead or smiling as if you are one of them. I always walk down Telegraph Avenue with my hands in my coat pockets. If anyone bothers me I tell them that I don't have any hands. A friend of mine thought he also had built up sufficient defenses when a fairly normal looking fellow in double knit pants approached. He appeared to be a little lost and asked for help. When my friend responded the stranger asked, "Excuse me, could you help me find a vigina without any teeth in it?" Tricked again.
I used to like this kind of insanity but I think now, with the rest of the increasingly conservative student population, I'm getting a little set in my ways. I don't like opening my bedroom window and seeing somebody staring at me from a tree. And I must admit I was more than a little disturbed to find a woman in the cereal section of the Co-op beating a box of Count Chocula senseless under the "Would you feed your child candy for breakfast?" sign. I think many of these people who I consider totally crazy could probably justify any of these highly bizarre actions by saing they were political actions, because Berkeley is, after all, a community that lives totally in the realm of the mind.
I can't count the number of times I've left an argument with a Berkeley progressive on the edge of committing a violent act myself. This is not because I disagreed with their politics, but because they can't tell right from wrong. A Berkeley woman, full in her political confusion, once told me not to get angry at rape because rape was a political act. Society produces rapists and we should punish society first. Or, the time I watched the news with a Ward Street man who, after a news item about a man who blew off his mother's head with a 12 gauge shotgun, seriously said that he could really understand that impulse, psychologically speaking, because think about how much parents fuck up their kids.
What is all this pseudo-psychological horseshit? I don't think it is peculiar to Berkeley, but I do think Berkeley has a higher per capital concentration of it than any other place. The progressive Berkeleyans are at times so caught up in finding and adopting the latest trendy philosophy, their minds so full of relativistic concepts of value, and conspiracy theories that a realistic view of the world becomes impossible. At which Berkeley zoning hearing did I hear a woman accuse the post office of being in league with the military to build a military installation on University Avenue? Where else could you hear someone claim that you were violating her human rights by taking her unlicensed dog to the pound.
Every town has its required number of crazies, but in this town they hold positions of power, they teach in the university and get federal funding. I supposed this could be viewed as part of the progressive attitude, that crazy people can lead meaningful lives and perform useful functions in society.
At this point the tried and true Berkeleyans are probably saying to themselves that I'm just too much negative energy and why don't I leave town. Which I feel is a fair criticism and I would gladly do so if my life weren't so firmly tied into the university. But when my contract with the university is up I'll be first on the next train out of town. I just hope this moment comes before insane acts begin appearing normal to me, before the next time I find someone asleep in the corner traffic diverter and I take a pistol and blow him away, saying that he had violated my rights as a pedestrian and I wasn't up for any heavy one-on-one contact scene.
~ Written by Danelle Morton - The Daily Cal - UC Berkeley newspaper - Feb 10, 1978
------------------------------
Note from DM: This article really struck a nerve because on the weekend before this article's publication, I was at the U.C. Berkeley campus early on a cold Saturday morning in February. The streets and sidewalks were pretty empty at 7:45AM on a cold Saturday. I was on my way to a special seminar on campus that started at 8AM. After parking at the underground Bancroft Structure near Hearst Gym under the tennis courts, I step out onto Bancroft ... and see this bearded grungy street person dude and this grungy woman screaming at each other on the sidewalk. They must have been up all night or sleeping outside in People's Park or in some alley near Telegraph Avenue. I could not tell if they were drunk or high - if they were it wasn't obvious.
The woman is crying and implores him: "I got the money from my brother. I got the money from my brother." And he's calling her a "whore" repeatedly. "But I got the money from my brother, from my brother," she keeps saying. "You're a whore," he screams at her. "You're a xxx-ing whore." "I'm not a whore - the money's from my brother," etc etc.
She continues to scream at the guy, slowly following him as he walks up Bancroft, begging him to believe her. It becomes apparent that the guy had found $20 in her purse and accused her of prostituting herself to make that money. And she was insisting that she got the $20 from her brother! And he sure didn't believe her! She apparently must have had a history of "whoring" and he was indignant that she was back to her old "whoring ways?"
(So I guess when you boil it down this was just a typical lover's spat where guy finds money in woman's purse, guy accuses her of being a prostitute! You know, standard run of the mill arguments that most American couples get into all the time!)
Again, this is happening right near Sather Gate, the main U.C. Berkeley campus entrance. They continue for another minute - more accusations and denials. He continues walking up the street as she continues to follows screams at him. After pushing her away a few times, she then gets physical, grabbing him by the arm with her one hand and hitting him with the purse in her other hand. At this point he turns around, grabs her purse, and in fairly short order wrestles it away from her. In one fluid motion, like an Olympian throwing the hammer, he grabs the purse straps and with one roundhouse swing launches the purse over a 15 foot tall chain link fence bordering Bancroft, on to the Girls Softball field. It was a pretty smooth move on his part - the purse sailed cleanly over that tall fence. Calling her a " ____ing whore" one last time, he storms off for good as she falls to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
After watching all this bizarreness, I just kept moving, heading to my campus seminar. I turned around halfway down the block, and the woman is still on her knees in the middle of the sidewalk crying. And all this time I'm thinking to myself: "Only in Berkeley. Only in Berkeley."
And just a few days later I read Danelle's article in the Daily Cal newspaper; the timing couldn't have been more perfect. She confirmed my suspicions; this really is an everyday type of occurrence in Berzerkeley! ~DM
A Joke Of Mine Gets Published By Herb Caen !
More College Humor During My Time At UC Berkeley
Above is Herb Caen column, where a joke I sent to Herb gets published. Time is around November of 1973, and I'm a student at UC Berkeley.
The story: In winter of '73 , I get an early morning call in Berkeley around 7AM from my ex-girlfriend Char who is living in SF going to nursing school - she is all excited. "Have you seen this morning's Herb Caen?" she asks.
She and I were both avid fans of Herb Caen - the legendary columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. For many people, Caen's column was the first thing read when they opened the paper in the morning - Caen really was that popular. It was self-described "three-dot journalism" - quips, humor, gossip, occasional local and national celebrity name-dropping ... all punctuated with some stunningly brilliant writing about the Bay Area and his beloved city, San Francisco.
Well I immediately knew that Caen had printed the most recent joke I had sent him. Finally! I had sent a few original jokes and stories to Caen but this was the first and only one that ever got published. I had phrased this one as a simple "joke" ("hey did you hear about" etc.) but Caen took artistic license and modified it into a "story" about me, saying that I was "at work on a movie" etc. Ah, the press twists things again. It was just a dumb joke!
And I was quite surprised that Caen even quoted my line: "If you sincerely think this is in poor taste, you have my permission to print it," word for word. That was a throwaway line but I guess he got a laugh out of it. In retrospect that line may be unintentionally better than the joke itself.
Of course my friends knew it was a big joke but one or two "humor-deprived" acquaintances of my parents actually politely asked them if I was really was (ahem) ... involved with (ahem) ... "filmmaking." Of course Linda Lovelace was all over the news in that time period so it was quite topical. Many people today, even those not around at the time, might still "get" this 40+ year old reference ... I think! ~ DM
Above is Herb Caen column, where a joke I sent to Herb gets published. Time is around November of 1973, and I'm a student at UC Berkeley.
The story: In winter of '73 , I get an early morning call in Berkeley around 7AM from my ex-girlfriend Char who is living in SF going to nursing school - she is all excited. "Have you seen this morning's Herb Caen?" she asks.
She and I were both avid fans of Herb Caen - the legendary columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. For many people, Caen's column was the first thing read when they opened the paper in the morning - Caen really was that popular. It was self-described "three-dot journalism" - quips, humor, gossip, occasional local and national celebrity name-dropping ... all punctuated with some stunningly brilliant writing about the Bay Area and his beloved city, San Francisco.
Well I immediately knew that Caen had printed the most recent joke I had sent him. Finally! I had sent a few original jokes and stories to Caen but this was the first and only one that ever got published. I had phrased this one as a simple "joke" ("hey did you hear about" etc.) but Caen took artistic license and modified it into a "story" about me, saying that I was "at work on a movie" etc. Ah, the press twists things again. It was just a dumb joke!
And I was quite surprised that Caen even quoted my line: "If you sincerely think this is in poor taste, you have my permission to print it," word for word. That was a throwaway line but I guess he got a laugh out of it. In retrospect that line may be unintentionally better than the joke itself.
Of course my friends knew it was a big joke but one or two "humor-deprived" acquaintances of my parents actually politely asked them if I was really was (ahem) ... involved with (ahem) ... "filmmaking." Of course Linda Lovelace was all over the news in that time period so it was quite topical. Many people today, even those not around at the time, might still "get" this 40+ year old reference ... I think! ~ DM
For Luck
Derek Morris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Morris of Monterey, enters his name in a prize drawing at the Baseball Breakfast at Monterey County Fairgrounds. Looking on is Louis Goldstein, ticket chairman for the event. Prizes included baseballs, bats, bowling passes and passes to the San Francisco Giants games.
(Editor's Note: Louis "Goldie" Goldstein was a prominent Monterey civic leader and helped develop and promote a number of youth baseball programs. He was the key person responsible for bringing Little League to Monterey, and was the first president of Monterey Little League when it began in 1952.)
(Monterey Herald, May, 1962)
Derek Morris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Morris of Monterey, enters his name in a prize drawing at the Baseball Breakfast at Monterey County Fairgrounds. Looking on is Louis Goldstein, ticket chairman for the event. Prizes included baseballs, bats, bowling passes and passes to the San Francisco Giants games.
(Editor's Note: Louis "Goldie" Goldstein was a prominent Monterey civic leader and helped develop and promote a number of youth baseball programs. He was the key person responsible for bringing Little League to Monterey, and was the first president of Monterey Little League when it began in 1952.)
(Monterey Herald, May, 1962)
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Mark Smith Coca-Cola Commercial - 1972
This is childhood friend Mark Smith in a classic 1972 Coke television commercial that aired nationally a number of times and which has been seen by millions all over the world.
Most of the clips in this commercial were filmed on the Monterey Peninsula featuring local Monterey people. (By the way, the opening Grand Canyon scene is with singer Billy Joe Royal, who was most famous for the hit song "Down In The Boondocks.")
This clip of Mark groovin' to the music was filmed on downtown Alvarado Street in Monterey.
Link to the commercial on YouTube is below.
( If clip does not play, copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMyawtemnzc )
Most of the clips in this commercial were filmed on the Monterey Peninsula featuring local Monterey people. (By the way, the opening Grand Canyon scene is with singer Billy Joe Royal, who was most famous for the hit song "Down In The Boondocks.")
This clip of Mark groovin' to the music was filmed on downtown Alvarado Street in Monterey.
Link to the commercial on YouTube is below.
( If clip does not play, copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMyawtemnzc )
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to those who have contributed to this site so far: Robert Stanton, Jeanne Stanton, Don Davison, Mark Smith, Joan Chapin, Kyle Wyatt, Martin Bradley, Marla Martin Anderson, Debbie Langdon Bradford, Lilly Hespen Menezes, Alan Herren, Mike Welch, Mary Jane Porter Perna, Susan Turner Pohlmann, Mark Bibler, Joe Cutrufelli, Jeff Sumida, Alice Valdez Gerschler, Jon Wren, Duke Quinones, Susie Rochon Henderson, Pat Duffy, Gerald Armstrong, Carl Becker, Mike Ventimiglia, Jack Frost, Steve Martin, Tom Russo Sr., Chuck Della Sala, Mel Hagio, Rick Hattori, Eddie Van Houtte, Pat Hathaway, Dennis Taylor and Victor Henry. We expect to be hearing from others soon!
Special thanks to those who have contributed to this site so far: Robert Stanton, Jeanne Stanton, Don Davison, Mark Smith, Joan Chapin, Kyle Wyatt, Martin Bradley, Marla Martin Anderson, Debbie Langdon Bradford, Lilly Hespen Menezes, Alan Herren, Mike Welch, Mary Jane Porter Perna, Susan Turner Pohlmann, Mark Bibler, Joe Cutrufelli, Jeff Sumida, Alice Valdez Gerschler, Jon Wren, Duke Quinones, Susie Rochon Henderson, Pat Duffy, Gerald Armstrong, Carl Becker, Mike Ventimiglia, Jack Frost, Steve Martin, Tom Russo Sr., Chuck Della Sala, Mel Hagio, Rick Hattori, Eddie Van Houtte, Pat Hathaway, Dennis Taylor and Victor Henry. We expect to be hearing from others soon!
Comments? Clarifications? Additional Stuff To Add?
Email: derekcmorris {at} {gmail} {dot} {com}
Email: derekcmorris {at} {gmail} {dot} {com}
