From heartbreaking local tragedy to musical celebration and surprising marketing history, this episode traverses emotional territory that will leave you thinking long after the final notes fade.
We begin with breaking news about the devastating explosion at a fireworks factory near Sacramento that has claimed seven lives. The Oakdale fire, which burned 78 acres, began with a catastrophic explosion that shook the community and left families grieving. As emergency responders located the victims, we reflect on the fragility of life and the impact of sudden tragedy.
The mood shifts as we celebrate Ringo Starr's remarkable 85th birthday. While many celebrate the Beatles drummer for his contribution to the Fab Four, we dive deep into his criminally underrated solo career. Did you know Ringo scored seven consecutive top ten hits in the United States during the 1970s, including two number ones? We explore gems like "It Don't Come Easy," "Photograph," and "You're 16," showcasing how Ringo's unique blend of musical talent and lighthearted humor created a distinctive solo identity. His collaborations with former bandmates George Harrison, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney demonstrate the lasting creative bonds between these musical legends.
Perhaps most surprisingly, we uncover the dark and fascinating origin of Nike's iconic "Just Do It" slogan. The phrase that launched a billion-dollar marketing empire was inspired by condemned double-murderer Gary Gilmore's final words before his 1977 execution by firing squad. This unexpected connection between advertising history and capital punishment raises profound questions about how cultural touchstones emerge from unlikely – even disturbing – sources.
Join us for this journey through local heartbreak, musical celebration, and the strange intersections of pop culture history. As Ringo would say: "Peace and love!"
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
welcome to the pats peeps podcast.
Here we are, number 296.
Thank you for being a part ofour pats peeps family.
Today's a mond Monday, july the7th 2025.
Looking out the studio windowsinto the beautiful foothills of
Northern California A sunny,warm day, a nice breeze.
(00:33):
It's a big birthday today thatI'm going to get to Peace and
love.
Peace and love that would befrom the birthday boy himself
that is coming up.
I wanted to start with kind ofan update on what is happening
kind of locally in my area.
By the way, my name is PatWalsh.
(00:54):
I'm the host of the Pat WalshShow on KFPK in Sacramento and
heard everywhere on the freeiHeart app and all the way
everywhere on your streamingservices, just like this podcast
is.
And my show again 7 to 10 pm,monday through Friday 93.1 FM,
1530 am.
Last week, just before my showstarted, this huge fire started,
(01:21):
this explosion at a fireworksfactory right near a Sparta and
it was just unbelievably tragic.
I'm watching the TV monitorsright as I'm beginning my show
and I'm talking with KittyO'Neill who hosts our afternoon
news on KFPK, and we're doingthe handoff to my show and we're
(01:46):
looking up at the monitor.
We're just like look at this.
There are fireworks shootingoff from this factory I've never
seen anything like this when,all of a sudden, the biggest
explosion it was an unbelievableexplosion and you know, the
first thing you're thinking ofis like, oh my god, who's in?
There?
Was someone in there?
There were seven people missing.
(02:07):
Now, here on this Monday, wehave an update, and it's not a
good update.
The bodies of the seven missingpeople have been found and
identified, although they arenot releasing the identities.
They still need to notify thenext of kin.
(02:29):
But yeah, the bodies of theseven people reported missing
died in what Yolo Countyofficials called a significant
explosion.
Well, yes, it was.
This was the 1st of July, justafter 6 pm.
My show starts at 7.
This was at that warehousewhich stores fireworks south of
(02:51):
Esparto, just northwest ofSacramento.
If that helps, this starts.
The Oakdale fire burned 78acres.
The fire 100% contained as ofyesterday, but the crews did
locate the seven victims fromthe Oakdale fire.
This is very sad news.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I want to reiterate and express our condolences to
the families and the loved onesof those individuals who were
lost in this tragedy.
I want to confirm again todaythat we have recovered the human
remains of seven individuals onthe property.
We are working, continuing towork and working throughout the
(03:38):
day to ensure there are notadditional victims.
While we have no information tobelieve that there are, we're
going to make sure with everyavailable resource that no stone
is left unturned and there areno individuals still left on
site.
As far as the seven deceased,the DNA process will start
(04:00):
shortly in order to obtainofficial identification.
We expect to have that in thenext 48 hours and, following the
notification of next of kin, wewill make that information
available.
Have you had a chance to goback and look at your records
and find out when the lastinspection was here?
(04:20):
Was there safety checks done?
Did they pass those safetychecks?
And also, why was yourdepartment conducting those
inspections when you do have avolunteer firefighter who has
this business?
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Again, that is part of the ongoing investigation and
I won't comment directly on all.
I can't comment directly on allof that.
Again, I don't have all thatinformation.
But I can tell you, like I'vesaid before, we were aware of
the facilities and I said we didsite visits.
I did not say we didinspections.
So just to clarify that sitevisits were just to be aware of
what was here, and that's what Ican give you on that.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Is that a volunteer firefighter?
Still a volunteer firefighterwith your department, the?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
volunteer firefighter is currently on a leave of
absence.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, so that was the firefighter there.
I want to reiterate, and thiswas Matthew Davis, who was a
Yellow County Sheriff's OfficeCondolences who offered the
condolences at the beginningthere, just to let you know who
you were listening to.
So tragic news there.
I mean, just feel for thosefamilies, very sorry to hear
(05:24):
that it turned out that way.
You know, really, fireworks atthat point, irrelevant compared
to the people who lost theirlives there Today in other
things that are going on, as Imentioned, peace and love, peace
(05:47):
and love.
Ringo Starr turns 85 years oldtoday.
85 years old, one of theBeatles.
Think about that.
Now.
The Beatles were a generationahead of me.
You know there was a generationlistening to the Beatles and
initially the first part of theStones were still listening to
(06:10):
the Stones.
My Stones love came from the70s, by the way, but you know
this.
You know when people werelistening to the Beatles and
they were listening to the birdsand they were listening to, you
know, the Doors and in inHendrix and Joplin.
My generation we were more PinkFloyd, led Zeppelin, montrose,
you know bands like that.
(06:32):
And so it's our generation atsome point is going to be the
next to be, god willing, 85.
But Ringo is 85.
Right, yeah, he's all aboutpeace and love.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Ah, yes, you know what's happening On Monday, my
birthday.
What does that mean?
It means at noon, wherever youare, all over the world,
anywhere you go, peace and love,peace and love.
That's my gift from you, thankyou.
This is my gift to you Peaceand love.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
You know I got to say he might touch up the whiskers
or whatever, I don't know, butRingo still looks good.
You know we have two Beatlesleft and you know both he and
Paul look good.
And you know the thing aboutRingo Starr he's still got his
all-star band, ringo Starr'sall-star band, which goes out on
(07:36):
tour.
I think they're touring thisyear.
He's 85.
These guys are awesome man.
His son, zach Starkey there'sbeen some controversy with him
and the who.
He's been the drummer of thewho for 29 years, far longer
than Keith Moon, and in myopinion sorry you may hate me if
(08:01):
you will, it's okay Every bitas good as Keith Moon.
Yep, hate me if you will forsaying that, but Zach Starkey is
one hell of a good drummer andI say he's as good as Keith Moon
, and he was in the band for 29years.
Um, happy birthday to Ringo.
You know, when you go back andyou think about Ringo Starr, we
(08:21):
think well, you know, like PaulMcCartney, you know, boy, he had
all these hits, Lennon, how heall, he had all these hits.
George Harrisonennon, all thesehits, george Harrison.
Man, he had hits too, didn't he?
I'm talking about after theBeatles, I'm talking about solo
(08:46):
career.
And when you talk about RingoStarr and when you talk about
Ringo Starr this guy who doesn'tget enough credit as far as I'm
concerned, I mean he had someof the biggest hits of all of
the solo Beatles.
I mean if you look back onRingo Starr's solo career, I
(09:12):
contend he does not get enoughcredit for that.
So if you look at, let's say,going back to the early 70s, he
was on George Harrison's albumAll Things Must Pass 1970, after
the Beatles broke up.
He had that three-record setLiving in the material World in
(09:32):
1973.
No, not Madonna, dark Horse in74.
But in 1971, ringo participatedin the concert for Bangladesh
with George Harrison and heco-wrote the hit and it's a
(09:56):
great song.
It Don't Come Easy.
I just love this song.
It is a great.
And this is Ringo 1971.
Speaker 6 (10:32):
In my estimation it is a fantastic tune.
Easy Got to pay your dues.
If you want to see the bluesand you know it don't come easy
you don't have to shout or leavethem out.
You can even play them easy.
Forget about the past and allyour sorrows.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
This song went to number four in both the US and
in the UK.
But the following year I meantalk about his great success he
released his most successful UKhit.
This one, in my estimation,gets forgotten in the mix.
(11:27):
I always liked it.
I haven't heard it in a whilebecause it gets lost in the mix.
Back off liked it.
I haven't heard it in a whileBecause it gets lost in the mix.
Back off Boogaloo.
I always liked that littleguitar.
Back off Boogaloo.
Back off Boogaloo.
Back off Boogaloo, produced byGeorge Harrison.
(11:50):
Back off Boogaloo, produced byGeorge Harrison.
Back on Boogaloo.
What you think I'm gonna do,I'm gonna flash right from the
start Number two in the UK,number nine in the US.
Wake up me, head.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
Don't pretend that you were dead.
Get yourself up off the car.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
We'll be right back Celebrating Ringo Starr's 85th
birthday.
Pat's Peeps 296.
In 1973 and 1974, ringo had twonumber one hits in the United
States.
Do you remember what they were?
So two number ones for theformer Beatles just in 73 and 74
(13:04):
.
Photograph was one of thosesongs ¶¶ Co-written with George
Harrison.
It was one of those songsCo-written with George Harrison.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
Every time I see your face it reminds me of the
places we used to go, but allI've got is a photograph, and I
realize you're not coming backanymore.
(13:38):
I thought I'd make it the dayyou went away, but I can't make
it Till you come home again tostay.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
This went to number eight in the UK.
I can't get you.
Number one in the US I can'tget you.
Speaker 6 (14:06):
But my heart is broke , my tears are crying for you.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
The other one that he had in terms of a number one
hit was in 1974 of those two,and it was written by the
Sherman Brothers and it wasRingo's third million-selling
single in the United States.
It was a song called You're 16.
(14:31):
That's Peeps 296.
Number four in the UK You'reall ribbons and curls.
Speaker 6 (14:56):
Who are the girls?
Eyes that sparkle and shine?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
You're 16, you're beautiful and you're mine, and
both of these tracks appeared onRingo's debut album.
Ringo, you're my baby, you'remy pain.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
We fell in love.
On the night we met.
You touched my hand, my heartwent home.
Ooh, when we kissed, I couldnot stop.
You walked out of my life.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
The album was produced by Richard Perry and
featured further contributionsfrom George Harrison, as well as
a song from Lennon andMcCartney and a gazoo One of the
(15:47):
few gazoo tunes.
One of the few Gazoo tunes.
Leave it to Ringo, you know, tohave a Gazoo.
Not a lot of Gazoo tunes, likeI said, but there's a few.
(16:09):
I believe that.
Who was it?
Mungo Jerry had one too.
Anyhow, this was a commercialand critical success.
This record, which alsoincluded another US no 5 song
and another one that I think iskind of overlooked, a song
(16:34):
called oh my my, this is a goodtune.
Album went to number seven inthe UK, number two in the United
States.
What's the matter?
He said, come on over.
I said, do I have to?
Speaker 6 (17:12):
My knees started shaking, my wrist started aching
, when my doctor said to me Holdmy mind.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Hold my mind, can you boogie?
Can you slide?
Hold my mind.
I laugh because Hold my mind,you can boogie If you try.
I laugh because Ringo had asense of humor in a lot of his
music.
I don't think he took himselftoo seriously while making good
(17:45):
music.
He took his music seriously butlighthearted when they started
dancing.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
I jumped off the table.
I felt myself bleeding and as Iwas bleeding, this is what they
said to me oh, my, my oh my my.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Can you believe?
Can you slide?
Oh my my.
Good Night Vienna.
Followed in 1974.
You can't fly.
Oh my my.
It was also successful.
Reached number eight in theUnited States, number 30 in the
UK.
Featured contributions fromJohn Lennon, elton John, harry
(18:33):
Nilsson.
That album included a coverwhich was suggested by Lennon, a
cover of the Platters 1954 hitOnly you and you Alone, which
ends up going I mean, it's whata song, at least in my opinion,
to pick, for Lennon to pick Onlyyou by the Platters.
(18:55):
Hmm Well, went to number six inthe US, went to number 28 in
the UK and here it is from hisGoodnight Vienna album.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
What a different take .
Only you Can make the darknessbright.
Only you and you alone Canthrill me like you do and fill
(19:53):
my heart with love, for only you, only you Can make this change
in me.
For, it's true, you are mydestiny.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
You know, again a very different take on that song
and the classic from thePlatters when I live, that one
did not get as much airtime assome of the other ones.
I can say that I recall thatsong and I recall it being
played on the radio, but I don'tthink that it was quite as much
(20:50):
of a hit here where I live asit probably was in other areas
of the country.
And you know, it's interestinghow that works, how there'll be
regional hits and that was not abig, big hit here.
But this one was this would beone of my favorites by Ringo and
(21:16):
again you know the fact thatRingo had a sense of humor.
I love his sense of humor andas it was another guy in fact I
was just asking someone abouthim the other day this gentleman
and they had no idea who I wastalking about, and that's okay,
not everyone's gonna know.
But Hoyt Axton was a verytalented writer.
(21:38):
He was a very talented musician.
Again, had a great sense ofhumor.
He was a talented actor.
I to love anytime I waswatching a TV show.
And Hoyt Axton, who wrote songsfor Three Dog Night Well, I've
(21:58):
never been to Spain, you knowJoy to the World wrote some big
hits for a lot of people.
He wrote a song for Ringo Starrand this is one of my favorites
.
This one used to be on theradio all the time when I was
(22:19):
growing up, went to number threein the United States Seventh
consecutive top ten hit, by theway.
Here you go.
I love it.
It's called the no no song.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
Such a good tune the lady that I know just came from
columbia.
She smiled because I did notunderstand.
Then she held out somemarijuana.
She said it was the best in allD-land.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
And I said no, no, no , no, I don't smoke it no more.
I'm tired of waking up on thefloor.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
No, thank you please.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
It only makes me sneeze, then it makes it hard to
find the door.
Speaker 6 (23:17):
Sorry, I love it a woman that I know just came from
my york of Spain.
She smiled because I did notunderstand.
Thanks to held out a 10 poundbag of cocaine.
She said it was the finest inthe land and I said no, no, no,
(23:38):
no, I don't, no more.
I'm tired of waking up on thefloor.
No, thank you, please.
It only makes me sneeze.
Then it makes it hard to findthe door.
Aye, aye, aye, aye.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
It's kind of so festive, isn't?
It Makes me want to drink rumWith the coconut juice and the
little umbrella.
Speaker 6 (24:12):
Vinny, I don't came from Nashville, Tennessee.
I don't want to get in trouble.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
I don't own these songs.
I don't have the rights.
Speaker 6 (24:20):
He held out some moonshine whiskey.
He said it was the best in allthe land.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Anyhow, I'm going to bring this up on my show tonight
.
I try not to replicate thingson my show too much, but yeah,
I'm going to talk about Ringo.
Obviously got to talk aboutRingo's birthday tonight, so
I'll be doing that on my showtonight.
I hope you can tune into thePat wall show.
Yeah, I was going to get intothis, but I you know now that
(24:53):
I'm sitting there listening toRingo, it's just such a If he
comes around.
I have not had the opportunityto see Ringo's all-star band,
but if they're in concert I'mgoing to go, because I want to
see how he's doing, I want tohear the music.
He's always surrounding himselfwith great artists from other
(25:15):
bands and so I want to see him.
You know I've seen Paul.
You know, when it comes to theBeatles, we have Paul and we
have Ringo, and you know they'reboth way up there in age.
So but you know now that I'mtalking about R ringo, I don't
(25:38):
want to transition into thisnext thing.
Oh, but I will, just for theheck of it.
You know, because I wasthinking about it.
I don't even know why thispopped up.
Honestly, I don't know if itran.
You know how you like.
Maybe you're watching YouTubeor whatever.
I can't remember it must havebeen that YouTube TV.
(26:01):
It was a video about this guythat named Gary Gilmore.
Anyone remember this dude?
You got to be as old as me, atleast, to remember this guy.
I remember this guy gettingexecuted and he had committed a
(26:24):
couple of murders and he wantedto be in front of the firing
squad in Utah.
It's funny how your mind willassociate memories with certain
events and different things.
Maybe that you were doing thatyou connect together.
I can remember being a kid andI was at the.
I was a teenager, a youngteenager, and maybe just coming
(26:46):
off a senior league of baseball,whatever, and I went to a
baseball camp at Sacramento CityCollege, over by William Land
Park, over by Hughes Stadium,and it was a weekend of going
out and we got to play withformer big leaguers and we got
to learn things and really goout and test ourselves and I
couldn't wait to do it.
(27:07):
But I, for whatever reason,remember that weekend was the
weekend they were talking about,that this guy had either been
executed or he was going to beexecuted that day or the next.
Isn't that a random thing toremember?
I remember going to theregistration counter at the
(27:28):
baseball clinic and the adultstalking about it and seeing a
newspaper on the table that thisdude wanted to be executed with
a firing squad.
It came up when I saw that andthen it was July of 76.
That just got me to thinkingabout first of all how long ago
(27:53):
that was.
But there's a weird storyconnected with that.
It made me think about it.
I said you know I haven't toldthat story on my show.
First of all, if you don't knowwho this piece of trash was, I'm
sorry but he was.
He's a murderer.
Piece of trash was Sorry, buthe was.
He's a murderer.
(28:16):
He murdered in cold blood GaryMark Gilmore.
He got the death sentence fortwo murders and he admitted to
these murders that he committed.
In Utah Supreme Court upheld anew series of death penalty
statutes in this 1976 decision,gregg versus Georgia and he
(28:41):
becomes the first person inalmost 10 years to be executed
in the United States.
And these new statutes avoidedthe problems under the 1972
decision Furman versus Georgia,which had resulted in earlier
death penalty statutes beingdeemed cruel and unusual
punishment and thereforeunconstitutional.
(29:02):
Anyhow, gilmore wanted to beexecuted by a firing squad in
1977.
By a firing squad in 1977.
He was an outcast, excuse me.
Well, he was born in Portland,outcast from Provo, utah, and
(29:32):
living in Sacramento, where I'mfrom.
So that's one of the tie-insfor me, where I'm from.
So that's one of the tie-insfor me because I'm from
Sacramento and he's 14 years oldstarted a small car theft ring
with his friends.
Resulted in his first arrest.
(29:52):
But then, in July of 1976,gilmore then robs and murders
this guy by the name of MaxJensen, who was a gas station
employee.
This was in Orem, utah.
The next night he goes and robsand murders Benny Bushnell, who
was a motel manager in Provo.
Both of these men complied withhis demands.
(30:15):
Yet he murdered both of them,Told them to lie down, shot them
in the head.
Both were students at BrighamYoung University, both left
widows, both left infants.
He tried to get rid of this .22caliber pistol that he used in
(30:38):
both of these killingsAccidentally shoots himself in
his right hand which leaves atrail of blood to the service
garage where he had left histruck to be repaired prior to
murdering BennyBushnell.
This guy, this garage mechanic,michael Simpson, witnesses
(30:58):
Gilmore hiding the gun in thebushes, sees the blood on his
bandage on his right hand.
That was there very crudebandage.
As he tries to pay for therepairs to his truck the guy
notices it.
Then he hears on the policescanner about a shooting in a
(31:19):
nearby motel.
So this guy, michael Simpson,the hotel manager, writes down
the license plate for GaryGilmore, calls the PD and then
his cousin, brenda Gilmore,calls the PD and then his cousin
(31:40):
, brenda Gilmore's cousin, turnshim in to the police shortly
after he phoned her asking forbandages and painkillers for the
injury to his hand.
They pull him over.
He gave up, did not try to fleefrom Provo.
Anyhow, this guy ends upwanting the firing squad.
Speaker 7 (32:03):
During the board of pardons hearing in November of
1976, Gilmore made it quiteclear.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
It seems that the people, especially the people of
Utah, they want the deathpenalty, but they don't want
executions, and when it became areality, they might have to
carry one out.
Well, I started backing off onit.
Well, I took them literal andserious when they sentenced me
to death.
Speaker 7 (32:24):
The stays of execution angered Gilmore.
In November he attemptedsuicide, recovered but tried
again the next month.
His execution was now set forJanuary 17, 1977.
National and internationalmedia converged at the Utah
State Prison.
Protesters held vigils.
The ACLU made one last attemptto save his life, but it was
(32:46):
denied.
30 minutes before his execution, an ABC reporter described
Gilmore's last moments.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
The warden, having read aloud the legal order that
Gilmore must be shot for hiscrime, asked quietly for any
last words.
Gilmore said let's do it.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Okay Again.
Listen to that again.
This is from ABC4, Utah crimeask quietly for any last words.
Speaker 4 (33:12):
Gilmore said let's do it.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Let's do it Okay.
Now here's the interestingtie-in to that.
Here comes the curveball thatno one sees coming.
Let's do it All right.
So that's his last words beforethe firing squad takes him out.
(33:42):
He says let's do it.
Speaker 7 (33:45):
Let's do it.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
The order of the 4th Judicial District Court of the
state of Utah has been carriedout.
Gary Mark Gilmore is dead.
Speaker 7 (34:01):
At 8.05 in the morning, gilmore's wish was
carried out.
He was shot four times throughthe heart.
Reporters were given access towhere Gilmore was shot.
They took pictures of bulletholes posed in front of the
chair.
The ACLU was prophetic.
Since his execution, capitalpunishment is now a way of life.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
So, yeah, let's do it .
And they did it.
So where am I going with this?
Well, that turns into one ofthe most iconic ads of all time.
What True let's do it.
(34:43):
Facing down a firing squad,last moments Double murderer.
Dan Whedon, the founder of thead agency, whedon Kennedy.
Dan Whedon, the founder of thead agency, whedon Kennedy, is
watching this and he is inspiredby this to adapt the phrase
(35:08):
just do it for a 1988 TV adwhich introduced the slogan to
the world.
What slogan is that?
That would be Nike, just do it,inspired by the words of the
last words of a murderer,dreamed up by Whedon, head of
(35:28):
this ad agency, and included itas the focal point of a TV
commercial in 1988 about thiselderly man who was out running
First Nike ad.
80-year-old Walt Stack, joggingacross the Golden Gate Bridge
(35:55):
in Nike's first Just Do it ad,chatting about his daily 17-mile
run 17 miles.
Speaker 6 (36:04):
Every morning.
People ask me how I keep myteeth from chattering in the
wintertime.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
I lead in my locker.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
And then they slap up the swoosh and just do it,
dreamed up by Dan Whedon, now anendlessly repeated tagline, and
(36:41):
so I don't know how many of youknew that already, but I
thought that was a veryinteresting story.
By the way, nike's formermarketing chief, liz Dolan this
probably would be why you don'tknow about this says Nike tries
not to share the origins of thatphrase widely.
(37:02):
David Grosso is the VP ofglobal brand marketing for Nike.
Told Creative Review in 2011,.
David Grosso is the VP ofglobal brand marketing for Nike.
Told Creative Review in 2011,.
Just do.
It is still just as relevant tous as a brand name today as it
was 23 years ago.
So thank you, my friends.
(37:27):
Happy birthday to Ringo Starr.
Peace and love, peace and love,peace and love.
Appreciate you listening to myPats Peeps 296.
See you on the radio don't comeeasy, you know.
welcome to the pats peeps podcast.
Here we are, number 296.
Thank you for being a part ofour pats peeps family.
Today's a mond Monday, july the7th 2025.
Looking out the studio windowsinto the beautiful foothills of
Northern California A sunny,warm day, a nice breeze.
(00:33):
It's a big birthday today thatI'm going to get to Peace and
love.
Peace and love that would befrom the birthday boy himself
that is coming up.
I wanted to start with kind ofan update on what is happening
kind of locally in my area.
By the way, my name is PatWalsh.
(00:54):
I'm the host of the Pat WalshShow on KFPK in Sacramento and
heard everywhere on the freeiHeart app and all the way
everywhere on your streamingservices, just like this podcast
is.
And my show again 7 to 10 pm,monday through Friday 93.1 FM,
1530 am.
Last week, just before my showstarted, this huge fire started,
(01:21):
this explosion at a fireworksfactory right near a Sparta and
it was just unbelievably tragic.
I'm watching the TV monitorsright as I'm beginning my show
and I'm talking with KittyO'Neill who hosts our afternoon
news on KFPK, and we're doingthe handoff to my show and we're
(01:46):
looking up at the monitor.
We're just like look at this.
There are fireworks shootingoff from this factory I've never
seen anything like this when,all of a sudden, the biggest
explosion it was an unbelievableexplosion and you know, the
first thing you're thinking ofis like, oh my god, who's in?
There?
Was someone in there?
There were seven people missing.
(02:07):
Now, here on this Monday, wehave an update, and it's not a
good update.
The bodies of the seven missingpeople have been found and
identified, although they arenot releasing the identities.
They still need to notify thenext of kin.
(02:29):
But yeah, the bodies of theseven people reported missing
died in what Yolo Countyofficials called a significant
explosion.
Well, yes, it was.
This was the 1st of July, justafter 6 pm.
My show starts at 7.
This was at that warehousewhich stores fireworks south of
(02:51):
Esparto, just northwest ofSacramento.
If that helps, this starts.
The Oakdale fire burned 78acres.
The fire 100% contained as ofyesterday, but the crews did
locate the seven victims fromthe Oakdale fire.
This is very sad news.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I want to reiterate and express our condolences to
the families and the loved onesof those individuals who were
lost in this tragedy.
I want to confirm again todaythat we have recovered the human
remains of seven individuals onthe property.
We are working, continuing towork and working throughout the
(03:38):
day to ensure there are notadditional victims.
While we have no information tobelieve that there are, we're
going to make sure with everyavailable resource that no stone
is left unturned and there areno individuals still left on
site.
As far as the seven deceased,the DNA process will start
(04:00):
shortly in order to obtainofficial identification.
We expect to have that in thenext 48 hours and, following the
notification of next of kin, wewill make that information
available.
Have you had a chance to goback and look at your records
and find out when the lastinspection was here?
(04:20):
Was there safety checks done?
Did they pass those safetychecks?
And also, why was yourdepartment conducting those
inspections when you do have avolunteer firefighter who has
this business?
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Again, that is part of the ongoing investigation and
I won't comment directly on all.
I can't comment directly on allof that.
Again, I don't have all thatinformation.
But I can tell you, like I'vesaid before, we were aware of
the facilities and I said we didsite visits.
I did not say we didinspections.
So just to clarify that sitevisits were just to be aware of
what was here, and that's what Ican give you on that.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Is that a volunteer firefighter?
Still a volunteer firefighterwith your department, the?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
volunteer firefighter is currently on a leave of
absence.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, so that was the firefighter there.
I want to reiterate, and thiswas Matthew Davis, who was a
Yellow County Sheriff's OfficeCondolences who offered the
condolences at the beginningthere, just to let you know who
you were listening to.
So tragic news there.
I mean, just feel for thosefamilies, very sorry to hear
(05:24):
that it turned out that way.
You know, really, fireworks atthat point, irrelevant compared
to the people who lost theirlives there Today in other
things that are going on, as Imentioned, peace and love, peace
(05:47):
and love.
Ringo Starr turns 85 years oldtoday.
85 years old, one of theBeatles.
Think about that.
Now.
The Beatles were a generationahead of me.
You know there was a generationlistening to the Beatles and
initially the first part of theStones were still listening to
(06:10):
the Stones.
My Stones love came from the70s, by the way, but you know
this.
You know when people werelistening to the Beatles and
they were listening to the birdsand they were listening to, you
know, the Doors and in inHendrix and Joplin.
My generation we were more PinkFloyd, led Zeppelin, montrose,
you know bands like that.
(06:32):
And so it's our generation atsome point is going to be the
next to be, god willing, 85.
But Ringo is 85.
Right, yeah, he's all aboutpeace and love.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Ah, yes, you know what's happening On Monday, my
birthday.
What does that mean?
It means at noon, wherever youare, all over the world,
anywhere you go, peace and love,peace and love.
That's my gift from you, thankyou.
This is my gift to you Peaceand love.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
You know I got to say he might touch up the whiskers
or whatever, I don't know, butRingo still looks good.
You know we have two Beatlesleft and you know both he and
Paul look good.
And you know the thing aboutRingo Starr he's still got his
all-star band, ringo Starr'sall-star band, which goes out on
(07:36):
tour.
I think they're touring thisyear.
He's 85.
These guys are awesome man.
His son, zach Starkey there'sbeen some controversy with him
and the who.
He's been the drummer of thewho for 29 years, far longer
than Keith Moon, and in myopinion sorry you may hate me if
(08:01):
you will, it's okay Every bitas good as Keith Moon.
Yep, hate me if you will forsaying that, but Zach Starkey is
one hell of a good drummer andI say he's as good as Keith Moon
, and he was in the band for 29years.
Um, happy birthday to Ringo.
You know, when you go back andyou think about Ringo Starr, we
(08:21):
think well, you know, like PaulMcCartney, you know, boy, he had
all these hits, Lennon, how heall, he had all these hits.
George Harrisonennon, all thesehits, george Harrison.
Man, he had hits too, didn't he?
I'm talking about after theBeatles, I'm talking about solo
(08:46):
career.
And when you talk about RingoStarr and when you talk about
Ringo Starr this guy who doesn'tget enough credit as far as I'm
concerned, I mean he had someof the biggest hits of all of
the solo Beatles.
I mean if you look back onRingo Starr's solo career, I
(09:12):
contend he does not get enoughcredit for that.
So if you look at, let's say,going back to the early 70s, he
was on George Harrison's albumAll Things Must Pass 1970, after
the Beatles broke up.
He had that three-record setLiving in the material World in
(09:32):
1973.
No, not Madonna, dark Horse in74.
But in 1971, ringo participatedin the concert for Bangladesh
with George Harrison and heco-wrote the hit and it's a
(09:56):
great song.
It Don't Come Easy.
I just love this song.
It is a great.
And this is Ringo 1971.
Speaker 6 (10:32):
In my estimation it is a fantastic tune.
Easy Got to pay your dues.
If you want to see the bluesand you know it don't come easy
you don't have to shout or leavethem out.
You can even play them easy.
Forget about the past and allyour sorrows.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
This song went to number four in both the US and
in the UK.
But the following year I meantalk about his great success he
released his most successful UKhit.
This one, in my estimation,gets forgotten in the mix.
(11:27):
I always liked it.
I haven't heard it in a whilebecause it gets lost in the mix.
Back off liked it.
I haven't heard it in a whileBecause it gets lost in the mix.
Back off Boogaloo.
I always liked that littleguitar.
Back off Boogaloo.
Back off Boogaloo.
Back off Boogaloo, produced byGeorge Harrison.
(11:50):
Back off Boogaloo, produced byGeorge Harrison.
Back on Boogaloo.
What you think I'm gonna do,I'm gonna flash right from the
start Number two in the UK,number nine in the US.
Wake up me, head.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
Don't pretend that you were dead.
Get yourself up off the car.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
We'll be right back Celebrating Ringo Starr's 85th
birthday.
Pat's Peeps 296.
In 1973 and 1974, ringo had twonumber one hits in the United
States.
Do you remember what they were?
So two number ones for theformer Beatles just in 73 and 74
(13:04):
.
Photograph was one of thosesongs ¶¶ Co-written with George
Harrison.
It was one of those songsCo-written with George Harrison.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
Every time I see your face it reminds me of the
places we used to go, but allI've got is a photograph, and I
realize you're not coming backanymore.
(13:38):
I thought I'd make it the dayyou went away, but I can't make
it Till you come home again tostay.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
This went to number eight in the UK.
I can't get you.
Number one in the US I can'tget you.
Speaker 6 (14:06):
But my heart is broke , my tears are crying for you.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
The other one that he had in terms of a number one
hit was in 1974 of those two,and it was written by the
Sherman Brothers and it wasRingo's third million-selling
single in the United States.
It was a song called You're 16.
(14:31):
That's Peeps 296.
Number four in the UK You'reall ribbons and curls.
Speaker 6 (14:56):
Who are the girls?
Eyes that sparkle and shine?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
You're 16, you're beautiful and you're mine, and
both of these tracks appeared onRingo's debut album.
Ringo, you're my baby, you'remy pain.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
We fell in love.
On the night we met.
You touched my hand, my heartwent home.
Ooh, when we kissed, I couldnot stop.
You walked out of my life.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
The album was produced by Richard Perry and
featured further contributionsfrom George Harrison, as well as
a song from Lennon andMcCartney and a gazoo One of the
(15:47):
few gazoo tunes.
One of the few Gazoo tunes.
Leave it to Ringo, you know, tohave a Gazoo.
Not a lot of Gazoo tunes, likeI said, but there's a few.
(16:09):
I believe that.
Who was it?
Mungo Jerry had one too.
Anyhow, this was a commercialand critical success.
This record, which alsoincluded another US no 5 song
and another one that I think iskind of overlooked, a song
(16:34):
called oh my my, this is a goodtune.
Album went to number seven inthe UK, number two in the United
States.
What's the matter?
He said, come on over.
I said, do I have to?
Speaker 6 (17:12):
My knees started shaking, my wrist started aching
, when my doctor said to me Holdmy mind.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Hold my mind, can you boogie?
Can you slide?
Hold my mind.
I laugh because Hold my mind,you can boogie If you try.
I laugh because Ringo had asense of humor in a lot of his
music.
I don't think he took himselftoo seriously while making good
(17:45):
music.
He took his music seriously butlighthearted when they started
dancing.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
I jumped off the table.
I felt myself bleeding and as Iwas bleeding, this is what they
said to me oh, my, my oh my my.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Can you believe?
Can you slide?
Oh my my.
Good Night Vienna.
Followed in 1974.
You can't fly.
Oh my my.
It was also successful.
Reached number eight in theUnited States, number 30 in the
UK.
Featured contributions fromJohn Lennon, elton John, harry
(18:33):
Nilsson.
That album included a coverwhich was suggested by Lennon, a
cover of the Platters 1954 hitOnly you and you Alone, which
ends up going I mean, it's whata song, at least in my opinion,
to pick, for Lennon to pick Onlyyou by the Platters.
(18:55):
Hmm Well, went to number six inthe US, went to number 28 in
the UK and here it is from hisGoodnight Vienna album.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
What a different take .
Only you Can make the darknessbright.
Only you and you alone Canthrill me like you do and fill
(19:53):
my heart with love, for only you, only you Can make this change
in me.
For, it's true, you are mydestiny.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
You know, again a very different take on that song
and the classic from thePlatters when I live, that one
did not get as much airtime assome of the other ones.
I can say that I recall thatsong and I recall it being
played on the radio, but I don'tthink that it was quite as much
(20:50):
of a hit here where I live asit probably was in other areas
of the country.
And you know, it's interestinghow that works, how there'll be
regional hits and that was not abig, big hit here.
But this one was this would beone of my favorites by Ringo and
(21:16):
again you know the fact thatRingo had a sense of humor.
I love his sense of humor andas it was another guy in fact I
was just asking someone abouthim the other day this gentleman
and they had no idea who I wastalking about, and that's okay,
not everyone's gonna know.
But Hoyt Axton was a verytalented writer.
(21:38):
He was a very talented musician.
Again, had a great sense ofhumor.
He was a talented actor.
I to love anytime I waswatching a TV show.
And Hoyt Axton, who wrote songsfor Three Dog Night Well, I've
(21:58):
never been to Spain, you knowJoy to the World wrote some big
hits for a lot of people.
He wrote a song for Ringo Starrand this is one of my favorites
.
This one used to be on theradio all the time when I was
(22:19):
growing up, went to number threein the United States Seventh
consecutive top ten hit, by theway.
Here you go.
I love it.
It's called the no no song.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
Such a good tune the lady that I know just came from
columbia.
She smiled because I did notunderstand.
Then she held out somemarijuana.
She said it was the best in allD-land.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
And I said no, no, no , no, I don't smoke it no more.
I'm tired of waking up on thefloor.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
No, thank you please.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
It only makes me sneeze, then it makes it hard to
find the door.
Speaker 6 (23:17):
Sorry, I love it a woman that I know just came from
my york of Spain.
She smiled because I did notunderstand.
Thanks to held out a 10 poundbag of cocaine.
She said it was the finest inthe land and I said no, no, no,
(23:38):
no, I don't, no more.
I'm tired of waking up on thefloor.
No, thank you, please.
It only makes me sneeze.
Then it makes it hard to findthe door.
Aye, aye, aye, aye.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
It's kind of so festive, isn't?
It Makes me want to drink rumWith the coconut juice and the
little umbrella.
Speaker 6 (24:12):
Vinny, I don't came from Nashville, Tennessee.
I don't want to get in trouble.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
I don't own these songs.
I don't have the rights.
Speaker 6 (24:20):
He held out some moonshine whiskey.
He said it was the best in allthe land.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Anyhow, I'm going to bring this up on my show tonight
.
I try not to replicate thingson my show too much, but yeah,
I'm going to talk about Ringo.
Obviously got to talk aboutRingo's birthday tonight, so
I'll be doing that on my showtonight.
I hope you can tune into thePat wall show.
Yeah, I was going to get intothis, but I you know now that
(24:53):
I'm sitting there listening toRingo, it's just such a If he
comes around.
I have not had the opportunityto see Ringo's all-star band,
but if they're in concert I'mgoing to go, because I want to
see how he's doing, I want tohear the music.
He's always surrounding himselfwith great artists from other
(25:15):
bands and so I want to see him.
You know I've seen Paul.
You know, when it comes to theBeatles, we have Paul and we
have Ringo, and you know they'reboth way up there in age.
So but you know now that I'mtalking about R ringo, I don't
(25:38):
want to transition into thisnext thing.
Oh, but I will, just for theheck of it.
You know, because I wasthinking about it.
I don't even know why thispopped up.
Honestly, I don't know if itran.
You know how you like.
Maybe you're watching YouTubeor whatever.
I can't remember it must havebeen that YouTube TV.
(26:01):
It was a video about this guythat named Gary Gilmore.
Anyone remember this dude?
You got to be as old as me, atleast, to remember this guy.
I remember this guy gettingexecuted and he had committed a
(26:24):
couple of murders and he wantedto be in front of the firing
squad in Utah.
It's funny how your mind willassociate memories with certain
events and different things.
Maybe that you were doing thatyou connect together.
I can remember being a kid andI was at the.
I was a teenager, a youngteenager, and maybe just coming
(26:46):
off a senior league of baseball,whatever, and I went to a
baseball camp at Sacramento CityCollege, over by William Land
Park, over by Hughes Stadium,and it was a weekend of going
out and we got to play withformer big leaguers and we got
to learn things and really goout and test ourselves and I
couldn't wait to do it.
(27:07):
But I, for whatever reason,remember that weekend was the
weekend they were talking about,that this guy had either been
executed or he was going to beexecuted that day or the next.
Isn't that a random thing toremember?
I remember going to theregistration counter at the
(27:28):
baseball clinic and the adultstalking about it and seeing a
newspaper on the table that thisdude wanted to be executed with
a firing squad.
It came up when I saw that andthen it was July of 76.
That just got me to thinkingabout first of all how long ago
(27:53):
that was.
But there's a weird storyconnected with that.
It made me think about it.
I said you know I haven't toldthat story on my show.
First of all, if you don't knowwho this piece of trash was, I'm
sorry but he was.
He's a murderer.
Piece of trash was Sorry, buthe was.
He's a murderer.
(28:16):
He murdered in cold blood GaryMark Gilmore.
He got the death sentence fortwo murders and he admitted to
these murders that he committed.
In Utah Supreme Court upheld anew series of death penalty
statutes in this 1976 decision,gregg versus Georgia and he
(28:41):
becomes the first person inalmost 10 years to be executed
in the United States.
And these new statutes avoidedthe problems under the 1972
decision Furman versus Georgia,which had resulted in earlier
death penalty statutes beingdeemed cruel and unusual
punishment and thereforeunconstitutional.
(29:02):
Anyhow, gilmore wanted to beexecuted by a firing squad in
1977.
By a firing squad in 1977.
He was an outcast, excuse me.
Well, he was born in Portland,outcast from Provo, utah, and
(29:32):
living in Sacramento, where I'mfrom.
So that's one of the tie-insfor me, where I'm from.
So that's one of the tie-insfor me because I'm from
Sacramento and he's 14 years oldstarted a small car theft ring
with his friends.
Resulted in his first arrest.
(29:52):
But then, in July of 1976,gilmore then robs and murders
this guy by the name of MaxJensen, who was a gas station
employee.
This was in Orem, utah.
The next night he goes and robsand murders Benny Bushnell, who
was a motel manager in Provo.
Both of these men complied withhis demands.
(30:15):
Yet he murdered both of them,Told them to lie down, shot them
in the head.
Both were students at BrighamYoung University, both left
widows, both left infants.
He tried to get rid of this .22caliber pistol that he used in
(30:38):
both of these killingsAccidentally shoots himself in
his right hand which leaves atrail of blood to the service
garage where he had left histruck to be repaired prior to
murdering BennyBushnell.
This guy, this garage mechanic,michael Simpson, witnesses
(30:58):
Gilmore hiding the gun in thebushes, sees the blood on his
bandage on his right hand.
That was there very crudebandage.
As he tries to pay for therepairs to his truck the guy
notices it.
Then he hears on the policescanner about a shooting in a
(31:19):
nearby motel.
So this guy, michael Simpson,the hotel manager, writes down
the license plate for GaryGilmore, calls the PD and then
his cousin, brenda Gilmore,calls the PD and then his cousin
(31:40):
, brenda Gilmore's cousin, turnshim in to the police shortly
after he phoned her asking forbandages and painkillers for the
injury to his hand.
They pull him over.
He gave up, did not try to fleefrom Provo.
Anyhow, this guy ends upwanting the firing squad.
Speaker 7 (32:03):
During the board of pardons hearing in November of
1976, Gilmore made it quiteclear.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
It seems that the people, especially the people of
Utah, they want the deathpenalty, but they don't want
executions, and when it became areality, they might have to
carry one out.
Well, I started backing off onit.
Well, I took them literal andserious when they sentenced me
to death.
Speaker 7 (32:24):
The stays of execution angered Gilmore.
In November he attemptedsuicide, recovered but tried
again the next month.
His execution was now set forJanuary 17, 1977.
National and internationalmedia converged at the Utah
State Prison.
Protesters held vigils.
The ACLU made one last attemptto save his life, but it was
(32:46):
denied.
30 minutes before his execution, an ABC reporter described
Gilmore's last moments.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
The warden, having read aloud the legal order that
Gilmore must be shot for hiscrime, asked quietly for any
last words.
Gilmore said let's do it.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Okay Again.
Listen to that again.
This is from ABC4, Utah crimeask quietly for any last words.
Speaker 4 (33:12):
Gilmore said let's do it.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Let's do it Okay.
Now here's the interestingtie-in to that.
Here comes the curveball thatno one sees coming.
Let's do it All right.
So that's his last words beforethe firing squad takes him out.
(33:42):
He says let's do it.
Speaker 7 (33:45):
Let's do it.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
The order of the 4th Judicial District Court of the
state of Utah has been carriedout.
Gary Mark Gilmore is dead.
Speaker 7 (34:01):
At 8.05 in the morning, gilmore's wish was
carried out.
He was shot four times throughthe heart.
Reporters were given access towhere Gilmore was shot.
They took pictures of bulletholes posed in front of the
chair.
The ACLU was prophetic.
Since his execution, capitalpunishment is now a way of life.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
So, yeah, let's do it .
And they did it.
So where am I going with this?
Well, that turns into one ofthe most iconic ads of all time.
What True let's do it.
(34:43):
Facing down a firing squad,last moments Double murderer.
Dan Whedon, the founder of thead agency, whedon Kennedy.
Dan Whedon, the founder of thead agency, whedon Kennedy, is
watching this and he is inspiredby this to adapt the phrase
(35:08):
just do it for a 1988 TV adwhich introduced the slogan to
the world.
What slogan is that?
That would be Nike, just do it,inspired by the words of the
last words of a murderer,dreamed up by Whedon, head of
(35:28):
this ad agency, and included itas the focal point of a TV
commercial in 1988 about thiselderly man who was out running
First Nike ad.
80-year-old Walt Stack, joggingacross the Golden Gate Bridge
(35:55):
in Nike's first Just Do it ad,chatting about his daily 17-mile
run 17 miles.
Speaker 6 (36:04):
Every morning.
People ask me how I keep myteeth from chattering in the
wintertime.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
I lead in my locker.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
And then they slap up the swoosh and just do it,
dreamed up by Dan Whedon, now anendlessly repeated tagline, and
(36:41):
so I don't know how many of youknew that already, but I
thought that was a veryinteresting story.
By the way, nike's formermarketing chief, liz Dolan this
probably would be why you don'tknow about this says Nike tries
not to share the origins of thatphrase widely.
(37:02):
David Grosso is the VP ofglobal brand marketing for Nike.
Told Creative Review in 2011,.
David Grosso is the VP ofglobal brand marketing for Nike.
Told Creative Review in 2011,.
Just do.
It is still just as relevant tous as a brand name today as it
was 23 years ago.
So thank you, my friends.
(37:27):
Happy birthday to Ringo Starr.
Peace and love, peace and love,peace and love.
Appreciate you listening to myPats Peeps 296.
See you on the radio don't comeeasy, you know.
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