Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, Hey, they're Detroit's Wheels, Yes, Doug put Yeah, John,
is that you know?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is John Coleston?
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Well, John, thank you for checking in with Detroit's Wheels.
We've got John cow Silt on the line. He's going
to be singing with the Smithereens coming up at the
Magic Bag August twenty third. And I got to tell
you if people love this show, especially you know, we've
seen him here a few times now with the Motor
(00:26):
City's own Marshall Crenshaw.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
But I'm excited. I'm excited to see you out there. John.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, I'm a different animal, but but it's the catalog
is the same and it's so fun. I'm having a
good time. Marshall's a good friend. And have you ever
seen him with Robin Wilson.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
No, I haven't seen that show yet. But you three
are like the three Pied Pipers, right.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, we take turns, we rotate.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Yeah, I saw that.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
It's brilliant. But it's fun and the guys are just
the best to work with. And I hope people can
make it out on the twenty third. I hope they
can get there because it's going to be a hohot.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, John, you have such an incredible, rich history. It
is amazing really, I mean how many years you spent
with the Beach Boys and of course with the Cowsills.
But it is a little odd for me to see
you and knowing you know some of the bands that
you've played with throughout the years, like you know, Jan
(01:31):
and Dean and Bob Dylan and just so many Mickey
Dolans and then the Smithereens. So were you a fan
of the band or did they come seeking you out?
How did this marriage come together?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Definitely a fan of the band. I mean the Smithereens
were just the coolest band ever. But one night in
nineteen ninety one, the Cowcles were opening for a band
called Red Cross and a band call the Screaming Trees.
And that was a big feather in our cap because
the Cowcos, you know, like you said, you know why,
(02:07):
how how is the pairing with the Smithereens, Well, how
is the pairing with Red Cross and Screaming Trees? But
they had us play there. My wife got us to
get because he knew Jeff McDonald from uh there, and
the and the Red Cross were a fan of the Coucil.
So we did this show and we were on Cloud
nine and at the end of the show, my sister
(02:29):
and I are backstage in the hallway and so many
hands of the note if the Smithereens are out at
the backstage door and want to talk to us. So
Susan and I go out there, and there's Dennis, Dennis
Dykon and jim Babzatt in their new jersey black clothes
with their long black coats on, and they saw the show,
(02:51):
and Jimmy says, I want you guys to sing on
our next record, which is the blow Up album. Is
we want the cow to sing on our album? We're
just like what? Yeah? And so we sang up on
a song Jimmy wrote called Now and Then and just
became friends after that. But I was very close with
(03:12):
Dennis over the decades, who was also a Beach Boys fan,
and he would come to the shows and sit in
and I'd go to the front of the stage and
he played drums on Rohnda and Barbara and or rock
and roll whatever it was, and it was fun and
I always joked around it, I want to sing with
the Smithereens sometimes. He said, that's an interesting idea, you know.
(03:36):
And so after the Beach Boys were over in twenty three,
I was prodded to call Dnnis to say, hey, I
want to I want to sit in with the Smithereens
and I want to sing time and time again. So
Dennis said okay. So we flew to New Jersey at
the Wonderbar on Jersey Shore and I sat in with
(03:57):
him and my wife, Vicky Peterson was with me, and
they brought us on stage and we sang a few
Beatles songs and that was really a wonderful night and
I love singing with them. So then they were playing
in California a week later, and I went to that
and I said, I want to sing again with you.
In California, they said, okay, come and sing that song.
Their manager Lenn was there Lenfiico, and he said, do
(04:20):
I want to do more of these shows? I said
one song? He says, no, the whole show. And I've
never been a lead singer in anybody's band, never mind.
I'm usually somebody these drummer or piano player, background singers.
So about a year into it, after Marshall and Robin
couldn't do some things, they finally called me and said, okay,
(04:41):
your first gig is coming up. I said, one gig.
I had to learn twenty seven songs. Basically, it took
me two months to learn the songs. Unfortunately, I had
that time to learn before the gig and I did
that and then it just it went so well. They said,
do you want to do some more? And I said, yeah,
so I because Marshall has his own career. You know,
(05:03):
he goes out as Marshall Crenshaw right, Robin Wilson. We
know he's with the tim Blossom. He's on tour right now.
And I'm the third guy. So if those two guys
couldn't do it, the Smitherings didn't work. So I'm the
third guy. So they work more now. So it helps
us all and I get to sing with him. Now.
I have a career with my wife. We have a
(05:25):
new duo that we go out and Pickie Peterson and
John House, who've got a new album out's doing well.
Next year we'll do more gigs, but you know they
go out for weekends. I say yes whenever I can.
And August twenty third, you got to be there because
it's so much fun. We have the best time on stage.
I'm not kidding. And I have the best seat in
the house because I'm singing with my friends, and I
(05:47):
can walk over to the drum set and watch Dennis
play drums up close, which is always fun for another
drummer to be able to do that. And Jimmy bad
Jack and I think Severa is going to be on
bass that night, and you know, if it's gonna be fun,
I hope you can come. Can you come to the show? Oh?
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, the Magic Bag is it's well one, it's it's
usually always sold out, but that is such a great venue.
If you haven't been there before, you are gonna love it.
But yeah, no, we we get out there all the time.
I've seen pretty much the Smithereens every time they've played there,
So I'm excited to see that.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I talked to your brother last year, Robert Bob right,
so yeah, Bob, Yeah he was. I think they were.
I'm trying to remember.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
What they were, Happy Together and right.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, yeah, the Happy Together show yep.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
So yeah, yeah, yeah, they're ones are out there doing it.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
You guys are everywhere nowadays.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
But I wanted to ask because obviously, you you have
a great voice, you must fit in with so many
different groups and harmonize.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
But how is.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
That being a drummer, and then you've got to step
up and you know, start lead singing and performing in
front of people in the front of the band.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
It's a little different.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Right, Yeah, it's really different. And you'll laugh at this
because the first gig I did with them was in
Ohio and we're getting ready to go on, and so
we walk onto the station. I immediately turned towards the
drum set and started walking towards that, and Dennis kind
of smiled and shook his head no, and I caught myself,
(07:27):
you know, I said, oh my god, I have to
stand up in front. I've wired it now. But I
play air drums, you know, I go, I'll stand next
to the drum. I don't upstage anybody, so like when
I sing the songs that when the instrumental comes, I
back up. I let Jimmy shine, I let people see
Dennis and I go stand next to Dennis or just
(07:47):
you know, I'm playing air drums, literally playing air drums.
That's my move, you see. And it's just fun and
we laugh, and Dennis is an incredible singer. I don't
know if anybody knows this, but see sings all the harmonies,
all the high stuff, and I didn't realize how much
he sang until I started singing with him. And it's
like the two part harmonies. We just lock in so nice.
(08:10):
And I'll drag my mic to the drum set and
sing with them over there. You know, we have a
really good time. I think it's different than the Robin Show,
and I think it's different than the Marshall Show. It
just as a whole different show, but the catalog is
the same. The songs are fantastic, and that band is
a kick ass rock and roll down well.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
The music is so much fun and they're fun on
stage two the rest of the guys. Every time I've
seen the movie, they're just full of energy and bouncing
all over that place. And one of the things that
everybody loves about the Smithereens is the fact that they
don't take themselves that all too seriously. They'll do cover songs,
they'll do their songs, they'll do any requests out in
(08:51):
the audience, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
But I love the.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Fact that, and you kind of mentioned it, they had
you come up and do a Beatles song, I mean,
you know, and has two, not just one, but two
complete albums of cover songs by the Beatles. You know,
so if you can sing those, you can sing anything,
right there, John Yep Yep.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
In fact, the other night we were on stage and
Jimmy was goofing round on a blues thing, and I
went up to the mic and I put a first line,
and then Dennis jumps in and severo jumps in. We
did a whole song. We just made it up on stage.
And after the show, Jimmy says, so, what was that,
I said, I don't know. We just were making it up,
he said, and the words. I said, Yeah, we were
(09:34):
in Cincinnati, so I started thinking singing a song about Cincinnati. Su.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Yeah, they've got over They've got over thirty releases, and
you guys are making up your own songs.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
They are so fun and you are right, they are lighthearted.
They they're there for the good time too. So everybody
has the same kind, the audience and the band. There's
nothing protec it's just up there. It's just all real.
I just love it. It's such a fun thing.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
And they always they always make sure they bring up
Pat's name and acknowledge that you know, Pat de Nunzio
was was the leader, the heart, the soul, the uh
you know, the glue behind everything that went into the
Smithereens for so many years.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And yeah, he's brought up all night. There's there's there's
a few moments. They talk about Pat all the time.
I mean, that was the band. We all know that,
you know. I mean, I'm sorry he's not here. I'd
rather not do it if you know, but that he's
not here. I like that they're keeping it going, so
I do too. There's there's a few fans out there
(10:41):
that don't like the idea that keep going it. It
was like the Beach Boys, same thing. You know, Well,
you know, Karl's not there, Dennis's not there. It's not
the Beach Boys. Well okay, it's not that Beach Boys,
but it's still the catalog and there's two Beach Boys
up there. You know. I don't know it's how to
look at that, but as one as people, most of
the people come, they loved the music, they loved the
(11:01):
Jimmy and Dennis have kept it going. You know. We
we played up in Menlo Park and Mike Misteros came in.
That was such a trip for me. Because I never
got to play with Mike, and that was that was
extra special to have the three of those cats up
there and I got to sing lead, and Mike was
just so sweet to me. You know, I didn't I
didn't really know him. The first thing he does, he
(11:22):
hugged me. He says, thanks for doing this and keeping
the music alive that we all made, and it was
really sweet.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Really yeah, I've met Mike a couple of times, seen
lots of those Beach Boys shows, and but you also
performed with Brian, right, Brian Wilson, So.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Yep, absolutely, And I mean I played a lot of
white surf music.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Man, how did you find yourself doing that from the
cow Sls. I mean, obviously you've got a lot more
fans in the industry than you may have known, right,
because all of these groups come out and seek you
guys out, They come and see you perform with the
cow Sills, and then you find yourself performing with these bands.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
That's gotta be a great feel.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
So yeah, I mean I don't even perform with the Cows.
It is because I've been performing with everybody else for
so long. The three of them go out as the Cows,
those I don't travel with them or do any shows
with them, but you know, I talked to them all
the time because they're my family. And in fact, that
smith Areens played somewhere and they were coming in the
next night, so we weren't leaving until the afternoon, so
I hung out with them all all during the day
(12:32):
and they were playing and playing that night and we
were moving on to somewhere else. So it was really fun.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Wow, that's that is crazy. Well, we did just lose
Brian though. Your thoughts on Brian Wilson and the time
you performed with him was he was he a good
guy to work with or was he a little tough
on you?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
No, Brian was just the loveliest person in my whole life.
I've known those guys since I was a kid. My
brother Bill and Brian were very close friends. They probably
weren't very good for each other during the time they
were friends, but yeah, and Brian he sees me over
(13:16):
the years and I look like my brother Bill to him,
and so he knows who I am, and we all
know who is one. I'll tell you one quick. Brian
Wilson's story. Coucos were playing nineteen seventy eight at the
Troubadour in Los Angeles, and we were going through a
phase because we had just in a new album. You know,
like I said, being a cowco wasn't always so groovy.
(13:37):
So we weren't going to do our hits. We're just
doing new music, and we were sticking with that very
idiot thing to do, but that's that's the stance we took.
So we're in the Troubador and we're doing our show
and there is some guy in the audience heckling us,
saying like Indiana, and my brother Bob yelled back to
whoever it is. He said, hey man, we're not doing
(14:00):
those songs. We're only doing our new stuff. We're not
doing Indian Like, and he kept yelling indian Like, Indian Like.
It was Brian Wilson. After we got off, had we
known Brian Wilson was yelling at it to do anything
like we would have done Indian Like. Immediately we were
do the smytherings.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Do Indian Like?
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Was you no, no, no, we don't do any council
to smithering show. Here's the smithering show. And I like it.
I like keeping it that way. There's no no need
to do that. The closest thing I come that you'll
come to a Council song is when Jimmy does what
we do now and then because we sang on that
song on their record, So that represents the Coucil.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Okay, all right?
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Well, with so many albums and so many songs in
there in their catalog, uh, is it a little to
coming up with, you know, like twenty songs or thirty
songs for the night.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
No, because you know, all of a sudden, they'll be
doing a set list and they'll say, what you know,
such and touch and song, and I'll look at them.
I said, you guys got to give me heads up
on these thoughts. So I've learned other songs like Luke
before and after. I've learned yesterday, girl, I've learned, Uh,
(15:15):
what's your name? Bring back to what I love? I've learned. Uh,
I can't. I can't remember them all, but yesterday I
think I said that. Anyway, Yeah, I have to keep stuff.
And now we just got a Christmas gig in December,
so now I got to learn a bunch of Christmas
but they want yeah, they're Christmas album.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
I was just you know, I had it in my
notes to ask and I thought, hmm, you know it's
still August.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Maybe I'll wait, But there you go. You've already got.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
A show book for Christmas and uh, and you've got
the album to go with it.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
So it's really great.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Yeah, it's just fun like and you know it because
if you're a Smitheren fan, it's I I keep pinching myself.
I can't believe I'm singing lead with the Smithereens. You know,
it's just I've never done been a lead singer. But
you know, I got to say when I joined the
Beach Boys, I never played piano in a band in
my whole life. In my first seven years, was their
piano player.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Well, we're excited to have you back in the Motor
City on the twenty third with the Smithereens. That is
going to be a sold out night, no question about it.
Magic Bag in Ferndale. People can you know, check their
Ticketmaster in advance. But I think you're going to have
a great time out there, John, And thanks for checking
(16:35):
in with us and spending a little time some great stories.
We really appreciate that and have some fun on the
stage with the Smithereens.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Here in Detroit Doug, I'm gonna try my best. You
know it'll be the best. I think you're gonna I
hope I think so too, Doug.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
All right, well, thank you so much. John Coyle zil
right here on Detroit's wheels. Thanks John, Later and listen
to
Speaker 2 (17:00):
W l l D Classic Rocks Detroit
Yeah, Hey, they're Detroit's Wheels, Yes, Doug put Yeah, John,
is that you know?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is John Coleston?
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Well, John, thank you for checking in with Detroit's Wheels.
We've got John cow Silt on the line. He's going
to be singing with the Smithereens coming up at the
Magic Bag August twenty third. And I got to tell
you if people love this show, especially you know, we've
seen him here a few times now with the Motor
(00:26):
City's own Marshall Crenshaw.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
But I'm excited. I'm excited to see you out there. John.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, I'm a different animal, but but it's the catalog
is the same and it's so fun. I'm having a
good time. Marshall's a good friend. And have you ever
seen him with Robin Wilson.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
No, I haven't seen that show yet. But you three
are like the three Pied Pipers, right.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, we take turns, we rotate.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Yeah, I saw that.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
It's brilliant. But it's fun and the guys are just
the best to work with. And I hope people can
make it out on the twenty third. I hope they
can get there because it's going to be a hohot.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, John, you have such an incredible, rich history. It
is amazing really, I mean how many years you spent
with the Beach Boys and of course with the Cowsills.
But it is a little odd for me to see
you and knowing you know some of the bands that
you've played with throughout the years, like you know, Jan
(01:31):
and Dean and Bob Dylan and just so many Mickey
Dolans and then the Smithereens. So were you a fan
of the band or did they come seeking you out?
How did this marriage come together?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Definitely a fan of the band. I mean the Smithereens
were just the coolest band ever. But one night in
nineteen ninety one, the Cowcles were opening for a band
called Red Cross and a band call the Screaming Trees.
And that was a big feather in our cap because
the Cowcos, you know, like you said, you know why,
(02:07):
how how is the pairing with the Smithereens, Well, how
is the pairing with Red Cross and Screaming Trees? But
they had us play there. My wife got us to
get because he knew Jeff McDonald from uh there, and
the and the Red Cross were a fan of the Coucil.
So we did this show and we were on Cloud
nine and at the end of the show, my sister
(02:29):
and I are backstage in the hallway and so many
hands of the note if the Smithereens are out at
the backstage door and want to talk to us. So
Susan and I go out there, and there's Dennis, Dennis
Dykon and jim Babzatt in their new jersey black clothes
with their long black coats on, and they saw the show,
(02:51):
and Jimmy says, I want you guys to sing on
our next record, which is the blow Up album. Is
we want the cow to sing on our album? We're
just like what? Yeah? And so we sang up on
a song Jimmy wrote called Now and Then and just
became friends after that. But I was very close with
(03:12):
Dennis over the decades, who was also a Beach Boys fan,
and he would come to the shows and sit in
and I'd go to the front of the stage and
he played drums on Rohnda and Barbara and or rock
and roll whatever it was, and it was fun and
I always joked around it, I want to sing with
the Smithereens sometimes. He said, that's an interesting idea, you know.
(03:36):
And so after the Beach Boys were over in twenty three,
I was prodded to call Dnnis to say, hey, I
want to I want to sit in with the Smithereens
and I want to sing time and time again. So
Dennis said okay. So we flew to New Jersey at
the Wonderbar on Jersey Shore and I sat in with
(03:57):
him and my wife, Vicky Peterson was with me, and
they brought us on stage and we sang a few
Beatles songs and that was really a wonderful night and
I love singing with them. So then they were playing
in California a week later, and I went to that
and I said, I want to sing again with you.
In California, they said, okay, come and sing that song.
Their manager Lenn was there Lenfiico, and he said, do
(04:20):
I want to do more of these shows? I said
one song? He says, no, the whole show. And I've
never been a lead singer in anybody's band, never mind.
I'm usually somebody these drummer or piano player, background singers.
So about a year into it, after Marshall and Robin
couldn't do some things, they finally called me and said, okay,
(04:41):
your first gig is coming up. I said, one gig.
I had to learn twenty seven songs. Basically, it took
me two months to learn the songs. Unfortunately, I had
that time to learn before the gig and I did
that and then it just it went so well. They said,
do you want to do some more? And I said, yeah,
so I because Marshall has his own career. You know,
(05:03):
he goes out as Marshall Crenshaw right, Robin Wilson. We
know he's with the tim Blossom. He's on tour right now.
And I'm the third guy. So if those two guys
couldn't do it, the Smitherings didn't work. So I'm the
third guy. So they work more now. So it helps
us all and I get to sing with him. Now.
I have a career with my wife. We have a
(05:25):
new duo that we go out and Pickie Peterson and
John House, who've got a new album out's doing well.
Next year we'll do more gigs, but you know they
go out for weekends. I say yes whenever I can.
And August twenty third, you got to be there because
it's so much fun. We have the best time on stage.
I'm not kidding. And I have the best seat in
the house because I'm singing with my friends, and I
(05:47):
can walk over to the drum set and watch Dennis
play drums up close, which is always fun for another
drummer to be able to do that. And Jimmy bad
Jack and I think Severa is going to be on
bass that night, and you know, if it's gonna be fun,
I hope you can come. Can you come to the show? Oh?
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, the Magic Bag is it's well one, it's it's
usually always sold out, but that is such a great venue.
If you haven't been there before, you are gonna love it.
But yeah, no, we we get out there all the time.
I've seen pretty much the Smithereens every time they've played there,
So I'm excited to see that.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I talked to your brother last year, Robert Bob right,
so yeah, Bob, Yeah he was. I think they were.
I'm trying to remember.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
What they were, Happy Together and right.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, yeah, the Happy Together show yep.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
So yeah, yeah, yeah, they're ones are out there doing it.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
You guys are everywhere nowadays.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
But I wanted to ask because obviously, you you have
a great voice, you must fit in with so many
different groups and harmonize.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
But how is.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
That being a drummer, and then you've got to step
up and you know, start lead singing and performing in
front of people in the front of the band.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
It's a little different.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Right, Yeah, it's really different. And you'll laugh at this
because the first gig I did with them was in
Ohio and we're getting ready to go on, and so
we walk onto the station. I immediately turned towards the
drum set and started walking towards that, and Dennis kind
of smiled and shook his head no, and I caught myself,
(07:27):
you know, I said, oh my god, I have to
stand up in front. I've wired it now. But I
play air drums, you know, I go, I'll stand next
to the drum. I don't upstage anybody, so like when
I sing the songs that when the instrumental comes, I
back up. I let Jimmy shine, I let people see
Dennis and I go stand next to Dennis or just
(07:47):
you know, I'm playing air drums, literally playing air drums.
That's my move, you see. And it's just fun and
we laugh, and Dennis is an incredible singer. I don't
know if anybody knows this, but see sings all the harmonies,
all the high stuff, and I didn't realize how much
he sang until I started singing with him. And it's
like the two part harmonies. We just lock in so nice.
(08:10):
And I'll drag my mic to the drum set and
sing with them over there. You know, we have a
really good time. I think it's different than the Robin Show,
and I think it's different than the Marshall Show. It
just as a whole different show, but the catalog is
the same. The songs are fantastic, and that band is
a kick ass rock and roll down well.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
The music is so much fun and they're fun on
stage two the rest of the guys. Every time I've
seen the movie, they're just full of energy and bouncing
all over that place. And one of the things that
everybody loves about the Smithereens is the fact that they
don't take themselves that all too seriously. They'll do cover songs,
they'll do their songs, they'll do any requests out in
(08:51):
the audience, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
But I love the.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Fact that, and you kind of mentioned it, they had
you come up and do a Beatles song, I mean,
you know, and has two, not just one, but two
complete albums of cover songs by the Beatles. You know,
so if you can sing those, you can sing anything,
right there, John Yep Yep.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
In fact, the other night we were on stage and
Jimmy was goofing round on a blues thing, and I
went up to the mic and I put a first line,
and then Dennis jumps in and severo jumps in. We
did a whole song. We just made it up on stage.
And after the show, Jimmy says, so, what was that,
I said, I don't know. We just were making it up,
he said, and the words. I said, Yeah, we were
(09:34):
in Cincinnati, so I started thinking singing a song about Cincinnati. Su.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Yeah, they've got over They've got over thirty releases, and
you guys are making up your own songs.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
They are so fun and you are right, they are lighthearted.
They they're there for the good time too. So everybody
has the same kind, the audience and the band. There's
nothing protec it's just up there. It's just all real.
I just love it. It's such a fun thing.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
And they always they always make sure they bring up
Pat's name and acknowledge that you know, Pat de Nunzio
was was the leader, the heart, the soul, the uh
you know, the glue behind everything that went into the
Smithereens for so many years.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And yeah, he's brought up all night. There's there's there's
a few moments. They talk about Pat all the time.
I mean, that was the band. We all know that,
you know. I mean, I'm sorry he's not here. I'd
rather not do it if you know, but that he's
not here. I like that they're keeping it going, so
I do too. There's there's a few fans out there
(10:41):
that don't like the idea that keep going it. It
was like the Beach Boys, same thing. You know, Well,
you know, Karl's not there, Dennis's not there. It's not
the Beach Boys. Well okay, it's not that Beach Boys,
but it's still the catalog and there's two Beach Boys
up there. You know. I don't know it's how to
look at that, but as one as people, most of
the people come, they loved the music, they loved the
(11:01):
Jimmy and Dennis have kept it going. You know. We
we played up in Menlo Park and Mike Misteros came in.
That was such a trip for me. Because I never
got to play with Mike, and that was that was
extra special to have the three of those cats up
there and I got to sing lead, and Mike was
just so sweet to me. You know, I didn't I
didn't really know him. The first thing he does, he
(11:22):
hugged me. He says, thanks for doing this and keeping
the music alive that we all made, and it was
really sweet.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Really yeah, I've met Mike a couple of times, seen
lots of those Beach Boys shows, and but you also
performed with Brian, right, Brian Wilson, So.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Yep, absolutely, And I mean I played a lot of
white surf music.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Man, how did you find yourself doing that from the
cow Sls. I mean, obviously you've got a lot more
fans in the industry than you may have known, right,
because all of these groups come out and seek you
guys out, They come and see you perform with the
cow Sills, and then you find yourself performing with these bands.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
That's gotta be a great feel.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
So yeah, I mean I don't even perform with the Cows.
It is because I've been performing with everybody else for
so long. The three of them go out as the Cows,
those I don't travel with them or do any shows
with them, but you know, I talked to them all
the time because they're my family. And in fact, that
smith Areens played somewhere and they were coming in the
next night, so we weren't leaving until the afternoon, so
I hung out with them all all during the day
(12:32):
and they were playing and playing that night and we
were moving on to somewhere else. So it was really fun.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Wow, that's that is crazy. Well, we did just lose
Brian though. Your thoughts on Brian Wilson and the time
you performed with him was he was he a good
guy to work with or was he a little tough
on you?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
No, Brian was just the loveliest person in my whole life.
I've known those guys since I was a kid. My
brother Bill and Brian were very close friends. They probably
weren't very good for each other during the time they
were friends, but yeah, and Brian he sees me over
(13:16):
the years and I look like my brother Bill to him,
and so he knows who I am, and we all
know who is one. I'll tell you one quick. Brian
Wilson's story. Coucos were playing nineteen seventy eight at the
Troubadour in Los Angeles, and we were going through a
phase because we had just in a new album. You know,
like I said, being a cowco wasn't always so groovy.
(13:37):
So we weren't going to do our hits. We're just
doing new music, and we were sticking with that very
idiot thing to do, but that's that's the stance we took.
So we're in the Troubador and we're doing our show
and there is some guy in the audience heckling us,
saying like Indiana, and my brother Bob yelled back to
whoever it is. He said, hey man, we're not doing
(14:00):
those songs. We're only doing our new stuff. We're not
doing Indian Like, and he kept yelling indian Like, Indian Like.
It was Brian Wilson. After we got off, had we
known Brian Wilson was yelling at it to do anything
like we would have done Indian Like. Immediately we were
do the smytherings.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Do Indian Like?
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Was you no, no, no, we don't do any council
to smithering show. Here's the smithering show. And I like it.
I like keeping it that way. There's no no need
to do that. The closest thing I come that you'll
come to a Council song is when Jimmy does what
we do now and then because we sang on that
song on their record, So that represents the Coucil.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Okay, all right?
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Well, with so many albums and so many songs in
there in their catalog, uh, is it a little to
coming up with, you know, like twenty songs or thirty
songs for the night.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
No, because you know, all of a sudden, they'll be
doing a set list and they'll say, what you know,
such and touch and song, and I'll look at them.
I said, you guys got to give me heads up
on these thoughts. So I've learned other songs like Luke
before and after. I've learned yesterday, girl, I've learned, Uh,
(15:15):
what's your name? Bring back to what I love? I've learned. Uh,
I can't. I can't remember them all, but yesterday I
think I said that. Anyway, Yeah, I have to keep stuff.
And now we just got a Christmas gig in December,
so now I got to learn a bunch of Christmas
but they want yeah, they're Christmas album.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
I was just you know, I had it in my
notes to ask and I thought, hmm, you know it's
still August.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Maybe I'll wait, But there you go. You've already got.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
A show book for Christmas and uh, and you've got
the album to go with it.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
So it's really great.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Yeah, it's just fun like and you know it because
if you're a Smitheren fan, it's I I keep pinching myself.
I can't believe I'm singing lead with the Smithereens. You know,
it's just I've never done been a lead singer. But
you know, I got to say when I joined the
Beach Boys, I never played piano in a band in
my whole life. In my first seven years, was their
piano player.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Well, we're excited to have you back in the Motor
City on the twenty third with the Smithereens. That is
going to be a sold out night, no question about it.
Magic Bag in Ferndale. People can you know, check their
Ticketmaster in advance. But I think you're going to have
a great time out there, John, And thanks for checking
(16:35):
in with us and spending a little time some great stories.
We really appreciate that and have some fun on the
stage with the Smithereens.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Here in Detroit Doug, I'm gonna try my best. You
know it'll be the best. I think you're gonna I
hope I think so too, Doug.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
All right, well, thank you so much. John Coyle zil
right here on Detroit's wheels. Thanks John, Later and listen
to
Speaker 2 (17:00):
W l l D Classic Rocks Detroit
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