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Spudman
January 16th, 2008, 07:39 PM
A momentous occasion has happened in the Spudster's life.

My band from my youth is doing a reunion this summer after 30 years. This is a big deal where I come from. We were "the real deal" until the bass player went to Berklee School Of Music. At that point we all went our separate ways.

As this thread progresses I will update it with info on the players and how everything is gong to transpire to make this event a reality.

Mere Image circa 1978

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w149/srspud/People/IMGP4148.jpg

Adrian30
January 16th, 2008, 07:48 PM
Wow Spud, that's just way cool!
So which one are you, the LP guy or the Ibanez(?) guy?

just strum
January 16th, 2008, 08:03 PM
I'm guessing far right - working on the guitar face:D

This is really cool Spud, looking forward to more.

oldguy
January 16th, 2008, 08:14 PM
I'm guessing far right - working on the guitar face:D

This is really cool Spud, looking forward to more.

+1!:D
My guess is far right, also, with the Ibanez.

pes_laul
January 16th, 2008, 08:36 PM
Who's the dude on the way right with the sweet hat?

Spudman
January 16th, 2008, 09:03 PM
Starting from the right - Me, the Spudster (http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=207). I must be 18 in this promo shot. I've been playing music pretty consistently for the past 30 years with a side diversion as a pro level cyclist.

Next to me is Tom Childers (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=28713). Incredible songwriter and guitarist. Married with two kids living in the mid-west. Check out "Bullet Proof" on his soundclick page at the bottom. All good stuff.

The guy with the mic is still jabbering his jaws off after all these years. Rick Tobin and I pulled everyone together for this event and we have a lot of work to do yet. His son is a guitar player and Rick still sings in bands. He is the Executive Chef at a large convention center and hotel in the Midwest.

Eric Swanson (http://www.sierrapm.com/)(bass) is the tall guy with the Brillo pad on his head. He is a Berklee Music School and UCLA graduate and owns a production company. He has been doing music for films and video games.

Denis Leidholt is the drummer. He stayed put in our hometown and owns a casino and several other businesses (http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_9y23cw). He didn't leave except for a brief stint in California auditioning for bands. One guy he auditioned with had a kind of rough gravely voice. Dennis didn't really like his singing so he didn't try very hard at the audition. He didn't get the job with the guy you all know from bands like Bad English, The Babys, Ringo Starr. The singers name? John Waite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Waite).

pes_laul
January 16th, 2008, 09:20 PM
so were you guys a "big" band?

Spudman
January 16th, 2008, 09:30 PM
so were you guys a "big" band?

Over 750 pounds. Is that big enough for ya? :rotflmao:

mrmudcat
January 16th, 2008, 09:37 PM
Thats what all them potato carbs will do!!!..............Cool beans I knew it had to be you in the hat and Ibez.That guy does look like he was out behind the barn with two blondes.Tom looks already married:D :rockon:

sunvalleylaw
January 16th, 2008, 10:09 PM
Hey man, glad it is coming together for you. And thanks for sharing the pic!

SuperSwede
January 17th, 2008, 02:36 AM
Spud, let us know (and hear) how it goes! Good looking Ibanez (artist?), still have it?

duhvoodooman
January 17th, 2008, 05:57 AM
Very cool, Spuds! :AOK: We're going to expect a full reunion concert video . A DVD would be good; maybe Eric can produce it.

Spudman
January 17th, 2008, 08:23 AM
Spud, let us know (and hear) how it goes! Good looking Ibanez (artist?), still have it?

I'm checking into getting a company to do a documentary of it. I'm open to referrals if anyone knows of a company.

The Artist was stolen from me on Christmas 1981. If you've ever seen the movie "Missouri Breaks" it was stolen out of the club where Jimmy Buffet does the live song "Livingston Saturday Night."

luvmyshiner
January 17th, 2008, 08:53 AM
Hey congrats Spud. Thanks for sharing.

Lev
January 17th, 2008, 09:22 AM
Great story Spud, any old demo's out there to be shared?

SuperSwede
January 17th, 2008, 12:22 PM
The Artist was stolen from me on Christmas 1981. If you've ever seen the movie "Missouri Breaks" it was stolen out of the club where Jimmy Buffet does the live song "Livingston Saturday Night."

Too bad about the Artist! I like them a lot, but I have never owned one.

Downlo....renting the movie right now.

Spudman
January 17th, 2008, 01:29 PM
Great story Spud, any old demo's out there to be shared?

Sure Lev. How about I email you a cassette? :D Or would you prefer 8 track tape?:rotflmao:

oldguy
January 17th, 2008, 01:33 PM
Sure Lev. How about I email you a cassette? :D Or would you prefer 8 track tape?:rotflmao:

Do you have any live shows on laserdisc?:)

Tone2TheBone
January 17th, 2008, 02:00 PM
Robert sent me the pic cause I can't see it from work. Pretty cool. Come down to NM on your cross country tour dude.

Lev
January 17th, 2008, 02:37 PM
Sure Lev. How about I email you a cassette? :D Or would you prefer 8 track tape?:rotflmao:

Dude, it's the digital age!! Stick a Mic down that gramophone horn and into cubase!! :bravo:

Spudman
January 17th, 2008, 03:00 PM
Do you have any live shows on laserdisc?:)

Just Betamax. You want I should email you one?

I don't think we have any video from then. Was film even invented back then?

Justaguyin_nc
January 17th, 2008, 03:07 PM
Looks great spuds! Best of luck on the reunion!!

Umm..make sure to get a snapshot in that order when you reunite..

sunvalleylaw
January 17th, 2008, 04:24 PM
Looks great spuds! Best of luck on the reunion!!

Umm..make sure to get a snapshot in that order when you reunite..


Might not be as pretty, ;) , but our own Spuds, being the athlete that he is, is going to win the "who looks best after all these years" contest! :D

oldguy
January 17th, 2008, 05:18 PM
Looks great spuds! Best of luck on the reunion!!

Umm..make sure to get a snapshot in that order when you reunite..

Absolutely! I bet you'll see a lot of improvement in your guitar face with all the practice you've had by now!:D

just strum
January 17th, 2008, 05:44 PM
Absolutely! I bet you'll see a lot of improvement in your guitar face with all the practice you've had by now!:D

Yep, one that will make Brian proud of ya!

Guitar Gal
January 17th, 2008, 06:01 PM
Nice pic Spud! I bet you guys have a blast when you get back together :beer:

I'll take a cassette copy of your tunes....still have a cassette player lying around here somewhere :rotflmao:


GG

just strum
January 17th, 2008, 06:08 PM
I just got my first MP3 player yesterday (free of course:D ), I can finally throw out the 8 track.

Put me down for a copy or a download.

Spudman
January 17th, 2008, 06:32 PM
With any luck you'll all be able to watch the reunion on your favorite cable TV station sometime in the future. I'm working on getting a film crew to document it. Sort of like a Spinal Tap reunion thing eh.

t_ross33
January 17th, 2008, 08:02 PM
With any luck you'll all be able to watch the reunion on your favorite cable TV station sometime in the future. I'm working on getting a film crew to document it. Sort of like a Spinal Tap reunion thing eh.

Hey Spudman, given the state of TV with the current and ongoing writers strike, reality TV might be the only programming available. You should pitch it to a network and have camera crews follow you around.

You gotta be better that "Rocker Moms" :rotflmao:

Trev :beer:

Brian Krashpad
January 18th, 2008, 03:13 PM
Yep, one that will make Brian proud of ya!

Haha, I resemble that remark!

Congrats Spud, sounds like a blast.

And, I do not make a guitar face for every picture. Here's one from the same era:

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5605/promcroppedyw4.jpg

There, now I share in Spud's 70's shame. :D

Spudman
January 18th, 2008, 05:17 PM
Wow Brian. You used to be a pretty handsome guy.


What happened?:D :bravo: :rotflmao:

Brian Krashpad
January 19th, 2008, 05:26 PM
Wow Brian. You used to be a pretty handsome guy.

What happened?:D :bravo: :rotflmao:

Haha, scary what 30 years of hard livin' will do, ain't it!

Y'all youngins take a lesson from me and don't be livin' no rock'n'roll lifestyle, mkay?

:AOK:

Spudman
January 19th, 2008, 08:39 PM
Y'all youngins take a lesson from me and don't be livin' no rock'n'roll lifestyle, mkay?
:AOK:

Little do they know.;) :beer:

tot_Ou_tard
January 19th, 2008, 10:14 PM
Yowza Spudball!! Very, very cool!

I'm looking forward to the documentary.

Nice photo too Brian!

tjcurtin1
January 20th, 2008, 07:14 PM
Fun(ny) stuff guys - thanks for sharing it. Spud, have a ball at the reunion!

Spudman
April 23rd, 2008, 09:22 AM
I'm sad to announce that this idea ran aground in the hopeful sea of dreams. :(Seems like one person cannot make a commitment to be there even though everyone else is going out of their way to make it happen.

See kiddies - another of the pitfalls of being in a band. Not everybody has the same values, drive or skills needed to make a successful reality. The more people-the more variables there are. It's more difficult to get everyone on the same page at the same speed at the same time. That's why I appreciate trios.

Tone2TheBone
April 23rd, 2008, 09:49 PM
Well if you and Stevie lived near me I'd gladly fake the drums for you guys.

Spudman
June 17th, 2008, 09:34 AM
Even though the band reunion didn't happen I was still able to get some quality time in with Dennis the drummer. He had just finished building a play fort/swing set for his kids when I showed up. We hadn't really hd a chance to spend time together for almost 30 years. He has aged well. Unfortunately he was antcipating the flash.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w149/srspud/People/reunion044.jpg

I was told I needed to stop by the bar in Custer Montana and see the band/concert memorabilia that Jim W. had collected. What a surprise to find a shrine to Mere Image.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w149/srspud/People/reunion095.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w149/srspud/People/reunion091.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w149/srspud/People/reunion093.jpg