I could call it a once in a lifetime opportunity, but really it was more like reliving
my youth. When my band once again got to open for rock and roll legend Bo Diddley.
Legend he is too. He light up the building from moment he entered. He talked to
people, he told stories, he sent chills down your back, not to mention played great guitar and sang like no 78 year old man has the right too. It was truly a rock a
roll show.
I love telling Bo Diddley stories. Years ago Benny and the Jets traveled the country
as Bo's back up band. We played big towns and small halls. It truly was my induction
to the rock and roll collage of musical knowledge. One time in Las Vegas and young man named Ted Tuner video taped the show for something he was promoting called cable
television. Imagine the now billionaire Ted Turner operating a TV camera and telling
everyone who would listen how big cable TV was going to be.
Another time we were driving from Minnesota back how to Detroit and a show got canceled,
money was tight. Bo in a father like moment explained to teenage bandleader Ben
E the importance of keeping a 50 dollar bill hid deep in my wallet. Keep it hid
for emergencies on the road and in life. Of course being a modern man of the 70s
I told Bo I have credit cards for that. Bo quietly explained there are plenty of
places late at night
where a credit card won't get you home and to trust him and
not to tell the other band guys that I had that 50. To this day I keep that 50 dollar
bill tucked in my wallet. It was a lesson well learned.
The show we played was at the River Rasin Centre for the Arts in downtown Monroe.
As nice as this 1938 theater is, it would be nothing without the staff and management
that protects and runs this beautiful old building. They are truly a center for
the arts, everything from dance and community plays to rock and roll shows. For
information on the theater see their web site
www.riverraisincentre.org.
Hmm what goes better with a theater then popcorn? October is
National Popcorn Month.
In honor of this delicious celebration Isiah Thomas an NBA Hall-of-Famer, former
Detroit Piston, current GM of the New York Nicks and co-owner of Dale & Thomas
Popcorn is giving away free gourmet popcorn during the rest of October. Visit the
web site
www.daleandthomas.com/free, to get your sample of two of Dale and Thomas'
newest creations, Twice as Nice Chocolate DrizzleCorn and Peanut Butter and White
Chocolate DrizzleCorn.
Heard from the Bluescasters who are promoting a show November 10 at the new Village
Theater in Canton. The Model Citizen Band October 28 and 29 at the Lake Point Yacht
Club in Livonia. And Freddy Boom Boom Canon October 22 at Bakers in Mllford.
To
reach Ben E. Jet call (313) 730-1627 via e mail benejets@aol.com and see the web sites www.bennyandthejets.com and www.reverendguitars.com.