Well....another one bites the dust...
He was a nice guy the one time that I met him, Spring 1973.
Far from a glamorous rock band apart from the stage...Fleetwood Mac...was a hard working group.
I was promoting a concert that had them backing up Richie Havens as the main act. I had put it all together.
When it came time to pay them I took the check with me, $3,500, to the local Ramada hotel in Norman, Oklahoma where I had booked 3-4 rooms for them.
First room I knocked on Welch opened the door.
I had two girls with me. As I was leaving our student offices at the Univ. of Oklahoma I asked a couple of ladies if they would like to join me in delivering the check. Michelle and Gail had just founded the local chaper of NOW...Nat'l Org. of Women...they said sure...I'd mentioned I was going to take the money to the band.
Bob was friendly and invited us in..but told me Mick Fleetwood handled all the business and what room he was in...
Then he said..."we've been on the road for months and I really need some clothes washed and laundry done before the show. If someone was willing to do that for me I bet I could get them free tickets to the concert." ha...then he looked at me...and I said ...sure.
So the ladies volunteered.
After meeting Mick, etc..and leaving the hotel with a bundle of dirty clothes...one of the ladies turned to me and said, "if one word of this gets out we will be wearing your ********* as earings."
It was a serious threat...no...more like a promise. I got a good story out of it and Bob got his laundry done.
I hope almost 40 years later it is safe to tell the story...Gail has passed away...and I don't think Michelle can find me.
Toni
Jun 9, 2012 - 7:11PM
Re: Bob Welch...
Great story, Dennis. Thanks for a fitting tribute for someone who passed so tragically. Everyone should be remembered with little stories that make you smile.
Thanks Dennis...Good story...Any photos to go along with this adventure?...
Dennis
Jun 10, 2012 - 2:22PM
Re: Bob Welch...
ha...no...a concert poster is about all...
Richie Havens headlined cuz he would only accept a headliner billing.....Fleetwood Mac didn't care as long as they got paid.
I didn't have a camera back then for sure.
It was an eventful fun time...including Mick Fleetwood telling me they weren't going to perform after he and I inspected the stage, etc...because I had not provided a Leslie amp...(it was in the contract...my bad).
I determined quickly what a Leslie amplifier was and got one from a local band.
Lots of stories...
You know ....pics wouldv'e perhaps made some uncomfy...ha...incriminating evidence of nefarious behavior. Consequences were more severe then than now.
Welch had back surgery 3 months ago and his wife Wendy said he did not want to be a burden to her as a dependent invalid. He also was in severe pain.
His doctors had given him a poor prognosis.
Borje
Jun 11, 2012 - 2:21PM
Re: Bob Welch...
Sad news about Bob Welsh, but love your story there, Dennis. It tells so much about both the time in music history and the musicians involved, so thanks for sharing it.
Dennis
Jun 11, 2012 - 8:48PM
Re: Bob Welch...
Thanks for all of your kind comments on my little story.
I know all of us here of a certain age have unique experiences of those days and times.
An event or passing may cause an inappropriate smile or grin .... people just attribute it to me telling myself jokes again.
It's a pleasure to share with others who know/understand the context of the times and what the hell I am rambling on about.
Not all my youth was mispent...at least not by my standards...ha.