Wisconsin music scene 1984-1987

In my last post, I forgot to tell you about the Bugle American and the Emerald City Chronicle that my friend Michael St. John started. They were free newspapers that gave us informative articles and where our favorite bands played. They both kept us in touch with the music scene. Now we go to 1984….Milwaukee.

Ax was rehearsing and writing. Management didn’t like what we were doing. It was time to take a break. I had family problems that brought me to Milwaukee. Bobby Barth and Michael Osbourne decided to go to Denver to rest and write. They came out of Gainesville, FL and were driving. Michael used to talk our bus drivers into letting him drive. He loved it. Well, Bobby and Michael were in a Datson 280 Z. They got to Mobile AL. and a truck was going onto the 10 freeway and Michael crashed into the rear. Bobby was crouched asleep in the passenger seat. He survived, Michael died immediately. Ax would never be the same again. Michael was a major force in the group. What do I do now…! Well, Ken Adamany, who was the manager of “Cheap Tricks” at the time, said that he had a band called “Bad Boy” that needed a professional drummer like me, but he would have to audition. After 34 drummers I got the gig. They had a new album with “Cheat on Me” and “Thunder & Lightning” that was making some noise. I toured with the band for over a year.

My old manager finally let me out of my contract with Ax while Ken wanted me to sign with him. So, I called a meeting with the band. I said that Ken will earn $300,000.00 over the next 3 years from his commissions, we should ask for $25,000.00 for clothes, a nice vehicle to travel with (we were in a beat up ’76 Ford LTD) and fix our monitors. It was a legitimate request for money. We were playing Headliners in Madison, WI and we discussed this all the time.

We got to Madison and we were in a meeting with Ken Adamany and I explained our plan. After I finished, Ken said that it was a very logical idea, but Teddy, all the other guys in the group already signed the contract. He was so angry. Their acting like this is what should be done, what should be done, but they already sold their soul…! Well for 3 years Ken got paid and never got a worldwide recording contract. Young musicians take note! The next night at the Sunset Bowl, I quit the band.

I was looking at young talent in Milwaukee, so I started a band called Moxy Roxx. Mark Worpel on guitar, Brooke St James on guitar and Chris Martinez on bass who he didn’t want. I wanted Carey Caelin on bass. But Chris begged me and I mean he begged me! You will practice 10 hrs. one day. I said guitar players are not good bass players, he said I’ll do it. His brother, Tommy, owned the lights and he told me that my brother Chris would do it for Teddy. You own this city right now. I said we want to own the country, not the city! I helped make Moxy Roxx a driving force in the Milwaukee music scene. Summerfest was a definite highlight. Marna, who I met in Bad Boy, was my partner and we were in love at the time. I introduced her to John Bon Jovi, Tommy Lee and all of Motely Crue, Judas Priest, Kiss, Queensryche, Winger and more, she loved Rock ‘N Roll and I miss her – Rest In Peace Marna! Later, my friend Jay Davis also called me and asked if he knew any singers. Rod Stewart’s band was looking for a singer to write for. I gave them to Xeno, they flew him to Los Angeles. He wrote with them and came back and Xeno did a radio interview and never credited me for helping him. He acted like he did it… Wrong… I made that happen for him. Just for the record.

Moxy began to take the city by storm. Brooke and I used to say we did it. Nothing last month all this month. Welcome to the entertainment business, I told him. We had huge crowds at Billy’s, Jabberwoky, Electric Ballroom, Pappagio’s, it was great! I developed this into what it became, then started a bad thing called Machine and left Misic Industry in ’87. We had fun, but I knew there were no stars here for me like I had in the past. Good luck and Rock ‘n Roll Milwaukee. I moved to New York and went into business!

I hope you enjoyed a little insight into the real Rock’N Roll and the music industry… We’re not done yet, stay tuned for more!

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