Back in 1979 we started going out to see all the bands, dancing and chasing girls. We sort of had our own style going at the time & Joey and Willy being brothers looked almost like twins. Every body always referred to the two as “those guys†and that is where the band name originated. Well the other fact is that the name “FREE BEER’ didn’t seem to go over well with promoters! We met David out in the clubs, he was pretty much doing the same thing. In fact we met because he and Joey were both after the same girl. We all started talking music and one thing led to another and we started jamming. We were still in need of a drummer and a bass player since all three of us played guitar. I went and bought a bass, because, well actually Joey said “ hey Willy go get a bass and learn to play it, so it was a natural choice. ( Yeah, Joey is the older bro) Jerry, Joey & I went to Catholic schools together and we were out drinking one night and I told Jerry about our jamming with David & he replied “hey, I play drumsâ€. So he hauled them over to Joey’s and the rest is hearing loss and brain cell murder. We practiced at a place kindly referred to as the “Black Hole†It was located under the freeway, above a tavern, next to a wrecking yard and across the street from a steel mill. There was no heat in the house so we used to steal newspapers on the way to practice to burn in the fireplace to heat our hands enough to start playing. Oh yeah, this place had the biggest rats! Jerry actually killed one by throwing a drumstick at it in the middle of a song & didn’t even miss a beat! Honest!!! Our first gig was at the black hole & we were terrified! That was 10/02/81 (Joey’s B-day) and from that party we got a handful of house party gigs thru the end of the year. At one of the house parties we were offered a gig in Redmond. It turned out to be in a great big barn & the place was packed!!! We were heard by some guy, who told some guy, who told some guy, who told some guy that they should get us in their club. We were booked into Gatsby’s in Bellevue as the opening act for 2 nights for the IMPACTS. I think we made 50$, but we made an impression because we were booked solid from that weekend on. We got gigs opening up for the Heats, the Cowboys, the Impacts, & so many others I can’t remember. We once had to play with this Blues band at Baby-O’s, they were called The Robert Cray Band. Apparently they are doing OK today… After several months of being first on the ticket, we got our first headline gig at Astor Park, and the next week we double billed at Waldo’s in Kirkland and the late spot at Hibble & Hydes. That was awesome!!! Joey was electrocuted on stage at Hibbles & I think it made him play better when the medics gave him the OK to get back on stage! Chris Egerton filled in for Jerry on drums for 5 months while he was out for various reasons. Then in mid 83 Mike painter (king of the rockabilly woodblock) took over as drummer until the end of the year. It was a fun ride, with lots of great memories and lots of great friends.
