Fightin' Cocks - Brief History - As Told By El-Hefe
The Fightin' Cocks consist of
1. Jeff Anton Low Ender & Fuckups Aka: Rooster/El Hefe
2. David Beggs Lead Vox & High end rifer Aka: Asshole
3. Jason Case Drummer Boy & Fuckups Aka: Space Case
3 1/2. Ned Burke Lead High end Rifer & Fuckups Aka: Dive Junky
The Whole Mess began just after the start of 2000. I had just bought my house, in beautiful Lakewood, when my old high school chum Jason Case (Case) stopped by with a strange fellow by the name of David Beggs. Apparently they had met in class up at the Red Rocks Community College and decided that they wanted to start a band. They needed a bass player and asked me to play. Once I stole my sister's bass (like she even knew how to play it) and bought a cheap amp, I joined them.
That first 2 months the band consisted of me (bass), Dave (guitar), Case (guitar), and Chad Hasslebach (drums) - (Remember this name if you have a daughter). Now, everyone except Chad was learning their instruments as we went along, so it was pretty slow and painful. Chad, being the ADD, Bi-Polar little shit that he is, decided that he was not going to accomplish shit, so he quit. Plus Case, being the total white man, was struggling with the concept of rhythm. So we decided the best place for him was the Drums. So now we have three.
After 6 months in Dave's basement we had finally polished our little turd enough to start a couple of shows. Then it occurred to Dave that we needed another guitar player, a lead guitar player, so that Dave could actually sing and play at the same time. Shortly thereafter Ned joined the band, and it wasn't long before he was missing practice and showing up 3 sheets to the wind...perfect fit! Now we have four.
Then some time later, about a year later, Dave decided (he does that a lot) that he just wants to sing and we should get ANOTHER guitar player. Enter Adam Hester. While we practiced with Adam, Dave kept changing his mind, back and forth etc, etc, etc. So for a while it was a five piece with 3 guitars. This was way TOO MUCH, Fucking thick as hell. So then Dave decided to drop us back to a four piece again. Now we have four...again.
Forward to the summer of 2003, Ned was lucky enough to be the road manager (glorified roadie/Driver/Babysitter/Errand Boy) for a little indie rock band, Rilo Kiley, and was going to be gone all summer. This spawned the return of one of the original Cocks - Chad, this time on Guitar. The funny thing with that was the rest of us were getting pissed it was taking Chad so long to get our stuff down. Ahh, the sweet irony of it all.
So as of today - September 30, 2004 we are still pretty much the same line up as before with minimal changes and minimal improvements?
Highlights from my battered brain
1. When I think of us starting out I think of BALLS SPORTS SALOON. At the time they had a good owner who recognized a happy, well paid and sauced, band will bring in business. That place was good for cutting our teeth. My first completely drunk performance(?) was there…, from what I am told. It was there that we met a good number of bands that we play with now. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, the owner sold the bar and a bunch of idiots fucked it up, renamed it Surges, complete with rainbow (gay) sign.
2. The craziest place we have played so far is easily the EVERGREEN INN. I can't remember how many times we played there, but only once or twice was there not a fight when we played. Evergreen kids are REALLY ANGRY, IT’S FUCKING AWESOME. My favorite time was when we were playing and this chick comes up and gropes us one by one. She was pretty cute so I didn't mind. But two other girls in the crowd did mind I guess, because they grabbed her and gave her an evil beat down. All I remember is a fist smashing this girls head and clumps of hair left on the ground. Two on one chick fights… fucking awesome.
The owner, Johnny was a cool guy too. He was from Jersey and had that east coast "I'm foqin' talkin'to yous" kind of attitude. Johnny is mostly responsible for helping yours truly dodge a DUI going up to the place, (props to you Johnny). Unfortunately he got in some kind of trouble, so the place shut down.
Another memory just popped into my head. We were playing there our first night and people kept falling into the band as they played. I went to sing when someone fell into the mike stand, pushing it into my teeth. All I remember is being pissed off and just kicking that kid as hard as I could, then watching him fly into a cigarette machine 25' away. I guess that thing stopped working after that night. To all the kids of Evergreen, Thanks for all the Good times! You guys Fucking Rock!
3. The 15TH STREET TAVERN has a special place in my heart. Beautiful FEMALE bartenders, cheap beer, plenty of filth. Playing there was one reason I started Playing with these fuckers. I remember seeing a fight break out and watching a kid get a skateboard deck to the back of the head.
4. First place we were 86'd from is the STARLIGHT up in Ft. Collins. Basically we were talking shit, and rightfully so, about emo. Well the bartender's cat happened to be named emo, so she felt she had to cut us off. So after a few more wise cracks we felt it was time to go back to Denver. "BOO HOO, you punk rockers hurt my feelings. Why can't we all get along, why can't we all write mopey, metro sexual, sexually ambiguous lyrics and off key chords, WAHHHHH!"
To be continued…..
