Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id aa11248; 10 Nov 95 4:35 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 07:34:16 -0500 Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 07:34:19 -0600 To: Ronald Joe Record From: Ken Drew Subject: Re: Beat Farmers Status: RO To all my fellow BFer freinds and fans: I have to report the sad news to all of you. It appears as if Country Dick Montana passed away last night in Vancouver. I have a call into their agent but I must go home in 20 minutes so I will not be able to report anything until tomorrow. Below are 3 separate posts that I just received. I do not know what to say. Long ago during Dick's cancer battle, Jerry and Joey both said that the BFers are one band and if Dick passed away, it would be over. Today, November 9, 1995 marks the day that the BFers ended their great music. Country Dick Montana: I will truely miss your great sense of humor and fun times. I hope that we all share in the sorrow of his passing. One last time: Hubba hubba........ ---------------------------------------- To: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu From: camille@vitinc.com (Camille) Subject: Bad News Ken, I have bad news and I don't know how else to say this so I'll just blurt it out. Country Dick passed away last night on stage in Vancouver, apparently from a heart attack. I really don't have much else to say other than I feel tremendously sad. I'll write more when I have more news. Right now, I am just devasated. What a tragic loss. ------------------------ To: kdrew@nd.edu From: buffit@whistler.net (jbuffit) Subject: Country Dick's Death Hey kdrew, I was at the Beat Farmers show last night (11/08/95) in Whistler BC, and at the beginning of the third set Dick dropped dead!! I wish I was joking but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Whistler medical clinic! Not fun... ---------- From: Lengutman@aol.com To: kdrew@nd.edu Subject: Country Dick Montana Dead Country Dick Montana died last night on stage in Canada of an apparent heart attack. An autopsy has been scheduled to be performed in Vancouver. I work with his aunt, who was awoken this morning with the bad news. You might want to spread this unfortunate news on the Internet. His aunt just had dinner with him two weeks ago here in Phoenix prior to their show at the Rocking Horse. She even brought me an autographed photo of the band. ------------ KEN (kdrew@nd.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------- *The Beat Farmers : WWW page at: * *http://www.ucsd.edu/sdam/artists/bf/ * *Webb Wilder : check these guys out! * ----------------------------------------------------------- KEN (kdrew@nd.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------- *The Beat Farmers : WWW page at: * *http://www.ucsd.edu/sdam/artists/bf/ * *Webb Wilder : check these guys out! * ----------------------------------------------------------- Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id ag16068; 10 Nov 95 6:16 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:52:38 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:52:41 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu, jsherret@ix.netcom.com From: "by way of kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu (Ken\ Drew)" Subject: Country Dick Status: RO Ken, Fuck....I just hopped over to the BF'ers WWW page and it is true.....this sucks.....The best fuckin' band is over.......Is there gonna be any type of memorial service for him in SD? Just looking at my Country Dick "Chug-a-lug" autograph on the back of a beer coaster from Street Scene '95 brings tears to my eyes.....he will be missed...... A shitty day in Music History, Keith __________________ Keith C. Fischer dere@mail.sdsu.edu Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id aa16113; 10 Nov 95 6:18 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:48:21 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:48:25 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu From: "by way of kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu (Ken Drew)" Subject: I can't beleive it ... Status: RO What can one say ... there are not many famous people that I have been really t ruly sorry at their passing ... Keith Moon ... Alex Harvey (a great scottish ro ck singer) ... Groucho Marx ... Country Dick I have seen the Beat Farmers about a dozen times over the years ... the last ti me was about a month ago. It wasnUt a great show as BF shows go but it was stil l better than most ... I didnUt know the new songs yet as the album wasnUt out in this area ... my wife was unable to go ... she figured that they would be b ack through in the next six months or so ... they usually were ... not this tim e I first saw the Farmers in about 84 ... they played at a local bar in Des Moine s and ripped the place up ... Dick got sprayed by some guy in the audience (thi s was before flying beer became normal at BF shows) ... and jumped on him ... a s I told them last month (or so) nothing made me happier ... it was some creep I knew in high school ... and no one deserved it better ... I think that since then I have only missed one show that I could have gone to (I had pneumonia) Th ey were one of the first bands that I completed my CD collection of (once I got a CD player ... IUm an old vinyl junkie) I now have a t least two copies of everything ... I have taken so many friends to shows ... and recommended them to so many other s ... I suppose that I can be considered a member of the FarmerUs Hardcore ... I do have a definition for that ... someone who considers Joey to be the Snew g uyS ... I really hope that the remaining members continue in some form ... Joey and JerryUs songwriting has gotten stronger and stronger over the years (I rea lly sincerely think that Manifold is their strongest album yet) and I really ha te the idea that I may never see them play again ... donUt give it up guys ... even if itUs not the Beat Farmers any more ... keep working .. keep giving us g ood music ... WeUll miss you Dick Eric Coleman 6016 Lincoln Way Ames IA 50014 EriC@big12.metrobbs.com Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id aa16068; 10 Nov 95 6:16 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:41:06 -0500 Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:41:10 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu From: Ken Drew Subject: UPDATE: Country Dick dead at age 40 Status: RO I want to personally thank all of you for your warm e-mails. I plan to forward these to the list. We all grieve with the loss of Country Dick. I am hoping to get the press release soon as well as post it to the net and WWW page. As of now, I have no information on the services. If you feel the need to send a card, please send it to: The Beat Farmers PO Box 2128 El Cajon, CA 92021 USA There is no word about the BFers future. Many want the band to continue. Many realize that it can never be the same witout our beloved Country Dick. Time will tell. Jerry, Joey, and Rolle will certainly let us know as soon as they know. Please have a safe weekend and, if you are like me, you will be playing a few BFer CDs in memory of Country Dick Montana. We miss you big guy........ I'll talk to you all soon. Again, thanks for all the kind words. KEN (kdrew@nd.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------- *The Beat Farmers : WWW page at: * *http://www.ucsd.edu/sdam/artists/bf/ * *Webb Wilder : check these guys out! * ----------------------------------------------------------- Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id ad16068; 10 Nov 95 6:16 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:50:34 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:50:37 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu, jsherret@ix.netcom.com From: "by way of kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu (Ken Drew)" Subject: My moment with Country Dick Status: RO Dear Ken, Your news about Country Dick has greatly saddened me. However, whenever I saw him perform, through my smiles from his charismatic antics, I always feared for his life. And now that my fear has become reality, I thought I'd share my most recent memory of him with you, from just a month ago. I looked forward to October 7 for weeks. Having spread the word as best I could, I gathered a few friends and went to Tramps in Manhattan that night. I told the newcomers this show would change their lives. By the end of the first song, most agreed with me. It came time for "Happy Boy," and I was all set with my official Beat Farmers kazoo. I was one of the small group of four who joined the band on stage (mentioned in The Aquarian Weekly review) . At the end of the song, Country Dick looked at me and I looked at him with all my admiration. He came over to me on stage, put his arm around me, whispered in my ear that I had done a great job, and kissed me on the cheek. I felt like Marcia Brady after Davy Jones kissed her cheek, only he kissed me in front of a club full of people. My friends were all impressed, and afterwards, I called friends and family around the country to share with them my moment with Country Dick Montana. May he rest in peace (and maybe just a little bit of immortal craziness). Hubba hubba... Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id af16068; 10 Nov 95 6:16 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:51:57 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:52:01 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu, jsherret@ix.netcom.com From: Chriss Subject: RE: Country Dick Montana: SAD NEWS- he passed away Status: RO Dear Ken: This truly saddens my heart. I was introduced to the BFer's music when my husband and I spent part of our honeymoon with his brother and girlfriend. Each morning I was awakened by my brother-in-law singing the refrain from Happy Boy. He played the entire song for me one day and I was pleased. Several years later when my mother died I received a wonderful sympathy card from him and a tape he had made for me of a number of different artists, (John Prine, Tom Waite, Bonnie Raitt) and three BFer songs, Happy Boy (of course), California Kid and King of Sleaze. I was hooked. My husband and I attended a perfromance (Viking Lullabys release party) at the Cabooze bar in Minneapolis in 1994. We had a great time!! I bought 3 BFer's CDs for my husband for Christmas (Poor and Famous, Live, Loud & Plowed and Viking Lullabys). A friend from work and I attended the BFer's 1995 performance at the Cabooze. Country Dick signed my Manifold CD "Tenderly, C. Dick Montana." I didn't know the man but I will truly miss him. Ken, thanks for keeping us informed. I would appreciate it if you forward any other messages people send about this. Also, if you receive any information about memorial services/wake/funeral, etc. I would appreciate knowing about that also. Thanks for reading this, I needed to share with someone who could appreciate it. chriss@scctv.org _______________________________________________________________________________ To all my fellow BFer freinds and fans: I have to report the sad news to all of you. It appears as if Country Dick Montana passed away last night in Vancouver. I have a call into their agent but I must go home in 20 minutes so I will not be able to report anything until tomorrow. Below are 3 separate posts that I just received. I do not know what to say. Long ago during Dick's cancer battle, Jerry and Joey both said that the BFers are one band and if Dick passed away, it would be over. Today, November 9, 1995 marks the day that the BFers ended their great music. Country Dick Montana: I will truely miss your great sense of humor and fun times. I hope that we all share in the sorrow of his passing. One last time: Hubba hubba........ ---------------------------------------- Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id ae16068; 10 Nov 95 6:16 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:51:34 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:51:37 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu, jsherret@ix.netcom.com From: "by way of kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu (Ken Drew)" Subject: very sad news Status: RO ken- what can be said at a time like this? i was shocked when i read my e-mail. it was less than a month ago when the beat farmers played here in boston and dick seemed fine.he even rolled his eyes when i asked him about his health. remember that as stupid as this sounds he most likely wanted to go out at a show (ok so not in canada) and that"thats the way he wants to be when someone digs his grave" it is truly a shame that the farmers never got the recognision that they deserved. hubba hubba, pal tom Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id aa16176; 10 Nov 95 6:20 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:46:50 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:46:53 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu From: Russ Hval Subject: RE: Country Dick Montana Status: RO Ken, I'm shocked and extremely saddened. Seems like the Beat Farmers were gaining momentum, then this tragic loss. What a rotten deal - I spoke with Dick briefly in New York last year at a show and asked him about the throat. He put his hand on my shoulder, thanked me for asking and said he thought they had gotten it all this time. Only to die of a heart attack?! I'm really going to miss him... Thanks for letting us know. Russ Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id ab16068; 10 Nov 95 6:16 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:42:30 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:42:33 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu From: Ian Baker Subject: Re: Country Dick Montana: SAD NEWS- he passed away Status: RO oh man. what a shame, but you gotta think that dick got a kick out of the way it happened. i will hoist a few shots his way tonight. jagermeister and rumpleminze, right? my condolences to you on the loss of your friend, and to all of us beat farmer fans. =============================================================================== | | | Ian Baker | | Mission Research Corporation/ASTER Division | | P.O. Box 466 | | Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0466 | | (970)282-4400 ext.25 | | (970)282-9444 (fax) | | baker@aster.com | | | =============================================================================== Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id aa16181; 10 Nov 95 6:20 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:57:03 -0500 Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:57:06 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu, jsherret@ix.netcom.com From: Ken Drew Subject: Recent article review: BFERS Status: RO The Beat Farmers New Album: Manifold =46red O'Hara/Lilia Mar=EDn "The world moist with anticipation...asking `Could it be?'" A new record from the Beat Farmers. Pulling up to a Beat Farmers show you might expect to see Country Dick Montana's horse tied to a hitching post outside. On stage, they are dressed in black like cowboys gone bad in their search for justice. Rolle Lo= ve's bass and Montana's drumbeat drive behind the forceful rhythm of guitarists Jerry Rainey and Joey Harris, conjuring images of locomotives, wild horses, = and the wide open plain. They sing about love, undying and unrequited. Rebelliou= s and sarcastic. Lonesome and lovestruck. Dick is the charismatic master of ceremonies in the Beat Farmers traveling circus. In a voice that has been described as unbelievably "basso profundo" he sings about how his baby left him, he dances around and proceeds to dump the contents of his pitcher = on the floor and dives across room on his belly. The crowd encourages him by chanting "Dick! Dick! Dick!". His bawdy camp fire sing-a-longs are a big hitwith the crowd. Dick never passes up an opportunity to serenade a pretty girl. A consummate showman, he is also a minister of the Universal Life Church. Their live performances are filled with joy and abandon. This contrasts with the fine structure of their studio works. During the recent shows at the Silver Eagle the band reflected on their efforts leading to their latest release. Joey Harris narrates "My uncle Nick Reynolds was in the Kingston Trio in the early sixties. So there was always music in the house, a lot of big band, folk music, and things like that. I just got in from the beginning. Right after high school in '75 I got a job with another ex Kingston Trio guy named John Stewart who is a song writer in sort of the Tom Waitts, Randy Newman, John Prine kind of vein. By the end of that four years I started writing a little bit by myself. "At the end of 79 is when we started The Fingers. That's when all the punk stuff started to happen so I cut off all my hair and dyed it purple, bought a lot of leather outfits and then we started The Fingers. I started writing back then, it was just kind of goofy songs because it was what everybody else was writing. Then I did a solo for MCA Records called Joey and The Speedsters. While waiting for that to come out Dick and I put together a band called Country Dick and the Snuggle Bunnies. That was a bunch of local musicians playing a lot like what we are doing with the Incredible Hayseeds now." Rollie explains "I come from heavy metal style of music but that is back in the seventies. Then I went to playing the upright bass and I got in to playing my roots, even listening to mariachi and norte=F1o stuff. I kind of got into that country style from there I just got hooked up with the Beat =46armers when I was 19. We all had an interest in the same music. It just w= orked out, I got lucky really." >From the first few records the Beat Farmers got a lot of critical acclaim and they were doing really well. "This was when The Blasters and Los Lobos came out," Joey recalls, "there was this whole sort of American music sort o= f American rock and roll roots sort of band thing. They just did really well on the first record in Europe. When the Speedsters went down I was just kind of not doing much around San Diego. I put together a little band with Paul Kamanski called the Electric Suns. Meanwhile the Beat Farmers went off and got a record deal, went to Europe, and all that stuff. Then Buddy Blue suddenly wanted to quit after the second record. I sang background vocals on both of them and contributed songs. So by the time Buddy left they just had just asked me to join and play guitar. The first tour I did I was actual= ly promoting the second Beat Farmers record and everyone thought that I was Buddy Blue. "The Beat Farmers have done three different tours to Europe. The fans there are funny. Half of them come just to see an American rock and roll ban= d, they don't even care who they are or know, and about the other half are Beat =46armers fans. When they see Country Dick guy throwing beer everywhere they go crazy. The Germans really identify with him. We are supposed to go to Europe to support this album. In the past we have done all the Scandinavian countries, Germany and England. This time we may do France as well. There is always talk about an Australian tour. I believe they have a good distribution deal down there now for this album." The Beat Farmers played for the grand opening of the Hard Rock Cafe in Tijuana in 1992, sponsored by 91X. They also played in Iguanas. They would like to play in Tijuana again if the right job comes along. Jerry says "I think we scared them, they said `These guys think they are John Wayne'." The Beat Farmers had also been known to perform under different musical identities. In 1989 and again in 1993 they toured as The Pleasure Barons. This was a Las Vegas style review inspired by the greats like Elvis, Tom Jones, and Dean Martin. A grand undertaking by an eleven piece band featuring Mojo Nixon, Dave Alvin, John Doe, and others. More recently they h= ave played as The Incredible Hayseeds with Steele Bone Dick (Tim Cook) on the sl= ide guitar and trombone. Here they are able to express their country alter ego. So Joey continues "Our audience in San Diego is great. We are also well received in Minneapolis and Santa Cruz. Vancouver is probably my favorite. We can do anything we want and they just go nuts. We go around the country once a year. The band is twelve years old now and the people who came to the first show are still coming. We haven't had to get day jobs yet but it has b= een pretty close the last few years. There has not been a lot of money around anyway but now everybody has a band. There are all these kids out playing for 200 bucks. They got their dad's station wagon out there and sleep in it, but we are a bunch of old guys, we need hotel rooms. We are about to start a tour with the Blasters, it is going to be about five weeks. I think we will tour in California in November. "The band drinks a lot , Dick drinks a whole lot. For a lot of years I was just doing it for the work and it was not very exciting. I found myself saying `OK, three more songs and then I get off the stage.' It was a kind of weird for a while. The good thing about getting sober for a while it was that I kind of rediscovered the music. It is not easy, because your life is = in a bar it is very hard not to drink". It hardly ever happens that someone is so drunk that they cannot play", Jerry adds, "You may not be that good in be= d later on but you can still be good on stage. Day times are hell after a show, but who likes daytimes anyway?" Jerry is the funniest one in the whole band. Dick is an anarchist in the truest sense he is anti everything. During the show he comments "No we don't have day jobs. Would you hire us? We tried to get jobs. But... we don't even know how to do this." Joey goes on talking about the Beat Farmers' media relations, "The story behind our appearance on the David Letterman show is that we were with still Curb records and we just released the live record Live, Loud, and Plow= ed. Our manager at the time got a call from the Letterman people who said `we ha= ve been looking for you guys for months, Curb Record says you are not with them anymore', when we were. It just goes to show how little they got involv= ed in our careers. At first we felt we had to do something wild, because this was going to be a big shot on national TV. The word came back that David Letterman loved this song Hideaway. I still feel that doing King of Sleaze or something like that wold have been great, but they said no. Everyone really had a fun time during it. "The record company didn't do anything to take advantage of that. Curb just dropped the ball and for the next two years we just spent all the time just trying to get off that label and get them off our backs. Those years we= re tough. You could not even buy the records in San Diego for long time. George Varga would write a good piece for us and that was about it. We did a video for Hollywood Hills. MTV played it for a while. We had been looking= for a new record company and also looking for a new manager. We finally found Alex De Felice. He is our manager now. Our new label is Sector 2 Records." There are many kinds of music in the new album called Manifold. Jerry came up with the name that describes something made of many parts. There has always been something hard for people to understand and work with in the ban= d. It's not one singer and not one type of music. There is a lot of rhythm and blues. Everyone in the band is inspired by the British invasion bands. Dick = was the president of the Kinks' Society in southern California. Rolle being a little younger came from sort of kind of heavy metal style. Rolle and Buddy = were very involved in a rockabilly kind of band right before they put together the Beat Farmers. This is the seventh studio release. The recent "Best of" album was done without the band's knowledge. It's hardly a true representati= on of them best work. The interest in Viking Lullabys was very strong, enough s= o that Curb got out all the old records again. "I really think Manifold is a superior record due to the songs", Joey continues, "we did it ourselves in a great studio in San Diego, nobody was between us and the tape machine so there is a lot more, the guitars are loud because the guitar players wanted it loud. I think it is something real= ly good. I have a rule when it comes to recording, if we are going to have effect like an echo, a guitar, a solo, a drum fill, you turn it up loud, the whole mix can come up, everything. It is a lot more important than setti= ng it and letting it run by itself or trying to outthink it by finding just the right amount. There 's 14 new originals by the band on the album and we do one song by Bob Dylan Positively 4th Street. "I think this time Jerry is going to have the songs that get the most attention. Got It Bad For You is great. Memphis to Nixon is about Elvis got all hopped up in drugs and forced his way in the White House to get an F= BI badge saying `We are going to bust the Beatles for drugs and I am the guy who can do it.' Texas Heat is a great example of something we never could do before. Dick and I are singing with just a little acoustic guitar. I tried to do that in past records and the idea was rejected by the producer." If this goes as well as they think they will bring on extra musicians like another drummer so Dick can play piano. He is really modest about his drumming. Before the last record he said he did not want to play because he is not a drummer. Part of what makes him a really great drummer is becaus= e he is such a musicologist. He has so many references in his head to pick from. Dick comments "If I am really a bad boy in this life I am going to come back in the next life as my own drum set because I beat hell out of them. I = go through about 10 sets a year." It is his intense strength and enthusiasm that makes his performance a pleasure to see. Dick explains "We are going to do everything we have to do to promote the album. We are going to give party hats, confetti and there will be nudity all over the place. I don't think people realize how much it helps to have t= he fans call the radio stations and ask for the songs. " Interestingly enough the band has also been gaining popularity through the internet. Ken Drew is a club manager we met in Chicago and a big fan. He has an online fan club with postings of recent Beat Farmer activities at his e-mail address kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu. He has received letters from all over the world. They also have a local address of PO Box 2128 El Cajon, CA 92021. The annual publication of The Beat Farmers Almanac is an amusing prize full of advice and biographies of the band. When you get the chance, check these guys out, bring a kazoo, and check your prudence at the door. Country Dick Montana died of a heart attack Nov. 8, 1995 in Alberta Canada playing to a sold out crowd. Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id aa16107; 10 Nov 95 6:18 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:41:59 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:42:02 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu From: Pam Croskey Subject: Country Dick, I miss you Status: RO Hi.... This has to be without question one of the saddest and most heart wrenching days of my life. I can't imagine what Joey, Jerry, Rolle, Tom and Ross must be going through. I have been a fan of the Beat Farmers since 1984 and have been fortunate enough to count them as friends for the last 5 years or so. They have brought such joy and happiness into my life, that I don't even have words to describe the sensations. I keep reminding myself that the music and the spirit will never die, and that those of us that knew Dick will always carry a part of him in our hearts forever. I loved Dick with all of my heart and will miss him more than I know how to express. I wanted to ask those of you who also loved Dick and are fans of the Beat Farmers to show Dick (and the guys) what we think of them. And I have to say that right now I don't feel like flipping the bird. I want everyone who is moved to, to DO something. It could be almost anything, like sending flowers to wherever the family requests, sending truckoads of cards and letters of thanks for the music and the love, buying up their albums and cd's, or even calling your local radio stations and requesting Beat Farmer songs. There is more, but do something! Don't let the Beat Farmers or Country Dick's wonderful and unique contribution to our lives simply fade away as the shock wears off. I, for one, do not EVER want to forget or to let go of the joy they brought to me over the years. I don't ever want to forget my memories of times I spent with Dick, watching him do all those crazy things that made him so special. I wrote this open letter because I want my friends to know how much I truly do love them. The shock of our loss will lessen with time, but we should never let go of the love. Ok, I'm rambling now (like someone we know), so I will sign off. Should anyone care to respond by email, I can be reached at: pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com MAY THE GREAT SPIRIT BLESS AND KEEP YOU, COUNTRY DICK Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id ac16068; 10 Nov 95 6:16 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:48:45 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:48:49 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, ammo@owlnet.rice.edu, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, cwalker@csulb.edu, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, N59%A1%HEALTH_NET@mcimail.com, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu From: "by way of kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu (Ken Drew)" Subject: Re: Country Dick Montana: SAD NEWS- he passed away Status: RO What can I say... I'm shocked. It always felt to me that these guys were eternal - especially the Man With the Hat. There were undoubtedly my all time favorite musicians/partiers/friends. This thing takes on a wholly different meaning to me for what Dick did once. The night after my room mate Scott (aka "Dinger") was killed in a military aircraft accident (Jan 20 1992) I saw the Farmers at the Belly Up in San Diego. I talked to Dick before the show and asked him if he would dedicate a song for him. During the show Dick came out and said "People die all of the time. Every once in a while we lose a good one. This one's for Dinger." He and the band went on to give another awesome rendition of "Lucille". I won't forget that night because I knew Dinger would have been proud to have that one performed in his honor. Well, I guess it's time to dedicate one to the culprit himself. People die all the time. This day we lost a good one... You picked a fine time to leave us, Dick. Call Dinger a "maggot" for me when you see him, will ya? *SIGNED* Jim Larson Ken, feel free to put this on the net if you'd like. Jim Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id aa04199; 10 Nov 95 12:28 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 15:11:55 -0500 X-Sender: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu (Unverified) Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 15:12:00 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu, jsherret@ix.netcom.com, Charles_Rossi@ccmail.va.grci.com, mtronics@neosoft.com From: Ken Drew Subject: PRESS RELEASE from Sector 2 Records Cc: mbreen@infopath.ucsd.edu, kdrew@nd.edu Status: RO It is sad to report that Country Dick Montana, the drummer and vocalist for what is probably the one of the preeminent bar bands in the world, the Beat Farmers, died on November 8 at the age of 40, on-stage, while the Beat Farmers were performing at the Longhorn Saloon in Whistler, British Columbia in front of a sold-out crowd. According to Montana's label, Sector 2 Records, the cause of death was an apparent heart attack, and he was pronounced dead at 11:40 PM (PST). Montana began his career in the music business when he not only ran one of the first underground record stores in San Diego but led the Kinks Preservation Society. Jumping out of the frying pan, into the fire, he went on to join the garage rock the Crawdaddies, releasing two albums along the way. Moonlighting as always, he also performed with the San Diego band The Penetrators before forming the Beat Farmers in 1983. The band first release was "Tales Of The New West" on Rhino Records in 1985, before moving onto Curb/MCA where they released three studio albums (Van Go, The Pursuit Of Happiness, and Poor And Famous), a live album (Live Loud and Plowed), and a "Best Of" collection. Most recently the Beat Farmers found a home at Sector 2 Records in Austin, Texas, where they put out "Viking Lullabys" last year and, most recently "Manifold". Country Dick solo album has been recorded for some time and now may be released early next year. We are all saddened by this untimely death, but Tom Ames, the road manager for the Beat Farmers perhaps said it best: "He died on-stage, doing what he loved, in front of a sold out crowd." KEN (kdrew@nd.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------- *The Beat Farmers : WWW page at: * *http://www.ucsd.edu/sdam/artists/bf/ * *Webb Wilder : check these guys out! * ----------------------------------------------------------- Received: from nd.edu by sco.sco.COM id aa04378; 10 Nov 95 12:30 PST Received: from [129.74.80.225] (actually seriannippc.chem.nd.edu) by nd.edu with SMTP (PP); Fri, 10 Nov 1995 14:45:50 -0500 Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 14:45:53 -0600 To: colinh@wimsey.com, Leon_Davidoff@mindlink.bc.ca, jvaleu@hpbs4571.boi.hp.com, djacobs@unlinfo.unl.edu, jhayman@k12.oit.umass.edu, guttler@slab.unt.edu, hanno@sap-ag.de, o.keeble@ic.ac.uk, kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu, briang@efn.org, abailey@bosshog.arts.uwo.ca, michaelh@enet.net, I.Durkacz@sheffield.ac.uk, narxtc@math.uh.edu, jason@bluestar.cnd.hp.com, NDUB@aol.com, aq686@freenet.carleton.ca, baker@aster.com, DAG7@psuvm.psu.edu, lms@lmsc.lockheed.com, s.null@redwood.nsc.com, chrisr@cts.com, RMCGOWAN@po1.gi.com, artdog666@aol.com, camille@vitinc.com, gary.drew@network.com, WendB@aol.com, 74262.3717@compuserve.com, RAustinZZZ@aol.com, outflip@ix.netcom.com, JimInHI@aol.com, ela@netrail.net, craig@next.com.au, vebjorn.brathen@arendal.media.telenor.no, peterk@airmail.net, chriss@scctv.org, Roscoeman@aol.com, hval@tvratings.com, jkopecky@scholars.bellevue.edu, FISHHEADSs@aol.com, anok@ix.netcom.com, Joe_Rosiles@radius.com, CLL9@aol.com, pcroskey@pam.ip.portal.com, lcroskey@peabody.jhu.edu, TMUNG@aol.com, MrZiffel@aol.com, bierman@npl.npl.washington.edu, ericc@big12.metrobbs.com, Rubee383@aol.com, rr@sco.COM, anok@ix.netcom.com, dere@mail.sdsu.edu, jsherret@ix.netcom.com, Charles_Rossi@ccmail.va.grci.com, mtronics@neosoft.com From: Ken Drew Subject: Country Dick: tenative public service Cc: mbreen@infopath.ucsd.edu Status: RO I was informed that a tenative public service for Country Dick Montana will be held Monday evening at the Belly-Up Saloon in San Diego, California. This is NOT for sure so please check first if you plan to attend. A private service will take place Monday afternoon for family and close friends at an undisclosed location. The band is currently driving home to San Diego from Canada. There is no news as to the future of the band. They may stay together, they may disband. It is too early to tell. If you want to send bereavement gifts, cards. etc., please send them to: The Beat Farmers PO Box 2128 El Cajon, CA 92021 USA We all miss Dick. His sense of humor permits me to say this: Jesus, are you drinkin' with Dick? Let's hope so. More updates to follow as soon as I hear them. KEN (kdrew@nd.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------- *The Beat Farmers : WWW page at: * *http://www.ucsd.edu/sdam/artists/bf/ * *Webb Wilder : check these guys out! * ----------------------------------------------------------- In memory of Country Dick Montana 1955-1995 It wasn't long ago when I was back in my home state of California, working on my graduate degree at UOP in Stockton, and listening to KDJK on the radio. Another simple contest, one that I had garnered me a record or two before. Yes, Virginia, they used to give out vinyl at radio stations not too long ago. I won a copy of "Van Go" by the Beat Farmers (BFers). The year was 1986. I had heard the song "Riverside" on the radio. I had even heard the Budweiser beer commercial made from that song- you remember when Bud used to take a popular song and have the band redo it with Bud lyrics. Something about that album caught my attention. I liked the music and all of the songs but the song "Big Ugly Wheels" was different. It was sung by some guy named Country Dick Montana. He had a real deep voice and made me laugh with his interpretation this song. I looked at the album to find Dick as the drummer and leader of "beer runs". Hey, that's pretty funny stuff. All in all, I was impressed. Another year passed as I saw that the BFers were playing up in the Bay area again. I tried to find time to make it there but couldn't. Then a new album came out. "The Pursuit Of Happiness". It was awesome. I had to see these guys. I had already backtracked and picked up their first album "Tales Of The New West". This had the morning show cult classic "Happy Boy" on it. The new record once again featured more outstanding work. The combined guitars and voices of Jerry Raney and Joey Harris (who had replaced Buddy Blue) were more than just music to my ears. Once again, Country Dick sang some songs as only he could. "Big River" was classic Dick material. Finally, I was going to see the BFers in San Francisco at Slim's. It was packed and I was treated to one of the best live shows I had ever seen and believe me when I say that. I have seen many a show while growing up in the Bay Area. To see a band that was having so much fun was a real treat. The crowd loved it. Soon I heard chants of "Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick,....". Then from behind the drum set stood this 6'4" man with a cowboy hat and a long coat. He made his way to the microphone, jokingly calling the crowd "maggots". Dick begins to sing "(You Picked A Fine Time To Leave Me) Lucille" as only he could- "400 kids and a crouch that won't heal" and "you picked a real bitchin' time to leave me, Lucille". Beer was everywhere. It was unbelievable to watch Dick twirl beer bottles, drink a full bottle with only his feet, and put a full bottle on his hat and do a turn around in a circle. Soon, I was a regular at the shows. I would talk to people I knew. I would bring friends. My brother would bring friends. Friends would bring friends. They all enjoyed the show. It was something that could not be described. The music was great. The atmosphere was great. But most of all, people loved to see Dick. He would have an entire audience sitting on the beer soaked floor as he said "it was time to go camping". He would tell various insane anecdotes and sing "Lakeside Trailer Park", "Little Ball Of Yarn", "Mondo", or some other great sick little song. The band was always (and still remains) very accessible. Dick could often be found wondering around the bar passing out the BFer Almanac, signing autographs, or having a beer. He would often stop and talk to me for a while. We would comment on the opening band. There was the time that Buck Naked and The Bare Bottom Boys opened up for the BFers. Buck wore only a plunger strategically placed between his legs. Dick said "that guy's crazier than me! And he is only get paid $10". After enough shows, I was lucky enough to go backstage and talk to Jerry, Joey, Rolle, and Dick. I saw a side of the band that most didn't know. The side of the band that made me feel part of this large extended BFer family. Tom Ames, the tour manager and sound man, would always say hello and tell me about the current tour. The guys would give me info on new album releases and such. We would talk about our families. We would talk about everything not just music. I learned how the BFers came together. When a young Country Dick (then known by his real name Dan McClain) as student body vice president at Grossmont High, invited Jerry Raney's band Glory to play a dance. The student body was not very receptive so Dick stepped to the microphone and gave a speech. "What's wrong with you guys? This is the best band around Can't you act like you appreciate some music? Do you have to hear it on the radio before you can appreciate it?" His charisma back then made an impression on Jerry. One that would ultimately lead to the formation of the BFers. The BFers started when Jerry received a phone call from Dick, who said, "Hey, Jerry, you wanna start a rolling musical pleasure unit or something?". The BFers were born. The next thing I knew, another album came out. "Poor And Famous". This one didn't do so well. It didn't help that CURB decided to not promote the band. A typical label problem that every band has to deal with. The tours never stopped though. The crowds were always there. Then suddenly Dick was informed that he had cancer. He went through several surgeries to cure this throat cancer and there was a possibility that he could never sing again. He pulled through it as only he could. His sense of humor always present. I recall a letter he wrote me in September 1993. The letter started out "Always good to hear from people with good taste". He went on to tell me about his solo album and the "ten hour, quite the fuckin' radical ear to ear surgery" he was recovering from. His return address: "The Human Pez Dispenser, Spring Valley Inn". You see his surgery left a scar from one ear to the other around his neck. Yet he was determined to continue to play with the BFers. Nothing would stop him. Soon, I was off to the midwest. Stuck in South Bend with little chance of seeing the BFers on a regular basis like before. For sanity's sake, I started the BFers e-mail list on the internet. It continues to grow today. I was able to get tour info to the fans and converse with numerous fans not only across the country but all over the world. There were occasional swings to the Chicago area so I was fortunate to see them play. One of these swings was amazing since Dick's doctors found a reoccurrence of cancer yet there he was. Dick was on stage in front of the crowd. He was too weak to play drums and as soon as he returned to San Diego, he was to go in for more tests- this time on his thyroid. Dick was determined to get healthy. He lost weight and actually cut down on those beer runs and shots at the shows. Sure, there was an occasional fun time but he was in this for the long haul. The BFers must continue. And they did. They released two albums on Sector 2 Records. The first was "Viking Lullabys" spelled that way because Dick liked it! Most recently, "Manifold" was released. This new record is considered by many to be the strongest BFer album to date. Dick's solo album, a "concept album" he told me not long ago, was done and he was hoping to get it released soon. All things were looking up. Then suddenly on a Thursday night, November 8th, while playing drums in Whistler, Brittish Columbia (about one hour out of Vancouver- a BFer strong hold!) the unthinkable happened. Country Dick was stuck down by a heart attack at the age of 40 during the show. The indestructible, fun loving, deep voiced, friendly, extremely humorous giant was gone. There are no words that can describe how any BFer fan feels. Country Dick Montana was a talent that can never be equaled. He had charisma to burn and it was that charisma that made the band into something greater than the sum of its parts. Sure he wasn't well known but anyone who ever saw a BFer live show could tell you that Dick was at his best- on stage. His presence will never be replaced and I know that the remaining BFers do not want to replace him- they know it would be impossible. Whatever shape the BFers take, it will never be the same without Country Dick Montana. Country Dick: I knew you as a friend and I know that God does have a sense of humor and that you are where you belong- on that stage in the heavens. You are truly missed. Ken Drew 11/11/95 KEN (kdrew@nd.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------- *The Beat Farmers : WWW page at: * *http://www.ucsd.edu/sdam/artists/bf/ * *Webb Wilder : check these guys out! * ----------------------------------------------------------- My friend from the Crowded House list lives up near Vancouver so I thought I would forward this to the list: Hi Ken, As you might see on the CH list, I weent to a show last night and at it I ran into acouple of people who had second-hand knowledge of the sad Beat Farmers news. They said that according to their friends who were at the show, there were two paramedics in the audience (there as concertgoers, not as official first aid types) who saw Country Dick slump over even before the band noticed. They were up on stage within a minute and did CPR, and an ambulance got him to the hispital within 10 mins (WEhistler is a pretty small place, just basically a ski town) but poor Dick was dead on arrival. The paramedics said they figured he was dead beofre he hit the ground. The band had stopped for a beer on the way up to the show (Whistler is about 90 mins drive north of Vancouver) but Dick has been "clean" for the last dfew years and to the best of anyone's knowledge had not been on any kinds of drugs or drinking heavily. When they had a beer on the drive, they had A beer - he was not drunk by any stretch of the imagination. Although he had been living well for the last while, apparently much of his heart waxs damaged from his previous lifestyle (blocked artieries) and his heart just shut down. Naturally everone in Vancouver is very sad. Part of this I heard from the promoter of the hall that I went to the show at, where the Framers had plyaed many times. He really liked Dick and the band and was very unhappy at the news, although as he said "I bet he was happy when he went, because he loved to perform". I was also told (and I thought you would like this!) that on Friday night there was some band playing in Vancouver, a local act, that halfway into their set started going on about how Dick was a drunk and a wastrel, etc., good riddance, etc., etc., and the audience booed and heclked and thre things at them so that they couldn't finish their set - and actually had to leave the club because they feared for their safety! heheheh! That's what I found out, anyhow. Hope this is of some cheer to you. Cheers, Fiona PS Excuse the typing but I'm doing this from a telnet and can t figure out how to make the editor work :) a.k.a. Country Dick Montana. Below you will find two article which appeared in the local VAncouver newspapers. (Reproduced without permission, sorry.) *** Vancouver Sun Nov 10, 1995 John Mackie Country Dick Montana of the Beat Farmers collapsed and died on stage at Whistler Wednesday night. He was 40. Renowned for his wild onstage antics and incredible sense of humor, Montana was out front leading his band when he fell to the stage. Paramedics were in the audience and jumped up to administer CPR. But Montana failed to regain consciousness, and was pronounced dead on arrival at Whistler Health Centre. "He died the way he wanted, where he wanted, in front of a full house playing live on stage," said Beat Farmers booking agent Garth Redmond. Montana had battled throat cancer in the past, but had recovered sufficiently to sing and drum with the Beat Farmers and Pleasure Barons, a roots-rock all-star troupe. "He seemed to be in great shape, in good spirits," said David Branigan of the Longhorn Cabaret, the bar where the band was performing. "He seemed to be as clean and sober as I've ever seen him." Montana's real name was Daniel McLean. He was born in Carmel, California, and lived in San Diego for most of his life. Adopting the Montana persona, he became infamous as one of rock's true wildmen. He would have made a great bad guy in a movie western: tall, thin, and fond of wearing big black cowboy hats and long gunfighter coats, he looked like one ornery character. The image was reinforced by his voice, perhaps the deepest, darkest croak in contemporary music. His forte was playing live. Country Dick would do anything on stage. He perfected the art of flipping a beer in the air, foam flying this way and that, and catching it like it was a baton. He would don a jockey cap and climb on an audience member's shoulder, riding around a club while singing. He would personalize songs like 'Lucille' and 'Take A Letter Maria' by adding hilariously lewd lyrics. His sense of humor was legendary. The Pleasure Barons were Country Dick's version of a Vegas revue. "We want to deliver Vegas to the people where it belongs, get it out of the hands of these mangy old whores that have been running it for so long," he explained. "There's no reason why people with good taste in music shouldn't be entertained in Las Vegas as well. It can't just be put in the hands of the Tony Orlandos and Wayne Newtons and left to rot in the uninspired hands of these hacks." The Beat Farmers had just finished recording a new album, 'Manifold', and were set to preview their new songs at the Town Pump Saturday night. All shows have now been cancelled, and remaining band members, who were unavailable for comment, will be heading back to San Diego. An autopsy will be performed to determine cause of death. *** The Province Nov 10, 1995 John Colebourn, Staff Reporter Whistler Country Dick Montana lived to create mayhem on stage. All that rowdiness came to a sad end when the outlandish singer collapsed while performing to a sellout crowd at Whistler's Longhorn Saloon Wednesday night. The frontman for the San Diego-based Beat Farmers was rushed to the hospital and died a short time later of a heart attack. He was 40 years old. Montana delighted crowds of young people across North America with his raw brand of satirical, off-color songs. He often sprayed fans with beer, left his drum kit to another band member and dove into the mosh pit to join the frenzy. "He was a complete character on stage, a great drummer, and had an unbelievable personality," said his booking agent, Garth Redmond. "He was a wild man -- no angel, that's for sure. He died on stage doing what he loved in front of a sold-out crowd." Redmond said Country Dick and his band had a loyal following in Vancouver and many of Canada's ski towns. "He truly loved what he did," said Redmond. Guitarist-singer Joey Harris said his late colleague was "an inspiration to me, because he was such a character." Country Dick fan Ryan Brown was at the show and said the crowd was shocked. "It was really sad to see him collapse. Everyone was stunned. The town loved his brand of music." Montana joined the California garage-rock band the Crawdaddies and later the Penetrators before forming the Beat Farmers in 1983. The Beat Farmers have had several critically acclaimed albums. The band was on tour in support of its fifth CD, Manifold, when Montana died. *** He will be greatly missed. Leon