I Played drums in a band at 17 years old, we were a great metal band and played tons of shows around Michigan. Our lead guitarist hooked up with a "bookie" who was going to help us get gigs. The first was this bar in St. Ignas just north of the Mackinaw Bridge. He informed our LG who told us, "its a small bar". He says just bring a small drum kit, practice amps only and your guitars. We packed up and hit the road... To our surprise, we roll up in a 77' flat black dodge van and the bar owner meets us in the parking lot and proceeds to throw an absolute public fit about the condition of our van. "Wheres the light show I was promised! Where are your rigs and busses?" We where like... "oh great..." We felt about a foot tall. This guy really let us have it for not being a huge pro band like he was promised. Shoot, we didn't even have the big guitar amps!!! We were told it was a small gig, and mind you this was 4.5 hours from where we lived. My Dad stepped up in this guys face (he was our manager at the time) and told him "Look, these guys can please your crowd and you'll make plenty enough tonight to cover it, LET THEM PLAY". Finally we got in to play, but that was only the beginning...

The bar owner was a complete jerk all night, even to the point that his wife was ripping on him for it. There was one point the bar maid told us "people buy shots for the band sometimes, with you guys being under age we'll give you shots of water and just go along with it". Well, they did that and it turned out to be shots of pepperment vodka. AHHH! Our singer was all freaked out and couldn't remember some of the chords (played rythm to) the gig seemed to last forever.

In the end, the owners wife paid us half of what was originaly negotiated and she snuck a case of beer out to our van for us to drink back at the motel.

What a trip that was...