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Sorry for this shameless self-promotion, but I thought some of you
might like to know about this. Chicago's 'Lake' Magazine, which is
given out free around the city, did a lengthy feature on my father
and our Shadows cover band the Troubadours. It's in the April issue,
and it's been out for almost four weeks now. I just checked it out,
and it's actually available online as well. You can access the story
without the photos here:
DR3YI-20053145
If you want to see the story with the photos, go here:
and then go to page 53 on the page counter at the top. You'll be
able to see two photos of my father from 1965 with his black Hofner
Strat-copy guitar, by himself and with his band.
The story itself is mostly about him, but there's a fair amount about
the Shadows and the Troubadours (though not all of it completely
accurate, but close enough).
Enjoy.
Ivan
That was a really good article. Well written.
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...> wrote:
>
> Sorry for this shameless self-promotion, but I thought some of you
> might like to know about this. Chicago's 'Lake' Magazine, which is
> given out free around the city, did a lengthy feature on my father
> and our Shadows cover band the Troubadours. It's in the April issue,
> and it's been out for almost four weeks now. I just checked it out,
> and it's actually available online as well. You can access the story
> without the photos here:
>
>
> DR3YI-20053145
>
> If you want to see the story with the photos, go here:
>
>
>
> and then go to page 53 on the page counter at the top. You'll be
> able to see two photos of my father from 1965 with his black Hofner
> Strat-copy guitar, by himself and with his band.
>
> The story itself is mostly about him, but there's a fair amount about
> the Shadows and the Troubadours (though not all of it completely
> accurate, but close enough).
>
> Enjoy.
> Ivan
Yeah, that was very cool! It's hard to believe your Dad was stickin'
it to the man by traffiking in black market rock-n-roll records! Your
Dad rawks!
BN
I LIVE in Chicago and have NEVER heard of this magazine, not that
that takes away from the great story, because every bum is trying to
pedal some magazine around here. I'll have to look to see if I can
find a few copies someplace.
What a great story Ivan, your father is someone to be very proud
of. When I saw you guys last year I couldn't stop smiling at the
fun it looked like you two had together. Like everyone says his
rhythm skills blew me away.
Makes me really miss playing guitar with my dad.
Bill
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...>
wrote:
>
> Sorry for this shameless self-promotion, but I thought some of you
> might like to know about this. Chicago's 'Lake' Magazine, which
is
> given out free around the city, did a lengthy feature on my father
> and our Shadows cover band the Troubadours. It's in the April
issue,
> and it's been out for almost four weeks now. I just checked it
out,
> and it's actually available online as well. You can access the
story
> without the photos here:
>
>
> DR3YI-20053145
>
> If you want to see the story with the photos, go here:
>
>
>
> and then go to page 53 on the page counter at the top. You'll be
> able to see two photos of my father from 1965 with his black
Hofner
> Strat-copy guitar, by himself and with his band.
>
> The story itself is mostly about him, but there's a fair amount
about
> the Shadows and the Troubadours (though not all of it completely
> accurate, but close enough).
>
> Enjoy.
> Ivan
Thanks Jacob, Brian and Bill for the nice comments about the story.
--- In , "supertwangreverb"
<supertwangreverb@y...> wrote:
>
> I LIVE in Chicago and have NEVER heard of this magazine, not that
> that takes away from the great story, because every bum is trying to
> pedal some magazine around here. I'll have to look to see if I can
> find a few copies someplace.
My impression is that Lake Magazine is aimed more at the affluent set
that lives along the Lake (thus the name). They do a lot of life-
interest type stories, and probably very little about music and the
hip scenes which is why it isn't surprising you haven't heard of
them. But given that it's a thick full-color magazine and it's free,
their advertising must be doing really well! They've probably been
around for a while.
The way the story happened is that almost two years ago when the
Troubadours played Chicago Exotica 2003 with the Cocktail Preachers
and the Volcanos, Dave Hoekstra approached me after the show wanting
to do a story on us. His full-time job is with the newspaper Chicago
Tribune and he covers the music beat for them. We thought he wanted
to do the story for the newspaper, but he decided to do a much
lengthier piece for the magazine. Well, one shouldn't look a gift
horse in the mouth! He said that the next time the Troubadours play
in Chicago he'll try to run a condensed version of the story in the
Tribune, which would be really damn cool.
> What a great story Ivan, your father is someone to be very proud
> of. When I saw you guys last year I couldn't stop smiling at the
> fun it looked like you two had together. Like everyone says his
> rhythm skills blew me away.
Thanks, Bill. You're right, how many people get to have an experience
like that? I do feel very lucky and priveleged. We're focusing on
the Madeira now, which leaves my dad out of the loop, but we'll get
back to the Troubadours again soon enough. He thought he might have
had enough last year, but then I talked to him about it again last
month, and he said if all those doo-wop guys in their seventies can
still perform on PBS, he can do it too!! (He's only in his early-
sixties...)
> Makes me really miss playing guitar with my dad.
Why can't you play with your dad anymore? Did he pass away?
Thanks again!
Ivan
> Thanks, Bill. You're right, how many people get to have an
experience
> like that? I do feel very lucky and priveleged. We're focusing
on
> the Madeira now, which leaves my dad out of the loop, but we'll
get
> back to the Troubadours again soon enough. He thought he might
have
> had enough last year, but then I talked to him about it again last
> month, and he said if all those doo-wop guys in their seventies
can
> still perform on PBS, he can do it too!! (He's only in his early-
> sixties...)
Well Dick Dale and Nokie Edwards have to be in or near their early
60s. I think they still have it, and your dad certainly "had it" a
year ago. I could imagine arthritis, or some form of age related
pain syndrome could slow your dad down, however, from what I saw it
does not look like he's a candidate for anything like that. Hey,
from what you told me the Troubadours hardly practice as a band, so
couldn't you keep both going if you had enough time?
>
> > Makes me really miss playing guitar with my dad.
>
> Why can't you play with your dad anymore? Did he pass away?
Yeah, he died in 2001 from Multiple Melanoma, a rather aggressive
form of bone marrow cancer. He was more into 60s instro-guitar and
Chet Atkins than surf music(long time Strat player btw), but I think
he would have enjoyed the Aquanauts. I do know he would have
enjoyed seeing the Troubadours, looks like your father was born in
the early 40s, so my dad would have been about 7 or 8 years
younger. I've got some songs, and guitars I play that certainly
remind me of him and when he taught them to me. I can imagine
you've got boat loads of similar memories. Like you said it's a
great experince to learn from your father, and both enjoy the same
music, I know a few guys who's dad's play but its entirely different
music. So in away it's nice to carry on the torch. I do understand
why you get so emotional over the Shads now!
Bill
--- In , "supertwangreverb"
<supertwangreverb@y...> wrote:
> Well Dick Dale and Nokie Edwards have to be in or near their early
> 60s. I think they still have it, and your dad certainly "had it" a
> year ago.
Thanks, Bill! I'll have him read your posts, I'm sure he'll love it.
BTW, I'm pretty sure that both DD and Nokie were born in the
thirties, and are at least five years or so older than my dad (who
was born in '43). I bet both of those guys are pushing 70!
> I could imagine arthritis, or some form of age related
> pain syndrome could slow your dad down, however, from what I saw it
> does not look like he's a candidate for anything like that.
Thank God, no. He's in perfect health, knock on wood.
> Hey, from what you told me the Troubadours hardly practice as a
> band, so couldn't you keep both going if you had enough time?
Absolutely. That's exactly what we plan on doing. However, we just
had a bass player change, and the Madeira is the priority, so we'll
have to wait for the new bass player to learn the Shadows material.
that's all.
> Yeah, he died in 2001 from Multiple Melanoma, a rather aggressive
> form of bone marrow cancer.
Man, that really sucks. My condolences.
> He was more into 60s instro-guitar and
> Chet Atkins than surf music(long time Strat player btw), but I
think
> he would have enjoyed the Aquanauts. I do know he would have
> enjoyed seeing the Troubadours, looks like your father was born in
> the early 40s, so my dad would have been about 7 or 8 years
> younger.
Damn! So, he was only about 50 when he passed away. That's way too
young to die. Very sad.
> I've got some songs, and guitars I play that certainly
> remind me of him and when he taught them to me. I can imagine
> you've got boat loads of similar memories. Like you said it's a
> great experince to learn from your father, and both enjoy the same
> music, I know a few guys who's dad's play but its entirely
> different music. So in away it's nice to carry on the torch. I do
> understand why you get so emotional over the Shads now!
Thanks, Bill. Actually, sharing that experience with my dad is only
one aspect of my love for the Shadows. I just loved them ever since
I first started paying attention to music (I literally grew up with
their music around the house, so that probably had something to do
with it). I remember being ten and listening to their drum solo
Little B over and over again! I just thought it was the best. And
it was the Shadows that led me to surf music. In '86, after being in
the USA for two years and being desperate to find ANYTHING to do with
the Shadows, I went into a record store and saw a Rhino comp of the
Challengers. The first thing I noticed was the cover: a B&W photo of
five guys in sixties suits and ties holding Fender guitars - "Hey,
THAT looks like the Shadows! What's this?" So, I pick up the LP,
and then see that they play Apache, Dance on AND Foot Tapper! Well,
I bought it immediately, and that was my first surf music LP. It all
goes back to the Shadows for me.
Ivan
The bass player for the Troubadors left? I loved that guy. He was
great in the video clips I have seen of your set at Shadowmania.
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...> wrote:
>
> --- In , "supertwangreverb"
> <supertwangreverb@y...> wrote:
>
> > Well Dick Dale and Nokie Edwards have to be in or near their early
> > 60s. I think they still have it, and your dad certainly "had it" a
> > year ago.
>
> Thanks, Bill! I'll have him read your posts, I'm sure he'll love it.
>
> BTW, I'm pretty sure that both DD and Nokie were born in the
> thirties, and are at least five years or so older than my dad (who
> was born in '43). I bet both of those guys are pushing 70!
>
> > I could imagine arthritis, or some form of age related
> > pain syndrome could slow your dad down, however, from what I saw it
> > does not look like he's a candidate for anything like that.
>
> Thank God, no. He's in perfect health, knock on wood.
>
> > Hey, from what you told me the Troubadours hardly practice as a
> > band, so couldn't you keep both going if you had enough time?
>
> Absolutely. That's exactly what we plan on doing. However, we just
> had a bass player change, and the Madeira is the priority, so we'll
> have to wait for the new bass player to learn the Shadows material.
> that's all.
>
> > Yeah, he died in 2001 from Multiple Melanoma, a rather aggressive
> > form of bone marrow cancer.
>
> Man, that really sucks. My condolences.
>
> > He was more into 60s instro-guitar and
> > Chet Atkins than surf music(long time Strat player btw), but I
> think
> > he would have enjoyed the Aquanauts. I do know he would have
> > enjoyed seeing the Troubadours, looks like your father was born in
> > the early 40s, so my dad would have been about 7 or 8 years
> > younger.
>
> Damn! So, he was only about 50 when he passed away. That's way too
> young to die. Very sad.
>
> > I've got some songs, and guitars I play that certainly
> > remind me of him and when he taught them to me. I can imagine
> > you've got boat loads of similar memories. Like you said it's a
> > great experince to learn from your father, and both enjoy the same
> > music, I know a few guys who's dad's play but its entirely
> > different music. So in away it's nice to carry on the torch. I do
> > understand why you get so emotional over the Shads now!
>
> Thanks, Bill. Actually, sharing that experience with my dad is only
> one aspect of my love for the Shadows. I just loved them ever since
> I first started paying attention to music (I literally grew up with
> their music around the house, so that probably had something to do
> with it). I remember being ten and listening to their drum solo
> Little B over and over again! I just thought it was the best. And
> it was the Shadows that led me to surf music. In '86, after being in
> the USA for two years and being desperate to find ANYTHING to do with
> the Shadows, I went into a record store and saw a Rhino comp of the
> Challengers. The first thing I noticed was the cover: a B&W photo of
> five guys in sixties suits and ties holding Fender guitars - "Hey,
> THAT looks like the Shadows! What's this?" So, I pick up the LP,
> and then see that they play Apache, Dance on AND Foot Tapper! Well,
> I bought it immediately, and that was my first surf music LP. It all
> goes back to the Shadows for me.
>
> Ivan
--- In , "Jacob Dobner"
<jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
>
> The bass player for the Troubadors left? I loved that guy. He was
> great in the video clips I have seen of your set at Shadowmania.
You must be referring to Jim Auge, who was with the Troubadours since
early 2001. I REALLY enjoyed playing with him, though technically he
was not the greatest, but what feel! And great stage presence,
really fun. Sadly, Shadowmania '03 was the last show he played with
us. It was all very amicable, we're still good friends. He started
a sixties soul band called the Elevations with some friends in Ann
Arbor, MI, and as the band quickly started becoming popular in the
area, he just didn't have the time for the Trobuadous (understandably
so). So, we parted ways with him quite some time ago. In February
of 2004 we picked up Scott Waddell, first for the Troubadous but then
as the Madeira formed, he became part of that band as well. His wife
gave birth to their second child last month, and he decided that he
needed to cut down on the music and spend more time at home. We have
found a new bass player very recently, and we have our first full
practice with him this weekend. His name is Todd Fortier, and he's
from Indianapolis. We hope he'll also become a Troubadour in due
time, but right now the focus is on the Madeira.
I swear, bass players are our version of the proverbial-Spinal-Tap-
drummers. Since the Troubadours started in 2000 we have had four
different bass players (not counting the new guy Todd - he'd be the
fifth). They just implode! (No bizarre gardening accidents yet,
though.) But I've got a good feeling about Todd....
Ivan
I enjoyed his stage presence especially on 36-24-36.
That is quite the history on Troubadors bassists. Maybe they joined
the Troubadors thinking there would be singing and the courtly love
tradition of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Did they all come to the first
practice wearing 12th century clothing?
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...> wrote:
>
> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >
> > The bass player for the Troubadors left? I loved that guy. He was
> > great in the video clips I have seen of your set at Shadowmania.
>
> You must be referring to Jim Auge, who was with the Troubadours since
> early 2001. I REALLY enjoyed playing with him, though technically he
> was not the greatest, but what feel! And great stage presence,
> really fun. Sadly, Shadowmania '03 was the last show he played with
> us. It was all very amicable, we're still good friends. He started
> a sixties soul band called the Elevations with some friends in Ann
> Arbor, MI, and as the band quickly started becoming popular in the
> area, he just didn't have the time for the Trobuadous (understandably
> so). So, we parted ways with him quite some time ago. In February
> of 2004 we picked up Scott Waddell, first for the Troubadous but then
> as the Madeira formed, he became part of that band as well. His wife
> gave birth to their second child last month, and he decided that he
> needed to cut down on the music and spend more time at home. We have
> found a new bass player very recently, and we have our first full
> practice with him this weekend. His name is Todd Fortier, and he's
> from Indianapolis. We hope he'll also become a Troubadour in due
> time, but right now the focus is on the Madeira.
>
> I swear, bass players are our version of the proverbial-Spinal-Tap-
> drummers. Since the Troubadours started in 2000 we have had four
> different bass players (not counting the new guy Todd - he'd be the
> fifth). They just implode! (No bizarre gardening accidents yet,
> though.) But I've got a good feeling about Todd....
>
> Ivan
Ivan,
I've been trying to email you but nothing is working. Anyway, I
wanted to ask you about the Thirdman Theme, and did the Shadows ever
cover it? Is it available?
Man, our bassist is leaving too! Unfortunatly, Matt writes about
half our songs so it will probably be a big change.
Bill
www.reluctantaquanauts.com
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...>
wrote:
>
> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >
> > The bass player for the Troubadors left? I loved that guy. He was
> > great in the video clips I have seen of your set at Shadowmania.
>
> You must be referring to Jim Auge, who was with the Troubadours
since
> early 2001. I REALLY enjoyed playing with him, though technically
he
> was not the greatest, but what feel! And great stage presence,
> really fun. Sadly, Shadowmania '03 was the last show he played
with
> us. It was all very amicable, we're still good friends. He
started
> a sixties soul band called the Elevations with some friends in Ann
> Arbor, MI, and as the band quickly started becoming popular in the
> area, he just didn't have the time for the Trobuadous
(understandably
> so). So, we parted ways with him quite some time ago. In
February
> of 2004 we picked up Scott Waddell, first for the Troubadous but
then
> as the Madeira formed, he became part of that band as well. His
wife
> gave birth to their second child last month, and he decided that
he
> needed to cut down on the music and spend more time at home. We
have
> found a new bass player very recently, and we have our first full
> practice with him this weekend. His name is Todd Fortier, and
he's
> from Indianapolis. We hope he'll also become a Troubadour in due
> time, but right now the focus is on the Madeira.
>
> I swear, bass players are our version of the proverbial-Spinal-Tap-
> drummers. Since the Troubadours started in 2000 we have had four
> different bass players (not counting the new guy Todd - he'd be
the
> fifth). They just implode! (No bizarre gardening accidents yet,
> though.) But I've got a good feeling about Todd....
>
> Ivan
