Blind Owl: You also played with the Riders, I believe. Did you learn to yodel and get to wear a 60 gallon cowboy hat? ... Chaps too? ...That guy can really yodel. I had a summer job in Switzerland years ago, and stayed in one of those railroad station hotels with one of my brothers. The Erlenbach yodeling/drinking club met there each Wednesday night, practicing in the room next to where we slept—not much on Wednesdays. A dozen fat men wearing shorts with suspenders, large steins, knee socks and little hats with feathers. It was a different style of yodel, sweet and choir-like into the wee hours. Maybe it was the beer and Riccola —oops I digress, feathers get me going.

TRG: That Alpine yodeling was one of the roots of the Western style as espoused by Riders and others. I played in that band, I know because someone is writing a book about them and wanted to know, from about August 1978 until February 1979. I did in fact yodel, wear a cowboy hat and all that. Did not wear chaps, which, I learned in that band, is pronounced "shaps." I had a great deal of fun in that band. The music was actually pretty difficult, but rewarding, and they are three of the funniest people I have ever known, on and off stage. We are still in touch, though intermittently. Mostly I did not think I wanted to do that for the rest of my life, so it was good not to drag it on too long. They all had other jobs and the money was low at that time, though I could tell the band was going to endure and do well at some point. However, I did not have my rock and roll jones satisfied. The gig with Tim Krekel came long and I was a long gone daddy.