One of my favorite stories. If I haven’t told you before, might be a surprise. And don’t be surprised if you hear it again on a first date 🙂

In 1965 I was a junior in high school. All I ever wanted to do was to go to Berkelee School of Music in Boston. All I needed was senior English to graduate. So I went to my principal and told him I wanted to skip my senior year. he said, “I’ll make you a deal. Get accepted and you can skip your senior year.” I did get accepted. And took English for a few weeks over the summer and went off to college in September.

But they wouldn’t let me go to my prom as I wasn’t a senior. So I put in the lowest bid for the band and played it. I was the only one who could smoke at the prom 🙂

At the end of the year I read a tiny classified ad in a small New Jersey newspaper that said, “Drummer wanted. Travel to Europe.” I said, “that’s me!”. Not I that should audition. Not wouldn’t it be nice. THAT”S ME.

It was.

We rehearsed twice and got on a prop jet to Berlin. I think we stopped for fuel in Reykjavik.

Got to Berlin and I knew it. Just knew it. The band said we need to go here for permits. I said, get in and drove them. Past life memories. Knew the city somewhat. Somehow drawn to Berlin more than a dozen times in this life after that.

I always figured it was a quick reincarnation. Perhaps killed in WWII and then reincarnated in March of 1948. Made sense. Then several years ago at a psychic reading this came up and was confirmed. BUT, and I never considered this, I was a German soldier!! Did not support the Nazi movement, but felt I had to fight for the fatherland. How odd, eh?

Sometime I will show you how I learned to order fried chicken at Wienerwald from a guy with a harelip 🙂

We had a friend in Tenafly, New Jersey that wanted to be a star. His name was Jimmy Miller. Jimmy bought a one way ticket to London. On the plane he wrote a song. When he arrived, he started knocking on recording studio/record label doors. He go to Island Records. Met Chris Blackwell. Played the song for Chris.
Chris said “I have just the band for this! The Spencer Davis Group.”
Of course, the song Jimmy wrote was “Gimme Some Lovin’”.

Maybe three months later we call Jimmy in London. Did the how ya doin’s. Told him we were playing small dumpy clubs in Berlin and living on potato soup and an occasional bratwurst. He said, “how’d you like to be the opening act for Traffic?”

So we did for a few months. I was 18 as I think was Stevie Winwood. Was magic. Even a fan club magazine for us.

Finally got to London to record. Band broke up. Lead singer got a contract. His name was Gary Wright. Started Spooky Tooth and later was the Dream Weaver.

I sold my drums in London and returned to the states for my next adventures.

Berlin. 86 Fasanenstrasse…