The Gin Blossoms and Jives

[Jives]

"um...Jives! YOU WERE IN THE GIN BLOSSOMS???!!!!! I BOUGHT THE FIRST GIN BLOSSOMS ALBUM!!!how come i didn't know this?"

Well since I let the cat out of the bag..... I'll start a thread on it now. I fully expect someone to come at me sideways and challenge me on this. But it doesn't matter...when you get older you get used to people questioning your past.

I played with the Gin Blosoms from 1982 to 1988. Hardly anyone except, Jesse, Phillip, Doug (who is now dead) and Robin know it. Oh...and my family of course. It's not something that I talk about much anymore. Seems like another lifetime........

You won't see my name on any records or CDs. Not even on any of the songs that I help write the lyrics for. (lol. I was always the only one that was literate. Just look at how lame their new song lyrics are.)

Because...I walked away from the band six months before they got picked up by a record company. You heard me right, I went with my day job.

Now...you have to understand, I was sick and tired of playing frat parties, playing at Long Wongs, getting paid $100 a night, and drinking $90 worth of alcohol. We split ten bucks five ways and that was just enough for me to get a burrito at Taco Cabana on the way home. I did this for 4 years! Then I had to get up and go cook in the morning! the other guys in the band were GROSS! Our toilet was broken off...AT FLOOR LEVEL! it was a tough existance.

When I got promoted to kitchen manager and started to make real money, I told the band goodbye. I honestly never thought they'd make it big. Who did?

Now I have to listen to songs I helped write while I'm shopping at WalMart. It's like being the Fifth Beatle.

I risk losing my credibility for telling you this, but it really happened, so what the hell. I could play you a song...if you were here, I guess I could show you my guitar (beat up 1969 fender bullet with an original Gin Blossoms sticker on it, and we didn't make very many of those, ) but that would prove nothing.

I could tell you personal stories of the other guys that only I would know...but I could be making those up. (Jesse a nice guy and my best friend, robin had the talent, Phillip was a sleaze, but Doug was the magic...until he killed himself. Ask me later and I'll tell you his sad story.

I could translate some of the lyrics for you....

Follow you down

Gin Blossoms

Did you see the sky I think it mean that we've been lostMaybe one less time is all we needI can't really help it if my tongue's all tied in knots

Jumping off a bridge, it's just the farthest that I've ever been.

Refers to the day we went jumping off the Tempe Mill Avenue bridge. There's no water under that bridge either...hence the reference to "the farthest that I've ever been" On that we had a climbing harness and we were running down the bridge and jumping out to swing on a long thin steel cable. A guy named Mike racked himself pretty good and we went home after that.



*Anywhere you go, I'll follow you downAnyplace but theose I know by heart refers to Dpoug's suicide. The other members felt bad, but it was Doug's fault for showing p to the recording sessions drunk. I still think that having Laura tell him he was fired from his own band was a cheap shot. funny thing is, I saw him in his new band, "Chimera" about a week later, he could've kicked the Blossoms ass.

Anywhere you go, I'll follow you downI'll follow you down, but not that far*I know we're headed somewhere, I can see how far we've comeBut still I can't remember anythingLet's not do the wrong thing and I'll swear it might be funIt's a long way down when all the knots we've tied have come undone*Anywhere you go, I'll follow you downAnyplace but theose I know by heartAnywhere you go, I'll follow you downI'll follow you down, but not that far*How you gonna ever find your placeRunning in an artificial pace

Are they gonna find us lying face down in the sand

Refers to tubing at the Salt River Project

So what the hell now, we've already been forever damned*Anywhere you go, I'll follow you downAnyplace but theose I know by heartAnywhere you go, I'll follow you downI'll follow you down, but not that far***



this is getting depressing.... I'll write more tomorrow, maybe take a picture of my guitar or post the one of me in my "band uniform" bike shorts and a ripped jean jacket.

In the meantime...

You'll just have to take my word for it.

[Peg]

You have to forgive me. I never heard of the Gin Blossoms. My 17 year old son has though.

[hotsauce]

I LOVE IT! WOW! I thought you were pulling my leg...and I just didn't really get the joke in the other thread.



I googled your name and the Gin Blossoms...and I couldn't get a hit...that is why...you are the man that gets no credit. That stinks!



Pictures would be cool...any pictures are cool. I believe you though. I would love to hear more glam rocker stories. There have to be more glam stories. Is the toilet the highlight?



I didn't even know you were a musician!

[hotsauce]

how did you decide on the name?

[hotsauce]

where were you the first time you heard one of their songs on the radio? bet that was a moment. probably not that great of a moment.

[Jives]

hotsauce wrote: I LOVE IT! WOW! I thought you were pulling my leg...and I just didn't really get the joke in the other thread.


yeah, it's pretty funny now...especially considering my new profession. but hey, we were all young once. i was just out of the Air Force, and new to Phoenix. We lived on 13th street ina house with a big green corcodile painted onthe door. At first we only played frat parties where people were too drunk to realize that we only had two songs and that we were jamming for over an hour on the same one. lol. A strange time for me indeed. I had lost my license (alcohol)...so I went from flying fighter planes at over 800 mph to riding a bicycle at under 20. Life's that way sometimes.



I googled your name and the Gin Blossoms...and I couldn't get a hit...that is why...you are the man that gets no credit. That stinks!



There have to be more glam stories. Is the toilet the highlight?


Noo..there are lots and they all involve stupid antics while drunk. Anyone remember the party I described where I woke up in the alley? That was at that time. i could tell you stories of girls getting tipped over in port-a-potties, but really...do you want to hear that? And yes, there were plenty of girls, but I've always been a one girl guy, so I didn't sleep around like some of the guys did.



I didn't even know you were a musician!


I'm not. I can play like you never heard, lightning quick scales, beautiful chords and melodies that were never written down, intricate ad libbing.....but I can't read a note of music. so I can't call my self a musician. Doug wrote the music and taught me the chords. jesse ws pretty good himself, Robing could only sing and Phillip played the drums. i was back up vocals and back up rhythm. yeah, so I had the least talent.

[Jives]

hotsauce wrote: how did you decide on the name?


We were all total alcoholics (and that eventually cost Doug his life) I mean, I cooked in a bar during the day and played there at night. Alcohol 24/7.

Our hero was the greatest alcoholic of all time....W.C Fields. We worshipped him.

You know, the guy who says, 'Go away boy, ya bother me."

Have you ever noticed that all the small blood vessels on his nose are broken from severe alcohol abuse? They form a pattern like blossoms....they call them "Gin Blossoms"

Hence the name.

[Tombstone]

Fascinating. No one can say that your life has been boring so far! I have a Gin Blossoms CD on my monitor in my office - right now. (My wife bought it several years ago - and I have no idea how it ended up right here.) That's pretty weird!

[Jives]

hotsauce wrote: where were you the first time you heard one of their songs on the radio? bet that was a moment.


I had moved back to New mexico after my father died, I was substitute teaching and one of the kids was listening to a CD....it was the Gin Blossoms. After I left, they skyrocketed in popularity, although I didn't know it. At first i blurted out..."Hey! That's my old band!"

The kids just laughed and said, "Yeah, right, Mr. Ives." I mean, how could a substitute teacher ever have been in a rock band? Get real. I get this a lot these days, eventually I stopped telling people about it. It just made life easier. I still bring my guitar to school occasionally, and play for the kids. They get a kick out of a ex-rock star, ex-fighter pilot, math teacher. i guess I'm a rare breed. Possibly even an endangered species.

Well truth is stranger than fiction. for real.



probably not that great of a moment.


yeah, well...I look at it this way. We all make decisions that radically change our lives. We make them in the heat of the present and then have to live with them forever. We do the best we can. Would I have stayed with the band, had I known that they would hit it big? maybe. And maybe I would have self-destructed on drugs and alcohol.

Instead, I am now doing the job I was made for... my dream...I'm a teacher. I would never have met the girl of my dreams either, Vicki, nor would I have a son and two wonderful grand-daughters.

You can't look back in life....you're not going that way.

[Jives]

Tombstone wrote: Fascinating.


isn't it though? Life never seems to turn out the way you plan it. The only thing I ever did that was planned was be a fighter pilot, and after six years of that, I found I didn't enjoy it anymore. Weird.

The rest of my life just "happened". I always seemed to be at the right place at the right time.

Sort of like "Forest Gump"

Here's an example: I was standing in my yard when I was 17, it was Summer Vacation, just starting. i thought to myself....I need a Summer Job. i want a job where I can have fun, meet girls, and make money all at the same time. Something I like to do. At that very second, my new neighbor came over to me and said, "Hi! I'm your new neighbor, Frank. I'm managing the Country Club now and I need a life guard for the Summer, would you be interested?"

thus started the best Summer of my life. (See picture)

later that year, i decided to buy a new car, I wanted a '69 Camaro because they were so cool. My father came up to me that night and said, "Jon, our friend jack and Margaret are getting rid of a car they've had for a while. it's a little oder, but I think you'd like it. They bought it for their son, but he was killed in Vietnam and they've had it up on blocks ever since then. It still in great shape, but you'll have to pay for it your self. i asked, "What kind of car is it Dad?' he said.....and I got that feeling....."it's a 1969 Chevy Camaro."

Stuff like that happens to me all the time. And I always get a surreal feeling right before it happens. Go figure.

No one can say that your life has been boring so far! I have a Gin Blossoms CD on my monitor in my office - right now. (My wife bought it several years ago - and I have no idea how it ended up right here.) That's pretty weird!


I'd say that is about par for the course. Like I said, that kind of thing just seems to happen around me...coincidence...or something else?

Attached files

[Jives]

Scrat wrote: Jesus, I spent 5 years in the ANG Cadets program just to find out at the age of 18 that I had Keritinoconus and can never have a flying liscense and you lose yours because of a drinking problem.


Tsk.Tsk. Scrap. I never said I got out of the Air Force because of a drinking problem. I said I lost my driver's license because of it. At that time I was still in the inactive reserves.



And I've still done more than you..now who's the loser? :wah:

[devist8me]

Wow Jives. I feel like I know a celebrity now. How awesome!!!!

[hotsauce]

Thanks for answering all my questions. You are truly interesting!

These life lessons that you have learned can really help you when working with children. I bet you are an inspiration to children who struggle.





Do you talk to any of the original crew ever?

[hotsauce]

Jives wrote:



this is getting depressing.... I'll write more tomorrow, maybe take a picture of my guitar or post the one of me in my "band uniform" bike shorts and a ripped jean jacket.

In the meantime...

You'll just have to take my word for it.


hahaha :wah:

I just caught this as I read back over it. Bike shorts...I love it! Bring on the bike short pictures!

[alobar51]

Peg wrote: You have to forgive me. I never heard of the Gin Blossoms. My 17 year old son has though.


Me, either. But can't you recover some songwriting royalties??? Have you asked this question of a music industry lawyer?

Unfortunately, this story gets played out a lot in that world. Your posts indicate that you've gotten on well, otherwise.

Rmember the title of an early Dylan film, "Don't Look Back"

[koan]

Your experience in the rock'n'roll culture must really help you when relating to the teens that you teach and guide. BTW I believed you instantly . If you were going to make up a band connection, the Gin Blossoms are a little too obscure to make a good lie.

Sidenote/backreference: Funny the type of people who so readily call others 'losers'. Actually, not so funny.

[Tombstone]

Jives wrote: isn't it though?

later that year, i decided to buy a new car, I wanted a '69 Camaro because they were so cool. My father came up to me that night and said, "Jon, our friend jack and Margaret are getting rid of a car they've had for a while. it's a little oder, but I think you'd like it. They bought it for their son, but he was killed in Vietnam and they've had it up on blocks ever since then. It still in great shape, but you'll have to pay for it your self. i asked, "What kind of car is it Dad?' he said.....and I got that feeling....."it's a 1969 Chevy Camaro."

Stuff like that happens to me all the time. And I always get a surreal feeling right before it happens. Go figure.



I'd say that is about par for the course. Like I said, that kind of thing just seems to happen around me...coincidence...or something else?


69 Camaro. How nice! Just so you know I wasn't kidding about the cd, I just scanned it and attached it here. I see that the copyright is 1996 - coming up on 10 years ago! I'm feeling old...creek...creek...groan.

Attached files

[hotsauce]

sure would like to see those pics of biker shorts though!

[Jives]

Yeah, isn't it funny? For a while there, I was scared to tell anyone, because they would usually call me a liar, but lately it's just , "Gin Blossoms who?" lol.

I'm going to post a pic of my back yard on that new back yard thread, so I'll take a picture of me during that time period and also one with my guitar and post it here on Monday.

In the meantime, Tombstone, I didn't actually write any of the songs on that Cd you scanned....that was the first CD that came out after I left the band. The previous one, "New Miserable Experience" is the one that has much of my work on it. I wrote or helped write "Hey Jealousy", "Idiot Summer" , "Allison Road" and my crowning glory, "Found Out About You"

Found Out About You by The Gin Blossoms

Intro:

[Em]All last [D]summer in [C]case you [D]don't re[Em]call* [D]** [C]** [D]

[Em]I was [D]yours and [C]you were [D]mine -- for[Em]get [D]it [C]all** [D]

[Em]Is there a [D]line that [C]I could [D]write?

[Em]I was [D]sad enough to [C]make you [D]cry

[Em]You know the [D]lines that you [C]wrote to [D]me were [Em]right [D] [C]* [D]

The months roll past the love that you've struck down

Did you love me only in my head?

The things you said and did to me

Seemed to come so easily

Love I thought I'd won you with me

Chorus:

[C]Whispers at the bus-stop, well [G]I've [D]heard about

[C]Nights at the schoolyard [G]

I found [D]out about [C]you** [D]** [Em]

I found [D]out about [C]you** [D]** [Em]

Rumours follow everywhere you go

When you left and I was last to know

You're famous now and there's no doubt

All of this is too far out

Chorus

Solo

Street light blink on through the car window

And the time too often on AM/FM radio

Well, you know it's all I think about

As I drive on past your house

Your boyfriend's over, I watch your light go out.

Chorus twice



As for getting some rights to the songs, I guess it might be possible, but I did quit the band and in those days we had no contracts or anything of the sort. Besides, I'm happy in my life now...unbelievably happy. Why would I go to the trouble of making trouble?

They have their lives, I have mine. And honestly, I think mine is more rewarding....So who came off better? The Rock Stars or the Teacher?

[anastrophe]

Jives wrote: ..but I can't read a note of music. so I can't call my self a musician. bollocks. ability to read music doesn't make someone a musician. it just means they can read music. if you can make beautiful sounds come from a guitar, then you're a musician, period.

[anastrophe]

ArnoldLayne wrote: Anastrophe I agree entirely, but I'm amused at your turn of phrase....bollocks ...a word often used by us Brits and Irish but I've not heard it oft used the other side of the pond



Its a lovely expressive word
i love british slang. newest expression learned, just yesterday from the mouth of tony blair - 'damp squib'. absolutely fabulous.

[hotlegs]

Ahh, the old days in Tempe. Did you write Only Once Tonight too? That was a great song from the early days. I used to love sitting on the porch of Wongs, eating wings and watching the band get drunk and fight about who wrote it. What ever happened to that song?

[kevaxe2k2]

Hmm--before on the GB.net forum you were just a guy who knew the GBs from the old days and was given a tape of the first Gin Blossoms demo by Scott. NOW, you were IN the band and wrote some of their BEST songs. IMPRESSIVE! I need to get one of those time machines too!

ginblossoms.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=405&highlight=ives

"After returning to Tempe, Doug and Bill decided to start yet another band. They concocted the name "Gin Blossoms" after seeing a cable special on Kenneth Anger's book "Hollywood Babylon II," which contained that famous picture of comedian W.C. Fields (who had quite a bad case of gin blossoms from years of heavy drinking). The original Blossoms featured Doug on lead guitar, Bill on bass, Tempe-based guitarist Jesse Valenzuela as lead singer, Richard Taylor on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Chris McCann on drums. The Blossoms played their first gig on Christmas Day 1987 at the Mason Jar in Phoenix.

[spot]

anastrophe wrote: i love british slang. newest expression learned, just yesterday from the mouth of tony blair - 'damp squib'. absolutely fabulous.What I most like about such expressions is that they are so layered. A squib isn't just this or that, it has an assortment of meanings all of which add to the sense when used with "damp". I just dug into the Oxford Dictionary for instances, and here's three for you to play with.

1582 "Our men made them a great feast, with much pastime also of Squibs, Gunne shot, and great and lowde cryes." - Squibs as fireworks. Merry England must have been a bit like the Middle East, when it comes to throwing a party.

1599 "Your bookes [are] but squibs, compounds of gunpowder and pisse." - I've written stuff on ForumGarden that would qualify for that, too.

1653 , from Rabelais "Often-times thinking to let a squib, they did all-to-besquatter..themselves." - the squib as an explosive fart.

Damp fits well with all of them.

[Accountable]

kevaxe2k2 wrote: Hmm--before on the GB.net forum you were just a guy who knew the GBs from the old days and was given a tape of the first Gin Blossoms demo by Scott. NOW, you were IN the band and wrote some of their BEST songs. IMPRESSIVE! I need to get one of those time machines too!



ginblossoms.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=405&highlight=ives



"After returning to Tempe, Doug and Bill decided to start yet another band. They concocted the name "Gin Blossoms" after seeing a cable special on Kenneth Anger's book "Hollywood Babylon II," which contained that famous picture of comedian W.C. Fields (who had quite a bad case of gin blossoms from years of heavy drinking). The original Blossoms featured Doug on lead guitar, Bill on bass, Tempe-based guitarist Jesse Valenzuela as lead singer, Richard Taylor on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Chris McCann on drums. The Blossoms played their first gig on Christmas Day 1987 at the Mason Jar in Phoenix.
[smilie=1,24,20]

Well?

[Accountable]

Clancy wrote: .....a good question, Acc, and thank you for asking



"Well" has many meanings , here's just one of them:



A deep hole or shaft:wah:

[kevaxe2k2]

Strange you mention Robin and Phil as your bandmates when they weren't even in the band UNTIL 1988. So, you didn't work with them at all. Why aren't you talking about the bandmates you had from 82-88? Richard and Chris are the guys you supposedly played with for years.

[Rapunzel]

kevaxe2k2 wrote: Strange you mention Robin and Phil as your bandmates when they weren't even in the band UNTIL 1988. So, you didn't work with them at all. Why aren't you talking about the bandmates you had from 82-88? Richard and Chris are the guys you supposedly played with for years.


I'm sorry, I hate forum wars.

But you joined yesterday, didn't even bother to introduce yourself, then made two very negative posts. It's almost like you know you'll get banned and don't want to lose your real forum name Scrat....er, I mean Kev with the axe!

Why can't you just read this amazing story and enjoy it like the rest of us?

Way to go Jives! You rock, man!

[kevaxe2k2]

Because I was registered strictly to respond. Did you go to the link that I posted where he says NOTHING about being in the band? ONly that he was lucky enough to get his hands on an original demo. NOW, he was in the band and WROTE some of their most famous songs???

ANYONE that is a fan and knows ANYTHING about the history of the band can see the guy is lying. The lineup is supposedly played with wasn't even in existence until 1988. Robin, Phil, Jesse, and Bill are the only ones that know about you-eh? What about the OTHER two guys you played with from 82-87???

Sorry, but the guy is LYING through his teeth and it ticks me off. That is why I don't enjoy this "amazing story".

oh, and I don't know what "Scrat" means--I imagine he is a poster here?

This post was brought up at the ginblossoms forum and I decided to respond. It's not right to take credit for someone elses work.

[Accountable]

Rapunzel wrote: I'm sorry, I hate forum wars.

But you joined yesterday, didn't even bother to introduce yourself, then made two very negative posts. It's almost like you know you'll get banned and don't want to lose your real forum name Scrat....er, I mean Kev with the axe!

Why can't you just read this amazing story and enjoy it like the rest of us?



Way to go Jives! You rock, man!
I don't think it's Scrat's style, but I could be wrong. It's easy for admin to see if they're both from the same IP and ban both, if they so choose.

[kevaxe2k2]

Echhh..I post under the name "Kevaxe2k2" at the GIn Blossoms.net forum. This post was brought up by another user--i read it, and responded.

I don't know why you guys would assume I am this troll guy when I come here and post FACTS to offset the lies this guy posted.

oh, and by the way, go ahead and ban me.

[Accountable]

kevaxe2k2 wrote: Echhh..I post under the name "Kevaxe2k2" at the GIn Blossoms.net forum. This post was brought up by another user--i read it, and responded.



I don't know why you guys would assume I am this troll guy when I come here and post FACTS to offset the lies this guy posted.
I simply responded to my friend. I read the thread you refer to and responded to your post as well.

http://www.forumgarden.com/forums/showp ... stcount=35

[kevaxe2k2]

Sorry. LIke I said, not trying to cause problems. On the Official GB forum he was only a cook at the bar..here, where the band can't see his post, he was now in the band and wrote some of their best songs--with bandmates who weren't even in the band at the time. Roger was the vocalist at the time, Ives--NOT Robin. Get your story straight. Wouldn't have been bad if he had done a little homework.

[Accountable]

I got that part. Intriguing and curious. The only missing pieces are Jives' response, which only he can provide, and how you came to find ForumGarden, which only you can provide.

[kevaxe2k2]

Ahh yes. Yesterday someone on the gin blossoms forum posted a link to this post.

[Lil~Basco]

kevaxe2k2 wrote: Sorry. LIke I said, not trying to cause problems. On the Official GB forum he was only a cook at the bar..here, where the band can't see his post, he was now in the band and wrote some of their best songs--with bandmates who weren't even in the band at the time. Roger was the vocalist at the time, Ives--NOT Robin. Get your story straight. Wouldn't have been bad if he had done a little homework.
kevaxe2K2, you are entitled to your opinion, you shared your information and if folks here are interested in checking things out, they can do so. Why can't the band see his post? If they were concerned about it as much as you are, I'm sure they'd make the effort to check his post out themselves.

[Accountable]

kevaxe2k2 wrote: Ahh yes. Yesterday someone on the gin blossoms forum posted a link to this post.http://ginblossoms.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=943

[kevaxe2k2]

"kevaxe2K2, you are entitled to your opinion, you shared your information and if folks here are interested in checking things out, they can do so. Why can't the band see his post? If they were concerned about it as much as you are, I'm sure they'd make the effort to check his post out themselves."



Fair enough!His "best friend" Jesse Valenzuela (founder and guitarist) got back to me this morning about his former best friend and bandmate Mr. Ives:

Mar 28, 2006 12:48 PM

Subject: RE: Ives an original GB????

Body: Never heard of him. Ives... name means nothing to me.

Jesse Valenzuela



From: Kevin

Date: Mar 28, 2006 8:47 AM

Hey, Jess this guy is FULL of it--I called him out on the 3rd page. There was a post by him on the GB net forum where he didn't say he was in the band--but Scott gave him the first GB demo tape. It doesn't seeem to add up AT ALL! Now, on THIS post he was IN the band and WROTE much of the NME material.

forumgarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4963

cya soon! Kev



Robin and Phillip don't need to reply because they weren't even IN the band until 1988.

[Bryn Mawr]

Jives wrote:

I'm not. I can play like you never heard, lightning quick scales, beautiful chords and melodies that were never written down, intricate ad libbing.....but I can't read a note of music. so I can't call my self a musician. Doug wrote the music and taught me the chords. jesse ws pretty good himself, Robing could only sing and Phillip played the drums. i was back up vocals and back up rhythm. yeah, so I had the least talent.


Don't do yourself down.

Some of the best musicians I've known played by ear - couldn't read a note.

But play them a tune on one instrument and they could play it back to you on another, or harmonise with you, or improvise ...

Musicianship is about more than book learning.