Conversations With Rock Stars

Radio Chasm

Casey POV: March 1974

I grabbed a pint from the bar and went to go sit with Max as we waited for Vinny and Don to show up. I looked around the pub thinking about what I was going to say. Max had a bit of an idea about what I wanted to discuss with everyone. Vinny walked in, spotted us, and came over.

"Man, get yourself an ale and then come join us here," I said, gesturing to the bar. He went that way and Don popped in. They joined us after a few minutes and I began by saying, "Guys, you remember when we almost had a deal when Danny was here?" They nodded. "We've all written some songs and worked on a few together that I think are good enough to get recorded. What I'm proposing is that we start a band and get ourselves a record deal." I looked around at the guys.

"I'm down," Don said, looking over at Vinny.

"Yeah, sure," Vinny acknowledged. I turned to Max for his opinion.

"Are you the leader?" He asked. I wet my lips and said,

"If everyone's cool with it, then yes. But if you're not, then we can share the leadership. I would think that if we're in a band together we can settle things democratically." Max nodded slowly.

"Fine. Democratically." We left a bit later and went back to the cottage to start brainstorming. Around 1:00 in the morning I wrote a letter to Bev asking her to come out and discuss the album. She was a great writer and had turned my 'Calling For You' song into a hit. I paused writing and looked at the picture of us laughing in the living room at my old flat. I signed my name, grabbed my coat, and went out to post the letter.

Beverly POV: May 1974

A beat up letter found its way to my apartment in San Fransisco. It read:

Dear Bev,

When you were here in October, you mentioned that I should get that song professionally recorded. Max and I have written a few songs, and the guys we have in the band right now gel. Last night we talked and have formed a band. We're hoping to lay down some tracks soon and put out an album. Don't know where you are at the moment, but if you have a spare minute, it would be great to see you. I have some ideas for album covers and such. You have such a great eye and I'd love your opinion on some. Anyways, not much else here, except for a guy who's finding himself missing that American girl across the ocean.

Yours truly,

Casey

I read through it again, smiling at his last line. Naturally, I fled to England and went to his cottage outside Aldwick.

---

I sat in Casey's room thumbing through some of the photos I had gotten processed before I left. He had wanted inspiration for the album and so far the most he had done was lie on the bed, occasionally getting up to switch out one disc of vinyl for another. Scattered around the bed and floor were pictures, pages torn from magazines, album covers, and other miscellanea.

"Maybe it should be one color? Like the Beatles white album?" Max suggested from his room across the hallway.

"Then we'd be copycats," Casey replied. He thumped his hand on the bed, then ran it impatiently through his hair.

"You come up with something then," Max shot back.

"I still think there should be a dog on the cover somewhere," suggested Vinny again, who was sitting on a chair in Maxs' room. There was a general groan indicating a "no." I paused on a picture of a lonely cup of coffee and handed it up to Casey. He looked at it for a moment and then gently set it aside.

"Sorry Bevie. I know I'm vetoing everything, but it's just not right for the cover," he said. I understood, although it was getting annoying.

"Perhaps something will strike you around 2:00 in the morning and --- BAM! you'll have it," I said, turning to look at him. He rolled his head over and smiled.