Stoney Ridge
A Musician's Dream
Ah, the idea of all that creative freedom and control. No more playing what someone else tells you too -- now you are in charge and in control of your own destiny.
At least for the period of time before the dream comes to pass -- that's when the dream of having your own group fades away pretty quickly.
Because nobody talks about all the shit that comes along for the ride on your new pristine ivory-castle dream.
Like now you're your own manager, booking agent, publicist, marketing department, roadie, equipment financier, legal advisor and union spokesperson.
My Friend John
But that's exactly where I found myself in 1979 after the Don White gig just kind of fizzled out. And coincidently enough, that was also the time that my high school friend John Hayen III got out of his first stint in the military and came to live with me in Sauk Rapids, MN.
How Hard Can It Be?
Stoney Ridge was something John and I came up with one afternoon.
"Why not start a country cover band and make some money?"
So, we bought a PA and a bunch of country albums (which was the way you learned songs before there was an internet) and started rehearsing. For a while, my brother Chris (on drums), John and I all lived in the same house in Sauk Rapids, MN. We set up in the dining room and played all the time in preparation for our financial success as a working cover band. (Which, by the way, never materialized.)
We probably played a half dozen or so gigs and ended up in Small Claims Court after not getting paid for the last one.
The Line Up
| John Hayen | lead vocal & rhythm guitar |
| Scott Nason | bass guitar & harmony vocals |
| Chris Nason | drums & vocals |
| Al Ghylin | lead guitar |