Bouncers, Brides and Bullets
Some of country’s top stars reveal the horror, heartaches and hilarity that came with their worst gigs ever.
Every artist has a story to tell about a gig gone horribly awry. Here are just a few of them. For many more, check out the Aug. 25 issue of Country Weekly.
Trace Adkins
“I remember one time we left Dallas and drove to Lubbock to play a gig at a club. And we got there and pulled up and got up to the club, and it had big padlocks on the door and had a big sign up there sayin’ the IRS had shut ‘em down...and nobody even called and told us! And our next gig was in Albuquerque. So we couldn’t turn around. We had five days we had to just . . . sit.”
Rhett Akins
Rhett Akins opened for Reba McEntire and played for thousands of great fans each night early in his career. So he expected a good night when he was booked as a solo act in a huge honky-tonk in Arkansas. But after each song he played, only about five out of a thousand clapped. And no one danced at all . . . until Rhett took a break and the DJ starting playing . . . rap music!
“The dance floor was immediately packed!” recalls Rhett “And the band and I were dumbfounded. Everyone was dancing to rap music in a honky-tonk that dripped country music. To this day, I still don't understand it.”
Leroy Van Dyke
When Army intelligence soldier Leroy was stationed in Seoul, Korea, after the war, three of his buddies headed out for a night on the town, carrying a case of beer, some “stronger spirits” and Leroy’s guitar. Strait-arrow, non-drinker Leroy went along to protect his instrument, his most cherished possession.
To make a long story short, Leroy’s buddies eventually woke up the occupants of a house of ill repute, broke out the booze and handed Leroy the guitar. He sang for about a half hour—and insists the only “action” there was drinking, conversation, shouting and singing.
Deryl Dodd
Traditionalist Deryl got fired from a club in Dallas . . . for singing a George Jones song! When the Texas native played in his Waco/Austin stompin’ grounds, the crowds loved his Merle, Buck and George tunes. But after the manager of a club in Dallas heard him play a song by “The Possum,” he told Deryl to “pack up and go back where you came from.” Fortunately, Deryl had a lot of friends there and they demanded their money back if Deryl didn’t finish playing out the night. The manager relented and Deryl played one more set.
- August 11, 2008
- story by David Scarlett
- illustration by Brad Walker
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