To dream of Peter Will - By N.L. Belardes
Every once in a while I get a message from someone who knew Peter Will. They're usually short messages, polite 'thank you's' for the Peter Will podcast I made last year (episode 11). Yesterday, Tyler Mitchell wrote a poignant piece reflecting on Peter Will, on some of Peter's journeys, and on a recent dream... read on, I learned a little more about Peter Will. I hope you do too.
I played with Pete in the third line up, right after he had Rich and Stitch on guitar and bass. This was in San Luis Obispo in the early to mid 90's-where the bar scene was filled with a great live music scene. They were nothing short of phemomenal, just one raging band. Rich and Stitch were a couple of transplants from Palos Verdes- and they wanted Pete to showcase their tunes equally-as they were all good song writers. Pete was tentative about this, and quite vocal. Things came to a head and Pete cut them loose, or they quit-(depending on who did the talking). This was in early 94. I had a San Luis based Cow Punk/Bar band called "Bingo Nite". We would open for Peter Will and vice versa- we were good friends then, and when Pete offered me and my guitar player a spot in Peter Will we took it hook line and sinker! We started playing without a hitch, some of the Rich and Stitch camp had dropped off, but it was irrellevant. We packed bars from slo to santa barbara for a good solid three years. In SLO town, we opened up for Social Distortion and Mother Hips and the Beat Farmers. On other nights, we did fine on our own. One highlight in general was a 5 day forray into San Felipe Mexico for a week of spring break. Imagine a ride on a version of the modern day Pirates of the Carribean, and you have it. :)
There were a few personell changes, we lost Dean Rossi on Drums to the call of the corporate world, and gained a very talented Matt Gittleson. We then lost Steve on guitar, and gained a very talented guitarist in Larry Hernandez- As time went by, Pete began spending more time in Bako than in San Luis-the lions share of gigs would fall in the valley. It was great at first-as we still had a great draw, but it would take its toll on me before too long.
I played several gigs with him at Rockin Rodeo, Suds and Jellies. At this time we could still pack any bar in Bakersfield- but anything back on the central coast was hard to live up to. I got to my four year mark-and realized that we could no longer practice and stay consistent. I bowed out over the phone, and Pete and i agreed to stay as close as brothers. Matt stayed on when i bowed out, and as time went by, his reports from Bakersfield ranged from positive to horrendous. Apparently, the last incarnation of the band, with Forrest and Doug on bass and guitar, and Matt on drums, put out FINALLY one of the BEST recordings I've ever heard from Pete-a testament that he was a viable and very gifted song writer- (something all of us who played with him knew all along) This present line up revived some really great live shows as well. I understand they were getting a good following in Ventura.
However, not long after, things took on a different tone. I only saw one gig up in Cayucos where Pete had clearly not looked, seemed, or sounded like what I remember. Despite being in the company of great players, there was something very different about Pete- to this day I can't put my finger on it- and it is no longer my story to tell...
The very recent months prior to Pete's passing were those of everyone hearing things about him, trying to locate him, locating him and being chased away, calling him to be hung up on. You name it. My last was a phone call from pete on my birthday telling me he was pissed i quit, but wanted to meet for a bender and a steak dinner at jockos when and if he'd come thru slo again- which I know he did, but never got a chance to hook up.
Then just months later he died.
A couple weeks ago I dreamt that I was in an upscale Condo complex and I ran into his ex girlfriend, Andrea, in the parking lot. I asked her what was up and she said she was heading up the walk to see Pete, I thought "great!". "It will be good to see Pete." So we walked up to one of the units, and there he was, playing guitar and jumping up to greet us- I quickly said, "Hey mutha fukka! This is a killer pad you got here... it's great to see you!"
He started talking with his hands as he always had, and said, "Yeah, but it's way too clean and not really my thing!"
I faded back into sleep after that.
I played with Pete in the third line up, right after he had Rich and Stitch on guitar and bass. This was in San Luis Obispo in the early to mid 90's-where the bar scene was filled with a great live music scene. They were nothing short of phemomenal, just one raging band. Rich and Stitch were a couple of transplants from Palos Verdes- and they wanted Pete to showcase their tunes equally-as they were all good song writers. Pete was tentative about this, and quite vocal. Things came to a head and Pete cut them loose, or they quit-(depending on who did the talking). This was in early 94. I had a San Luis based Cow Punk/Bar band called "Bingo Nite". We would open for Peter Will and vice versa- we were good friends then, and when Pete offered me and my guitar player a spot in Peter Will we took it hook line and sinker! We started playing without a hitch, some of the Rich and Stitch camp had dropped off, but it was irrellevant. We packed bars from slo to santa barbara for a good solid three years. In SLO town, we opened up for Social Distortion and Mother Hips and the Beat Farmers. On other nights, we did fine on our own. One highlight in general was a 5 day forray into San Felipe Mexico for a week of spring break. Imagine a ride on a version of the modern day Pirates of the Carribean, and you have it. :)
There were a few personell changes, we lost Dean Rossi on Drums to the call of the corporate world, and gained a very talented Matt Gittleson. We then lost Steve on guitar, and gained a very talented guitarist in Larry Hernandez- As time went by, Pete began spending more time in Bako than in San Luis-the lions share of gigs would fall in the valley. It was great at first-as we still had a great draw, but it would take its toll on me before too long.
I played several gigs with him at Rockin Rodeo, Suds and Jellies. At this time we could still pack any bar in Bakersfield- but anything back on the central coast was hard to live up to. I got to my four year mark-and realized that we could no longer practice and stay consistent. I bowed out over the phone, and Pete and i agreed to stay as close as brothers. Matt stayed on when i bowed out, and as time went by, his reports from Bakersfield ranged from positive to horrendous. Apparently, the last incarnation of the band, with Forrest and Doug on bass and guitar, and Matt on drums, put out FINALLY one of the BEST recordings I've ever heard from Pete-a testament that he was a viable and very gifted song writer- (something all of us who played with him knew all along) This present line up revived some really great live shows as well. I understand they were getting a good following in Ventura.
However, not long after, things took on a different tone. I only saw one gig up in Cayucos where Pete had clearly not looked, seemed, or sounded like what I remember. Despite being in the company of great players, there was something very different about Pete- to this day I can't put my finger on it- and it is no longer my story to tell...
The very recent months prior to Pete's passing were those of everyone hearing things about him, trying to locate him, locating him and being chased away, calling him to be hung up on. You name it. My last was a phone call from pete on my birthday telling me he was pissed i quit, but wanted to meet for a bender and a steak dinner at jockos when and if he'd come thru slo again- which I know he did, but never got a chance to hook up.
Then just months later he died.
A couple weeks ago I dreamt that I was in an upscale Condo complex and I ran into his ex girlfriend, Andrea, in the parking lot. I asked her what was up and she said she was heading up the walk to see Pete, I thought "great!". "It will be good to see Pete." So we walked up to one of the units, and there he was, playing guitar and jumping up to greet us- I quickly said, "Hey mutha fukka! This is a killer pad you got here... it's great to see you!"
He started talking with his hands as he always had, and said, "Yeah, but it's way too clean and not really my thing!"
I faded back into sleep after that.
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Saturday, March 25, 2006.
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