Rock reunion show set for Saturday at Churchill's in Flint
By Flint Journal staff
December 25, 2009, 4:35AM
Courtesy “He was always there, ready to play,” says Ross “R.B.
Suave” Barkey of Flint drummer Mike “Boom Boom” Wilson, shown in
photo.
Although every musician wants to be the backbone of a band, not everyone can be. For drummer Mike “Boom Boom” Wilson, that became his job in whatever band he was in.
A veteran of many Flint-area bands, including Darvon and Lack of Afro, Wilson lived with diabetes, the disease that took his life in March of 2006.
But Wilson didn’t let diabetes slow him down or prevent him from pursuing his dream of being a musician. And on Saturday some Flint-area bands are getting together to honor the memory of Wilson with a benefit show at Churchill’s
Wilson was a drummer and percussionist who became an integral member of every group he played with, said Ross “R.B. Suave” Barkey, bassist for Darvon.
“He was the most reliable drummer in Flint,” Barkey said. “You could count on him to show up or fill in for someone who couldn’t make it. He was always there, ready to play.”
Barkey worked with Wilson in a number of other bands, including Lack of Afro, where Wilson could move from drums to percussion at a moment’s notice.
“We hadn’t intended to have a percussionist,” Barkey said, “but ‘Boom Boom’ would show up at practice with all kinds of weird instruments that none of us had ever heard, so he became the percussionist as well as the drummer.”
Brian Orr, who also worked with Wilson in Lack of Afro, remembers him as an all-around great guy.
“He was always able to make people feel at ease, a fun guy who was good to be around, a joy to work with, and Mike always gave 100 percent,” Orr said.
Orr recounted a time when Lack of Afro decided to wear costumes for a show.
“To know Mike,” Orr said, “you wouldn’t think that he would wear a silly costume, but he was right there with us no matter what.”
• What: Night After Christmas Rock ‘n’ Roll Benefit
Bash • When: Saturday • Where: Churchill’s, 340 S. Saginaw St., Flint • Darvon, Immortal Winos of Soul, DRAT, Super Shock Control
and Rev. Mikee A DJ • Admission: $5 cover for the 18-and-older show, all proceeds
donated to the American Diabetes Association in memory of Mike “Boom
Boom” Wilson |
Barkey said, “He was a quiet, laid-back guy, but he was always in the moment and up for a challenge. Best of all, he kept a solid back-beat, regardless of the theatrics that were going on around him.”
Darvon, a straight-ahead Flint-based rock band that dabbled in guitar-driven punk and hard rock, started in late 1988, playing shows at the Capitol Theater, The Hot Rock Café, Churchill’s and Contos.
Barkey joined the band in 1990 and left around 1994, but through it all, Wilson was there. The band survived in various incarnations as a five-piece and then a four-piece, with changing lineups until 1997.
“‘Boom Boom’ was in the band when I joined and he was there long after I left,” Barkey said. “Along with Todd ‘Tennessee Toddy’ Griegar on vocals, Paul ‘Yogi’ Calugaru on guitar, Iron Steve Soloka on guitar and Wilson, we practiced in Mike’s basement until we were good enough to play around town.”
Best of all, Barkey said, “He had an extensive record collection and was always turning us on to music we otherwise wouldn’t have heard. And then I started to see him showing up at country shows, metal shows, just about any show in Flint. He just loved music and it showed in the versatility of his playing.”
With the exception of “Boom Boom” Wilson and Steve Sokola, who now lives in Flagstaff, Ariz., this will be a full-on Darvon reunion. For the reunion show, drummer Tim “Amigo” Flynn will take over Wilson’s job behind the kit.
Flynn said he was honored to be asked to fill in for “Boom Boom” Wilson.
“He was already big in the scene when I first started hanging out at downtown shows,” Flynn recalled. “He was a great musician and a great guy.
“And, as I’ve been listening to the Darvon tunes to learn them,” Flynn added, “I’m struck by just how versatile and creative the drums are. ‘Boom Boom’ was kind of the secret weapon of Darvon.”
“People can expect the full, high-energy Darvon show,” Barkey said. “Complete with originals from the 1990 release ‘Dangerous Surroundings of Thought’ and plenty of rocking cover tunes.”
“Mostly,” Barkey said, “I’m really jazzed to play these songs again. I hadn’t heard some of them for 20 years and now that I’ve revisited them, I’m really looking forward to bringing some serious rock to Churchill’s.”
Orr added, “It will be good to hear the songs and recapture the moment again.”
This year, The Night After Christmas Rock ‘n’ Roll Benefit Bash will be taking the place of Earpfest, an annual downtown benefit to honor the memory of Doug Earp, former owner of Wyatt Earp Records in Flint. Since an Earpfest wasn’t planned this year, Barkey and Orr decided to fill the gap.
“Everyone is in town for the holidays, so it’s a good time to get together, hear some good music and see some old friends,” Orr said, “and, thanks to Al Steele and Earpfest, people are already in the spirit of heading downtown for a benefit show. So we hope to make this an annual event to fill the gap between Earpfests, raising money for a different worthy cause.”
-- By Ed Davis | For The Flint Journal