This is part of a series of posts I’ve entitled, “Stories From the Road.” Each week I will post a new story from Rick Sikes, a Texas musician who traveled the roads of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and out to California for well over twenty years. With hours to pass in a van full of sweaty musicians, they found ways to entertain themselves. These stories are told in Rick Sikes’ words. I’ll do my best to correct grammar, but I want to keep them in his own voice.
I’m going to switch gears and share a few of the Rick Sikes and the Rhythm Rebels Band stories. Some of them are pretty unbelievable, but they all did happen. 🙂
Rick:
“My brother Bobby, was a fantastic keyboard player. He played guitar too but excelled on the keyboard. He was a crazy SOB. In high school, his nickname was “Nut” Sikes. So, he was always game for a prank or skit or anything else we came up with.
We used to have what we called a “prop kit.” It had all kinds of old stuff in it like a Viking helmet, some beards, floppy hats, and raggedy Hobo clothes – all kinds of stuff, and we had a lot of fun with it. I remember one time we had stopped to eat at a fancy restaurant in Waco. We had figured out a scheme or plan that involved Bobby playing the part of a sex fiend. He didn’t care. He was a comedian anyway and he loved to be a fool.
So, I went inside the restaurant first and there was a nice elderly lady sitting behind the counter. I told her, “Ma’am, I have a band and we would like to eat, but I have a brother that is in the mental hospital most of the time. I bring him out for a couple of weeks on the road with me because our parents are both dead and we don’t have anybody. But, he’s really messed up mentally.”
She said, “Oh, I’m so sorry. What is his problem?”
I was good at keeping a straight face and playing the straight guy. “Well, he is what we call a sex fiend,” I said. “He sees women and he just gets nutty sometimes. So, if you will allow us to come in, please ask the waitresses not to get too close to him.”
She said, “Well, of course. Of course, you can come in.” I said, “We’ll hold him down and confine him, but just ask them please not to get too close.”
So, I go back out to the bus and get everyone and I’m sure she’s warning all the waitresses.
We walked inside and Bobby was slobbering and growling like an animal. A couple of the guys had him by the arms leading him in. They sat him down at the end of the table and we all sit down. A guy sat on each of Bobby and kept holding onto his arms.
The waitress came to the far end of the table away from him and asked us to pass the menus down. Everyone ordered. I ordered for Bobby.
A couple sat at the table next to ours and when their waitress brought a cart with their food on it, she got pretty close to our table. Bobby jumped up and lunged at her growling. The waitress screamed and knocked her food cart over spilling food on the couple.
I ran up front to the elderly lady and apologized. “I will pay for that couple’s food and for anything that got broken. I am so terribly sorry.”
She just shook her head and clicked her tongue. “That’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
So, I went back to our table. In the meantime, the other guys had dragged Bobby back to his chair and held on to him.
When the waitress brought our food, she stayed at the far end of the table. Bobby started crawling across the table right in the middle, slobbering and making goofy noises. The guys yanked him back and that waitress screamed. She sat our food down and took off.
I don’t remember what we had ordered for Bobby, but I do remember it had mashed potatoes and gravy and Bobby started eating with his hands and getting it all down the front of his shirt.
Of course, everyone in the restaurant was watching all of this. And that just egged him on. He played it up heavy.
Finally, we got finished and washed him down the best we could. The guys escorted him out and all the while, he was still carrying on.
I went back to the lady at the front and said, “Ma’am, I want to pay for everything. Any damages or anything else he caused.”
She said, “Oh, no, no, no, no. Don’t worry about that at all. What on earth do you do with him when you go to play someplace?”
I said, “We just chain him in the bus. We have to lock him up or else he’ll get out.”
She clicked her tongue and asked, “And, you take him out two weeks every year so he can be with you?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” I replied.
She said, “You know you are one of the most compassionate men I have ever met. You are certainly a good man and I admire you. I know it’s terribly humiliating for you.”
I played the straight guy all the way. “Yes, Ma’am. Yes, Ma’am.”
So then we all get back on the bus and everyone cracks up and has a blast.
It was a crazy stunt to pull, but it helped break up the monotony and boredom on the road…”
Jeez, that poor old woman. I don’t know how they had the heart to continue. Then again, I’m not a guy; and men do tend to have a different playbook for humor 🙂
So very true. And this group of guys had NO shame!
That is one crazy funny story. It’s amazing that they stayed in character. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving.
Thanks, Karen! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
The last time I saw Bobby was at The Caprock in Hobbs N.M, we were playing at the State Line Club, got to visit with him, before we left, The Rhythm Rebels played at London Hall once a month, I live in London so I got to see them when we wasn’t playing!!
Hello, Tommy! Thanks so much for stopping in and leaving a comment. Yes, you got to see Rick Sikes and the Rhythm Rebels often at London Hall. Great memories!
Lol! No worries, Sarah.
Oops! This is what comes of living the other side of the pond.
Happy thanksgiving everybody.
It sounds like a comedy skit you’d see on TV, but real life is always much more interesting. She was an amazing lady to be so patient and kind to them. What a hand-full this group of men must have been–with their bag of props. It is a skill to keep the act up the entire time. Thanks for another entertaining story.
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you, D.L., and Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. Yes, they were definitely a handful, for sure. 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by.
Wow, what characters! They knew how to have fun when they were on the road, and I suspect the town folks are still talking about this episode. 😀
There are still stories floating around, but remember this was way back in the sixties and probably most not still alive.:)
Gee whiz… boys WILL be boys, eh? lol
Lol! That’s a good way to put it, Annette. 🙂
Thanks, Jan. The compassionate one is that old lady. What a sweetheart. I can imagine the scene and wonder how those boys kept it together until they got back on the bus. Good actors.
All true, John. And, I can only imagine the mess they left behind. But, Rick did offer to pay.:) He and his brother had spent their lifetime honing their craft – Rick as the straight guy and Bobby as the nut. 🙂
I can’t believe they carried that stunt all the way through like that. I feel bad for the couple who had food spilled on them and for the waitresses! I guess it’s amazing the antics guys will get up to, especially if they’re out on the road like Rick and his band!
I know, Mae. I felt sorry for them too, and can only imagine the mess they were left to clean up. They did so much crazy stuff like that out of sheer boredom. Thank you for stopping by! Hugs, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours too, Jan! {{hugs}}
I wonder who did the “nice old lady’s” laundry after the departure of “the compassionate guy” and his “unfortunate charge”.
Did the young Jan know any of these early tales or did you find out later?
Lol, Sarah! I only lived a few of these precarious tales. Mostly, these were stories told many times over the years.:) Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!