Daniel Amos Message Board | Print: DA bus

Posted by tchandler on 01-28-2005 at13:16:

DA bus

hi, folks!

i think i've told this one before, but since the audioris asked, i'll tell it again.

(forgive me if you've heard this already.)

in 1984, right before the vox humana tour, the band bought an old converted school bus. it had enough room in it that we could fit an entire PA, all the lighting, amps, guitars, etc., and still have enough room that the band and road crew could all ride in this one vehicle.

it was still kind of a tight fit, and i would often climb up on top of the PA stacks and crawl to the mid-section of the bus where i could lie down, smoke a cigar and read a book. the stuff was packed high enough that as i lay there, my face would be about 8 inches from the ceiling of the bus. (yes, i had to smoke part of the cigar down before i could climb up
there.) i would sometimes even sleep up there on an overnight drive.

the band lineup was the vox lineup with rob watson on keyboards and greg on guitar. it was greg's first tour with us.

that ancient bus made it through the entire tour without too much trouble, (although i remember greg, mr. fixit-scientist-type-guy, with the hood up and half his body submerged into the engine compartment with just his legs sticking up as he was fixing something.)

one afternoon on our way home, we were on that road that heads down into las vegas, from the east side of las vegas going west.

i was laying up on top of the PA in the back when i heard this incredible metalic grinding sound and felt the bus shudder and start to swerve.

i looked up to see our soundman, and the guy who usually drove the bus (and thank God he was driving this time!) dave hackbarth standing up out of the driver's seat, clutching the wheel with both hands and putting all his weight into it to keep the bus from veering off the road and flipping over.

((dave was a HUGE, strong man. if he hadn't been driving, we'd all be dead right now. i'm certain that i would've died because of where i was in the bus. if it'd rolled, that woulda been it. i owe my life to dave hackbarth!))

no one knew exactly what had happened. dave wrestled the thing to a skidding stop on the side of the road and everybody filed out to take a look.

the right front wheel had come completely off as we were going about 50-55 mph down that road into las vegas. it was actually kind of funny; we looked at the part of the axle where the wheel attaches and it had been ground down into a half moon. it was smoking and on fire.

we turned to see the loose wheel hauling @$$ across the desert at about 90 mph, kicking up a cloud of dust like in a road-runner cartoon.

what happened was: knuckleheads that we are, we had neglected to actually have the bus serviced before we hit the road.

because of legal reasons, i can't tell you what we did with the bus after that.

but we owe our lives to dave hackbarth!!

NEXT WEEK: more tormenting-randy-stonehill-on-the-road stories!

Posted by dorfsmith on 01-28-2005 at13:20:

I have not heard that story tim. Crazy man Shocked

Posted by bereal on 01-28-2005 at13:37:

Big Grin

Truth be told, all of us should probably be dead considering some of the places we've ridden in vehicles! Tongue

Posted by tchandler on 01-28-2005 at13:41:

hi dorf, and bereal!

Posted by Jeff Vaughn on 01-28-2005 at13:53:

Wow, Tim Chandler as I live and breathe!

That's a funny story ... and wellm funny. Did you guys paint the bus up with all sorts of pretty geometric designs and stuff?

Speaking of which, have you guys ever considered doing an album of one hit wonders pop bubble gum covers.

Sugar Sugar - The Archies
I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
Wild Thing - The Troggs
Maniac - Michael Sambello
I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
Like a Virgin - Madonna
Lilli Lou - TST

and of course, Stairway to Heaven

Just a thought. Cigars ... dude, you must be a Henessey man too then.

Posted by bereal on 01-28-2005 at14:01:

Hi Tim!

Posted by tchandler on 01-28-2005 at14:02:

hi Jev. er, Stu. er, i mean, Jeff. actually i quit smoking completely! but a cigar and some henessey does sound pretty good. i'd love to hear what berger and the eddies could do with "like a virgin"!

Posted by John Foxe on 01-28-2005 at14:05:

Very funny!

That's a hoot! Now how can we encourage you to stop smoking those Havanas?

Wink

Posted by Berger Roy Al on 01-28-2005 at14:09:

Gkk! gk! I AM NOT A VIRGIN! Damb you!!

Posted by tchandler on 01-28-2005 at14:10:

hi, John! how's life?

Posted by jiminy on 01-28-2005 at14:11:

Tim - Thats a great tale- you tell em all so well!

Honest - I think the part that intrigues me the most is you guys doin all them "on the road" things- at the time my kids and I thought you proly owned a jet!...

..famous Christian Artists..Cassettes in every store accross the country- touring all over...

ah - it was a grand illusion..!

Posted by joey on 01-28-2005 at14:13:

Cool

Get into the Bus, Aloha

from the album "Songs of the Heart"
Words by Terry Taylor
Music by Daniel Amos
©1995 Twitchen Vibes Music (ASCAP)

Last night I dreamt Aloha was floating,
Hanging like a picture in the skies over
New Jerusalem

Get back into the bus, Aloha
Back into the bus, Aloha baby
Get into the bus, Aloha
Hula if you must, but get back into the bus
Aloha baby, Aloha baby mine
Aloha baby, Aloha baby mine

You say a band plays inside your head
to the praise filling up your heart
You say you're dancing for the glory of God

But you leave me in the dark, Aloha
Do you want to break my heart, Aloha baby?
Get into the bus, Aloha
You're tearing us apart, Aloha baby

There's a place called "The Promise Land,"
It overlooks the ocean
With your own room and a lovely view
And a cure for your devotion

Last night I dreamt Aloha was floating,
Hanging like a picture in the skies over
New Jerusalem

You've crossed the line again
Your passion's an embarrassing thing
The crowd is laughing at us
So get into the bus, Aloha
When you lose control, Aloha
Where do you go, Aloha?

Hello in there.........

Get back into the bus, Aloha
Back into the bus, Aloha baby
Get into the bus, Aloha
Hula if you must, but get back into the bus
Aloha baby, Aloha baby mine
Aloha baby, Aloha baby mine

Posted by tchandler on 01-28-2005 at14:14:

hi, jiminy! yes. you have no idea how exaggerated the illusion.

Posted by jiminy on 01-28-2005 at14:15:

aloha
remember , it means Both Hello and Goodbye........

Posted by tchandler on 01-28-2005 at14:15:

hey, joey! Big Grin

Posted by Berger Roy Al on 01-28-2005 at14:17:

Gkkkkk! WHAT?! I AM NOT AN ILLUSION! Where am I?

Posted by jiminy on 01-28-2005 at14:17:

Tim - I know George wrote

When We was Fab.
.
..
but I really thought you guys just showed up in dressing rooms ..not that it was a curtain separating the last 4 seats from the rest of the amps.....

It would make for great reading-tales big and small
(big tales on a small budget)

Posted by carl on 01-28-2005 at14:18:

Cool

quote:

Originally posted by jiminy
aloha
remember , it means Both Hello and Goodbye........

It's Hawaiian for "dude," you know... Big Grin

Posted by tchandler on 01-28-2005 at14:20:

terry has talked about putting a book together of some of the stories. i wouldn't be surprised if he does that eventually.

Posted by tchandler on 01-28-2005 at14:21:

hi, carl!