Moving Targets break up/Fake Moving Targets

When the Moving Targets returned from our very first U.S. tour we were broke, tired, and homesick. Everyone except me, I thought it was the greatest experience ever, a realization of my dreams, finally come true. Traveling around the states, playing music, meeting people, and smoking tons of pot. So what if we had to skip a few showers and eat at taco bell every day. Chuck, the homebody that he was, held up pretty well. He may have been taken aback by my rock n' roll lifestyle, but he was always there to offer sound tips on staying out of trouble, and he was a solid bass guitarist. Pat had a hell of a time playing music, but he had started his own carpet installing business back in Boston, and had alot of bills and responsibility waiting for him when we returned. We did a show at the Rat and had ourselves a good nights sleep in our own beds.

That fateful afternoon we set our shit up, tossed around some riffs, and took a break. Pat then explained that he wouldn't have much time for the band over the next two months, as he had to concentrate on work and debts. Chuck and I wanted to learn some new material and play the 2 shows we had coming up in the next few weeks. obviously, it wasn't good news to our ears. Pat was a prime canidate for a rich girl friend, as they say. Trouble in Targetland indeed! We realized we had to try and carry on and look for a "Pat Brady" type drummer to keep the band going. We might as well have asked John Bonham to crawl out of his grave and catch the next flight to Boston.

After trying out a couple of guys (including soundman Carl Plaster, who gave it a good shot), Chuck threw his hands in the air and gave up the idea of finding someone to fill Mr. Bradys size 12 shoes. Problem was, we still had a couple of dates booked for the band. Like a true musician, I insisted that the show must go on. I now introduce, fake Moving Targets 1. The following day after enjoying a Kilslug set at T T the bears, I stoped by Burger King to have it my way. While in line I was somehow recognized by a young lad named Todd Phillips. He was getting a shake, I was getting some fries. I discovered he was a drummer and a fan of the Targets. I got his number, and he said he would love to give it a try. Later that evening , I ran into Jeff Weigan from the Volcano Suns, and convinced him to throw his chip in the pot. The next day we met up at the 'Suns fithy excuse for a rehearsal room, and kicked out the Jams. Todd had some chops, and Jeff created a wall of crunch with his Rickenbacker bass. All was not lost.

We practiced a "Targets set" 7 or 8 times over the next two weeks, and borrowed the Volcano Suns van for a Saturday all-ages show in Conneticut. That morning as we loaded our gear out onto the sidewalk, we saw a dark figure approaching from the distance. We realized it was none other than Johnny Cash, who happened to be performing with the Boston Pops that night. He came right over to us (thinking we were musicians), and said: "Hi, I'm Johnny Cash" (swear to God) just like he does in concert. He shook hands all around and asked if we knew where he could find some guitar strings, at that early hour of the morning. Jeff walked over with him to Wulitzer music. If only I'd known how big of a fan I would become years later, I would have joined them as well. We made our way to the show, and played a fairly unremarkable set, as I remember. The gig later immortalized with a picture of my wearing my favorite Led Zeppelin shirt onstage, used for TAANG's second pressing of "Burning inwater".

We ended up doing a couple more shows in Boston and Portland, ME. (where Todd and Jeff shared our hotel elevator with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons from KISS, who happened to be playing in town that same night, swear to God!), but it was the end of the road for us. In our own way, we had become a pretty decent little band, in an instant coffee kinda way, but it wasn't the Moving Targets. I learned alot from Jeff on how to abuse the audience between songs, and it opened the door to Todd Joining Bullet LaVolta down the line. It was also, a hell of alot of fun.

Note: Sometimes the recollections can be a bit incomplete. I want to thank the Roast for correction asto the homecoming gig, as well as adding his two-cents about devil-woman.

The original post listed Manray as the homecoming show. I appoligize to anyone who may have been offended.....

Thanks once again to everyone who takes a minute to read the blogs!