It was 5:00 AM and we were in the Quad City International
Airport. We’d just made it through the gauntlet that is security clearance and
sat down at a near-by coffee kiosk for some much needed caffeine. At the table
next to us, a man commented about the cold weather and that he couldn’t wait to
get back home. My husband Tim, being the social guy that he is, asked the man. “Where’s
home?”
“Jacksonville, Florida.”
“What brings you to the Quad Cities?” Tim asked.
“We had a gig last night. I play in a rock and roll band.”
I have to stop right here and tell you this. I had noticed
this small group of middle aged men at the ticket counter. What drew my
attention was their hair. They all had long hair. Not just
long-for-an-old-dude, but very long hair. Most of the group had some sort of
facial hair as well. They just didn’t fit in. One of the men sat on a bench, foot
outstretched. I had to roll my carry-on around it to get past him. I heard him
say ‘Scuse me, ma’am, (in a very southern drawl) as he pulled his foot back.
Back to Tim’s conversation:
“Where’d you play?”
“We played at the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque. I’m in the
band Molly Hatchet.”
My husband Tim extended his hand and introduced himself. The
Molly Hatchet band man took it and said, “My name’s Dave Hlubek.”
(Later, Tim and I both said it took all our control not to
launch into our own personal Molly Hatchet concert stories- which I will talk
about in a minute.)
Tim said welcome to Iowa and Molly Hatchet Dave said everyone was so friendly. He said Diamond Jo’s treated them well. I was a little bit star struck. BUT then Dave Hlubek (DH) started chatting with Tim- and he sounded like a regular guy talking about regular guy things!
I had to laugh when DH told Tim about the great Ruben
sandwich that he got at the deli at 2:00 A.M. after the show. He said that his “table
muscle” (belly) keeps growing but that he’s 58 years old and has earned the
right to have a big belly.
Tim asked if they traveled much and DH said that band
travels all over the world and are very busy.
When our friends finally made it through security, we wished
the band well and headed toward our gate, where we proceeded to share our own
Molly Hatchet concert stories.
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| Google Images |
I’ve done some research and found my memory of dates and
actual event dates don’t match. In my mind this story took place late August
1978, but in actuality it was September 1980.
Which makes sense because I don’t think my mom would have let me go in
1978 – I was still in high school then. Ahh the “foggy years…”
At the risk of really aging myself, here goes…
 |
| Courtsey of Google Images |
The Iowa Jam concert was on Labor Day 1980. The Jam took
place on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines and was an all-day event that
featured several bands. Molly Hatchet
was one of the bands and their hit, Flirtin’ With Disaster, had gone platinum.
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| Courtesy of Google Images |
The day was wild and crazy. After the last band, we piled back
into the van for the two hour ride home. Dirty and tired we all crashed. Except Dave, the guy who’s van it
was. He had to drive. I don’t know if anyone even sat in the front passenger
seat to keep him company. Good friends, huh?
The next thing I know, I’m awakened because we’re bumping
though a ditch to turn around on the highway. Dave had missed his turnoff for
our hometown and drove 60 miles farther north before he’d realized it. (Speed
limit 55mph back then, ya’ll)
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| Courtesy of Google Images |
Needless to say, we got home very late. Three AM. I snuck
in. I was dirty but knew I couldn’t take a shower because I’d wake up my
parents. My hair was nasty and I just couldn’t go to bed without washing it… To
this day, I clearly remember sticking my head in the kitchen sink and washing
my hair by the light of the range hood. It was 3:30 AM. I knew I had to get up
for class in three hours, but it was worth it. I smiled and dropped in bed to
grab some zzzz’s.
Flirtin’ with disaster…
Until next time,
Be Good to Yourself
~Nadine
Until next time,
Be Good to Yourself
~Nadine
