Great G.S.B. story.

[John Lacey]

I was fortunate on Sunday's jam to have Amos Garrett relate a funny story to me on one of their gigs on the Festival Train in Calgary with Ian and Sylvia. They were playing at McMahon Stadium on a 15-foot high stage and were in the middle of a song, a deliriously high yet angry fan found his way on stage past security. He was probably a diehard acoustic fan and wasn't impressed with I&S's new country rock band and decided to show his displeasure by holding Norman Smart's arms so he couldn't play. What this uninformed fan didn't know was Norman was a black belt in Karate AND loved to fight. Within seconds, the guy was tumbling down the backstage area, taking with him most of the onstage amps. Amos said that instanteously, there was no sound coming from their instruments and Ian was shooting them dirty looks. I think they were dong "Smiling Wine" at the time, a real feel-good happy tune that Sylvia sings. The poor guy that got the leap ended up in hospital with fractured back, concussion etc. and the backline was wrecked. The price of being a pioneer.