Back Behind the Barn Boys: Part 2, The Later Years
Tue, 08/15/2017 - 10:18am
admin
By:
Interview by Kendra Jensen, Eagle Intern
Back Behind the Barn Boys: Part 1, The Early Years ran in the Grygla Eagle on July 19th. It seemed everyone enjoyed reading about the early years of Gatzke’s very own Barn Boys. They are a hit near and far and will be taking the stage at the Grygla Centennial in a couple of weeks. Of the band, Mike Sistad says, “I wouldn’t have had the opportunities that have come my way without my time with The Barn Boys. They will always be a part of my musical family!”
This band is made up of some really wonderful friends; I am happy to bring you this second half in our 2-part special. ENJOY.
How long did you tour, and what made you decide to stop touring?
Terry Ruud: We toured from ‘82 to ‘90. We had to tour constantly, to survive financially, and it got to be too much for too long.
Mike Sistad: I left the BB’s in ‘88. My plans were to finish my college degree in Nashville with the hopes of doing something on the music business side of things and be home more with my young daughters.
Randy Larson: I was done the fall of ‘87.
Dan Schulz: I toured from ‘80-’84.
What was the reason behind The Barn Boys splitting up?
Terry: There were a few reasons; Mike Sistad went to Belmont College, in Nashville, so we lost his multi-instrumentation; Randy Larson decided to leave, so we not only lost a fourth of our life-long harmonies, but we also went through a number of bass players trying to replace him (and teaching a life’s worth of repertoire to a number of newbies is not exactly fun); Tom got Grave’s disease; and Gene was missing out on spending time with his growing family. We had handled all the changes fairly well.
When Sistad left we changed musical direction slightly and focused more on vocals, but working in the many bass players tired and frustrated us, so when Gene decided it was time to spend more family time, we all understood that recreating our vocal blend, with two original components of that missing, would be next to impossible. Even though we felt we could have continued as a very different band, we didn’t want to, and we wanted the band to be remembered as we were. The real reason we split up was that we didn’t feel the cohesiveness that we felt as a group of friends, growing up, and THAT was always our strongest, most unique, characteristic.
Tom Bernstein: We were just replacing too many members. It’s a hard life, living on the road. It’s even harder when you have to keep replacing members.
Dan: There were just too many changes.
If you could go back, do you wish things would have ended differently?
Terry: We quit in August of 1990, and we had a contract to play the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas in October of that year. Of course things COULD have ended differently, but they didn’t, and you know the old saying, “Wish in one hand . . .”
Randy Larson: No, not really. For myself, I am content. But I was hoping the band would get that final break and make it big.
Dan: No, everything happened just the way it was supposed to. We were all friends when we started, we were all friends when we ended, and we are all friends still to this day.
What do you think could have came of The Barn Boys, if you would have continued your music career?
Terry: I always pictured the band as a lifelong project and career, and that someday we would amass music and experiences enough that we would be like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, or like our other heroes (but not as well known), the Montana Band.
Dan: I always pictured us being like The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, too.
Was it a mutual decision between all members to take a break as The Barn Boys?
Terry: Yes. Gene came to me and told me he had decided to leave the band. We cried. We called a band meeting, and it was very painful and purposeful. We knew what we had to do, and that’s what we did.
Tom: Absolutely, there were no hard feelings.
Now days, how much of your time is spent playing music?
Terry Ruud: Not enough.
Randy Larson: I play in Eagle Creek and practice around home when I can.
Tom: I don’t do a lot anymore, I sing whenever The Barn Boys do.
Dan: I like to play here and there. I fill in as drummer for other bands sometimes.
How do you balance playing music with other obligations?
Terry: Everything else is higher priority; music is pure fun.
Randy Larson: Music is not an obligation in my mind, it’s a gift.
After The Barn Boys, did any of you try to pursue music individually as a career?
Terry Ruud: I moved to Nashville, got a couple songs recorded by other aspiring artists, played the Sunday Night Showcase a couple times at the Bluebird Cafe, played guitar in some bands, including some at Tootsie’s and other bars on Lower Broadway. It never felt quite right. I have never thought of myself as a solo artist, and my entire experience had been in a big band, and that band happened to be a gang of my best friends. I never felt as comfortable or confident in any other musical situation.
Mike Sistad: After the BB’s, I moved to Nashville in ‘88 to finish my degree at Belmont University. They have a music business degree and my hope was to do something on the business side of music and not have to be gone as much with my young daughters, Amie & Amber. I played a little bit when I first got to town but did not move to Nashville to do that. I was fortunate to get my foot in the door on the business side and work with a lot of incredibly talented folks.
I interned with a wonderful musician/producer from Muscle Shoals named Barry Beckett. My first day with Barry we were in the studio and he was recording Bob Seger. My first official music business job was with Arista Records Nashville from ‘91 to ‘00 in the A&R department working with artists, songwriters & publishers. Before I left Arista, Connie Bradley from ASCAP had talked to me about coming to work at the company (they collect performance royalties for songwriters & publishers). After being out for most of the year on tour with Phil Vassar, Connie offered me a position at ASCAP working with songwriters & publishers. Of course, a large number of the songwriters are also artists. I’ve been at ASCAP since 2001 as Sr. Creative Director and love getting to work with the folks that are writing, singing and playing songs.
Randy Larson: Not so much a career, but I have played in area bands Imagine, Saddle Tramp, and Eagle Creek.
What are the musical projects you have been involved in individually?
Terry Ruud: I did a solo album, played in Twin Cities-based bands Buffalo Alice and The Fantastic Convertibles, and have had an eclectic acoustic band, The Cat Sank Trio, around Fargo/Moorhead for the last fifteen years.
Mike Sistad: I toured with songwriter/artist Phil Vassar’s band for about a year playing fiddle and acoustic guitar. Phil was one of the artist’s I helped get signed to Arista. I played with him at the Grand Ole Opry a couple times when it was still televised (Mom & Dad got to see me!) and also opened a lot of Kenny Chesney shows with Phil, including the Houston Rodeo, which was crazy! Most of the industry folks in Nashville had never seen me play and didn’t even know I played so it was a good feeling to have so many Nashville friends get to know that part of me, too. It was great fun touring with Phil, but I was still ready to get off the bus and be home more.
Tom Bernstein: I ran sound for Saddle Tramp for 4 years. That was fun, I got to see another side of music.
Do you have children? If so, are they musical?
Terry: Yes, a daughter, Maggie, and she would rather sing than breathe.
Mike Sistad: Yes, 2 daughters, Amie & Amber. They both played in marching band in high school and Amie marched with the Vanderbilt University band a few years during college. Amie graduated from Belmont University and Amber graduated from MTSU - Middle Tennessee State University.
Randy Larson: Yes, 3 kids. My oldest son Geoff is in Eagle Creek so I get to play on stage with him, which is fun. He plays guitar and some mandolin and is a good singer. My daughter Justyne is good to sing and we sometimes do music things together. My youngest, Dayle, is a very good drummer and guitar player. We all jam together at times.
Tom: I have two sons, Duncan and Logan. They both have great voices.
Dan: I have three kids. My daughter Nicole plays guitar and piano. She sings at a lot of weddings and actually moved to Nashville for a year. My son Tyler plays drums and my other daughter, Miranda, sang a lot in high school.
Gene Lunsetter: Yes, my kids are very musically talented.
What do your kids think about “The Back Behind The Barn Boys”?
Terry Ruud: Cool.
Mike Sistad: Cool! They love the BB’s! When Terry lived in Nashville he would sometimes babysit them many years ago!
Gene Lunsetter: I “think” they are proud of Dad. They have enjoyed all the Barn Boy reunion shows and had no objections to singing and playing with us, which you just may hear at the centennial.
Dan Schulz: They think it’s pretty cool their dad played on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Do any of you teach music? If so, where and for how long?
Terry: I taught songwriting at Trollwood Performing Arts School in Fargo for 4 years.
Randy Larson: I like to mentor young bands or musicians once in a while.
Gene Lunsetter: “Music Teacher” is my official title, but I think we have all been music teachers to our children and to family and friends along the way. I have been fortunate to teach 9 Barn Boy kids (Hudson is the last one) in my 19 years at Grygla School (25 overall). I also taught 12 years of private guitar at NCTC in Thief River Falls, along with several years teaching lessons at Kezar Music. I must give co-teaching credits to Mrs. Lunsetter regarding our own kids’ music education as she was the one who got them to music lessons when I couldn’t.
On your reunion tour, what was that like playing together again after all those years?
Terry: Our friend and former booking agent, John Dagen, came up with the idea for a reunion tour “Ten Years Together, Ten Years Apart” around the upper Midwest, opening some shows, playing some of our old haunts. It was a blast! We laughed a lot!
Mike Sistad: I love any excuse to get to laugh with my band friends!
Randy Larson: I like getting back together with child friends and just laugh and laugh. Oh yeah, and sometimes the music is fun, too.
Tom: It made us feel old; we were like a van full of zombies!
There’s a lot of talent up in this Gatzke/ Grygla area. What do you think, is the best advice you could give to kids who want to pursue music?
Terry: See how far you dreams will go! And Tammy Wynette told us, “You don’t need Nashville; make Nashville need you.”
Mike: First thing, hopefully you do it because you love it. Second, if you love it, then work really hard to get good at it and surround yourself with people that challenge you. Talent without putting in the time and work is not enough. Dream BIG! I wouldn’t have had the opportunities that have come my way without my time with The Barn Boys. They will always be a part of my musical family!
Gene: I know the talent is here…I’ve taught so many. Make music a part of your life in some capacity. You won’t regret it.
Tom: Enjoy what you’re doing, because not everyone gets ...continued from page 3
to do it. Also, take it seriously, but not too seriously.
Dan: Follow your dreams. Don’t be shy or scared and take every opportunity you get!
Last but not least, how excited are you to be playing the Grygla Centennial?!
Terry: It’s going to be great fun to play in our hometown when so many of our schoolmates and other former locals will be back for the big celebration.
Mike: It will be fun to play, but I always love getting to laugh with my family and friends that I don’t get to see enough! My brother Mark thought we should do an early 60th Wedding Anniversary (it’s in Dec.) thing for our parents at the farm on the Friday afternoon since a lot of folks will be around for the weekend so that will be a fun way to start the celebration weekend. Both my daughters and their families will be visiting, too.
Randy Larson: Yeah, really pumped! Thanks to Gavin Nordby for asking us to play!
Gene: Grygla opened their arms to me 19 years ago to teach in their school district. I like to think I’ve been good to them but I certainly know they’ve been great to me. Playing at the Centennial will be pretty awesome!
Tom: It’s going to be a great time.
Dan: It’s always fun seeing family and friends!
This interview concludes our 2-part special on The Back Behind the Barn Boys. What fun it was to hear about the early and later years and all of their experiences. I want to thank the members that were able to visit with me and share some of their memories. Of course, there were a few members missing from the interviews due to other obligations, but we want to give them a special shout-out, anyway! To Pat Erickson, Mike Semanko and Randy McMillin! Other members of the band through the years were Gregg Brown (Nashville), Craig Elkin (Nashville), Perry Steilow (Sioux Falls), Randy Hamill (Albuquerque), Jim White (Plymouth), and Paul Salo (Fargo). Sound technicians included Tom Monson, Steve Hoiberg (Fargo), Rick Guptill (Fargo), Dan Breslin (Fargo), and Bob Bussiere (Nashville).
Make sure to attend the Grygla Centennial where the Barn Boys will take the stage under the big tent on Saturday, August 26th, from 5-7pm. Hearing the band back together again is sure to please hometown friends, family and fans.
Whale Tales
Stories from the infamous tour bus, nicknamed “The Whale”!
Mike Sistad: One thing I remember, because it scared me to death, was driving one night on extremely icy roads. A few of us would take turns and I started out that night. I believe it was on Hwy 2 going west from maybe Fosston. It was going OK because a sand truck had obviously gone ahead of us so at least one lane was not too bad going slow. Unfortunately, going around a curve in the road, it became obvious that the sand truck had turned around at a median crossing so we were on bare ice probably a half inch thick. Well, the bus started sliding sideways and was probably at a 45 degree angle to the road before I could gradually pull it back straight and move to the shoulder to get some traction to stop. I can’t remember which Barn Boys were still awake with me when this happened but I’m sure it scared the life out of all of us. We stayed on the side of the road that night for a few hours waiting for a sand truck to come by so we could continue. When we walked outside we couldn’t even stand on the road it was so slippery. I’m just glad it ended well with no one hurt, including the whale.
Randy Larson: There are many whale stories and it’s hard to pick out just one. I remember one time we were playing warm up for Marshall Tucker. Marshall Tucker was a little hard to get along with and was arguing with the people that hired both our bands in front of the crowd about something. I do not remember all the details. The Barn Boys did put on a pretty good show, then it was time for Marshall Tucker. I guess they played pretty good but the pre-show argument seemed to stick in the minds of a full grandstand. I had “The Whale” parked facing the crowd directly behind the stage so if you sat watching the show you could see the front of the bus during the Marshall Tucker show. So I started flashing the oval marquee light that read “Barn Boys” on it. The crowd liked us and soon caught on that I was flashing the light at them. It was great! Every time I flashed the marquee the crowd cheered. I just sat in the driver’s seat flashing that light and listening to the crowd cheer and then just laugh.
Terry: One year at Fan Fair in Nashville, we got invited to the Warner Brothers Records Company Picnic, and we found ourselves visiting all sorts of big time stars. I introduced myself to the fabulous Irish singer, Maura O’Connell. We visited for a bit when she said, “Come over here, I have some friends I’d like you to meet.” Her “friends” were Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Mark O’Connor, Pat Flynn--the New Grass Revival plus! What did they want to talk to me about? “Does that old bus belong to you guys? Love it! We used to have a bus like that!” What did we have in common with some of the greatest musicians in the world? The Whale!