Page 54 of Naughty Dreams
Zed, their bus driver, asked for “Big River” by Johnny Cash. DJ brought his voice down an octave or two, stepping onto the Grand Old Opry stage without missing a beat. The song got everyone on the bus stomping, clapping and singing along.
“Keith Richard said rock’s just the marriage between country and blues,” DJ told the surprised reporter as he finished. “Plus we played everything for everyone in the early days. We had to have gas to reach the next gig, and repair or buy better equipment.” He cocked his head toward his band mates. “What were we playing when Moss discovered us?”
“That 80s theme wedding party?” Steve said.
Pete shook his head. “No, remember that’s where Tobias saw us. He was buddies with Moss, and talked him into catching our act at The Clock Garage later that week.”
“Which is good, because DJ’s rendition of Culture Club is for shit,” Steve noted. “Our career could have dead-ended right there.
“There’s only one Boy George.” DJ placed his hand over his heart in homage.
“Hey, Roy.” Steve called out to the back. “Want to give our boy a challenge?”
“How about ‘The Sound of Silence?’”
Steve threw a stuffed animal at Roy, and the jeers turned to oohs as Roy caught it one-handed without even looking up.
“He’s a ninja when he’s not watching my ass,” DJ told an impressed-looking Leann.
Roy looked at the tabby cat with gold eyes. It meowed when squeezed, a vaguely alarming sound.
“DJ bought a trio of those for us on one of our early tours,” Pete revealed. “Said it was the only road pussy we could have until one of our songs broke a top ten list.”
Steve made a cutthroatshut itmotion. Lonnie rolled her head back on his shoulder. “Like I don’t know what the girls offer you guys?” She batted her eyes and brushed her mouth over his, then tucked the recorder under her thigh when he tried to swipe it.
“That was all before we met,” he assured her.
“Better be.”
Pete dipped his head toward Leann and enhanced his Southern accent. “Sorry for the language ma’am, but that’s a direct quote.”
“They took it as a challenge.” DJ rolled his eyes. When Leann raised a quizzical brow, Tal filled in the rest.
“For how much pussy we could fit inbeforewe broke a top ten. His first lesson in hownotthe boss of us he was.”
“At least for sex,” Pete said. “We listen to him about music.”
“You have a music degree, don’t you, DJ?” Leann asked.
“Yes.” DJ fingered the strings, finding a pleasant sound with the strummed notes. “I’m mostly self-taught, which is good for not knowing what you ‘can’t’ do, but a music degree expanded my knowledge so I could go take it even further. I also took piano. If you can play that, you can play anything. But with a guitar, you can get between the piano notes, do even more.”
“He was just worried if he stuck with vocals only, he’d be the butt of all the lead singer jokes,” Pete said. “Like ‘What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians?’”
“A singer,” everyone shouted. DJ gave Leann a resigned look.
“I like playing bass and keys both, for similar reasons,” Pete told her. “With the software, there’s a lot you can do now. DJ’s great at hearing music in the craziest stuff. Someone’s footsteps, Lonnie’s laugh. The notes for that are in ‘Wild Days,’ so I play that one on keyboard, live. We folded the bass into the keyboard part as well so we can keep Steve on guitar for that dueling solo.”
“You and Tal figured out a groove on that song that really kills it,” DJ noted, playing a lick from it.
Lonnie beamed at him.
“Roy?” Steve waved in his direction, bringing them back to the topic. “Choose a song, man.”
“I thought I said ‘The Sound of Silence?’” While they were talking, Roy had pulled out a grape Tootsie Pop and unwrapped it. As he put it in his mouth, he noticed Tal staring at it with a hopeful air. With a sigh, he pulled the package from his go-bag and tossed it to land near Lonnie. “You’re such children. Ladies get their choice first, then pass it around.”
“What’s the most important thing a bodyguard for a rock band has to know?” Leann asked, deciding to pull Roy in.
“A protection detail is like being a dog trainer. Your biggest challenge comes from the owner, not the dog. The clients, not the threat.”
