Flash back to the release of” Saturation” by Urge Overkill. This Album included the track “Sister Havana” which was developing nicely at Radio and before the cover of Neil Diamonds “Girl you’ll be a woman soon” was included on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack which became a huge hit for them. The band was asked to be on the Bill with Pearl Jam and Mud honey for a North American tour. I’d met Nash, Eddie and Blackie a few times including Chicago. The radio promoter asked me about helping set up a promotion on that tour stop in Reno, NV. where they were performing at the Lawlor Event Center on the University of Reno campus. The promotion we were running in conjunction with Radio and Retail; was an Enter to win Contest for the Best Martini mixing bartender in Reno. Judges would be a handful of winners, and Urge Overkill band members. Bartenders were chosen in a contest at Radio. Judges were chosen in a contest at Retail. Spectators and non winners were encouraged to hang in the bar and cheer them on. Only in Reno! Anyway, the night wore on, everyone was getting pretty crazy…little did anyone know, that we had gear set up on the small stage in the bar for the band to perform a song or two, if they wanted to. Mid way through the party a Tour bus pulls up in front and out jumps Eddie V, Stone, Jeff and Mike who had heard about the promotion and all wanted to get in on the Judging…so the bartenders continued to mix, bands continued to drink and a winner was chosen! Late into the night Eddie V is cajoled up onto the small little stage with Nash and Jeff. The boys break into an acoustic version on “Horse with no name” and a few other jems. We hung out late into the night with both bands chatting, and laughing into a hangover the next day.
Nirvana
I met and spoke to Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl numerous times. In this profession, it’s unavoidable when you work with a label whose artists you represent when you are in the field. One of the early interactions with the band was in the planning stages of the release of ”Nevermind” Through an executive at Geffen Records we had discussed with Kurt doing a record release party, which was vetoed. I suggested an instore autograph signing or an instore Live Performance. Kurt liked the idea of performing for a small group of fans in a store and said he would only do it at an indie store. I suggest Peaches in the U- District of Seattle which was approved by the band and label. They had a solid fan base already from the release of “Bleach” and performing in small bars and clubs near the University. 9/16/1991 the store was packed to the gills with anticipation, of course the fire department showed up, took one look at the crowd inside and said no one else is allowed inside, so we stationed a couple clerks to guard the entrance, so if you were late you were stuck outside. The band lit into a searing 10 song set rift with a mosh pit and kids crowd surfing over the record racks. Kurt at one point dove into the crowd himself. The instore turned into a success, and store sold all 400 pieces of “Nevermind” The band stuck around and signed autographs for about an hour outside in the parking lot in front of the Fire Engine. The fans were great and stuck around. I brought the band back into the store to meet Jamie the manager and his staff. I leaned into Kurt and asked “Well what did you think?” and he said “Better than expected” Enough said.
https://youtu.be/wqEFhNR9-t8
https://youtu.be/s7npc9J-Zzs
Peaches store in Seattle was in the process of being sold off. The new owners called them Beehive Records.