Joe Ely, Jessie 'Guitar' Taylor story

[Hornius Emeritus]

So I am reading Jan Reid's amazing book about Austin music "The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock" and there is a little story in it that I thought I would relate.

This happened sometime in the early 1980's.


"We were back east somewhere," Taylor reminisced of those gypsy times, "and one of the players got to reading a Gideon Bible in his motel room. We noticed he was awful quiet and he finally said "I want you to put me off at the bus station in the next town. I'm quitting the band. I've been saved." Nobody said anything for a few miles. Everybody was kind of stunned. Finally, Joe turned around from the wheel and said "Can't it wait 'til we've played Atlanta?"


If any of you guys see the book, pick it up. It's close to 400 pages and PACKED with great stuff about Willie, Jerry Jeff, Gary P., Lyle, Janis etc.... Also, many photos I have never seen before, including one of Janis that Kenneth Threadgill took and carried around in his wallet for many years.

 

[Jakes on Fifth]

I've read that book. Austin must have been a Wild West Show in those days, I'm 44 I guess I missed it.

 

[acworthhorn]

It appears however, that you were around for Jake's on Fifth. Great beer joint!

 

[Jakes on Fifth]

Indeed it was.
I was a north end thrower. I could really go for a chicken fried a fish bowl and Eddy Arnold's Cattle Call on the jukebox.

 

[jimmyjazz]

Jan Reid has his own history. Several years ago he was interviewed by Mike Hall in Texas Monthly about their misadventures in Mexico, when a trip to see a boxing match ended up in their own kidnapping and Jan's eventual gunshot to the gut. Mike told me about it one night at the studio and I was mortified. Imagine being driven into the outskirts of Mexico City with a rusty pistol at your forehead, only to have your friend (Jan) get macho on the side of the road, throw a punch, and get shot in return. They're lucky any of them lived to tell the tale. Crazy group.