Petty grievances: No room for a lost Heartbreaker

[bdy22]

Article on Danny Roberts of Mudcrutch:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2007/nov/14/petty-grievances-no-room-lost-heartbreaker/

Petty grievances: 'No room' for a lost Heartbreaker

By Bill DeYoung
Wednesday, November 14, 2007

ST. AUGUSTINE — In Peter Bogdanovich’s documentary “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” Tom Petty goes from a hungry and ambitious Florida teen to international rock icon.

The four-hour film (just released on DVD), and the coffee-table book that accompanies it, relates the story of Petty and the many musicians who’ve played with him over the past four decades. The tale is told by the star himself along with dozens of present and former band members, business associates and famous admirers.

Danny Roberts is nowhere to be found. A singer/guitarist with Mudcrutch, the Gainesville group that evolved into the Heartbreakers, Roberts spent three years with Petty and company; they were the best of friends, and obsessed with making the big time.

Roberts performed on every recording that brought the group to the attention of the Los Angeles music industry, and even drove the 1969 Volkswagen van that got them there. They performed many of his compositions. He signed the first contracts and played hundreds of shows as part of Mudcrutch.

He sings and plays bass on the only single the group ever released.

There’s a famous photo, circa 1974, of the band in this period. It appears in “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” but Roberts has been airbrushed out.

The Mudcrutch saga takes up much of the film’s first hour.
“I try not to be bitter, but I can’t but be a little hurt by such an intentional snub,” said the 55-year-old Roberts, who’s back playing in Florida bars. “I somehow thought Tom was bigger than that.”

Although Petty was the group’s chief songwriter and vocalist, Roberts was an integral part of their developing formula.

“When they hired me, they tried to talk me into singing his songs,” Roberts said. “But I said ‘This guy’s got a real identity, and it would be foolish to even think about that.’”

Mudcrutch broke up in 1975, without finishing an album. Roberts moved back home to Florida, while Petty and the others remained in California to pick up the pieces.

“They asked me to come back 15 to 20 times,” Roberts said, “every day for a while. They’re hired another guy from Florida to play bass, but it didn’t work out.”

He did head west again, and spent several years playing with New Wave pioneer Phil Seymour. Petty had reformed his group and re-named them the Heartbreakers.

In a statement, Bogdanovich cited the documentary’s epic running time as the reason for Roberts’ exclusion. “We could not possibly encompass every single twist and turn, nor every person who came and went along the way,” the filmmaker said.

“I am sorry Mr. Roberts feels slighted, and can understand his feelings, but we had to keep the viewers’ attention-span in mind, and he was not essential to the journey we were depicting ... Nothing personal.”

Roberts hasn’t seen or heard from his old friends for 20 years. “I’ve gone out of my way not to badmouth Tom or anybody in that band,” he said.

He insists he doesn’t want money; he received a hefty royalty check for the Mudcrutch tracks included on the 1995 Petty anthology “Playback.”

“I want acknowledgement of my input and my contributions,” Roberts said. “I was there. It wouldn’t have happened as it happened without my participation.

“Nothing would have stopped Tom’s talent from making its way to the place that it’s at. It’s like a game of pool — Tom was the 8-ball, but I was the 1-ball. You have to spread them all out on the table to eventually sink the 8-ball into the corner pocket, and win the game.”

[Mudcrutch]

that is very interesting about the airbrushing. the documentary was EPIC in length. I don't see how mentioning Danny at least in passing would have hurt.

[Echosoftom]

^ I agree Ryan. Bogdonovich would have been better off saying nothing rather than coming up with such a piss poor excuse. I'm sorry but to exclude a person by actively airbrushing them out says something more than just the time factor of the documentary. And that "viewers attention span" comment is laughable at best. I must also point out that I recently read a Danny Roberts bio on line and he has not one unkind word to say about any member of the band. I'm not sure I could exercise such restraint. I think he showed more class to them than was shown to him.

[Mary Jane 49]

I aggree with you both , Bogoffs excuse was puny , there was lots of room to include Danny, and it was very unfair not to do so , I would be hopping mad if it was me .Danny is showing great strength of character and has my respect

[KansasPettyFan]

I couldn't agree more! A mention wouldn't have had to added an hour or anything. Geez.

Well, Danny Roberts...we are VERY glad to have you here! Hope you stay around. :)

[WildflowerNJ]

I agree with you all, too...thank you, Danny, for coming here and sharing your time with the band with us. I am surprised at the "airbrushing"....wow....:085:

Thank you, bdy22, for this article...and welcome to the Farm. :006:

[Echosoftom]

Gosh, thanks for reminding me Beth. Where are my manners?...Thank you, bdy22 for posting this article and welcome to the farm!

[WildflowerNJ]

I had forgot, too, Sharon..that is why I had to edit that post, lol.....

[Mary Jane 49]

I forgot my manners too Thank you, bdy22, for this article...and welcome to the Farm.
http://bestsmileys.com/signs3/21.gif

[Patty Petty]

Yeah, something smells here. Like Sharon, I don't buy the whole "viewers attention span" excuse. I mean, it's a FOUR HOUR documentary, lol. Come on! The airbrushing the guy out of a picture proves the point of it being a load of crap. :rolleyes:

[Marion]

Wow, there must be more to the story here. Danny was mentioned in the Playback book. Why not in the movie? We will probably never know the real reason. It's probably the all mighty $ again.

[Mudcrutch]

Wow, there must be more to the story here. Danny was mentioned in the Playback book. Why not in the movie? We will probably never know the real reason. It's probably the all mighty $ again.

Well MCA did the box set after Tom signed with Time Warner. Yes?

Maybe he didn't have much to do with the Playback book? I don't recall off the top of my head anything regarding Tom's or the bands involvement with the box set book.

[Flower]

Thank you, bdy22

I agree something isnt right here. We need a detective here.
( Flower looks around the farm for a PI) :108:

[Echosoftom]

^ HAHA!

I'm inclined to agree with Marion. Money seems to always be the bottom line.

[Danny Roberts]

From what I keep hearing about from people from all over the place, there's a bunch of the home movie footage that Jim Lenahan shot of our trip, first from G'ville to Tulsa, where we spent 2 days straight in the studio with Denny Cordell, then onward through a really bad sand-storm that wouldn't let us go faster than about 20 mph for several hundred miles, all the way to Hollyweird. I was all over that film, but not one shot has made it to the DVD. Look, just the first trip out west, with me, Tom & Keith, which Tom calls in his book "Conversations with Tom Petty", and I quote; "It was the greatest trip of my life, really. It was this incredible journey through the country. I had never been west of the Missippi. To suddenly see cactuses, we would pull the car over and get out and say, 'Shit-look at this' We were so naive." My sole mention in THAT book was right before the previous quote. It reads,'And Danny Roberts had a van, so we drove'. That was apparently my only contribution. Is that the best he can do when talking about one of the only two other people that were in my infamous 1969 VW bus on the greatest trip of his life? I have at least 100 stories from that whole trip. I just don't get it!

[AmyLou]

I'm really sorry this is happening Danny - it must be surreal. Can only hope there is an explanation (or apology) to help make sense of it. Until then, we're all thrilled to have you here and telling us these stories - we know you were such a big part of things even if the film and public stories don't make that known. :102:

[Echosoftom]

^ Well said Amylou.

Hey Danny, I found a real nice pic of you today....
http://www.thoseguys.com/images/DR-BW-2-2.5.jpg

[Danny Roberts]

Surreal? It's like a real bad dream. And it's something I'll be asked about every day for the rest of my life! I lived in Hong Kong about 11 years ago, and when I would go out to play and meet all the players in town, people would ask me;"Are you the Danny Roberts that used to play with Tom Petty?" I mean, this was in freakin' China. I once played a ship gig across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, stopping at the Rock of Gibralter, and while taking the tour of the caverns of Gibralter, some French couple came up to me and asked the same thing. I can't escape from it, and then I'm dissed like this? I didn't ask for any of this shit. Sorry to vent, but I'm stressed! I haven't slept but a few days since I saw the "coffee table book" at Barnes & Noble three days ago, opened it up and found the same shit. They have completed their "erasure" job on my arse!

[Echosoftom]

Danny, I truly am sorry for all of this. I can't even imagine how I'd feel in your shoes. Honestly, we didn't mean to stir up any bad feelings we just loved hearing the stories about your days with the band. But it must be sort of tough emotionally for you to relive some of this stuff.

[Relic]

Dinking with history, airbrushing a band member out of photos..... None of that is appropriate! In fact it comes off as downright seedy to me. WTF?!?!?!?

It is completely unacceptable.

[Patty Petty]

Ya know... this truly sucks. I don't get it. Did you have a falling out with Tom? With someone else? I mean... it doesn't make sense!!! I'm sorry, but if I were you... I would be pissed as well!!! You have every right!!! :013:

[Danny Roberts]

I've been quietly dealing with my slow "erasure" from the band's history for some time now, but it started accelerating when the book "Conversations With Tom Petty" came out. When the new DVD and coffee-table book came out, I started hearing from people from all over the country and other places on our funky little planet. So, a few days ago I stopped at Barnes & Noble bookateria and found the new book. I turned right to the Mudcrutch section, skimmed through the pages, saw not one pic or reference, and realized that they were finishing the job. I still had to laugh at the silliness of it all, but when somebody called and told me about being erased from an already well-known photo, well......that really got my goat, put a bug up my ass, got me madder'n Hell, had me steamin', ........I'm runnin' outa things to describe how insulted I felt. And humiliated. And WRONGED! They're going to have to make a better attempt at explaining this to me than the Bogster's pitiful insult to my intelligence! I did not ask for this and it didn't have to be this way! When I went over to see the guys last year at their Homecoming Show that's a major portion of the DVD, I brought Tom's book, "Conversations With Tom Petty" with me, along with a black Sharpie. I finally found Jim Lenahan, who got me in back-stage. I went back to my car and got the book, and hid it in the bushes outside the loading area. After I saw Mike and Benmont for about 10 minutes, I went back out and got the book and stuffed it down the back of my jeans and went back in. (People must've thought I had a flat-ass!!!) I went back in and hung-out, thinking that someone would tell Tom that I was there and that maybe he would come out to see me for a minute. I fully intended to ask him to mark out the one mention I got in his book, "And Danny Roberts had a van, so we drove." By the way, Tom didn't even drive back then. He was our Navigator and chief joint-roller. But Tom couldn't find a couple of minutes to see the guy that he made the "greatest trip of my life" with. It felt like I was in some really bad movie. I went out and found a decent seat and sat there trying to listen and enjoy the music, but about mid-way into the show, I turned to the person sitting next to me and said "I'll be right back." I got up and couldn't stop myself from walking out to my car and drove home. I wasn't so much as pissed-off as I was perplexed. Wrap your brain around that one.
Thanks fer caring, Danny Roberts

[dandelmusic]

Watch any Beatles documentary and Pete and Stu are handsomely credited as original members......watch a Skynyrd documentary and you'll learn that current guitarist Rick Medlocke was the original drummer.....how would you like to see a movie about the Beatles or Skynyrd , see still photos of the band's beginnings, and find Pete, Stu, and Rick are airbrushed out of the photos, left out of the entire story, and erased from any mention whatsoever of any association with the genesis and discovery of the "artist" who later became a household name?????? MUST BE "GOOD TO BE KING" INDEED!!!!!!!

[Refugee]

bdy22, are you the author of the article? Just curious.

Danny, I don't know how I would feel if I were in your shoes.

[Relic]

I just started scanning the first RDAD DVD with Athena and unless we are mistaken, we see Danny in multiple places.

For instance:
32:37 (still photo)
23:21 driving video
25:56 driving video
26:41 video
29:01 driving video

There were other spots where we think we may have seen him too.

But so far we have yet to find this 'airbrushed' photo in the documentary.

Any one know exactly at what time stamp in the documentary this 'airbrushed' photo is displayed? I really want to see this for myself.

(The original article seems to suggest the 'airbrushed' photo is one I have seen credited to Red Slater but I cant find this photo in the documentary at all so far)

[Dynabeat Tim]

Sounds odd, but then, no one knows, unless they were there, the feelings of the other guys. Maybe they have a reason,maybe this guy wasn't someone they liked. I once worked with a guy that was a real assinine person, and when we finally got rid of him, he went around bad mouthing us, and being extra nice to our friends, (ie. giving them copies of rare rock n roll dvd's, and Cd's ). The local paper was doing an article on us, and this guy calls the paper and threatened a lawsuit cause we had taken his band and was riding on his coatails ! It was all such a laugh ! But if you were to meet this guy, he'd go out of his way to give you something so you'd say, "what's wrong with those other guys ?" This guy even started to book himself around town as the "original " band. And they sucked so bad we had to change the name. So like I said, only Tom or one of the other guys know the rest of the story.

[Starfish]

So like I said, only Tom or one of the other guys know the rest of the story.

Even if he was a raging asshole, there's no excuse for not mentioning him at all. The guy was an integral part of Mudcrutch history.

[Mary Jane 49]

All we can do is speculate , we don`t know the real story here, and probably never will

[Lazlow]

Even if he was a raging asshole, there's no excuse for not mentioning him at all. The guy was an integral part of Mudcrutch history.
Damn straight. Playback contains songs to which he made a large contribution. And they're from a single session-- that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Danny Robert's contribution to the saga goes so much deeper.

And I'm not buying Peter Bogdonavitch's explanation at all.

Stay strong, Danny.

[petty4me]

You're history is your history. If it didn't happen the way it happened, you wouldn't be where you are today. Embrace it, don't rewrite it. Plus all of this happened over 30 years ago... isn't it time to let bygones be bygones???

[Dynabeat Tim]

I didn't mean for anyone to think that I was calling Danny an ass, I'm just saying only they really know. If he truly was that important it seems that when Tom seen the "rushes" he would've asked "Hey where's Danny ?". Sometimes we feel we are more important to another than what they think we are. Or something like that. So what's the catch phrase of the dvd now..."the almost complete story ?"
And Peter's excuse.....lame. Sorry Danny....hope I didn't offend.

[petty4me]

I think it's one thing for it to be an oversite and Danny left out of the film b/c TP didn't think he was important to the story or whatever.

It's a whole different thing for Danny to be intentionally airbrushed out of a picture. Explanation: this was done b/c the viewer's attention span wouldn't be able to look at a picture with 6 guys in it so we had to cut one of them out. Total crap.

[Miami Steve]

I just started scanning the first RDAD DVD with Athena and unless we are mistaken, we see Danny in multiple places.

For instance:
32:37 (still photo)
23:21 driving video
25:56 driving video
26:41 video
29:01 driving video

There were other spots where we think we may have seen him too.

But so far we have yet to find this 'airbrushed' photo in the documentary.

Any one know exactly at what time stamp in the documentary this 'airbrushed' photo is displayed? I really want to see this for myself.

(The original article seems to suggest the 'airbrushed' photo is one I have seen credited to Red Slater but I cant find this photo in the documentary at all so far)

It's at 19:59 for about 2 seconds. Kinda makes you wonder if Bogdonovich could really be that anal retentive about tying up loose ends in the story line.

[bdy22]

Indeed I am. I spent 22 years in Gainesville and wrote many, many stories on the band. I have my own beefs with the folks at Fort Petty, none of which I think I'll air here. But when I watched the Bogdanovich thing on DVD, I saw that airbrushed photo and went "Hey .... wait a minute!" Red Slater had printed it up for me in 1988 or so, for something I was working on, so I knew it well. I had met Danny a long time ago (same era I met Randall, strangely enough) and I knew immediately that something was stinking up the place. Danny is a great guy, and even if he wasn't, "erasing" him from even a brief mention in a four-hour stroke job of a movie is inexcusable. I agree with what somebody said here about Pete and Stuart and the Fabs - you shouldn't mess with history. Anyway, here's a plug: at www.billdeyoung.com (http://www.billdeyoung.com) you can read the original Goldmine piece from 1990, or somewhere around there.

[Mudcrutch]

interesting. thanks for the link.

welcome. :)

[wildgator]

so sorry, Danny! I've felt for several years that Tom can be somewhat of a "big head". I understand that he's had all of these people/peers bow down to him for years and years for being the great songwriter that he is but sometimes I think he can take all the credit that deserves to be thrown around a little. I noticed in "Conversations" that he failed to give Mike the kudos that he deserved. I just don't understand how someone could be so thoughtless.

[Refugee]

^Gotta disagree with you there, Amanda. I think Tom praised Mike alot in Conversations.

[emmie]

Yikes!

Well Danny, don't sweat it. After all Tom's first wife of over 22 years never got a mention either.

[Mudcrutch]

Maybe she will be the next one to swing by and start posting. ;)

[petty4me]

I think he did mention Jane but not by name, just said he had gotten married a couple days before they left for LA and maybe again when he talked about the fire.

Quite different tho b/c it is my understanding that she asked not to be talked about as part of the divorce agreement. Even if TP wanted to talk about her, I don't think he can.

[emmie]

Well, I think it actually works both ways. Jane can't discuss Tom either legally. Guess we won't be getting a "tell-all" book from that ex-wife any time soon.

[Mudcrutch]

I can see it now:

Two Decades with Tom: The Jane Benyo Story

Forward by Danny Roberts

[wildgator]

^no, probably not Em. Although it would make an interesting read.

That's ok, Linda. I still love ya! :D

^HAHAHA!! Ryan!

[emmie]

Hahahah..I would like an advance copy of that please. Spare NO details lol.

[Patty Petty]

Hahahah..I would like an advance copy of that please. Spare NO details lol.


LOL, me too! Me too!
I'd also like a copy of The Stan Lynch Stories as well! :003:

[petty4me]

I'm surprised someone hasn't weaseled their way into any of those people's lives by now.

[emmie]

^ Well it isn't for want of trying let me tell you LMAO!

[petty4me]

Pesky restraining orders :D They'll stop ya every time, won't they!!! LOL

[emmie]

Those bastards. But ONE DAY my pretty. ONE DAY LOL

[Danny Roberts]

Hey Dynabeat,
I didn't ask for any of this! If you wonder about the possibility of me being an asshole, then why would Denny Cordell turn around and fly me to LA to meet with Phil Seymour about the possibility of forming another teen-combo with him, which we did? And why would he move me and my wife and dog, Malcolm (a little Yorkie), and our entire house-full of furniture/belongings, rent me a nice little house in Hollywood, pay me a nice salary and turn me on to other session work. He also paid for me to set up a nice little demo-studio on the corner of Hollywood and Vine, where I did all the pre-production demos for Phil Seymour's debut solo release, which was released on Casablanca (I think)? And why would Derek Trucks' father, who was acting as his son's road-manager at the time, hire me to be the other guitarist in his son's band? I sat up with young Derek and helped him do his home-work when we were in Toronto while the rest of the group went out on the town partying. Does that sound like an asshole to you? Eleven years ago, I moved back from Hong Kong, to take care of my mother and father, who were beginning to have serious health issues. They were dying. I took care of them for 5-years and was the last person they saw as the lights went out. They left me the home that I live in today in Treasure Beach, St. Augustine, Florida. It's lovely here. Oh, and I've held onto a tape of everything we ever recorded in the various studios we visited, without ever trying to sell it to anybody when times were lean and never talked shit about TP. Do I sound like that-much of an asshole to you now? I rest my case. Harumpfff!

[Mudcrutch]

Hey Danny,

Did you ever think Mudcrutch (of whatever incarnation) would ever reunite for an album?

[Patty Petty]

Woot! Woot! Woot! Woot! :098:

[Mudcrutch]

I didn't mean for anyone to think that I was calling Danny an ass, I'm just saying only they really know. ... Sorry Danny....hope I didn't offend.

quoted for emphasis :)

just a tough situation everyone is trying to figure out. :cool:

[Danny Roberts]

Yes, I did hope that we'd get together again. I'm a way better player/singer now than I was back then, and I wasn't bad back then, even if I do say so mice elf! It comes with maturity, er...the pre-old-fart kind of maturity. But I must've hurt TP's feeling by not coming back when they started calling, asking if I'd re-join the band. He sure can hold a grudge! You can figure out for yourselves just why I left when I did if you watch the DVD and listen to something that the late-great Denny Cordell says. The clue is in there. You just hafta go look for it. I haven't even seen the thing - YET! - but everybody has told me about it, it being the certain thing that Cordell says. And I think that's why I wasn't invited to take part in the reunion. I vaguely know Tom Leadon, but I haven't seen him in years. He was fired from the band, leading to my being hired, which led to all this stuff happening, so it's an extra-painful issue for me to deal with, knowing that they brought him in for the reunion.
BIG OUCH!!!

and with that, DR need's to go outside for a smoke...my nerves are shot to shit from all that's going/not going on,
don't tell my wife, she'd kick my ass!!!!!

DeeArrggghhhh!!!!!!!!!

[Mudcrutch]

Since you were there in the beginning of Tom's career, did you follow the band over the decades?

If so, in your opinion what were some of the high points of the bands career?

On the other side what were some of the albums you didn't like as much?

[Danny Roberts]

Yes, I've kept track of their rise to fame and glory. How could I NOT hear about it, read about it, have people ask me questions about it? It seems like every time I'd turn on the radio in my car, there they'd be! I got to where I quit listening to the radio after a while. I was happy for their success and all, but it still felt weird to me, y'know?
I never even owned one of their records until they sent me the boxed-set "Playback" while I was living in Hong Kong. I just couldn't bring myself to listen to it because it opened up old wounds that had taken a long time to heal. But I've heard everything that's ever been on the air-waves, one way or another, and have always been happy for them and their success!

[emmie]

I'm interested why you've decided to broach the subject now of being left out.

[Danny Roberts]

Hey Emmie,

It's a touchy subject, but here goes. I've been trying to lead a quiet life here in St. Augustine, kinda flying beneath the radar, if you will. But once the DVD and book came out, everybody who knew anything about my past history with the band - and that includes both people I knew and MANY who I'd never met before - started to contact me, saying I'd been erased from the story-line. You can't re-write history to make it convenient for yourself and your ego. Remember a few years ago, when the Japanese school system started trying to re-write history by leaving out crucial segments pertaining to their aggression all over the globe? Well, the rest of the world let them know that they still remembered the way it REALLY was. So, it kinda had that kind of effect on me, knowing that I'm going to be answering questions about this and trying to explain myself to people who think I'm just some crazy-ass has-been-that-never-was. It's not been easy and it never will be, now that the DVD and coffee-table book have been released. Think about that one for a minute and imagine dealing with that for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.
DeeArrggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[frank everett]

i have known danny roberts for 40 years, he is a very talented musician/songwriter. i remember his time with mudcrutch as i was living in g-ville at the time playing in a band called "treat". danny has been slighted by tom and the band for whatever ego driven reasons i cant explain, i do know this, danny brought a professional attitude to the band with his previous experience playing in large venues with a 3 piece band that was absolutely unbelievable. danny has played with lots of "name" musicians, has made a nice living playing music he loves all his life and not once has shown any disrespect towards tp and the rest of the band. hell, i had to reposess a guitar from tom back in the day, arrogance was there then and obviously is still abound. i believe tom is a great songwriter, has shown longevity in a business that spits people out faster than you can say spit..he deserves his due but so does danny, he was an integral part of the band that became tp & the heartbreakers (at least we know why tom has his name first).

[surfnburn]

Hi Danny, I've read some of this thread. I appreciate the fact that it's hurtful to be left out of the history of the band, but do you think posting here will change things for you? It's an awkward situation for us fans because, generally speaking, the band doesn't respond to forum posts. We'll only hear half the story, which can only leave us wondering. I can't help but think that there may be wounds on the band's side of things, too. It seems like you are in a bad situation with your friends; you're not crazy; but you are a victim of movie editing... Maybe you can show them the Playback book…

We appreciate your stories; we'd love to hear about your music. I'm sure you are a fine musician.

By the way, I hope everyone knows this isn't an official TPATH site....

[Starfish]

I'm interested why you've decided to broach the subject now of being left out.

When else would he bring it up? He didn't know he was left out until the dvd was released, if I'm following this correctly.

[Dynabeat Tim]

This is so interesting ! I went home and got my "playback" book, and looked up Danny. Pg.6 (of words, not pictures) Tom explains that with 3 writers the band was directionless. That Mr. Cordell wanted only Tom's songs. Benmont could live with it, Danny could not. "Danny didn't dig that at all " Petty says. Danny was very upset about that and immediately left the group. He was gonna do it on his own ". So maybe Tom does have hard feelings toward ya. Maybe he didn't want to broadcast this view in a movie. I don't know why Mr. Cordell did all those things for you. That was great, wish it could've been me. Danny is in the conversations book, his photo is in that old newspaper clipping. I agree with surfnburn, its awkward for fans, we are only hearing Danny's side. There is obviously more to this. It was nice that you took care of your parents. Most of us would do the same. Thats what kids should do, if they can. How many other guys have been left out of different band's histories ? We'll never know. Your lucky in that you were able to tell so many of us here your story. Its to bad that you weren't ask back for their reunion, that would've let everyone here judge you by your music.
Stop Smoking.....it helped to kill my father and I don't want anyone else to suffer like that. Oh and I'll check out the dvd with Mr. Cordell.

[Danny Roberts]

Yes, that's how and when I found out. And I didn't even go looking for it. People started contacting me about it, so it was like getting blind-sided by a huge wave that you never saw coming. I'm just trying not to get sucked out to sea by the under-tow. I'm doing the BACKSTROKE!!!

[Danny Roberts]

I'll clue you into something in a minute that might clarify some things pertinent to that meeting that TP doesn't talk about. I actually left in the middle of a session because the drums were THE problem, and no-buddy would address the problem, about which I'd hear from Denny Cordell every day! I'll tell you more in a few, but my pizza's gettin' cold. Please forgive me, as I don't want to diss anybody or hurt their feelings.
DeeArrggghhh!!!!!!!!!!!

[Echosoftom]

I will say this, if nothing else the internet has certainly been responsible for creating some fascinating online dialogue.
By the way, I don't recall Danny ever saying or implying that posting here would change anything for him, lol. I mean, that's obvious, what's done is already done. Can't be changed. It's just conversation for chrissakes. Why is that so scary to people?

[petty4me]

If someone was telling a story that involved me in some way but they were telling it wrong, I would totally stand up for myself and set the record straight.

I think it is great that Danny is sharing his side of the story with us. If some think it's uncomfortable for them as TPATH fans, too bad. Where else is he going to tell his side, an Elton John board???? Personally if it was me, I'd be screaming bloody murder over at the officials if I was him. He has shown great restraint as far as I'm concerned.

[Danny Roberts]

Look guys & dolls,

Let me make this clear. I love Tom & the guys and miss them, always have. I have nothing but the greatest respect for their legacy and have been proud for over 30 years that I played some roll in their history, however you choose to judge that role. I'm not here talking with you all to stir up any shit, so I'll be bowing-out for a bit. I might drop in occasionally to see what's going on, but I really don't want to diss anybody or hurt anybody's feelings. By the same token, I don't want to be dissed or have my feelings hurt any more than they already have. This is the most difficult time of my life and like I said before, I didn't ask for it, I don't deserve what's happend lately and none of this needed to happen. I just woke-up one morning and all Hell broke loose! I really don't know how much more of this I can take, so I'm gonna just try to lay low, like I was doing before all this happened.
I'll see ya'll around, Danny Roberts (Formerly of Mudcrutch)

[Danny Mac]

Danny,
Let us know when your playing around in St. Augustine. I got some friends that play out there time to time. Greg Macmillion Plays out there some times and a friend that was teaching me guitar, Cliff Knizley plays out at the Mill Top on Sundays. Like to come out and see a gig!

[wildgator]

^Oh, No! Danny, I think I can safely say we all love you posting here. You've given us a link into the band we have all given a part of our lives to. I hate that you're so upset. :( Please come back and give us some laughs.

[Echosoftom]

Danny, I'm really sorry you feel that way but I totally understand. I think initially most of us here were really enjoying you sharing your stories, your pictures and expressing how you feel about some things. I personally didn't see anything wrong with that. I hope you'll be able to return soon.

[Marion]

Danny, I'm sorry you are hurting so bad. It doesn't seem like venting here is helping you work this out but maybe it's making you feel worse. I hope you do find some peace with this whole thing and when you do, I'd love for you to come back and tell us more of your wonderful stories and share your music with us. You have had a really cool trip full of wonderful adventures. Please come back and share with us again! http://www.mudcrutch.com/honeybees/images/smiles/7207.gif

[emmie]

Well, I've never been one to worry about feeling differently. So let me just say. I'm getting a bad vibe. I don't like the Tom Petty is shifty implications myself. You have a problem with Tom? Tell it to East End Management. I'm sure they'll pass on the message! They usually do!

[EpiphanyDH]

Gee. I don't know. I guess I will now have to tear up my Tom Petty Fan Club Membership Card now. I am so completely shattered.

Tomorrow I will take all of my Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers albums and burn them in the street. Do CDs burn? Well then I will hire a steamroller to run them over. Ok they're already pretty flat. Maybe a group of cops on horses can ride roughshod over them.

A French couple at the Rock of Gibralter??? China?????

Well let me also give a big welcome to the 5 new farmers on here:

bdy22
dandelmusic
Danny Roberts
frank evertt
the 5th person whose post previously appeared before mine and is now gone

and who all pretty much said the same thing. Just a coincidence. WELCOME!

Tom Petty is a mean mean man and I will never speak to him again.


Danny Roberts was mentioned in the presidential debate tonight on CNN.
Hillary was shocked and appalled.


An extremely bad vibe.

[WildflowerNJ]

Danny, I am one of the Farmers who loved hearing your stories and seeing the pictures you shared here. Lots of pain you must be feeling now but I hope you work through that somehow. We welcome you to the Farm and hope you will be back.

[Lazlow]

Like a lot of folks here, I love reading your first-hand accounts of the early days of Tom, Mike, and Ben, and Mudcrutch in particular and Gainsville in the '60s and '70s in general. So, thanks!

[wild1forever]

Danny, I'm sorry you are hurting so bad. It doesn't seem like venting here is helping you work this out but maybe it's making you feel worse. I hope you do find some peace with this whole thing and when you do, I'd love for you to come back and tell us more of your wonderful stories and share your music with us. You have had a really cool trip full of wonderful adventures. Please come back and share with us again! http://www.mudcrutch.com/honeybees/images/smiles/7207.gif
I agree with Marion. Please do come back and share more of your stories!

[KansasPettyFan]

Yes, come back when you feel up to it. And thank you for sharing your stories. :)

[Nel]

I guess I'm with the majority here. I'm glad you stopped by, Danny. Sorry about the unpleasantness. Please don't allow it to keep you away.

I really hope you get the recognition you deserve.

[knebworth_1978]

Hello Danny! I'm just catching up with all your previous posts. Please don't go away. I feel terrible for the way you were excluded. You told some hilarious stories, and I bet you have many more you could share with us. And I loved your photos, some rare gems indeed!

We'd love to have you back! :heart: :056:

[MusicMakesLife]

One thing is for sure T. Petty can write music, but when it comes to likes of snubbing Danny Roberts it tells a tale of the real person I think.
Danny drove you guys to Cali, did someone forget that, oh yes not enough time to get into that "interview"!
Sorry Bono-fitch I didn't have time to get the spelling correct on your name.
Thanks Danny for many years of GREAT music.

[Danny Roberts]

Hey there Guys & Dolls,
I had ordered Tom's new coffee-table offering, "Runnin' Down A Dream", and it sure is big! Chapter One/Escape, has lots of pictures and interviews with everybody. Except you-know-who.....lot's of interviews and pics of Tom Leadon, the guitarist that they'd fired, which led to them asking me to join. I had just done a set at the legendary Gainesville Halloween Ball in front of several thousand people. Just me and a Fender Telecaster (the same Tele that Tom's playing through my amp in that first photo that was posted by Marty Jourard. The band, Tommy Ohmage & the Tornados, was a combination of Mudcrutch and Road Turkey, plus a bunch of friends and family.) Anyway, I'm just coming off the stage as they're bringin' all their gear up to set up and play the next show. Tom stops me, asks me what my name is and asks if I'd like to join their band. I said that I'd be interested, so I stuck around for their set, thinking, 'These guys are pretty good'. There were just the three of them. Tom, Mike and Randall. I was living down in Lakeland, about 120 miles to the south of G'burg. So I start driving up two or three times a week to rehearse. Then, when it was obvious that this was going to be a fun little band, I moved to Gainesville to dive-in and rehearse alot and get the band tight, so that we could start giggin'. We immediately hit it off and start hangin' out every day and night, listening to records and dreaming of being bigger than the Beatles! We started playing all over town at all the little bars, then decided that we needed to take this thing out and start playing some other burgs. This is around the time that Mike Lembo came on-board as our manager, or as he likes to put it ,'the kid with the van'. So we made a live demo and Tom, myself, Keith (our roadie-extraordinaire) and Mike Lembo loaded-up his van and we drove all over Florida, booking gigs anywhere that would have us. We got real good and real tight. Then we started thinking about making a little-better quality demo that we could take out west to try to get a recording contract. And the rest is History. Well, I mean TOM'S version of history. My name is no-where to be found in this new coffee-table book. No picture is anywhere in it either, although they do mention my VW bus several times. Somebody gave me a copy of the DVD-set at a gig I played last night. They said, 'You need to watch the "Mudcrutch" chapter". So, I drove home, smoked a good joint and mixed a good drink, knowing pretty much what I was about to see. Same as the book, really. Although they did include a brief look at the pic from our signing party, the one where Denny Cordell's about to kiss me on the cheek. But they never say who that 21 year-old guy is, never any mention anywhere! All through this section, they're playing snippets of 4 or 5 songs that I played and sang on. They show film of Keith driving my VW bus (I must've been in the back, sleeping after doing a 10-12 hour stint behind the wheel). Lots of shots of the band with Tom Leadon. Lots of interviews with Randall and Tom Leadon. Shots of Keith's dogs that were riding in the back of the truck, all kinds of stuff that I was a part of. Then came the coup de grace (coodeegrah). A big shot of the band in it's prime, it just sits there for about 10 seconds or so. And I HAVE BEEN AIRBRUSHED OUT OF IT!!! Well done, guys. Thanks for the memories.........Danny Roberts, the guy that took Tom Petty on what he called, and I quote; "It was the greatest trip of my life, really." I used to feel the same way, really.

[surfnburn]

Hi Danny, I love your anecdotes… The little personal details make the history interesting. Thanks so much for sharing… I can see you’re still upset about stuff.. I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to make a suggestion. If you really want people to know who you are, you can do it yourself online. I ran Tom Leadon’s name through a search engine and I got this -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Leadon . I couldn’t find anything for your name in Wikipedia. You or someone you know could write an entry. This is a common reference for people searching for information on the internet. I know it’s not popular with everyone, but you might try creating site for your music at myspace.com. You can state your history and upload music files. It might help you feel like you gained some control over your past and promote your music. I think you will realize that official releases by TPATH are not the only sources of information. There are many. I hope this helps you feel a little better.

[Danny Roberts]

You know what? That's one of the first things I did to try to re-claim my place in "infamy". I re-wrote the Wikipedia "Mudcrutch" entry. Thanks fer the idea! I like the way you think!
Sincerely, Danny Roberts

[Pettyjunkie]

I'm so sorry Danny about what they did to you. It's not right. Thanks for your personal recounts of things. I hope you will continue to share them.

[Mudcrutch]

Wikipedia is a great idea. I am active over there if you need any help. The Mudcrutch article is definitely due for an information upgrade.

[Lazlow]

Hi Danny, I love your anecdotes… The little personal details make the history interesting. Thanks so much for sharing… I can see you’re still upset about stuff.. I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to make a suggestion. If you really want people to know who you are, you can do it yourself online. I ran Tom Leadon’s name through a search engine and I got this -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Leadon . I couldn’t find anything for your name in Wikipedia. You or someone you know could write an entry. This is a common reference for people searching for information on the internet. I know it’s not popular with everyone, but you might try creating site for your music at myspace.com. You can state your history and upload music files. It might help you feel like you gained some control over your past and promote your music. I think you will realize that official releases by TPATH are not the only sources of information. There are many. I hope this helps you feel a little better. Nice. Those are all really good ideas. :-)

[Danny Roberts]

Greetings,
I watched the "Mudcrutch" chapter of the new DVD last night and it was weird. They're showing pictures of the band with Leadon, a year and a half before I joined, while the music playing in the background is mostly stuff I played and sang on. They try to tell the story without ever once mentioning my name, although they do refer to my legendary VW bus several times. My sister is in the thing longer than I am, and she's only in it for about 3 or 4 seconds. They've cropped me out of so many shots at gigs, one TV show we did in G'ville, all of the "Home Movie" footage from when we finally moved out west. They got a little sloppy in their effort though, as I appear for a nano-second at about 4 or 5 places, including my reflection in Benmont's reflector-aviator shades. The dogs in the back of the truck got WAY more time than I got. Stranger than fiction!
Bye-bye, DeeArrggghhhh!!!!!

[wild1forever]

^ I wonder if they chose to show Tom Leadon because he is part of the reunited Mudcrutch? This doesn't excuse the revisionist history in any way, but would explain it somewhat.

[emmie]

I don't understand why they are going to all the trouble of cropping only you out and no one else. There has to be some reason for this.

[Danny Roberts]

Emmie,
Tom and I were close, so when I left the band and then wouldn't come back after they called me from Tulsa so many times, it must've hurt Tom's feelings. I wish things weren't this way, but I can't turn back time. That's a 32 year GRUDGE! Or maybe it's because I was so BUTT-UGLY! LOL!
Danny Roberts

[Danny Roberts]

Hey there wild1forever,
You're for the most-part absolutely correct. Aside from the grudge he's been carrying around for all these years, I think it's also a marketing ploy for the soon-to-be-released "Mudcrutch Reunion" CD. In some weird way, it's absolutely brilliant! But it's being done at my expense. OUCH!!!
Sincerely, Danny Roberts

[Mudcrutch]

Hey Danny, hang in there over at Wikipedia. All your edits/additions will be undone unless you cite sources and/or comment on where you are getting your info. Just keep at it :)

[nurktwin]

hey danny, i can understand what you are saying and went through it myself. i never made it big, but i remember those times so clearly. driving to a gig in the afternoons to set up 50 miles away and not having enough money for gas to get there. only to go back at night and play there, then get back home. when i think back about those times, they were scary, but good. i loved it. after thanksgiving dinner my mom brought up old times when me and my bro were kids. i told everyone about the time i played at a place called 'vickie lee's' in salem, ohio. we went to set up in the afternoon, when we got there to play about 8pm til midnight, they had go-go cages on each side of me (drummer in the back). when we started playing the girls got in the cages and danced. what i didn't know til we started was it was a topless bar!!!! so i had a topless woman on each side of me and the rest of the band had to look back! i thought to myself, i want to do this forever.....lol. when the bar closed at 2:30am, the owner came to us and said 'stay and play for another hour for $200 more!!!! that was great at that time and we played and the dancers danced completely nude after the doors were locked. isn't life great?

[Danny Roberts]

Hey nurktwin,
I can relate entirely too-much. The band I was in for three years before I was in "Mudcrutch" was called "Power", yeah, it was a real interesting power trio with a few twists, and we played in Gainesville ALOT, from around 1968 thru 1972, and one of my most memorable gigs was a month-long stint at "Dubs'", a legendary topless bar and restaurant. There were six dancers and we were a trio, so we had our fun. I stayed with one girl the whole month. I was 18 and she was about 23. We named them names like Bubbles and Trixie, etc., etc. One of the highlights of the week was the famous "Miniskirt Contest", where every drunken, horny college-girl that thought she was hot stuff would get in front of a crazed, drunken bunch of both college-kids and drunken locals out fer some dream-theatre and rock music. One night, during the "Miniskirt Contest", with the band having eaten some 'shrooms, there were so many girls sittin' on their boyfriend's shoulders, hangin' on to the frame of those classic bar-room dropped-ceilings, that they pulled it down onto about 800 people! I think the band took a LONG break........

Danny Roberts

[Starfish]

LOL The early years of "Girls Gone Wild!"

[wildgator]

LMAO!!!

[Danny Roberts]

Dear Everybody Who’s Cared Enough To Read My Stories And Write To Me

I just want to let you know that it’s been a blast being able to share my little stories that seem to have something to do with “The History of Gainesville Rock, ver.2”.
I’ve been trying to provide you with little bits of TRUTH about how the little rock band from Gainesville, Florida – Mudcrutch – had their fifteen minutes of life before turning into “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers”. I originally started posting little stories and pictures that might’ve been interesting in a certain movie/coffee-table book that’s come out recently. But because of some ancient and stupid grudge, one so old I doubt even TP himself can hardly remember, unless I slept with somebody’s wife or girl-friend that I can’t remember. I kinda doubt that last scenario. These guys don’t even have it in them to realize that every thing I did from the moment I joined, to the moment I left, was what Webster’s New World Dictionary calls a; Catalyst, one who begins the ‘speeding up or, sometimes, slowing down of a chemical reaction by adding a substance which itself is not changed thereby’. Yeah, Catalyst, it’s got a nice ring to it, plus, I bet you can’t come up with another word that rhymes with ‘Catalyst’. That’s what I want my little ID badge of life to say on it, Danny Roberts, Catalyst.
So, what I’m tryin’ to say is this. Both Chapter One-Mudcrutch, (the coffee-table book) and the DVD/movie release of “Runnin’ Down A Dream”, are blatant and fully intentional, as well as a not very good attempt at, LIES, not so much by what they said or printed, but by what was NOT said or printed. And the poorly done air-brush job on that photo of Mudcrutch that’s in the movie. How does ANYONE explain that. If I was ugly as a billy-goat, I’d understand, but I did alright, if ya know what I mean? I will not be satisfied with any effing balderdash explanation that they’ve talked the movie’s director to issue. I already busted them for even thinkin’ about that! Come on Tom! Stand up for yerself and issue the man that took you on what you called, “the greatest trip of my life, really” a little better explanation than that shite! I won’t back down, either!
For anyone that still cares enough to keep in touch, please feel free to write me at;

To contact click on Danny's name above and SEND AN EMAIL or SEND A PRIVATE MESSAGE

I feel like I’ve gotten to know a bunch of you and that I got to share some of what is, undeniably, my little chunk of Rock ‘n’ Roll History, or at least some good bar-room tales worth a few beers or somethin’, y’know?
Please try to understand where I’m comin’ from, OK?
Bleedin’ Sincerity, Ur Friend, Danny Roberts

[Refugee]

Sometimes silence speaks volumes.

[Mary Jane 49]

I aggree Ref

[HighwayCompanion]

OMG it's about tits?

Dannyu are you playin in the Florida area? Just a question!

[Flower]

ladys cover up^ Guys cover yer eyes

tits?? did I miss something?

[charliesouza]

Hello Danny, I know exactly how you feel man! It's sickly healing for me to hear that there is someone else who is left unrecognized and you of all people should be in there somewhere!. Always an optimist, I still believe Tom will come through for us and acknowlege us, as I am the other guy (not named) (bass player) from Florida who didn't work out. (above):) I was picked up in Tampa by Tom & Mike & the boys and moved to Hollywood with them, right after you left and had the honor of recording the whole Mudcrutch album for Shelter at Leon Russell's expense and I helped add some feel to some of the songs as they were developing in the studio. "Don't do me like That" comes to mind as that was my bass pattern they kept and used when they re-recorded the bass later with Duck Dunn. :) But, the money ran out so I was told and being stranded in Hollywood, I had to look for another gig! It eventually worked out for me and I got to work with many talented and well know music men while in California. So as Tom said to me as I was leaving, I should be grateful that he got me to Hollywood, and I am. And he must know that now, he has a Mudcrutch bass player waiting in the wings for the '08 tour! :) I know how you feel as the whole thing about being left out and not recognized as a Mudcrutch member does still sting a bit for me as well, especially when it would take so little effort to give credit and recognize his fallen soldiers like us. Keep rockin' brother Mudcrutcher! Hey, what's your number, maybe we could do a gig together sometime! :)
Ever forward, Peace, Truth and Love, Charlie Souza http://www.charliesouza.com

[Danny Roberts]

Dear Charlie,

Funny bumpin' into you in this neck of the woulds. You were my idol when I was like 12, maybe 13, when you were playin' with "The Tropics" and you guys did Beatles songs as good as the freakin Fab Four themselves, playin' at the Lakeland Civic Center, with me right up front by the stage. I was just gettin' goin' about that time, so I always looked up to you. Then we started playin' the same circuit when I was in a band called Power, then you and Eric started Bacchus, we kept crossing paths and even playing at the same gigs all over the place. So it KILLED me when I heard you followed in MY footsteps in the whole muddy affair that was Mudcrutch. And by the way, you played on the SECOND Mudcrutch album that never was, as I played on the single that was released with no promotion and even less fan-fare and all the demos that got us there and a whole lotta stuff that's just mold by now, except for the copies of everything we had done up to the day I left. I was the one who got all the rough mixes at the end of sessions, so the night before I left LA, I made a copy of everything that we'd done up to that point, had it hermetically sealed, and buried it somewhere down the road from where I live, which is on Anastasia Island, A1A, close to the 206 bridge which goes over the Intracoastal Waterway, about a mile from where I live, on Cardinal Canal, Treasure Beach, Saint Augustine, Florida. Not to be overly-rectal about it, but I've been doin' my history lessons like never before lately. Anyway, we should get together some time and get shit-faced and talk and listen and laugh a whole lot! I still play, both guitar and bass, some keys, so we should put somethin' together for old times sake. I have a studio here in my home. Really, how weird and funny would THAT be?
I Eed you my #, so feel free to call, I stay up all night, as my wife is a nurse and works all night. Just me and my dog, Stella, a little Jack Russell bitch that's worth about 500 laughs per day. So there, ball's in yer court.
Mo Later, Danny Roberts

[Dynabeat Tim]

Wow this gets better everytime I check it out. Y'know its something if these two could do something, a song or two on my space or something. Even John Lennon's Quarrymen got back together for awhile and did some tours. I wish that these 2 would've been mentioned in the dvd and book too. I know they're in the playback book, and I don't understand why they were left out of the movie. But even if TP would say something they aren't going to re-cut the movie or rewrite the book, which is sad. Maybe when Tom does an interview on line again, some fan will ask him. Hang in there Danny. Charlie I can't believe you're with Dino and Gene. Far Out ! Dino is like one of the best 60's drummers around !!!! I saw him and Gene in Toledo a few years ago and they were fantastic !! Were you there ? My oldies group just learnt "Good Lovin" " the other day and the drummer was really going crazy trying to do Dino's part !! I got both of their autograph's in Toledo when they played. And Gene is so underated as a gtr player and singer in that band ! This is sooooooooo coool !!!!! Wow you really did well Charlie.

[Marion]

Welcome to the Farm Charlie! Hey, if you guys put something together let us know if you're gonna play some place locally. It would be fun to come watch you. I have a terrible time finding a decent club where they play good old rock and roll in the Tampa area.

[WildflowerNJ]

Hey, Welcome to the Farm, Charlie.....:006:

[Danny Roberts]

Hey There Ladys & Germs,
I called Charlie a while ago and talked to the man who I hadn't talked with in like 35 years! He really was my idol when I was just a kid startin' out on bass with my first band, "the Mimix". He's the guy I could go down-town and watch up-close and personal and see just how cool it was to be a bass player! So when I learned that he'd taken my place in Mudcrutch, it nearly cracked me up! I always wanted to talk to him, but as far as I knew, he was still out in California, until I found out he was back in Tampa about a year ago, but my life was such a big medical mess that I didn't feel much like talkin' to too many people, unless it was absolutely necessary! So, we talked for a while and are gonna work something out to get together some time soon. I've got a studio in my house and some new tunes kinda very-much relating to this whole thang, so stay tuned! Strange how things happen sometimes, eh?
Mo Later, DeeArrggghhhh!!!!!

[Flower]

Welcome to the farm Charlie. Danny it's good to see your happy:041:

[Starfish]

:) Welcome, Charlie!

[Echosoftom]

Wow! You guys in the Florida area are so lucky. You could possibly see these two guys play together. How cool would that be?! :cool:

Welcome to the farm Charlie! :)

[Ladywiz]

A quote from Tom's interview with Warren Zanes on tompetty.com:

TP: I think this is the one and only time we’ve gotten together and reflected on the whole thing. You’re right--the pace is always pretty maddening, doesn’t allow for taking stock. So, to have this much of an opportunity for reflection is a pretty big deal. Mike was very moved. He was emotional about it, you know? He said to me, “Wow. This really pulls at your heart strings at certain moments.” For us, as a band watching this together, there are a lot of faces, people that you forget about who were actually a big part of things in one period or another. But there have been so many people involved that it’s easy to lose track. But there they all were, parading before us (laughs).

[Danny Roberts]

Alright, first thing everybody, me included, and now Charlie Souza as well, should read and arrive at their own view as to how it applies to my/our lil saga and occasional rants, of which there will be no more, and I effin' PROMISE as much now, cross my heart. Me and Charlie Souza, the guy I looked up to as a young’n, have been swapping songs over the www for the last coupla days and are puttin’ a lil band together over the coming weeks, with a certain drummer you know and love, so, that much, at the very least, has come outa this on a most positive level, again, one I never saw comin’ out of left-center field, y’know? So please forgive me of my sins or anything remotely close to ‘em, as this was and remains the most direct way of bouncing thoughts, ideas, memories, and, hopefully, the truth off of what I’ve found to be, a very interesting and diverse bunch of, as the bumblin' Dubyah would say, Folks, yep, folks. And that’s alright wit me and I hope it is wit U 2.
Thank you very much for yer time and understanding & patience. I know I can be a bit much some times, but it comes with and from the experiences I’ve partaken there-of, OK?

Most Sincerely, and I mean that, Danny Roberts (formerly of Mudcrutch)

[Refugee]

Danny, I hope you, Mr. Souza and that certain drummer have a great time making people happy with your music. I look forward to hearing more about this "new" band. :)

[Danny Roberts]

Hey Refugee, Guess Who The Drummer Is?
Danny Arrggghhhh!!!

[Danny Mac]

Get Jeff Simms and Greg McMillion (Bass) and you could have a kinda revision of
the Dixie Desperados.

[Pankie]

Hey Refugee, Guess Who The Drummer Is?
Danny Arrggghhhh!!!


Stan?

[wild1forever]

Thank you very much for yer time and understanding & patience.
I know I can be a bit much some times, but it comes with and from the experiences I’ve partaken there-of, OK?

Danny, it has been such a pleasure to read your posts! I look forward to hearing more about this band as well, and I also suspect that Stan is the mystery drummer. :)

[AmyLou]

NOw this is getting interesting.. keep us posted, Marion and I need a lil' road trip anyways!

[surfnburn]

If Stan joins you, you should call the band The Heartcrutchers...lol (Okay Marion...I said it...lol)

[PumpkinBumpkin]

^haha nice. :003:

Good luck to you Danny! :)

[Danny Roberts]

Yes, Me (Gtr., Bass & Keys+Vocals), Stan (Drums & Gtr. + Vocals) and Charlie (Bass + Vocals) R gonna B "The Mudbreakers"
Mo Later, DeeArrggghhhh!!!!!

[Relic]

I have to hear this :)

Oh yea!

[PumpkinBumpkin]

Awesome news! :)

[Raelin]

Alright!! I sure would love to hear this!!:)

[nurktwin]

danny, you need a logo. get a pix of cracked dry mud, shape it into a heart and stick a guitar through it......lol.

[WildflowerNJ]

This is so cool!! I hope you guys do come up to NY and play....good luck, Danny and band!

[AmyLou]

Party at my house!!!!!!!!! :) you guys need an excuse to visit anyways!

[Dynabeat Tim]

That is so neat. I've always thought Stan had a good voice and should be singing more leads ! He's a great harmony guy too. Wish I lived in Fla and could jam with ya ! Its cool to think it all came together before all of us here at the farm ! What style are you doing ? I know Stan did a great version of the count 5 song.....is it going to be sixties based music ? Stan is such a great drummer, I hope this works out for all of you !

[Pettyjunkie]

That is awesome! The Mudbreakers LOL

[Danny Roberts]

Ladies & Germs, as it were, if U will,
We're gonna start recording mid-week, hopefully, so be lookin' fer sumpin' soon, so many new tunes have been flyin' thru the atmosphere lately, it's like they're just pouring out non-stop fer days & days, so quite a bit of fresh produce jes ripe 4 the pickin'! Can't hardly wait! Might blow-up real good, or sumpin' fierce, but IT'S ALL GOOD 4 once, knock on berylium! I'ze will keep U posted, fer sure. Have fun!
Sincerely, and I Really Mean That, I'm Like Serious, Y'know?!? DeeArrggghhhh!!!!!

[Lindorie]

Great news, lol ;D

[surfnburn]

Yay Danny....I'm glad things are working out, and you're doing some positive and creative stuff... You should register your band's domain name...quick...

[Danny Roberts]

Yeah, surfnburn, the first thang we did was get both themudbreakers.com and then mudbreakers.com and then I filed a copyright on the logo I designed, so everything's all nice and tidy. Things are really looking so completely cool, it's like I've got to pinch myself every so often as this is a complete turn-around, so completely positive. I've written 5 new songs in the last week, and they're some of the best stuff I've ever written. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the diversity and volume of material we'll be in command of. All I can say is; "Bring it on!" LOLOLA!!!! I really want to thank ya'll for your support, patience and understanding throughout this whole not-so long and strange trip!!! This is gonna be FUN!!!
Most Humbly Yours, Danny Roberts

[Flower]

Danny , it's good to see you chipper :045:

[nurktwin]

good luck danny, i'm behind you 100%.

[Dynabeat Tim]

wow..Danny what a turn a round !! If you read his first posts and then the last...wow..right here before our eyes !! I'm happy for ya ! Isn't music so cool !
the great healer !!!!!

[CcB]

Danny, Great news on this endeavor... MUDBREAKERS! Holy shitavos!

Talked w/Charlie and he's game for L-town April....Get back....soon on cost etc. This is gonna be a fine affair 30 plus years in the making.

cCb

[frank everett]

every musician has that "dream" some live to fulfill it, others die chasing it. i'm very happy for you danny, just don't forget us that are still chasing it. your friends always have and always will continue to support your endeavors. good luck with the "mudbreakers" (although i think you need to cut ties with that name). hope we can pull off an event here in L's-ville in april. me, johnny,larry, jim and doc will open for ya :) later...................f.e

[Echosoftom]

Wow! Sounds like some great things might be happening in Florida real soon. :)

[Danny Roberts]

Good evening, er morning, Ladies & Germans,
It's been a while since I last checked-in, as things have been pretty busy since I last dropped in. Charlie Souza made the trip last weekend from Redington Beach, which is over on the Gulf-side of the Sunshine State, in the Tampa Bay area, all the way up here to our nation's oldest city (1565), Saint Augustine, which is about 35 miles south of Jacksonville. I live on Anastasia Island, in a little area called Treasure Beach. It is a very cool little city, with lots of touristas visiting from all over the globe, so it's got a bit of an international feel to it. I spent about 10 years sailing all over the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, visiting probably 60 different islands and about 20 different countries, so when I came back here, I realized that this was one of those cities that people travel to from all over the world, and for good reason. This place is just dripping history and vibes from the different settlers and conquerers, those being the Spaniards, the British and the French. And we had a large Native American culture around here too, so you throw all those together at one time or another and you got yourself some historic vibes flyin' all around the place!
So anyway, Charlie arrived and we did the male-bonding thing for a few minutes, but the talk quickly turned to what brought us together, which was the fact that he was the next bass-player to follow me into the old teen-combo with the truly funky name of "Mudcrutch". Turns-out that he heard absolutely nothin' about me from Tom, Mike, Randall or Benmont, so I must've been on their shit-list from the day I left and apparently will forever be. Kay-sarah-sarah, or whatever will B will B Will B until everybody forgets why whatever it was that happened, happened. But we did a lot of self-analysis, trying to make sense out of something that happened so very long ago, that which, for some reason, somebody decided to cut into some very old and thick scar-tissue. I've got to say that I'm about over any sort of hurt feelings I had initially, to the extent that it's been an almost cathartic event, one that was so very-much needed, as painful as the process was. I want to thank everybody that watched and read my rants, as well as my stories, and helped me to get through what was a very trying experience. I'll never really understand why it was necessary to initiate, but I'm now downright thankful for the inspiration and motivation, as the whole thing has served as an impetus to make some serious efforts at taking some big steps toward something I've needed to do for a long time, and that is; to get serious about my music for the first time in a LONG time. I've written 16 new songs since this all started. I can't finish one song without another popping-up in the middle of another one. It's like somebody reached out and pulled a big cork out of the 'Lyrics' section of my brain, as they are pouring out almost non-stop. I've had days recently where everything I say for the entire day comes out in words and melody. I can't write it down fast enough! I guess I've been suppressing this stuff ever since I left THAT BAND. So, now I've got to make-up for a LOT of wasted and mis-directed time and energy. The only negative that came out of this is that Stan pulled a "Stanley" and bailed on the idea, wanting to maintain a low-key kinda thing for now, which is fine, as he's doing the same thing that I did a few years-ago, and that's helping his mom and dad through the twilight years, through a lot of personal stuff that takes a lot out of one's mind, body and spirit. So, good luck Stanley! Hope you can be strong for your folks. We'll say a little prayer.
But getting back to the good stuff, Charlie played a gig with the incredible kid I've been playing with recently, the 13 year-old prodigy that is Conrad Oberg. You can find lots of stuff, including recent live-video on youtube and myspace. Charlie sat in the whole gig and pulled it off like the seasoned pro that he is. Conrad keeps you on your toes, as he's 85% blind, yet he's always giving cues about dynamics and stops and starts. He's gonna be HUGE, and probably fairly soon. I played with Derek Trucks for 2 years and Conrad is gonna be at least THAT good, as he sings, plays keyboards (since the age of two!) and plays guitar like Hendrix/SRV, including all the showman-type moves and having a great rapport with the crowd. The crowds just love him, with the vast majority realizing that they are witnessing something truly special. One night a few weeks-ago, a family brought their 16 year-old daughter, who was totally blind, they brought her to the gig and she was dancing right in front of Conrad and a couple times she would reach out and feel Conrad's face to see what he looked like while he was in the middle of a solo! She was very pretty and asked if she could sing a song with us, which took a lot of nerve. But she got through the song, a little nervously, but she could sing, and it was one of those down-right spiritual moments you don't see that often. Every night with Conrad is like that. He's absolutely brilliant! We have these conversations that just make it so obvious that the kid is a true genius! We're playing up in Jacksonville tomorrow night, at a place called the Mojo Kitchen, a real-nice blues club in J'ville. Unfortunately, Charlie has family coming into town this weekend, so we're doing it three-piece, but we'll still be having a LARGE time.
But, getting back to the new songs and stuff, we're in the process of choosing our drummer, got several that we'll be trying-out here in my studio, and I'm gettin' a coupla other players involved, as I want to be able to make a LARGE racket! So, I've been slaving away, playing most everything mice elf on the demos, so other players can take the basic ideas and run with 'em. Including the 16 new songs, I've got around 50 to 70 tunes I'm working on, so there will be enough to start throwing 'em up against the wall to see what sticks. So keep yer ear to the ground, as stuff will probably be appearing briefly on our web-site soon. I'm also about 40-50 pages into a book(let) that'll be released with the first CD offering from the new teen-combo, "The MUDBREAKERS". It'll have a lot of the stories I've shared with you here, as well as a bunch more funny and interesting tales, but it will also have Charlie's take on things, so this could be interesting, as well as entertaining. I'll post a coupla tunes sometime next week for a coupla days and tell anyone who might be interested to check it out, as I'll only leave them up for a coupla days. So, like I said, keep yer ear to the ground and tell yer friends, go wake the neighbors, whisper it to yer significant other during your most intimate moments.........well, maybe that would be truly inappropriate. But, just in case you missed it the first time, thanks for your time, patience understanding and caring. You people mean a lot to me, so Bless yer pointed little heads.
Sincereously Yerz, Danny Roberts (The MUDBREAKERS)

PS - Another plus from all this, I've lost 24 pounds since this all began!

[Marion]

Hi Danny!

Glad to see you are still plugging away. Sorry about Stan but sounds like you are still on a high anyway. It sounds like this whole thing turned out to be a very positive thing for you. I look forward to hearing your music.

[WildflowerNJ]

Hi, Danny....:006:

I am sorry to hear about Stan, too....I will be looking forward to hearing your music, thank you....

[bons]

danny ~ sure have enjoyed reading this thread...
god, it would be so great to hear some of the new
stuff you're doing!!!! imagine the caribbean blue waters
were very inspiring!!!!

[normandi]

wow... that was some thread. I myself have really wanted to know just what went wrong or what the grudge is for such an effort to be undertaken to take someone out of the story. I posted a pretty bad attempt at a satirical swipe at the issue over at the official bbs yesterday... BUT I do have to say that I believe that trying to look inside the relationships of a band from the outside is like trying to look inside a marriage from the outside. The only people who know are the people in the relationship and it is hard enough being completely honest with yourself about your part in a relationship much less your partner or the outside world. i also think that for a lot of people the intimacy within the creative relationship that musicians share together in writing, playing, and singing is in many ways even MORE intimate than the lives that they share with their spouses or lovers. So in all honesty trying to understand what went wrong or sideways between those involved and the depth of those feelings may not be possible for any of us who were not a part of it. I am not justifying nor attacking what has happened. I am just saying that unless you were a part of the relationship then you can only guess what the truth is. And that guess will always be a little wrong if all we hear is one side. I am not suggesting that Danny is not telling the truth. It certainly sounds like he is. But it is his truth and his side only. There is always another side. It is sadly fascinating because we all love the band and we have our favorite individuals who make up this band... and we certainly that there were no casualties related to this band and music that we love. I think John Lennon said once, "You have to be a bastard to succeed in the music business and the Beatles were the biggest bastards in the world." I believe there is a lot of truth to that statement. To achieve a dream like they had takes such a level of commitment and desire to let nothing stand in your way that there will always be casualties. I do think that the story of Danny's involvement with Mudcrutch should have been presented and the story told. I do not buy the statement that Bogdanovich made and felt he was only covering up something. I only hope that all involved can find their peace within themselves and that Danny keeps on this track of newly found inspiration and brings that music out.

[Wildflower]

Thanks, normandi. That´s exactelly what I thought and couldn´t put into words.:045:

[Danny Roberts]

Hey there Normandi,
I can't tell you how much it blows my mind that some people put such effort and caring into trying to figure out what I really haven't been able 2 completely figure out mice-elf 4 years. And I truly agree with you & others that have posted here on the same subject, that being that you guys are only getting one side of a multi-faceted set of circumstances, with that one side being my own. But that's the only one I've got, so I have 2 run with it and not away from it, as it absolutely blind-sided me after so many years and all I could ask was - why??? I almost died from deep-vein thrombosis about two &1/2 years-ago, so ever since, I've been working on my recovery, as it knocks U on yer ass REAL HARD. So, I've been dealing with about all I could deal with, but then THIS CRAP slammed me in the face when I wasn't even aware of it. I found out about it by accident (thanks Google) and could've probably dealt with all of it by laughing at it all, but to see the effort that they so obviously put into completely erasing any trace of my participation, well, I just could not remain silent. I wrote an "Open Letter To Tom Petty, Tony Dimitriades and Peter Bogdonavoch", which I faxed to them all, thinking I'd get some response from TP or his management, but they're just hoping that I'll shut-up and go away. But, until they give me and their fans an explanation, I will NOT go away. As of 2day, almost 6-thousand people have read the article on this web-site alone, plus it ran in a number of newspapers around the country and the world. I've received E-mails from all over the world from people, people who've helped me make it through all this at times when I truly didn't know if I could carry-on, 'cuz it hurt SO BAD! And it had 2 happen SO many years later that I just can't understand why he/they would go 2 this much trouble 2 make me feel/look so bad 2 the entire freakin' world. I didn't sleep with anybody's wife or girlfriend or daughter, or farm-animal, didn't do anybody any physical-harm and certainly didn't make-off with a pile of anyone's cash. All I did was leave their band, get out of Tom's way, and then wouldn't come-back when they called me repeatedly asking me 2 return. They went on 2 become one of the greatest bands in the world, so I obviously didn't impede their progress very-much, although I sang harmony better than anyone has since. So, yer guess is as good as mine. There WAS one incident years-ago that I'll always wonder about whether or not it has anything 2 do with all this.
About 20 years ago, I was co-producing an artist named Rick Christian, a really great singer/songwriter from Memphis. We were recording at the then-newly re-opened Capricorn Studios for Phil Walden in Macon, Georgia. We got an invite to this big "Rock & Roll Bowling Party" that a prominent management 'dood' named John Scott (I think) held every year. So me and Rick walk in, and it's like a who's who of the L.A. Rock Scene, with rockers everywhere in various states of dis-repair. It was like comedy-bowling, with people forgetting 2 release the ball and falling on their faces/asses everywhere! We were working our way through the rather congested traffic inside, when lo & behold, here comes Tom, walking straight at me, not looking where he was going. So we walk right up 2 each other, literally face-2-face, so I say "Hey there Tom, how ya doin'?" He then throws his arms up in front of his face and starts yelling "No pictures, no pictures, no pictures!" He never once looked at me and ran-off in the opposite direction. Me and Rick stopped and doubled-over, laughing hysterically, not believing what had just happened, which a lot of people saw! Mike, Benmont, Ron and Stan were sitting at a bowling lane about 30 feet away and saw the whole thing. Benmont came and got me, so we went over 2 where they were sitting, while Mike went and got Tom. Tom and Mike didn't return for about 10 minutes and when they did, Tom looked REALLY-stoned and REALLY embarrassed. He couldn't/wouldn't even look me in the eye! So I was still having a hard time suppressing my own laughter, but I tried making small-talk, saying something like "Gosh, it sure is great 2 see everybody", while still laughing my ass off. It felt REALLY uncomfortable, so I said, "Well, it's been great 2 C U guys, but I've gotta go have several cocktails, so Buh'bye", and walked away, still laughing my ass off. Hell, I didn't even have a freakin' CAMERA!!! So, I can't help but wonder if Tom holds my laughing at him that night against me, y'know? That was a scene from MY movie. And it REALLY happened. If I'm lyin', I'm dyin'!
Anyway, thanks 2 everybody 4 yer support and understanding, as this has turned into a Blessing in Disguise. It's like somebody grabbed me by the heart and screamed 'Release the hounds!' And them dogs are runnin' wild and I can't stop 'em now, they're diggin' up bones I didn't even realize were right there in my own back-yard! So don't anybody waste any pity or sympathy on DeeArrggghhhh!!!!! I'm 2 busy tryin' 2 figure out how 2 make my days about 12-hours longer, as there just isn't enough time 2 do everything that's happenin' inside my heart and my skull! Thanks and God Bless Ya'll, er Yawl, er Yeoghwlgh!
Mo Later, Danny Roberts

[bartowbill]

just read this thread and a GREAT TIME WARP--I booked the MIMIX when danny was the county jr hi shot put chunker for crystal lake jr... booked his borther's band the entiers when danny was playing an 8 string bass, first i ever saw and a nice 'cop' of the boxtops bass solo.. also booked charlie's band the tropics .. don hannah and rat rhodes and danny as POWER andthey we the STUFF

next thing you know we will find out why cale payne at the factory could not handle danny and tom, heehee... but anyway, BRUCE AND BETH PETTY are still acquaintances and while it may seem 'danny is grousing to some', i for one belive him 100% lock stock and barrell and he is a legendary polk county player.. lastly, a guy named CRAIG HULL who was with the other side and later danny korchmar on kim carnes stuff was about as smooth as it got , but most all the locals 'leaned chops' from danny's buddy dumptruck don hannah including larry byrwald, jay locke , and dudek... DANNY a real treat to see you still puilling air and if CHARLIE SOUZA drops by , sorry i cant be at phil's on the 9th for thre tropics gig as doing the kiri te kanawa show that night/bummer

[bartowbill]

ENTICERS not entiers

[LizzieB]

Wow, I totally missed this thread when I was so busy at work in November. What an interesting read.

I know it started with a lot of hurt feelings, but it's wonderful to read it through and see the tranformation and good coming out of a bad situation. All I can say is our history makes us what we are, whether you're Tom Petty or Danny Roberts. Since this particular pain has led to a release of creativity, I guess you just have to embrace it and be thankful, even though it was painful. I'm just glad for you, Danny, that fate brought you and Charlie together in this way, that it's been so good for you both, and that we all got to witness it in part. Thanks so much for sharing. And I really love the music you've put up on MySpace.

And for Stan, I hope that he eventually finds his peace. Many of us certainly do love Stan and I for one miss him terribly and would so love to hear him play again. I hope that happens someday. And I hope for the best with his situation with his folks. It must be a very hard time, but I'm glad he's able to take care of his parents when they need him most.

[Marion]

Very well said Lizzie. I agree with you totally. I need to check out that myspace page!

[WildflowerNJ]

I agree, too, Liz....and I have to go check the myspace, too....