Devils & Blue Dresses: My Wild Ride as a Rock and Roll Legend

Thompson, woke me up early on a Sunday to say we had reservations at a very private and exclusive golf course near Frankfurt, I bitched because I was still drunk from the night before. But, Neil assured me I would enjoy this. I asked how we could pay for such an expensive outing and he said, “Don’t worry, just come down to the lobby.” I arrived at the lobby and out front was a huge Mercedes limousine. I again asked what was going on and Neil again said, “Don’t worry.” When we arrived at the clubhouse the limo came to a stop and the driver rolled down the windows to the back. A man stuck his head in and said, “Welcome to our course. You will find everything you need in the clubhouse.” He was the owner of the golf course, and, as promised, we found everything from clothes to clubs. We got a cart and proceeded to play golf. At every green a uniformed servant came out to supply us with drinks. After the first nine we were getting tanked and there were more divots than an army of gophers could have created. We were playing so slowly that a Japanese foursome played through. After eighteen we went back to the clubhouse, showered and dressed. I again asked, “What the fuck is going on?” Neil again said, “Don’t worry about it.” As we were leaving in the limo to go back to our cheap little hotel the driver again stopped and rolled down the windows. The same head popped in again and said, “Thank you for coming, Mr. Diamond.”
    The Diamonds: Another chance to be on a stage with one of my early memories. But much larger and more important was the fact that when I was in the fifth or sixthgrade I was entranced with their recording of “Little Darling.” One morning before leaving for school my mother took off her wedding ring and put it on the windowsill. I pocketed her ring, and hummed the words to the song all the way to school. I couldn’t wait to give my girlfriend the ring. My girl was an army brat. I knew she and her family were moving away, and I wanted her know how devoted I would always remain to her. Two days later her family moved and we never got the ring back. Mom frantically searched all over the house for the ring. I could have redeemed myself and told Mom I took it, but I never did. I felt guilty, but I was in love. I still feel that guilt and shame now, even though Mom passed long ago.
    Bo Diddley: Other than what I have previously written, was my amazement at his ability to walk after having been shot in the leg by one of his girlfriends while onstage.
    Dino, Desi and Billy: It was one of the first Dick Clark appearances we did with the Wheels and I remember thinking how unfair it was for people to get breaks in showbiz because of who their parents were. I was still naïve, but not respectful enough to keep from blowing them off the stage.
    Dr. John: After “Dr. John, The Night Tripper” I was a fan for life. I finally met him at a gig in Ann Arbor that I attended with John Sinclair. Dr. John gave a walking stick to John Sinclair, and it was a walking stick that, for many reasons John Sinclair cherished. One of the band members from the group Detroit stole it and Sinclair was understandably very angry.
    The Doobie Brothers: Michael McDonald was the only Doobie Brother I got to meet. We met in North Carolina at a hotel where we were both staying. Michael McDonald, the late Robert Palmer, Stevie Winwood, Delbert McClinton, Elton John, The Righteous Brothers, Paul Rodgers, and a very few others fit into that category of white boys who actually comprehend R&B and blues and execute it with conviction and credibility. There may be more . . . I’m simply talking about the ones I am aware of.
    The Doors: Even though I did attend a few of their concerts and made the pilgrimage to Jim Morrison’s grave in Paris, I’ve only spoken to Ray Manzerak. It was around the time he finished his first book about The Doors, and I think I scared him off when I changed the subject of our conversation from music to personal relationships. More specifically, I wanted his advice about some marital problems I was having.
    Bob Dylan: When I first played his acoustic stuff for the Wheels, the only one who ventured to listen was Jimmy McCarty. He held some reservations, but Jimmy was a true musician and would sample anything out there. As far as meeting Bob Dylan, sorry. The closest I got was the control room as he recorded. But, he set a standard in writingthat no other American or British musician or