"Jeff Daniels(Actor) Duane Thomas(Musician) La Grizzy(Videographer) George Bedard(Rock-a-billy Guitarist) Elvis Presley(The KING)"

It seemed to be the place for a muggy Friday evening in late July. Downtown Chelsea Michigan was abuzz with celebration Friday night. The home of Jeff Daniels, Ted Nugnet and Jiffy Muffin and Cake Mixes, only in small town America could you perhaps find such a variety just strolling the streets during a Summerfest. Jeff Daniels, the "Dumb and Dumber" and "Super Sucker" actor whose hometown is Chelsea was there, casually talking to passersby who generally just leave him alone. His Purple Rose Theatre was just around the block where he and his wife parked his motorcyle. As he slowly passed us, he turned and waved a salute "hi" to us and grabbed a beer in the tent, stopping for La Grizzy to take a photo. He is also one of my 'myspacerfriends'. Add him to your space, and tell him "Hurricane" Duane sent you!

The Summerfest celebration was in full swing with street booths and a Classic Car Show. So La Grizzy, MYSPACE/Entertainment and CMA Videographer, was sitting perched with this author on a crooked bench waiting for the 7:00 performance by local favorites George Bedard and the Kingpins, probably closest sounding group to the Stray Cats you will ever hear. George is a hell of a guitar player. The crowd grew from a few to more than that, and "PAWS for a Cause" adoptive dogs in training passed single file thru the crowd on the borders of the tent. A great thing they're doing, training leader dogs.

George was in fine form playing everything from Rock-a-Billy- to R & B and '50's rock and roll. We enjoyed it, and Jeff was on his feet as well enjoying the music. Jeff besides being a fine actor and local activist and town-supporter, is also a great musician and singer. He's just not well known for it except to those of us that knows he plays. About half-way thru George's version of "California Sun", I nudged La Grizzy. Bothered somewhat that I disturbed her filming, I pointed out a tall man with jet black hair and long tailored sideburns, sunglasses, jewelry and a red shirt unbuttoned down the front. "What ?!" she said to me somewhat annoyed. Nothing different there. She sometimes gets annoyed at me. "There's Elvis!" I said pointing to the tall man moving along the edge of the crowd. Hey! Elvis has been seen before by people who didnt believe it, and I know he's supposed to be dead but....if it looks like Elvis...walks like Elvis...dresses like Elvis...well then? It must BE Elvis.

She knew Jeff was there, and George was there, and probably somewhere in there was Ted Nugent, another local resident. Its known by us locals that where there is a black Corvette, Jeep Renegade or Humvie with all tinted windows...Ted's in town. But this was good enough. 1st George, then Jeff and then Elvis. Now I know why she carries her video camera almost everywhere we go. She hardly misses a thing. And she's getting very good at what she does. Spyder Turner Live, the Spinners Live, Clay Aiken Live, Dr John, Marcia Ball, many others and Jeff Daniels...and now she gets to film Elvis. What a coup! So what if he's dead!? As Jeff and his wife were leaving, and George was finishing his set with the Kingpins, storm clouds were brewing to the Northwest of town, not unusual for this time of year in Michigan. As drops of rain started to hit the camera lens, we decided George was finishing, and Jeff was leaving, so we might as well hit the road ourselves. Stopping on Main Street to film a slow procession of Classic Cars, Jeff passed us on his bike waving as he headed south out of town towards his home.

The rain picked up some, and we hightailed it for the car just in time. Traffic was snarled, but that was going thru town, and we were going out of it, so I patched out North and East towards the railroad tracks and Ann Arbor. It was a great night, Warm, fun, a little humid, with great folks, and great music in a fine little farm town. Whether it's Ann Arbors Top of the Park Concerts, Dexter Days or Chelsea Summerfest, it's always nice to just go and 'be' normal for awhile. As we passed thru the Chelsea's Northend...if you could call it that, I looked back at the crowds traveling up and down the streets. Perhaps, like Jeff and us, they were heading home to beat the rain, or maybe just going along to find a seat for the next entertainer in the beer tent. It didn't matter. This was home to all, and this was small town America . As I took the turn out of town, La Grizzy turned to me and asked if I thought that tall sunglassed man was really Elvis. Hey. That was really Jeff Daniels, for sure George Bedard and his Kingpins, so why not Elvis? Just because this was a small town, that never stopped Ted Nugent from blasting down the streets either. So, why not Elvis?

In big towns and cities, people move so fast, they pay no mind if they see a big Hollywood actor like Jeff, or rocker like Ted, or George Bedard. They don't even pay attention when someone like LA is filming. They just keep moving along with blinders on. Still, I can understand her wondering if it could've really been the KING or not. But here in small town Michigan on a warm and muggy Friday night of summer...if it walks like him....looks like him....acts like him....it MUST BE Elvis!

It was great to see you both Jeff and George. Oh...and you too Mr. Presley ("Thank you very much!")
*Special Thanks: Team Detroit, Matt-Dog, the Hurricane Shelter, LA Grizzy, Sonja Paris, Larry Patterson and Treasure Island Gold, Ralph Terrana and Soulful Detroit Forum, and "Lucky" the Wonder Dog!

"1967 Summer of Love/Motor City's Burning Revisited"

It's a contradiction in terms my brothers and sisters. This week brings the 40 anniversary of the both the Summer of Love and the '67 Detroit Riots, started when a few White Police officers raided and after hours 'blind pig' owned and operated in the black community. While in San Francisco, Laural Canyon and Ann Arbor, the hippies where preaching harmony, in Detroit we were putting out fires. Some have never gone out.

There I was, driving into the black neighborhood to pick up my black lead singer(s) for band practice and they would have to lay down in the back seat till we got to my all white and then racially segregated suburb of Detroit. Talk was "if them riot boys (blacks)cross over Southfield road...we'll (white boys)be waiting for 'em to drive 'em back (by shooting them)". How crazy was that! Here was Peace and Love and Monterey Pop, counterculture and drug experimentation, Viet Nam protests, and ongoing civil rights demonstrations... and Ravi Shankar.

I myself joined the MC5 and John Sinclair as a member of the White Panther Party, and sat to listen to Reverend John J. Crawford ask..."You have 2 things to decide Brothers and Sisters! Are you gonna be the PROBLEM...or are you gonna be the SOLUTION? The choice is yours!" I chose the later, and still consider myself a child of the sixties and peace and love. Whereas Detroit has never really recovered with still many burned out homes and delapidated houses and neighborhoods, the "Flower Children" are still here. Older, wiser, but more committed than ever. Both instances changed the world, and the music reflected that.

Below, I've listed some music and groups that either were born of the generation, or formed it. Either out of changing times and revolution, or by experimentation and freedom of expression. Both, were valid. And it changed our world forever for the better.

From the Top Ten of '67
The Beatles, "Penny Lane" b/w "Strawberry Fields Forever",
Aretha Franklin, "Respect",
The Rolling Stones, "Let's Spend the Night Together" b/w "Ruby Tuesday",
The Who, "I Can See For Miles",
Jackie Wilson, "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher",
Sam and Dave, "Soul Man",
The Doors, "Light My Fire",
The Buffalo Springfield, "For What It's Worth",
Procol Harum, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale",
Otis Redding, "Try A Little Tenderness",
Sgt Pepper-Beatles,
Days of Future Passed-Moody Blues,
Are you Experienced?-Jimi Hendrix

We were introduced to the music of the Ravi Shankar, Beatles, Byrds, the Four Tops, the Doors, Donovan, James Brown, the Who, Monterey Pop, Mothers of Invention, McCoy Tyner, the Yardbirds, Beach Boys, Moby Grape, Love, Aretha Franklin, Richie Havens, Jefferson Airplane, Easy Beats, Monkees, Hollies, Left Bank, Velvet Underground, Tangerine Dream, Sam & Dave, Supremes, Otis Redding, Pink Floyd, Scott Walker, Wilson Pickett, Rolling Stones, Cream, Buffalo Springfield, Captain Beefheart, Traffic, Janis Joplin, Country Joe & the Fish, Joan Baez, Tim Hardin, Moody Blues, Procol Harum, Tim Buckly, Bob Dylan, Incredible String Band, Arlo Guthrie, Small Face, Jeff Beck, Soft Machine, Dan Hicks, Roland Kirk, Archie Shepp, Phil Ochs, The Electric Prunes, Charlie Musselwhite, Commander Cody.

It was an amazing time on both fronts. The fires in Detroit smoldered into history, as the fire on Hendrix's Stratocastor at Monterey Pop burned bright. Both events left people in attendance in awe. No one had seen anything like that before, and probably not since. It was changing times, and for the most part, dawn of a new day and a newer generation. The kids today have no concept of what we went through in the "Summer of Love" while the Detroit Riots had the "Motor City Burnin'". As we banded together into new groups of Hippies and White and Black Panthers, we all learned to recycle by reading Mother Earth News. Sure, we segregated into our little groups of war protesters and draft dodgers, soldiers and revolutionaries, but we all were getting the same message. The more we pulled apart, we began to see a common need to unite. And, it's still happening now. Even though it's taken some 40 years, it may still take awhile longer to get it together in harmony and peace.

So, remember those who made the music that changed the world, who fought and loved, grew and protested, so you could have the life you enjoy now. "Come on people now...smile on your Brother! Everybody get together...and Love one another... right now!" (Buffalo Springfield)

Love, Peace 'n Light friends. Ohm.........Ohm.............Ohm......................

*Special Thanks: Team Detroit, Hurricane Shelter, La Grizzy, Sonja Paris, Larry Patterson & Treasure Island Gold, Ralph Terrana & Soulful Detroit Forums, and of course...."Lucky" the Wonder Dog!
email me at: duanethomas@johnnyandthehurricanes.com

"Death of the Warrior, brings Life to the Tribe"

R.I.P. Pastor Jack. After he suddenly passed away, 21 people laid their hands on him in the emergency room for two hours, even though he was already gone. They would not leave. Though there was a few tears at his wake Friday evening, none came from his wife Pastor Melinda. In fact, all during the 2 hour memorial of testimonies and video taped songs with Pastor Jack and his guitar, she paced back and forth in front of his casket, smiling, and hugging all of those crying. No handshaking or condolences were necessary in greetings. "We hug here" Melinda told me back when I first met her. She said out loud during the wake, "I dont want any sympathy cards! I want CELEBRATION cards! I'm just a little miffed that he left me here, and he got to go!" I thought, "This is going to be some wake". And it was.

Warrior Ministries is as unique as Pastor Jack was. Motorcyclists riding for Jesus, the CMA (Christian Motorcylce Association), was how he started. Big, bad biker dudes and dudettes in jeans, bandanas, sunglasses and leather vests filled with patches saying "Jesus Rocks!, and "I brake for Jesus", a greater groups of friends and lay Pastors you just couldn't imagine. Drugs, alcohol, jail, divorces and deaths, they had seen it all. And, like Jack and Melinda, they found a better way to live.
Preaching from their garage, for 12 years, together they started a family and a flock. After getting a church in New Boston, Michigan, only a few months later, God called him home for some greater task and purpose. Preaching from down in the pews the night before he passed, he had comissioned his wife, his church, to care for and take charge of. He must have sensed that night, he wouldn't live to see another one. He knew. I could tell a month or so back when we spoke, that he wasn't well. It was those hollow circles under his eyes, and also in all the video tapes I had edited with my wife. He knew.

As, the wake progressed with some laughs and 'Amens!', we all viewed a DVD of him singing and playing at church a few weeks back. Nearing the end of the song, he broke down sobbing uncontrollably on his guitar, stopping the music. It took us all by surprise for a moment, until Melinda jumped up to the funeral home microphone as her late husband sobbed on the screen and yelled "You think he DIDNT KNOW!? HE KNEW!" He knew. When he and I discussed recently about how to go about filming some videos like music videos, he smiled at the thought. "Your a dynamic speaker, Pastor" I told him. "Your message is great, written well, and delivered with conviction." He smiled at me and said 'Praise God'. " We just gotta get you filmed right, and contact some radio stations about your ministry" I was hopeful as he nodded. But, his smile was decieving. Something was in his eyes. He knew.

I know he was happy about finally having a church. He was starting to get some cable time, and the videos were beginning to shape up. Pastor Melinda, together with Chaplin Amanda his daughter, Chaplin Drake his son- in- law, & Pastors Ed and Pam, he had collected close to one million pounds of food for the needy. "Our brother's and sister's are hurtin'" he'd preach. He knew. At the end of his wake, when almost all had left, I hugged Pastor Melinda. "He was just done here, so God called him home." I told her."God had something else for him to do, and now Melinda, you have got something to do as well. You just have to figure out what that is ". She smiled and hugged me tighter. She knew. "I'm gonna need your help now Duane" she said pulling away."With all that video technical stuff. You gotta help Pastor Jim with it". I had told Jack before he passed I would, and I assured her I would keep that promise to her now. She smiled and patted my back. She knew.

With ram's horns(shofars) blowing , 'Amens' and 'Praise God!" all throughout the service, blue jeans and leathers, music and laughter, I was right about it being 'some wake'. I guess thats the way to go when we do. With celebration and praise, laughter and love. It was the way Pastors Jack and Melinda always did things. He celebrated life and he welcomed death, for it gave him the chance to know his God. He was sure, though he probably kept it to himself, that he wasn't long for this Earth. He knew.

So, Pastor Jack is gone, and Melinda, Amanda and the others remain to carry on with the works he started. It is the meaning of life itself. They knew. To live, to love, to help, to heal, to count your blessings each day, and give thanks to whichever form of God you pray to. It was the right thing to do, and they way we all should live. And, as she continues his church and food drives, they all look forward to the day when we are reunited with the loved ones we've lost. They've turned their grief into gratitude, for a life lived full. After all. It's really the way we all should look at death. Not as a closing, but an opening.
He knew, she knew. They knew and I know......And now....you know.

Much Love, Friends. Peace.

*Refer to the original story of June 10, 2007 at "Drivin' Sideways" "At the end of a dirt road..."

*Special Thanks: The Late Pastor Jack Yaeger and Pastor Melinda, Chaplins Amanda and Drake, Pastor Jim, Pastor Ed & Pam with Warrior Ministries, Team Detroit, the Hurricane Shelter, La Grizzy, Sonja Paris, Larry Patterson and Treasure Island Gold, Ralph Teranna and the Soulful Detroit Forum, and "Lucky" the Wonder Dog

"What's in a Word?
Ah, it's summertime for sure friends. The temperature these days will attest to it. Why it's called the 'dog-days-of-summer', I don't know. My dog stays inside in the air conditioning, 'n just looks at me like "I 'm not goin' out there!"
In school, I used to hate those #2-only pencil scan-tron tests where you had to darken in the circle completely. I'd go home seeing spots, and with a blister on my 'flippin-the-bird' finger. I HATED those things! And, now all these years later, they are using them again on job applications. I think I've found a close second in stress and headaches. It's called 'writing'. Well, it's not the writing that gives me nightmares, it's the EDITING of it that causes my stomach to twist and my eyes to cross.
Being a long time writer of all kinds of songs, poems, short stories, articles like this one, and a book or two, I'm used to the careful dedication to detail it takes to get a piece out there. Ok, ok, I know. Sometimes even with "Drivin' Sideways" a few typo's slip thru, but hey! I'm only human, and I may need my bi-focals turned into tri-focals sure enough, but the editing makes me crazy. All the punctuation, syntax, tenses past, present, future and current, along with the 'phrase-ology' and slang of our generation, it all gives me one of those headaches from the old Excedrin commercials where the little guy with the sledge-hammer is beating away at the poor guy's head. Only with editing, the head belongs to me. With all the ways we have of saying and meaning and implying things, it's no wonder the whole world is in disagreement on major and minor issues. Who the heck knows exactly WHAT the other person is trying to say? And being from Detroit and 'up-on' the the street talk and lingo, what the heck is 'Eubonics' anyway?
I've been moving right along with the final editing of a our co-autored book, and it's given me pause to think. Now, if I could only stop long enough TO think. It's bad enough trying to say what you mean, and then mean what you write, and keep it all in context. But, it can get really confusing when someone of another language does their best to write in a foreign one. (Bless your heart, and you know I love you S.P.!) Something in the translation just gets lost, or least, it gets buried in the hows and whys and who did what to whom, and when they did it and why, and for what reason, and for how long, and to what end result! See what I mean!? It's really hard sometimes to get someone else's interpretation right. It's not their fault, just the person editing, for not getting or seeking clarification from the source writer. But, that's fine, and it's ok. Meanings put on paper, usually have a single thought in there somewhere. And English they say, is one of...if not THE hardest of all languages to understand and speak. 'Right-on!' 'Word!' 'S'up!' 'Yo-dude!' 'T'ain't nuthin' but a thang!' Well, you can see why.
England and America, where english is home-base, has always been a melting pot of people, cultures and languages. It's what makes our two countries great. The diversity of differnce itself. Ok, so that's all fine and good, but if you are trying to edit something for someone other than yourself, you almost need an interpreter, even if it IS in English. We say 'HELLO'. We say 'S'UP!' We say 'Hey Baby!', 'Yo Dude' and 'Word!' And they all mean EXACTLY THE SAME THING!Never mind the way it's written, or in what context. In this case 'grammar' ain't the little 'ole lady that birthed 'yo mama. It's no wonder wars start over things somebody or someone said, or what someone THOUGHT they said. Maybe deaf folks know something we don't know. They use sign language and take the interpretation verbatim. The hand signs mean what they mean, nothing else. They aren't open to question about what exactly they mean. It's different when we write.
I'm reminded of hearing from a teacher back in school explaining how the Quakers speak. "Throw ME down the stairs! My Hat!" was the Quaker way of saying "Throw my hat down the stairs to me!" My co-author, born and bred both in and as German as Schnittzel, reminded me that "Take it easy" is interpreted in Germany as to mean "Stay moist!" Or "Keep it moist!" And we continue here to confound things by saying things like "How's it hangin'?" How's what hangin'? And "What's the word, bird?" What word? And what bird are they talking about?! Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump said "Stupid is, as stupid does". Does what? And the recent hit by the Pussycat Dolls confounds things even more. Instead of saying 'Stick-with-you', they mixed some minor Eubonic's with slang, and came up with "Stickwitchu". That's why editors make such good money. The work itself is relatively easy, it's just trying to figure out exactly what the writer meant in the 1st place that's difficult.
So, here I sit as of late, editing and pasting in and out, quotes and sayings and parts that are either relevant or irrelevant to the story. If they've been worded right, or are in the right context, where "Take it easy' can mean, 'Keep it moist!', I haven't a clue. But, that won't stop me from forging ahead with periods where there should be commas, 'whens' where there is supposed to be 'whys', and 'you know's' where the reader DOESN'T know. If anyone who just reads, and has never editied thinks it's easy to do, then they are greatly mistaken. It's about as easy as tryin' to catch squirrel. I know, because my dog trys and fails everytime. But, our last dog Max, after tryin' and tryin' for almost 10 years to catch one...the day he finally caught one, it surprised them both. Him AND the squirrel!
Editing is like that. I can chase down the right words over and over again, and still not get it. And, even if I DO catch the meaning correctly, once the reader has it in their hands, they may STILL not know what to do with it. It's like writing lyrics to my songs. I don't always know what I was writing about until sometimes months, even years later. With my 'adventures-in-editing', I'm just hoping I get it right the first, second, third, fourth or TENTH time. Still, all-in-all, with all the headches I'm getting with trying to edit and correct the printed word? Once I'm all done...I'm gonna learn SIGN LANGUAGE!
Keep your foot to the floor and your hands on the wheel...when your'e "Drivin' Sideways!" Peace 'n Love all...
***We mourn the sudden loss of our friends drummer John Noxakis and Warrior Ministries Pastor Jack Yaeger. R.I.P.

*Special Thanks: The Late Pastor Jack Yaeger/Warrior Ministries, Team Detroit, The Hurricane Shelter, La Grizzy, Sonja Paris, Larry Patterson and Treasure Island Gold, Ralph Teranna and Soulful Detroit.com, and "Lucky" the Wonder Dog

"On board I'm the Captain...so climb aboard...."(Styx)

"On board I'm the Captain, so climb aboard...we'll search for tomorrow...on every shore...to carry on" (Styx)

Hello my friends, and Happy 4th of July this week to you and yours. Freedom is something to cherish in this country. Lets not take it for granted. Remember our men and women fighting for it.

I am not sure where the winds of change may take me in the coming months. With the new book and all that promoting one with travels far and wide implies and entails, I now find my mainsails set. After a good while living the life of another in words, it's time to take the wheel of destiny and the ride the winds themselves. To just where and when, is still an unknown. But I do know I couldnt have made it this far without the love and friendship of all those who have stood by me unwavering in their faith and devotion to me, "Drivin' Sideways in Detroit!" every week, Myspace, Johnny & The Hurricanes, and the Soulful Detroit.com. I'll always be grateful.

But this is not the end. Far from from it. It is the start of a brand new beginning for me and mine. A new chapter lies ahead. "Drivin' Sideways" will still be here for you every Sunday. I owe all you faithful friends and readers that. It just may come online from parts across the seas, the literal four corners of the world. An amazing journey lies ahead for my very dear friend and co-author Sonja Paris and myself, La Grizzy and Lucky the Wonder Dog. Hard work pays off, and it's starting to.

If you ever have a dream in this world...go for it. If you ever have an idea...see it to fruition. If you ever think of a long lost friend...reach out. If you come up with a poem or lyric...write it down and share it with the rest of us. If you can help someone who really needs it...do so...even if they don't need your help. If you can call or go see someone who's alone or troubled, do it. If you have some old clothes, give them to the needy. If you have a couple nickles or a dollar, drop it in that container by the cash registers in the store. It doesn't matter what the cause it. It will come back to you in time. Life has a trickle down effect my brothers and sisters. I am living proof of that. A loving wife, a few very dear friends, and a faithful little dog that passes no judgements on me, because he just loves me.

For all these things I've mentioned, and for those I've forgotten, I am blessed. And the future is much brighter now that my ship is stocked, and the course secured. To where, when and how, I haven't a clue. But it's leaving port any day now. In the year passed, I've heard a call from a dear friend and their loss in a time of need. And by answering without condition, it is coming full circle to me now. That in itself, is a reward. So, try and remember all that you have, and all that you CAN have in this world if you just give..and believe. Dreams really DO come true.

I'll never be far enough away from you all that you can't reach, write, email or call me, for you all have been there for me, and therefore...I will always be here for you. All we really have in this world is ourselves to count on. You and me, and our sisters and brothers of all colors and distinctions. God plays no favorites.

I hope with these Sundays articles, some 2o of them now...that sometimes I make you laugh, and other times, make you think. Thank you all so very much for letting me know your'e reading these, and even if you don't, that's ok. I love you all anyway, anyhow and always. No matter where I may go, or you and yours go as well. Isn't that what life's really all about anyway?

Love is all...all is love...always.

Take care my friends. Happy freedom.

*Eternal Thanks to: La Grizzy, "Lucky" the Wonder Dog, Sonja Paris, Larry Patterson and Treasure Island Gold, The Hurricane Shelter, Team Detroit, Ralph Teranna and Soulful Detroit.com.