Foghat's Retirement-Age Drummer Keeps Rockin' for Tri-Cities Fans
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
August 2012 Vol. XXIX, Issue 08 Inside Foghat’s Retirement-age Drummer Keeps Rockin' For Tri-Cities Fans Kennewick Hosts Annual By Erick Peterson situation when he Senior Picnic Sept. 20th To the rest of the world, the tried to give this ...page 3 members of Foghat — past and game a shot. Try- Tips For Smart Investing present — are rock stars, but at ing to prove that Beyond Short-Term CDs. least one of them wears many he was an origi- ...page 3 different hats. nal musician who Formed in 1971 with a new played this classic Computer Classes Open lineup and a new name, Foghat song, he played New Doors For Seniors. went on to become one of the the game. Badly. ...page 4 most influential bands in rock “I’m hopeless history. Among their successes, at it,” Earl said, Women Face Their they have released multiple gold laughing. Own Set Of Retirement records, as well as one platinum He added that Issues. record and a double-platinum the rest of the band ...page 5 record. is equally terrible They have also delighted audi- at the game, as are Exercise Groups Can ences around the world, perform- many other true Help Some Medical ing a rigorous concert schedule. musicians. Still, Ailments. Still, despite all of his criti- he was unable to ...page 7 cal and commercial success, prove his identity New Workout Class Uses drummer Roger Earl has trouble to his granddaugh- Varied Workout Styles. impressing one person close to ter, who loves him him — his granddaughter. nonetheless. ...page 10 “To her, I’m only grandpa,” Earl and Foghat Volunteer Helps Feed the he said. will perform at the Hungry With Northwest Earl saw her playing a video Roger Earl and Foghat will perform at the up- Benton Franklin game, Guitar Hero, one day and coming Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo. He has Fair & Rodeo Fri- Harvest. been with the band from the start in 1971. ...page 13 had a closer look. Players use a day, Aug. 24. The toy guitar to copy the notes of a Foghat’s biggest hits. event runs from Centers Can Help song. Coincidentally, when Earl He told the girl that “You know, Aug. 21 to 25. Seniors Adjust To New caught this granddaughter play- this is one of the songs Grandpa Now a resident of Long Island, Lifestyles. ing the game, she was trying to plays” — but she didn’t believe N.Y., Earl says he’s a devoted fam- ...page 14 play the song “Slow Ride,” one of him. And he did not help out his –––Cont. on pg. 6 Center To Offer Safety Grandfathers Behind Bars Class For Senior Drivers. Senior Inmates And Guards Reflect ...page 15 On Their Lives In Yakima County Jail By Erick Peterson The lives of older people within D the Yakima County Jail are fraught ST , WA #122 A T with contradiction and complexity. MI PAID Older guards experience peril KIM PRSRT PRSRT ya and yet have moments of extreme PER US POSTAGE levity. Meanwhile, senior inmates report that their situation is bad, with food being a major concern, but that their lives could be much worse. Between June 30 and July 31, Yakima County Department of Corrections booked 27 people between the ages of 55 to 64 and five people 65 and older — 3.5 Current resident or percent and 0.6 percent of the jail populations, respectively. “We don’t end up with a lot of seniors. Even if they don’t act right, they at least fly under the radar,” said Lt. Gordon Costello, Ralph Leon Haulk, age 66, is among the few senior inmates of jail administrative lieutenant. Yakima County Jail. He described his incarceration as a “vaca- Mike Gorski (age 61) is one tion,” though he said he does not like the food as much now as before recent budget cuts. The jail has had to make adjustments Central Washington Senior Times Times Senior Central Washington PO Box 2052 98907 WA Yakima, –––Cont. on pg. 12 in food, employment and other areas due to financial problems. Page 6 Central Washington Senior Times August 2012 FOGHAT I’m prob- –––Cont. from pg. 1 ably 80 or ily man who loves being with his 90,” Earl wife, children and grandchildren, said. The something that was not always true life of a for him. In his youth, he said, he rock star did not always put family first. is hard- He has since learned his lessons, er than and has made amends to his previ- most oth- ous two wives as he tries to do well ers, as a by his family now. band like In addition to being active with Foghat his family, he has hobbies and spends pursuits that include spending time a lot of with his friends, playing golf, fish- time trav- ing, and making wine with Foghat elling. Cellars (foghatcellars.com). Among All of these activities, including the most Roger Earl says that he lives an extraordinary life and loves playing with his “friends,” the family and the music, come painful the other members of Foghat. together to give him what he de- memories scribes as “an excellent life.” for Earl, and anyone else who loves with the band. Stevens “a great bass player,” the “That’s something I’m fortunate Foghat, are the deaths of two of “If I broke a finger or couldn’t two do not get along well enough to have and to be, playing in a rock- the four original musicians. Singer play one night, I have plenty of to play in the same band. and-roll band. People would give “Lonesome” Dave Peverett died in friends who would like to sit in my Stevens is now playing in a band an appendage to do what I do,” 2000 of cancer and guitarist Rod seat and play a show or two — and called “Slow Ride,” named after a Earl said. Price died in 2005 when falling of course we would let the audi- song that first came out after Ste- Still, it is not easy. Earl says that down stairs during a heart attack. ence know that — but I don’t think vens left Foghat. drummers in particular have to stay “I miss Dave. He was taken far that’s going to happen,” he said. Foghat now includes a group in good shape in order to play well, too early, and I’m sure it (made As for Tony Stevens, the origi- of men that Earl calls his friends, as playing the drums is physically him angry) that he couldn’t have nal Foghat bass player, Earl said veteran musicians that he is also strenuous. stayed down here and played,” that he would not ask Stevens to proud to work alongside — Bryan Earl stays in shape through go- Earl said. He added that Peverett rejoin the band. Though they have Bassett, Charlie Huhn, and Craig ing to the gym and walking, as wanted the band to continue after put many of their differences be- Macgregor. well as eating properly. But he also his death. hind them, and though Earl calls “I’m very fortunate,” Earl said. credits “good genes” in keeping Foghat, however, could not him fit and alive. continue on if Earl was no longer “People come up to me and able to continue playing, as he is say, ‘Are you really 66?’ Really, the only founding member still Through seasons of change you have kept your promise to love, honor and respect. Dementia has brought change, but your commitment remains strong. Let us help you to continue to love, honor and respect during this challenging season. Last Train Home (2010) was a dream project that Foghat origi- 5505 W. Skagit Ct., Kennewick, WA 99336 nal singer, “Lonesome” Dave Peverett did not get to see fulfilled. Phone: (509) 783-5433 Peverett died in 2005, leaving band members including Roger Earl greatly disappointed. HERITAGE INN 4 Convenient Locations Restaurant To Serve You Union Gap • 453-3603 www.yakamamuseum.com Nob Hill Blvd • 453-4414 509-865-2551 Summitview • 965-2037 Sunnyside • 839-2711 Off Hwy 97—200 Spiel-yi Loop Located in Cultural Heritage Center Sept. 7th 5pm - 9pm $5 OFF FREE SEAFOOD BUFFET DINNER Any New Or Transfer Prescription Not valid with prescriptions transferred Daily 1st Friday of the month from other Rite Aid Stores or third Pill Minder party plans. Limit one coupon per Open Monday through Saturday from 7am to 3pm customer, one coupon per prescription. One coupon per customer Expires Sunday Brunch from 7am to 2pm Expires 09/18/12 09/18/12 Page 12 Central Washington Senior Times August 2012 JAIL looks like he’s lost 100 pounds. His that the human body has to have 16 Thanks to his wife, family, and –––Cont. from pg. 1 eyes are sunken. There’s another calories per pound. If I weigh 200 friends outside the jail, Gorski said awaiting trial for charges includ- guy who’s lost that he gets ing the second-degree murder of 40 pounds. I’ve all the food Selah resident Carolyn Clift in lost 30 pounds, he needs. 1997, Gorski stands out among his and I’ve got He can buy fellow inmates. food to eat.” additional Gorski, who is adamant pounds, that’s 3,200 food from about his innocence, is lo- “There’s one man in here who looks like he’s calories.” a commissary. cated on the fourth floor of lost 100 pounds. His eyes are sunken. There’s The U.S. Depart- Gorski said he spends $400 per the jail, along with other another guy who’s lost 40 pounds.