ko\
BRIDE
ducer living in Huntington
Woods, was always a bit wild. He
put himself through the early
years of college with money from
rock 'n' roll and folk-acoustic gigs.
In 1972 he dropped out of Michi-
gan State University to tour the
East Coast as part of the duo In-
dian Summer. He lived in
Haight-Ashbury at the height of
hippie popularity.
In 1981 Mr. Potter married,
converted to Judaism and com-
pleted his degree in video and
television production.
"I didn't touch a bass again un-
til this October, when the Willies
got together. I missed it. I had an
acoustic guitar and jammed in the
to go do something else to make poker, sans razor blades.
a living, it's rough.
"I really enjoy being outdoors
"But time passes, the ego de- and doing what we don't often get
flates. Sure there's the need to get a chance to enjoy. You can rent a
the level of accomplishment back boat on Lake St. Clair and fish
I once had. But we're like-mind- for the day, but going into north-
ed. We don't have to be the best ern Canada and doing nothing
blues band ever. We don't have but fish, it's about taking an op-
to make a living at it."
portunity to do something a little
different," Mr. Selik said. "Life
Fill your house with gadgets, will wait a week for you."
wear the latest fashion;
What about the search for all
Join myselfa blues band, par-
that truth and passion?
ty all night long!
Fly down to Jamaica, flop
Maybe even write myself a pop-
around in the sand;
ular song!
The textures are enticing but
Buy a fancy sports car, have a
the flavors are bland.
torrid affair!
Sippin' cappuccino, eatin'
Wake up in the mornin' I'll be
Sample Bridal Gown
Sale!
— During August while they last —
Reg. price $600 - $2000
Sale
$99 -X499
(as is)
Over 150 Gowns to choose from
Alvin's Bride
249 Pierce St.
Birmingham 48009
M & Th 10-9
TWFS 10-6
Sun 12-5
(810) 644-7200
(810) 644-7492
(excludes all prior sales)
0 0
FOUR DAY SALE
The children think it's "cool" to have dads playing in a band.
living room with my buddies from
time to time," Mr. Potter said.
Mr. Goodman added, "It was
like the line in The Blues Broth-
ers — We've got to get the band
back together.' Of course there
was no band before, though."
Mr. Busch recalls playing blues
with bands in Hamtramck and
Detroit's Cass Corridor. He spent
time studying with musician
Robert Noll and had his own en-
semble, the Buschwhackers.
The Willies count two profes-
sional gigs — Sully's in Dearborn
and The Q-Club in Pontiac.
Mr. Busch says it's about pas-
sion. Mr. Potter and Mr. Good-
man say it's definitely the music.
"rm as happy in the basement
as on stage," Mr. Goodman said.
Whileplaying full time is a
shared dream for the Willies, all
members admit chances for such
a career change are remote.
"I've done it professionally. It's
not an easy life," Mr. Potter said.
"When you reach a certain level
of ability and you peak, then have
gourmet ices;
Got to have myselfa big ol' mid-
life crisis!
Mr. Selik finds relaxation in
his excursions, which began in
1976.
Most of the trip participants
are childhood friends from Oak
Park. Some remained in Detroit's
suburbs; Mr. Selik calls Hunt-
ington Woods home. Others
make the treks from Arizona.
In earlier years, the guys
roughed it. Their fly-fishing trip
to Alaska was first-class.
"Four years ago I decided I was
through roughing it. I decided I
wanted a comfortable bed and
chair at the end of the night," Mr.
Selik said.
The days of fishing in the out-
backs or hiking through the
desert are strenuous. Mr. Selik
recalls the 35-degree tempera-
ture drop from the bottom of the
Grand Canyon to the top. He and
his friends rose 6,500 feet — a 10-
mile hike — in seven hours.
Evenings consisted of beer and
gas
pin' for air!
The Willies might indulge in a
beer before practice, but profes-
sionally it's no alcohol until they
leave the stage. They wear silk
shirts, vests and hats.
"You have to remember the
lyrics, the songs with a clear
mind," Mr. Busch said.
The Willies said their wives are
supportive but don't act like
groupies. The children think it's
"cool" their dads are in a band.
Being husbands and fathers,
the Willies maintain a sensibili-
ty perhaps lacking in most mu-
sicians. It's a perspective they
don't mind.
Mr. Selik understands.
Itooyed with the idea of buy-
ing a sports car for awhile. I
curbed it by borrowing a friend's
Corvette for a week. I couldn't get
the kids in the car," he said. 0
Mid-Life Crisis was written by
Neil Goodman for the Willies.
'Sale is not in addition to any:itchiel s c 3lee
Normal exclusions apply./
Please ask a salesperson for details.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 - SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
OtOiti
t*.
ltlitsvpo*ow.R.goKq4"'
Metto Detroit:
The Heights, Dearbrirn Heights • (313) 274-8200
Eastlake Commons, St
ing Heights • (810) 247-8111
71
(On corner of Ha Road and Hayes Road)
Men- i-Five Plaza Livonia • (313) 522-1850
Macomb Mall, Roseville • (810) 293-5461
Meadowbrook Village'Mall, Rochester • (8101 375-0823
Novi Town Center, Novi • (810) 349-8090
Oakland Mall, Troy • (810) 589-1433
Orchard Mail, West Bloomfield • (810) 737-8080
(Orchard Lake & 15 Mile)
Outstate:
Colonnade, Ann Arbor • (313) 761-1002
(On Eisenhower Pkwy.. west of Briarwood Mall)
Crossroads Mall, Kalamazoo • 1616) 327-7513
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Meridian Mall, Okemos • (5 17) 349-4008
Woodland Mall, Grand Rapids • (616) 957-2145
103