Back in the 1970s, I had this friend who rode a Harley-Davidson. So did I – it’s how we became friends. Anywho, he would get these jobs at the Auditorium or the old Minneapolis Armory working security for bands that played their gigs there. Sometimes we partied with them or we were paid other than money.
One night we got a Leon Russell gig. “Fat Frank” had set it up. I was a Russell fan (I owned an 8-track of his!). So back at the auditorium we held the “teenies” off. When it was over we had to wait until receipts were counted and divvied up and the trucks were loaded - Russell had a large entourage, a lot of speakers, instruments, and costumes.
While the crew was tearing down we partied hearty. Ol’ Leon came out to thank us and as he got to “Fat Frank”, Frank pointed to the beaver skin hat on Russell's head that was popular for a coupla hundred years or more in London and says “NICE HAT” where then Leon removed it from his head, and said, ”It's yours, man”.
Ol’ Frank couldn't believe it. That beaver skin hat sat on Frank’s mantle for 20 years- anyone who knew “Fat Frank” knew where that Hat came from - until one day Frank was ripped off. Poor Frank never got over it.
Anyhow, as we got old and started dyin’ off, Frank organized the “OLD FARTS” party. For the last ten springs we had met and partied - not as hearty! - up on the Mississippi River. Two years ago Frank died from diabetes. He had a huge funeral. Bikers from all over. That’s why he had organized the 'OLD FARTS' - so we would know when someone kicked off. Before Frank died, he got a call from a woman requesting he visit her dying husband who was wanting to confess that he had stolen and sold The Leon Russell Hat. Frank's response was “Fuck him!” Anyway, Leon has always been good!
R.I.P. FRANK!!!
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