Chuck Mead – from Homestead Grays and BR5-49 to The Stalwarts
11/13/24 • 61 min
When Chuck Mead was a young boy, he and his sister moved with their parents to Lawrence, Kansas. He got a drum kit as a gift when he was 12, and soon after started playing in the family’s band. It was made up of his mom, his dad, his grandparents and uncles who played country and western, and Chuck would also sing songs by Carl Perkins and Elvis.
An uncle taught Chuck how to play guitar and by high school, he was playing in bands with friends. He continued to play while attending The University of Kansas, still having a fondness for rockabilly and country, but was also listening to Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Springsteen and even the Ramones. His band, The Homestead Grays, recorded a couple of records and after college, Chuck moved to Nashville. He played in the window of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and before long, he and Gary Bennett formed BR549. Crowds packed in to see them play Robert’s on Lower Broadway. They were an enormous hit, and soon became famous worldwide. A few weeks after seeing him with his current band, The Stalwarts, I had the pleasure of talking with the extremely talented, and very very funny, Chuck Mead.
Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins. Follow him here on Instagram.
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Thanks for listening to Frets with DJ Fey. You can follow or subscribe for FREE at most podcast platforms.And now, Frets is available on YouTube. There are a lot of fun extras like videos and shorts and audio of all episodes. Subscribing for FREE at YouTube helps support the show tremendously, so hit that subscribe button! https://www.youtube.com/@DJFey39 You can also find information about guitarists, bands and more at the Frets with DJ Fey Facebook page. Give it a like! And – stay tuned...
When Chuck Mead was a young boy, he and his sister moved with their parents to Lawrence, Kansas. He got a drum kit as a gift when he was 12, and soon after started playing in the family’s band. It was made up of his mom, his dad, his grandparents and uncles who played country and western, and Chuck would also sing songs by Carl Perkins and Elvis.
An uncle taught Chuck how to play guitar and by high school, he was playing in bands with friends. He continued to play while attending The University of Kansas, still having a fondness for rockabilly and country, but was also listening to Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Springsteen and even the Ramones. His band, The Homestead Grays, recorded a couple of records and after college, Chuck moved to Nashville. He played in the window of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and before long, he and Gary Bennett formed BR549. Crowds packed in to see them play Robert’s on Lower Broadway. They were an enormous hit, and soon became famous worldwide. A few weeks after seeing him with his current band, The Stalwarts, I had the pleasure of talking with the extremely talented, and very very funny, Chuck Mead.
Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins. Follow him here on Instagram.
Save on certified Pre-Owned iPhones, Androids, AirPods, Macs, Smartwatches, accessories, and more at Plug Tech. – http://plug.tech/DJFEY
Start for FREE
Save on Certified Pre-Owned Electronics
Plug has great prices on refurbished electronics. Up to 70% off with a 30-day money back guarantee!
Find or Sell Guitars and Gear at Reverb
Find great deals on guitars, amps, audio and recording gear. Or sell yours! Check out Reverb.com
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for listening to Frets with DJ Fey. You can follow or subscribe for FREE at most podcast platforms.And now, Frets is available on YouTube. There are a lot of fun extras like videos and shorts and audio of all episodes. Subscribing for FREE at YouTube helps support the show tremendously, so hit that subscribe button! https://www.youtube.com/@DJFey39 You can also find information about guitarists, bands and more at the Frets with DJ Fey Facebook page. Give it a like! And – stay tuned...
Previous Episode
Syd Straw – Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist and a Wonderful Person
It was a wonderful experience talking with someone I've admired for so long. I love her songs, I love her voice. And she’s just incredibly cool. In additional to her solo work, there’s such a long list of great bands and artists she’s performed with.
A list that includes – Pat Benatar, The dB’s, The Del-Lords, Dave Alvin, The Golden Palominos, Marshall Crenshaw, Van Dyke Parks, Vic Chesnutt, Wilco, Richard Thompson and many more. Syd’s debut solo album Surprise featured a lot of her pals from that list and her second album, War and Peace was backed by none other than that fantastic and much-loved band from Springfield, The Skeletons. I hope you’ll enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed talking with the one and only...Syd Straw.
Photo by Regan Kelly. @reganbrooklyn
Find wonderful songs and albums by Syd here at Bandcamp.
Save on certified Pre-Owned iPhones, Androids, AirPods, Macs, Smartwatches, accessories, and more at Plug Tech. – http://plug.tech/DJFEY
Find great deals on guitars, amps, audio and recording gear. Or sell yours! Check out Reverb.com
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Save on Certified Pre-Owned Electronics
Plug has great prices on refurbished electronics. Up to 70% off with a 30-day money back guarantee!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for listening to Frets with DJ Fey. You can follow or subscribe for FREE at most podcast platforms.And now, Frets is available on YouTube. There are a lot of fun extras like videos and shorts and audio of all episodes. Subscribing for FREE at YouTube helps support the show tremendously, so hit that subscribe button! https://www.youtube.com/@DJFey39 You can also find information about guitarists, bands and more at the Frets with DJ Fey Facebook page. Give it a like! And – stay tuned...
Next Episode
Steve Wynn – He Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True
Steve Wynn has released well over 30 albums during the last 25 years, with his bands The Dream Syndicate, Danny & Dusty, Gutterball, The Miracle 3, The Baseball Project and more with quite a few solo records in the mix.
He’s played over 2,000 shows in more than 25 countries and his songs have been recorded and/or performed by R.E.M., Luna, Concrete Blonde, The Black Crowes, Yo La Tengo and Eleventh Dream Day, among others. Steve has been featured in Rolling Stone, Mojo, Uncut, Entertainment Weekly, People, The Los Angeles Times, New York Times and many publications worldwide.
His new book, I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True: A Memoir Of Life, Music, And The Dream Syndicate covers a lot of Steve’s life. From his childhood in California to forming bands and opening for bands like R.E.M. and U2, to recent times, playing solo and also with his band The Baseball Project. It was a great experience to talk with the very prolific Steve Wynn.
Photo by Guy Kokken. Check out Guy’s work here.
Save on certified Pre-Owned iPhones, Androids, AirPods, Macs, Smartwatches, accessories, and more at Plug Tech. – http://plug.tech/DJFEY
Plug has great prices on refurbished electronics. Up to 70% off with a 30-day money back guarantee!
Find or Sell Guitars and Gear at Reverb
Find great deals on guitars, amps, audio and recording gear. Or sell yours! Check out Reverb.com
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for listening to Frets with DJ Fey. You can follow or subscribe for FREE at most podcast platforms.And now, Frets is available on YouTube. There are a lot of fun extras like videos and shorts and audio of all episodes. Subscribing for FREE at YouTube helps support the show tremendously, so hit that subscribe button! https://www.youtube.com/@DJFey39 You can also find information about guitarists, bands and more at the Frets with DJ Fey Facebook page. Give it a like! And – stay tuned...
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