I do have a couple of stories I could share with you. I worked with him about a half-dozen times at three different venues in Columbus Ohio.

The first time was at The Oz nightclub, around 1987. I was the DJ for the club, and when the owner asked me about booking him, I enthusiastically said YES!

Well, he came in and we got to meet briefly before the show. Anyway, He did 3 sets and after the first one I was playing records. Now before he started, I was playing some Stevie Ray Vaughn, Was (Not Was) and other R&B flavored songs.

However, during the their first break, I was asked (by girls) to play some dance music. So, I played some Flock of Seagulls, Duran Duran, Prince, and stuff like that. Cub comes over to me and says, "You gotta play that stuff?" I said, "Not particularly, just playing these songs for these women so they can dance. I'm not a big fan of it."

Well, at the beginning of his second set, he comes out and the band starts up, and Cub says, "Hold it, hold it. I’ve gotta say something. First off, we are a rock ‘n’ roll blues band. Real rock ‘n’ roll!  Not Flock of birdcrap, not Doo-ran Doo-ran, but rock ’n’ roll!!"

The crowd went nuts. I NEVER played any dance or techno stuff again -- all rock or blues. From then on it was SRV, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, etc. And I always tried to lead back into Cub with an upbeat song. After that first break we were on the same page.

My other story was when after The Oz closed, I had taken a gig at a place on the west side of town. I had Cub's manager's number at the time, and when the owner wanted a rock band, I suggested Cub.

Well, Cub came in and we hugged like bro's. He wanted me to go out and do his intro to the crowd. The one that goes, “Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s SHOWTIME! Please put your hands together for the one and only Mr. Smokin' in the Boys’ Room, CUB KODA!!"

Well, I was showing him an old BS record, and he told me, "Remember it's me, not them." But when the time came, I went out on stage and said, "Mr. Smokin' in the Boys’ Room, Brownsville Station!!"...

He comes onstage, cups his hands on my face, and gives me a BIG KISS!!
"Nice goin’..." he said. Of course, I apologized, and afterward he said, “Don’t worry about it, just don’t do it again!”

Next night went off without a hitch.

Thanks for letting me share, Lady J.

Steve Bartrum

 

(If you have a story about Cub, something funny, how you met, etc., please email them to: webmaster@cubkoda.com so that they can be added for others to enjoy!)