The Totally Unofficial & Unauthorized
John L's Bread Pages

PAGE THREE

Continued from Page Two

And now, a Matching Set from the upcoming Breadquiz. Considering the four essential components of bread (i.e., the food), place the letter of the most appropropriate item from the second column in the blank by each Bread member's name in the first column. (One point per blank)
    David Gates
    James Griffin
    Mike Botts
    Robb Royer or
    Larry Knechtel 		A. water
B. flour
C. salt
D. yeast

Conclusion

While compiling my original discography in the late 1970s (mainly to keep track of my growing Griffin collection), I had a vague notion of possibly turning it into a comprehensive biodiscography of the group. However, the research had to be put on the far back burner which was probably a good thing as I was accumulating a lot of faulty information from the popular press. Presently, the most valuable biographical information one can find is available on the CD reissues whose liner notes are filled with reminiscences by the individual artists. Questions regarding the lack of videos and live recordings and whether there will ever be another tour are best asked of them.

During the 1970s and '80s, I would wonder who ordered the DJs to announce the group as "David Gates and Bread" when one could plainly see that was not the name of the group printed on every one of their singles and LPs! In 1978, a David Gates solo UK tour was mistakenly promoted as such as shown here. And how about that other lead singer with the most incredible voice who seemed to be laboring in obscurity on Bread's B-sides and albums? Another question comes up which is best answered by the individual Bread fan: Is Bread as they are best known really Bread at their best?

My sweet friend Kellie – a long-time fan of Bread's music who (by the way) could probably teach a college-level course on late-1960s sunshine pop music – came up with her idea for a new compilation CD whose proposed tracks are listed here. Note that there are none of those pesky hits to get in the way and spoil the mood. How about "A Fresh Slice of Bread" for the title? If such a collection of rarely-heard B-sides and album tracks would appear – along with some additional live recordings and unreleased items – a whole new revival of interest might be generated. The appearance of a hitherto-obscure Bread song at an appropriate moment in a good movie just might get the ball rolling.

John Lindquist

James Griffin passed away from lung cancer at his home on January 11, 2005 at the young age of 61. Take a moment to look at the photos here of James doing what we have come to know and appreciate so much of him these past many years. The Nashville Tennessean obituary is now found here.
Mike Botts passed away from colon cancer on December 9, 2005 – also at 61. Mike wrote about his passion for music and live performance in his Dan Fogelberg Road Journal which is found on his site here. An excerpt: "[While playing the few final songs in a concert] I was reminded that this was what it was really all about. Those two special hours out of the day! All the traveling and hotels and life on the road in general were worth it just to have those two hours of music every night. To be able to play great music with great musicians and with the support and encouragement of an enthusiastic audience, for me, that's the whole enchilada, man."
Note the links below to the official websites for James Griffin and Mike Botts.

LINKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Check them out!

WORT STREAMS!
Listener-sponsored alternative radio station WORT-FM in Madison, WI – Your 3000 Watt Blowtorch of Love – is on the internet for your listening and/or dancing pleasure. Click here for program schedule, streaming and audio archive details!
You can never tell when some rare Bread-related item will get played on Saturday night! For the hits, one can always go to the commercial oldies stations.
Heard on one of our semi-Christmas oldies shows: "Baby It's Cold Outside" by the Avalanches, "East-West" by The Pleasure Fair, "Gina's Song" by Na Kama Hele (with Mike), "Come Home For Christmas" by David Gates, "Blue Christmas" by The Remingtons, and "I Am That I Am" by Bread which features Jimmy. (Looks like a Bread-related Christmas album in the making.)
  • As about all I know about Bread is in the pages of this collectors' site, you can pose questions to some real experts who frequent the Guestbook that is linked from the Official Breadfans Site. For one thing, there is no way I can speculate about future tours or live albums.

  • Take a look at the Google Bread Directory, and why not do a search! Click here for an example.

  • An excellent and well-rounded Bread site from Japan can be found here.

  • Visit Holly Cieri's website which includes a heartfelt Tribute to James Griffin with whom she worked on a definitive recording of "For All We Know."

  • Thoughtful commentaries on the life and career of James Griffin can be found at Randy's Rodeo and Westcoast Music.

  • The Official James Griffin Website: Samples of 45 Griffin songs, a GYG video (go to "News"), merchandise, photos, and more.

  • The Official Mike Botts Website: News, photos, road journals of the 1996-97 worldwide Bread Tour and the Dan Fogelberg 2003 Summer Tour, and more. Also, you can make a donation to the Mike Botts Cancer Fund and obtain an autographed copy of his CD; for more information, click on the "email Deborah" link on the mikebotts.com home page. There is also info at CD Baby.

  • Robb Royer's current project NashFilms has its website here. Also take in the amazing video here.

  • A couple more members of the old Pleasure Fair group have interesting websites worth exploring: Novelist Timothy Hallinan and Composer Stephen Cohn. Their ongoing, individual literary and musical achievements and their renewed collaboration portend more great things to come.

  • Many experienced some incredible solo and ensemble musicianship with the Dan Fogelberg Summer Tour 2003. In August, 2003, a special performance by Mr. Fogelberg & Co. including Mike Botts was taped for the PBS "Sound Stage" program for airing in 2004. See the program description with a video clip here.

  • Check out the Na Kama Hele Website which features their two CD releases which are also available at CD Baby.

  • Visit Dean Adshead's websites for Bread and The Remingtons.

  • An amazing library of artist information with label shots and song samples is at the Rockin' Country Style site. Click here for David Gates – a contemporary of Buddy Holly for cryin' out loud!

  • David Gates' induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame is detailed here.

  • One of the most innovative producers, arrangers and all-around musicians of the classic soft-rock era was Curt Boettcher. His website is here, and you will also find out much about his life and music by clicking on the GoldeBriars site here. Don't let any "soft-rock" or "sunshine-music" label make you think this was all light stuff. There was certainly a lot of substance in that music. Check it out!

A big thank you to interested individuals around the world who helped put info onto these pages: Akihide N., Alice L., Andrew B., Bill A., Bill S., Bob C., Bobby V., Brian B., Charlie O., Dave B., David C., Dean A., Dr. Rhino, Debra I., Fran H., Gene W., Holly C., James G., Jeff G., Jeff J., Jerry O., John L., Joe M., Joe S., Joe V., Judy D., Jules A., Kaoru S., Kellie G., Lisa F., Mike B., Mike D. at 60sgaragebands.com, Mike M., the late Neva G. and Paul B., Pete C., Richard W., Rick H., Rip L., Robb R., Rockin' John McD., Ron F., Stephen C., Steve W., Terry G., Timothy H., William S., and WORT Listeners! Also the rockin' Anonymous family!

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Material on this page last modified on 4/24/08 at 5:15 PM, CDT.
John Lindquist: home page, complete site outline.