Pat Hall and the fat guys band
Pat Hall and the fat guys band
Genres: bluesrock, blues
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jimitribe
About Pat Hall and the fat guys band
Pat Hall passed on to the great gig in the sky on January 24, 2010. Jim Wiggins on Pat Hall... I first met Pat Hall about thirty years ago at the Old Vic Theatre on Chicago's north side, recently converted from movies to stage shows. A bunch of Chicago performers were there to do a benefit show for a very sick kid and his family, and the honor of doing the first show into the rehabbed venue... Under the stage, in the new Green Room, there was gathered some of the finest blues players in the city, and me, a stand up comedian. The odor of pot was thick, the mood was quick, we all looked slick, ready to jam for a little boy who was sick, a blues song lookin' for a site... Right in the center of the room sat one guy holding court, like a squat, hairy king. Black beret, black vest over a black 't', camo cargo pants, boots, and a very large smirk on his beardy face. He looked like a terrorist, and indeed he was... I went directly to him, stuck out my hand and said,,, "Hi,,, my name is wiggins an' I'm doin' the comedy act!!!" This guy looked me over, sniffed me, and said,,, "Who gives a fuck???" Then he leaned back, roared out a giant laugh quite loud and long and dared me to be funny... I knew at that very moment I had just met and made friends with the human version of a junk yard dog!!! Junk Yard Dog, Junk Yard Dog, Everybody Fears a Junk Yard Dog... Over the following years I discovered Pat Hall feasted often on other peoples flesh,,, get too close an' he'd bite you simply to see if you could take it, no matter if you bled. Pat Hall was most comfortable when he could make you feel uncomfortable. Pat Hall protected the privacy of his life by building fences that kept you out, but all they did was keep Pat Hall in, chained up by his own choice. Junk Yard Dog, Junk Yard Dog, Noone Pets a Junk Yard Dog... The benefit show was a great success for the family, the audience, and the performers... We had a great time singing, playing, laughing, smoking, drinking, cussing,,, probably ten or twelve blues musicians, and one comedian, all playin' their best, and kicking some ass!!! We were all good that night, but Pat Hall was magnificent!!! Pat Hall barked at everybody that night while he played his heart out telling you that "This Stage is Mine, Mother Fucker!!! This is MY yard!!!" and the sweat would fly along with the insults... Pat Hall's stubby little fingers raced back and forth across the key board and he even found music in the cracks. Pat Hall sucked up the light from the follow spot, forcing you to watch him snarl and snap and sing, licking his lips, showing his teeth, those tiny little crooked teeth... Pat Hall played loud and long, demanding center stage, and he knew how to drown out anybody brave enough to to try to get into his yard,,, he dared you to play around in his territory... Junk Yard Dog, Junk Yard Dog, Keep An Eye Out For The Junk Yard Dog... We all got applause that night, but Pat Hall got the ovation, even from all the performers. Pat Hall was the star and we knew it from two things,,, 1st, Pat Hall told us he was the star and 2nd, the audience agreed. We all knew he deserved it 'cause Pat Hall made the show!!! Junk Yard Dog, Junk Yard Dog, You Gotta Watch a Junk Yard Dog!!! A year or two later I had the pleasure of being bit by Pat Hall again at a joint in Palatine Illinois, a rehabbed place called Durty Nellies, which claimed music and comedy shows as their enterprise. A couple of fat guys put together an act called, "A Coupla Fat Guys" and it was as unique as their name, two guys who played hard and argued harder. Pat Hall on piano and vocals, Dave Grier on base and harmonies, and he wrote all the funny stuff. Their act was loud and funny. During the next few months, Dave grew into a solid dependable performer, a wonderful showman, a loyal friend to me and my family. As talented as Pat Hall was, he didn't make a lot of friends with the other performers at Nellie's, he bullied 'em and he didn't give a fuck... This was his yard and he was the head dog. All the other performers watched 'A Coupla Fat Guys' and learned from Pat Hall and grew to admire his talents, his music, his entertaining genius,,, but,,, Dave Grier held his leash and that took real talent. Junk Yard Dog, Junk Yard Dog, Someones Got To Guard the Junk Yard Dog!!! George Carlin came into Durty Nellie's for two shows and A Coupla Fat Guys opened the shows. George said it had been a long time since he had such a great opening act... Dave Grier was quite proud and humble, Pat Hall didn't understand why George wasn't opening for A Coupla Fat Guys. George believed Dave was a talented pussy cat, and George stated Pat Hall had a problem with authority... Junk Yard Dog, Junk Yard Dog, Someone Had To Shoot The Junk Yard Dog!!! Me and my family lived upstairs at Nellie's and Pat spent a lot of time up there smoking my pot, drinking my tequila, eating my food, and worst of all, telling my jokes. Pat even tried getting into my wifes panties, but Joan told him there was already one ass hole in there AND in her life, and Pat would roar with laughter... When Joan died Pat became a real uncle to my two youngest kids, Josh and Joy. We moved from Nellie's down to Chicago's Lincoln Ave above another joint called 'Earl's Pub'. If Pat was Uncle Junk Yard, Earl Pionke, The Earl of Old Town, became the Granpa and next door neighbor, the owner of a real junk yard. Earl and Dave and Pat would sit around our kitchen table trying to out smart mouth each other and telling giant lies to me and my kids, and we loved it, 'cause Earl and Dave and Pat were still kids themselves. Junk Yard Dogs, Junk Yard Dogs, Every Family Needs Some Junk Yard Dogs!!! Earl hired A Coupla Fat Guys for two weeks downstairs and they stayed there and starred there for two and a half years. Soon, famous comedians and blues musicians and singers and sports stars and politicians would stop by to join the show as guests willing to be insulted by Earl or Pat or Dave, and they gladly paid for the priviledge. Audiences loved the shows and lined up for blocks. The music and fun went on all night long, the drinks were cold, the chili was hot, the shows sensational. Pat Hall was finally home,,, he could boss every one around, except Earl. Dave kept 'em from killing each other, and Earl fed 'em love and chili. Junk Yard Dog, Junk Yard Dog, Someone's Got To Feed a Junk Yard Dog!!! Like life itself, all things come to an end: Earl retired by buying a silent saloon, me and my kids moved to another state, A Coupla Fat Guys split to follow separate dreams. Dave married a beautiful woman and opened a successful video firm, Pat drove other musicians mad by forming his very own band, and created a beautiful son named Brian... We still loved each other, but especially, Earl loved Pat, Dave loved Pat, I loved Pat. Pat loved playing the piano, singing and barking at people who loved him. You can't go against your nature. Pat Hall was admired by musicians and singers all around Chicago for his talents, his wit, his charm, his humor, his intelligence, his anger, his resentments, his jealousies, his all-the-time rough and tough words that lacked any encouragement to be his friend... When Pat took ill he quickly knew the show was over. Dave and Monica, ever faithful to Pat, invited Pat to live with them. Pat decided not to stick around here and moved on... We believe he went upstairs 'cause even Heaven needs a Junk Yard Dog. Junk Yard Dog, Junk Yard Dog, We Will All Miss Our Junk Yard Dog!!!
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