Gene:

Yeah --- BILLY SHEEHAN played in Mr. BIG. They were more of a pop band. Where and how BILLY SHEEHAN got his reputation was from long time Buffalo bar band TALAS. TALAS was the opening band for VAN HALEN for part of the FAIR WARNING tour --- it is how DLR and SHEEHAN met in the first place.

TALAS used to play as the house band for a beach club here in the Buffalo area called MICKEY RATS. They played every Friday and Saturday nights. I saw them once a week for about three years straight.

I lived about a ten minute walk from MICKEY RATS --- which was cool because I could leave my car home. I would always get a ride home, so that was no problem.

There was a time when Buffalo was a cool place as far as music was concerned. That time has largely passed.

Just with concerts --- in the past ten years --- almost all of the really worthwhile shows have been a road trip to either Toronto or Cleveland --- sometimes BOTH.

The last time I saw PETER GABRIEL play in Buffalo was 1986.

A couple of years ago --- BILLY SHEEHAN came back to Buffalo for a pair of TALAS shows --- which was recorded for a LIVE ALBUM. It was released on METAL BLADE.

TALAS was a band that could have made it BIG --- but they had a dick for a manager. After it became apparent that this guy was holding them back, BILLY left for L.A. where he lives to this day.

On a slightly different note . . .

That actor that played ANGEL on BUFFY --- DAVID BOREANAZ --- he is originally from Buffalo. His father used to host a children's morning show called ROCKETSHIP 7. My uncle John used to play PROMO THE ROBOT on that show. Incidentially, Mr. Boreanaz Sr. can now be found as the weatherman on the ABC network affialiate in Philiadelphia, where his on camera name is DAVE ROBERTS. My uncle John died on the very same day LIVE AID was held --- in July 1985.

Peace and Prayers,

Kent Daniel Bentkowski Buffalo, New York USA