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DALLAS TAYLOR
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I heard you were inspired to take up the drumsticks after seeing the Gene Krupka Story, what was your first experience of playing drums with a band?
I played a snare drum on stage with a kid that played the accordion. I think we played "sink the Bismarck". I was 11 years old.
You split Texas for Arizona, what sort of bands were you playing with in Phoenix?
When I was in Phoenix I played mostly R and B and some rock I was in a band with Joe Shermie, who later joined Three Dog Night.
How did you hook up with Bob Seal?
I don't remember just how Bob and I met, but we got a house together and played music and got high constantly.
What was the inspiration for you both to head to L A ?
Bob and I wanted to be a part of the music scene in LA. The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Mamas and the Papas, etc.
When got to LA you met up with Robbie Robison and Michael Ney and formed the Garnersfield Sanitarium, how did that come together? it must have been a pretty unique set up with just 2 guitarists and 2 drummers making up the group.
We where on a quest to put a band together and just play music. Bob and I walked the streets looking for musicians. We had no where to stay . Robbie and Mike Ney had an apartment in Manhattan Beach, so....they where in the band! It just seemed like the right thing to do to have two drummers.
Were you playing any material then that later ended up on the Clear Light album?
We played mostly cover songs that where on the radio at that time. No original material yet.
What was your involvement with The Factory and how does it fit in with your time in Garnersfield Sanitarium/Brain Train?
I had come out to LA before I brought Bob Seal. I answered an add in the paper for a drummer. It turned out to be Lowell George. I got the gig but got appendicitis and ended up in surgery just before a gig at the Shrine Auditorium with Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention. I was bleeding through my bandage. It was really cool. I had noticed that Frank Zappa had two drummers and it sounded really great. My friend Richie Hayward played with The Factory after that. He was a better drummer than I.
What prompted the name change to The Brain Train?
I think a big fat joint inspired the name the Brain Train.
Wanda Watkins was in the line up for a short time, can you recall her and how she came to leave the band?
I don't remember much about Wanda Watkins. Maybe she was Michael Neys' girlfriend.
Do you remember how Doug came into the group and what difference did it make to the rhythm section to have a bassist in the line up?
Bob was walking around Canters Deli with a note pinned to his shirt stating " Bass Player Needed." I think some guy came up to us and said, "There's a guy holed up in my basement on speed, trying to learn how to play the bass in one week." Enter Doug Lubaun.
Then Bud Mathis came on the scene, how big an influence did he have on the direction the group was taking musically?
I don't remember much about Bud Mathis either, except, he was attempting to manage us. He must have heard us in some club or something. Actually, It was Paul Rothchild that discovered, and signed us.
One of the first things that came about after being signed to Elektra was the name change to Clear Light, do you recall who suggested that?
It was Paul that came up with the name Clear Light. It was a batch of LSD that was going around at the time.
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