Biography
It officially started backstage at the Irving Plaza in New York City when Johnny Cash shook my hand and asked if I was the new steel guitar player in Wilco. "Well, I'm not sure Mr. Cash. I've never played full-time in a band and I have this business back in Chicago. I mean they asked me to join but that's a pretty big step, it is a tough business."
He nodded and looked me in the eye, "It can be a hard road but if your heart's in it, it can be a good life."
An hour later as I watched Johnny from side stage I had tears in my eyes from the power of his music. Jeff Tweedy turned to me and said "Are you gonna join this fuckin' band now?"
A month later I sold my business and got on a tour bus for a 2-year ride. That was a decade ago.
Timeline
- Played in a country cover band from Chicago with Steve Dawson and Dave Gay.
- Ran Bob's Guitar Service in Chicago.
- Dave Gay played with Freakwater and their guitarist couldn't make a European tour.
- Made the tour and played with Freakwater for 3 years.
- Freakwater opened for Wilco, we became friends and I started playing with Wilco on side projects.
- Joined Wilco and toured non-stop for two years.
- Met Oh Susanna when she opened for Wilco at the Horseshoe in Toronto.
- Left Wilco, moved to Oxford Mississippi to write and record my first record.
- Flew to Toronto to record Oh Susanna's first record and met her bass player Bazil Donovan who had a full time gig was Blue Rodeo.
- Took Bazil to Norway for a solo Bob Egan tour. Three months later was asked to join Blue Rodeo.
- Joined Blue Rodeo and met 10,000 Canadians.
- Released a 2nd solo record and toured Canada in between Blue Rodeo tours and sessions.
- Played on records by the Tragically Hip, Cowboy Junkies, Hayden, Jason Collett, and the Sadies among others.
- Releasing 3rd solo record and touring Canada in between Blue Rodeo tours and sessions.
