I don’t remember for sure, but I think Grin was formed specifically for 1 gig. If I’m wrong, I’m sure someone will correct me.

The gig in question was at The Yodler's Inn at Mammoth Mountain in northern California.

We got hooked up with Glenn Guy somehow. I think it was through Mike Bartlett’s boss. This guy, pardon the pun, owned a transportation company. Charter busses and stuff like that. He somehow got us booked at the Mammoth Mountain Lodge. I believe the gig was supposed to be every Saturday for the entire ski season. He would provide a bus to take us, our wives or girlfriends, and all of our equipment there and provide a condo for us to stay in. I think meals were included too. Sounds Great!

Well, when it came time for us to leave for our first weekend, we all got up very early to meet him at our studio to load the equipment. He showed up in a big yellow school bus with the regular bench seats in it! When we asked him where the comfortable ride was, he said he couldn’t get it this time but not to worry. Ok, we loaded up, and off we went on our 10 hour trip to the mountains.

The bus broke down about 3 quarters of the way up, in the middle of the desert (who would have guessed). We had to wait for someone to come and fix it. At that point, we were so tired and disgusted we decided to write a song about the experience. It went something like this;

Glenn Guy Transportation might be ok for him

But that dirty rotten SOB nearly did Grin in

He promised us a nice big cruiser but what did we get

Just a big old yellow bruiser that wasn’t worth a shit

It had 4 part harmony and everything! We sang it as we got back on the road and Glenn did not seem to mind that we were mocking him. (I think he was singing along after a while)

We ended up only making 2 weekend trips. We caravanned with some of our own cars on the second one cuz he had the damn school bus again!, and it was just as fun! When we finally got to the resort, it just so happened to be in the middle of the worst blizzard in 20 years. We had to unload all of the equipment in that snow storm and carry it about 100 yards to the lodge. It was so cold, my fingers were numb and the ends of my mustache broke off!

The condo was very nice, the only problem was that it was a 1 bedroom condo and Glenn claimed that for himself and his wife. The rest of us ended up sleeping on sofas or the floor in sleeping bags. Luckily, we had enough time to go up to the condo, get cleaned up and rest before the gig.

The time came when we had to head to the club to start playing. Our fingers were still numb from the cold but the show must go on! The place was packed with snow bunnies, and others who had been on the slopes all day and just wanted to party.

We started playing the first set and everything was going fine. Then it came time for me to sing my first song of the night, “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds”. Ricky started it out perfectly on the keyboard. You would have thought The Beatles themselves were playing it. Then I started to sing, “Picture yourself” I was so exhausted, my mind went blank … we played for a bit hoping I would remember the next words, but no luck! We stopped the song, I apologized and we started over … Ricky’s part was perfect again. I started singing … “Picture yourself” … OH NO! … I still couldn’t remember the next words! Suddenly a voice in the crowd yelled out … “In a boat on a river”! Everyone laughed and applauded and we finished the song. That was pretty embarrassing to say the least. But funny when I look back at it!

Dennis Hageman

Glenn Guy Transportation will be the death of us

He drove us up to Mammoth in his old school bus

That dirty “rotten” SOB tried to do grin in… you left out rotten.

Also do you remember we were all sleeping on the school bus seats with no seat belts and Glenn intentionally slammed on the brakes when he crossed a railroad track so we would all slide onto the floor? I also remember at the lodge that the restrooms were downstairs with open windows to the freezing weather. My hands were freezing too and I always got right back up to the stage (I think there was a stage) as soon as possible. I remember the start and stop of “Lucy In The Sky”, and also I remember us playing “Some Kinda Wonderful” and playing the loooooong version because the people were just dancing their asses off and yelling and screaming. I remember it was dark in the club and so cool and LOUD! I think the bar was doing big business! The greatest time ever for a rock band! Ken was like our Stage Manager/roadie and took some great pictures with sound of the scene. I wonder where they could be. Why did we go again is the question. Did we each get paid I remember like $75.00. We also had a banner we taped on the bus that said Grin at Mammoth or something like Grin, Mammoth or Bust! There are pictures somewhere. I will ask Eileen!

What a great time! For Some Kinda Wonderful, do you remember your bass and Mike’s drum intro, just the bass and drums and myself singing “I don’t need a whole lotta lovin, I don’t need a big fine car, I got everything that a man can want, I got more than I can ask for………, I don’t need to run around, don’t have to stay out all night”………. and so on, then at “Can I get a Witness?” All guitars and keyboard from Ricky and voices joined in, in a powerful harmony and then I think the crowd went crazy and sang along louder than us?

Richard Bianchi

The guys asked me if I wanted to go take that bus ride to their gig in Mammoth....over 300 miles away. The day was pouring rain and we drove, in what seemed like, nonstop rain all the way. It was so “socked in”, you could not even see the scenery!

After sitting on our tails for what seemed like forever, we got to a certain point close to Mammoth and there were roadblocks. Turns out that Mammoth was snowed in and we had to turn around and drive another 350 miles back to L.A. on that “stupid bus!” Needless to say, I did not ever go back with them. Not sure if the band ever went back either!

Didn't we get a weather report? That was one very long day!

Roger Nelson

Band Members

Larry Nelson – Guitar, vocals

Ricky Nelson - Keyboard

Dennis Hageman – Bass, vocals

Richard Bianchi – Guitar, vocals

Mike Bartlett – Drums  

Grin

These next songs were recorded at one of Grin's rehearsals. We used to play the songs in their original key, no matter how hard it was for us to sing them (I'm sure you'll notice).

Also, Skip played lead guitar on these. This group was transitioning into the next group ..."Flashpoint" not too long after this.

Grin Session Songs

The below songs were recorded in W.E. Studios. You may notice that there is no lead guitar on any of the songs. Unfortunately, Larry had left the group a little before this.

8 Track Cassette #2

8 Track Cassette #1

The below songs were recorded live on three 8 track cartridges on Ken Bianchi's "home stereo 8 Track recorder using two plastic mics set up in the back of the room. I cleaned them up a bit, but there still are some rough spots. They're still fun to listen to. (2nd cassette to come)

Click on the bus to see a clip from Grin's "Yellow Bus Tour"