This is just weird beyond my imagination!




Fake band scams fair

Redbone manager says Butte fair-goers saw ‘blatant’ imposters
By John Grant Emeigh of The Montana Standard - 08/11/2006

“I’d like to grab him by the throat and shake him like an old rug."
‘Come and Get Your Love’ songwriter Pat Vegas, who founded the band Redbone, noted for releasing innovative rock albums in the ’70s such as “Already Here,” claims it was never in Butte.

Though Redbone was the headlining band at the Butte-Silver Bow Fair last weekend, Redbone’s manager claims that the band people actually saw at the fair was an imposter.

“I’ve been in the business for 40 years, and I’ve never ran into anything this blatant,” Ron Kurtz said Thursday from his office in Burbank, Calif.

Kurtz, who represents Redbone, said the fair board was “conned” into hiring someone claiming to be a co-founding member of Redbone, but was never a band member. He added that the “real Redbone” was playing shows in Wisconsin at the time of the Butte-Silver Bow County Fair.

The fair board intended to hire Redbone for $6,500 to play three shows Aug. 3-5. Fair officials dealt with a man named Denny Freeman, who claimed to be a co-founding member of Redbone.

Members of the real Redbone say Freeman is a fraud.

Pat Vegas, who actually founded Redbone with his brother Lolly in 1968, said Freeman wasn’t ever a band member, and he’s never even heard of him. Vegas added he’s angry that Freeman is allegedly touring with his band’s name.

“I’d like to grab him by the throat and shake him like an old rug,” Vegas said when reached by phone Thursday afternoon.

Those strong words came from the man who wrote Redbone’s 1974 hit, “Come and Get Your Love.” Kurtz said he is prepared to file a lawsuit against Freeman if he is touring under the Redbone name.

Dave Palmer, chairman of the fair board, said he heard about the possible fraud Wednesday and the board is investigating the matter. He said he will take the matter to the county attorney’s office to see what legal action can be taken if Freeman is an imposter.

“The whole thing was fishy from the start,” Palmer said.

During the performance, Palmer said only two band members showed up, and they claimed the rest of the band couldn’t make it because they had the “mumps,” Palmer said. Local musicians filled in for the missing band members.

Palmer and Redbone’s manager said they haven’t been able to contact Freeman. An Internet search turned up no connection between Freeman and Redbone.

Vegas said he felt sorry for the people of Butte-Silver Bow who were swindled by this alleged imposter. It upsets Vegas that the reputation of his band could suffer if Freeman is claiming to be Redbone.

“He’s on dangerous waters, because he’s messing with my name,” Vegas said.

Redbone began as a rock quartet made up of American Indian members. They had minor hits with “Maggy” and “The Witch-Queen of New Orleans.” Their best known song “Come and Get Your Love” can still be heard on recent movie soundtracks and commercials.

Redbone is still active and expecting to release a new album some time in the fall, the band’s manager said.

-- Edited by Ruby at 20:52, 2006-08-14