Archival so-called "performance photo," 1970

[Willie G. Moseley]

While cleaning out some family memorabilia, I stumbled across this scratched-up photo from late spring, 1970, taken at Chanute Air Force base, Illinois during a base-wide talent show. I'd only been there for about a month so that explains the skinhead hair style; it was growing back following basic training in San Antonio. I was 19 at the time.

I'd noted the bands and clubs in nearby Champaign-Urbana previously in this space, and maybe even this performance, but perusing the photo was interesting experience in sussing out the gear that we used. 

Dude on the left owned the sunburst Gibson thinline and Fender Deluxe amp (Was it a blackface? I can't tell). Bass player had some kind of Fender, I used the Airman's Club's red Fender Mustang. Amps for the bass player and me were also club inventory---solid-state Baldwins with multi-colored slider switch controls. The club also had a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face (red circular case).

The general who commanded the educational wing was at the show, as was the base commander (full bird colonel). 

And I got us disqualified for humping my amp, (like Hendrix in Monterey Pop ), but the general was laughing his ass off. 

Jeezus...that was 55 years ago

[velorush]

What a cool collection of gear! And what a spacious stage!

[BoogieMKIIA]

Is that a Fender Mustang?

[stobro]

That looks like the stage where the Rantoul USO club held their Saturday dances. I have an activities program from June 1975 where my band was scheduled to play on the 21st. I was 15 at the time. That may have been our first gig ever.

[Willie G. Moseley]

^^^Played that off-base USO place as well with another throw-together group.  For obvious reasons, lineups of temporary bands changed often. I managed to get my cheap Teisco shipped to me, and used it for the duration. Its feedback proclivities could be utilized for sustain, but I wasn't no Ted Nugent.

On one weekend we played an afternoon squadron party at the NCO club then a dance at the USO club that night 'coz some band cancelled. That's eight hours of gigging in one day. I didn't have callouses on my fingertips so they ended up getting blisters. That was obviously the most exhausting musical experience of my life.. Staggered back to my barracks, threw the Teisco on the top bunk, and collapsed on the lower bunk. Didn't even get my shoes off.

Edited August 21, 2025 by Willie G. Moseley

[Jakeboy]

I was 14 years behind you in the USAF, Willie G. Did 20 years. Remember finding vintage gear in the rec center at Keesler AFB in tech school and playing gigs at Osan AB, ROK. Once my band was in the middle of a drunken late night rehearsal, playing “Going to a Go-Go” when Chaka Khan walked in with her entourage and started dancing. No one else in the room. Kinda surreal. She was there for a gig either earlier that night or the next day. Good memories