Rock ‘N‘ Road Rampage

Aug. 17, 2005

Tribal Motors CEO Dodd Russell and rock star Kenny Olson are working on making Traverse City home to a rock-and-roll/motorcycle scene. They see the recent success of the Traverse City Film Festival, the growing popularity of area vineyards and the natural beauty of the region as a driving force in making this area a popular place for what is near and dear to their hearts: custom motorcycles and kick-ass rock-and-roll.
“I have been telling my rock-and-roll buddies for years about how great this place is,” said Kenny Olson. “They now believe me as they keep reading about all this great wine we are making and everyone is saying, ‘wow Traverse City has a film festival -- that place must be cool.’ Everyone I have invited up here to work in my studio has been blown away by the area.”

JUMP START
To get this “rock-and-ride scene” jump-started, Olson and Russell invited a bunch of their buddies to Northern Michigan for a fundraiser to benefit the Schoolyard Motorworks and The Father Fred Foundation. Rock ‘N Road 2005 will take place Wednesday, August 17 at Streeters Ground Zero Nightclub and will feature an autograph signing by musicians, race car drivers and the top custom motorcycle builders in the world. The night will wrap up with a concert by the Dirty Americans and Kenny Olson’s new band, Pack of Wolves. Some additional musical guests are expected to take the stage as well.
The response has been overwhelming.
“We have some of the top motorcycle builders in the world coming in. The guys who appear on those Discovery motorcycle building programs,” said Russell. “Every guy we contacted jumped at the chance and each one is paying their own way to come here. It is an amazing commitment.”
Russell, along with his bike builders Don and Kip Watkins (aka the Watkins Boyz) and rocker Kenny Olson, created Schoolyard Motorworks to give students at the TBAISD Career-Tech Center an opportunity to build a custom motorcycle and have a hands-on opportunity from the design to the marketing of the project. The student-run operation will be completed in May of 2006 when the motorcycle is raffled off with all proceeds benefiting the Father Fred Foundation.

BIG BUCKS
“We expect that the program will generate $75,000 plus for the Father Fred Foundation,” said Russell. “Our goal is to sell 1,500 (the maximum to be sold) raffle tickets at 50 bucks apiece. Imagine one lucky ticket holder is going to get a custom motorcycle that will be worth $50,000.”
Tribal Motors along with several sponsors, including race legend A.J. Foyt IV (his motorcycle was built by Tribal and is the orange one on the cover of this issue) are making the program financially possible. Russell points to the generosity of the community as the key to the success of the program as well as the Rock ‘N Road event.
“Doug Street and Streeters will be donating 100% of the door and a portion of the beverage sales from the evening to the program,” said Russell. “WKLT has donated to this and certainly enough can’t be said about Kenny Olson and his commitment to this community.”
Olson, who recently left his position as leader and lead guitarist of Kid Rock’s Twisted Brown Trucker Band, has moved back to Traverse City to work on several projects in the music industry. At this time, Olson isn’t willing to detail his departure from Kid Rock.
“We have been friends and band mates for 12 years and my loyalty to our relationship comes first,” said Olson. “A big part of my decision to leave was to have the time to pursue the many opportunities in this industry that have come my way over the years but I have been too busy with the Kid Rock thing to pursue them.”

MOVING ON
Those opportunities include producing other bands, starting his own Pack of Wolves band, creating his own label and artist management company and numerous requests from several musical legends to perform and record with them.
“While we still don’t have a name yet for our label, we do have a major label behind us for distribution purposes,” said Olson. “I can’t say too much until the ink dries, but a lot is happening. I know some heads have turned a few times in this town because we have flown in some major players to work in my recording studio. Some of these guys are so big that I figured I would have to fly to New York or LA to work with them, but each one of them wanted to come to Traverse City.”
Olson said that everyone he has welcomed to the area has quickly connected with the region.
“They love it here and everyone tells me how great it is to walk around this town versus LA or New York,” said Olson. “They are also are blown away by the beauty of the area and they all can’t wait to come back.”
As for Olson himself, he has found himself busier than ever. One project he is excited about is his appearance on the upcoming Les Paul & Friends CD (August 30 release date) that features Olson, Sting, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and other guitar legends. Olson lays down some amazing guitar riffs on the closing track, “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know,” with Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall handling vocals and Les Paul and Joe Perry of Aerosmith adding additional guitars.

GIBSON POSTER BOY
“It was funny because I did all the guitar work on the song and Joe came in and laid down a few riffs and when the early publicity came out the song was billed as Mick and Joe’s,” said Olson. “Well I didn’t see it but Joe did and he was pissed and called the label and said this is Kenny’s song he deserves the top billing.”
Russell said Olson has that sort of credibility with musicians in the industry. Legends such as Carlos Santana and Keith Richards have all sung his praise and Les Paul as well has spoke highly of Olson. Gibson Guitars recognizes Olson’s popularity and will be releasing a new signature Les Paul series of guitars this October and Olson’s will be the first. In addition Olson will become the first Gibson poster boy in several years.
“What is cool is they are creating this new ‘Inspiration’ guitar series and they are starting it with Kenny,” said Russell. “In the past they would release the Jimmy Page signature guitar and it would be the old Les Paul that Jimmy played; they would make 50 and call it good. Now, instead of releasing some guitar Kenny played Kenny is taking his inspirations and creating a series of guitars from the best of the old and new school players.”

GIBSON PARTY
Gibson is throwing a major party to release Olson’s new guitar this October in Detroit. Details are pending but several big names are expected to come in to jam and celebrate with Kenny. Gibson will also be launching a major advertising campaign around the new Olson Inspiration Signature Series that will include posters as well as full-page ads in major music and guitar publications.
In the meantime Olson’s focus is the Rock ‘N Road show. He is excited that the Dirty Americans will be performing. Olson is currently producing their new album and critics have labeled the band as the next big thing to come out of Detroit.
“We can’t say for contractual purposes but a few of Kenny’s musical friends have called and told me they are coming in for this show,” said Russell. “Don’t tell Kenny -- it is supposed to be a surprise.”
Hopefully, Olson is too busy rehearsing with the Pack of Wolves to read the paper.

Highlights of Rock ‘N Road include a meet and greet Session at 6 p.m. for $5 per person where builders, racers and rock stars will sign autographs and posters. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and is $20 (includes the meet and greet session) and will feature the Dirty Americans and Kenny Olson and his band Pack of Wolves (Chris VanDahl, L.A. Guns, Adam Kury, Legs Diamond and Shannon Boone, Howling Diablos). The evening will close out with a surprise jam. For additional information visit www.streetersonline.com or call the box office (231) 932-1300.

The BUILDERS
• Watkins Boyz of Tribal Motorworks
• Kendall Johnson of Kendall Johnson
Customs
• Greg Westbury of Westbury Hotrods
& Cycles
• Eric Gorges of Voodoo Choppers
• Mark Warrick of Soncy Road Speed
& Custom
• Pete “Hotdog” Finlan of Monster
Garage/WCC
• Dan and Ashley Webb of Dan Webb
Hotrod & Custom
• Ron Finch of Finch’s Custom Styled
Cycles

The RACERS
• Todd Braun of Braun Racing / #32
Winfuel
• AJ Foyt IV of Foyt Racing


Battle on the Bay this Saturday
Four area bands will compete in the Battle on the Bay live music competition Saturday, Aug. 13 in Petoskey. Performers will include All O Against from Gaylord, Cereal Box Propaganda from Charlevoix and two others to be announced.

The Battle will be held on the main stage at Ed White Field in Bayfront Park beginning at 1 p.m.

Grand prize will be the production of a 10-song demo CD by The Masters Sound of Alanson. A headline band will wrap up the performances and will judge the competition.

T-shirts will be available for participants and spectators for a small fee. Organizers of Battle on the Bay are getting an assist on the show from Leo’s Sports Bar, 2 Heart Core Tattoos for the artwork, Masters Sound for the prize donation, and Hostile Clothing for the T-Shirts.

Let the battle begin...