Spring Is In The Air

It is lambing time at the farm and I was reminded of the many pets that shared Michael's and my life. The first that came to mind was Amster the Hamster which was given to Michael to care for over summer vacation in fourth grade. Amster came in a cage with a wheel , shavings, food and water tray. He looked like Gus Gus, a pear shaped creature with brown little teeth, large distended tummy and a lethargic attitude towards life. I don't remember him ever running in the wheel, more often he was reclined at the bottom slowly swinging back and forth. Someone left the door ajar and little Amster moved on.


At Easter time we went to the neighborhood Woolworth's where they sold baby chicks that were dyed in pastel colors pink, blue, and green. Once you selected the one you liked they were placed on the moving check out counter and shoved into a paper bag which was stapled shut. You could hear them fluttering against the bag. I have no recollection what became of them once we got home.


Grandpa Max took us to the circus one summer and bought us two chameleons that came with little collars and leashes which were attached to safety pins so they could be worn on your shirt.


The moron who conceived of this fashion statement was no friend of Petta. They would scamper around for a while and then hang at the end of the leash until their luminous green color changed to sickly gray.


When Michael was fourteen our house keeper bought him a very fine German Shepherd named Rex Von Sargent Hessian The Third. This was an outstanding dog with one slight weakness. He was never really trained and as he tipped in at one hundred plus pounds of frisky pup he would pull you with the might of a freight train on a walk. He also had a fancy for digging up the neighbors freshly planted rose bushes or go on a romp down to the beach and run hellbent along the surf barking incessantly. This prompted a call to the police department who picked him up and locked him in a cell until my mother could come down and pay the fine. This happened so often that we actually had a charge account at the station and they would just add on the cost of his tearing up the mattresses or eating a box of toilet paper which he did when he became bored. Rex was well known and loved by most of the police and fire department and became a sort of mascot to the men in service. It should be noted that all the dogs adored our mother. Case in point was Mama taking Rexie, Michael and myself out for frozen custard. Rex loved vanilla in a sugar cone. We are on our way back when a policeman pulls us over for some infraction. Rex always likes to lay on Mama's lap. The officer approaches the car with summons in hand intent on passing it through the window. As the window lowered Rex lunged towards the stranger's hand and just about nailed him. The officer explodes in anger and every time he approaches the car Rexie greets him with a full complement of ivory. Finally he shoves the ticket under the windshield wiper and screams," get a muzzle for that dog. It wasn't long after that incident that Rexie was in the back seat of my father's car sleeping contentedly and upon arriving home my Dad said," let's go Rexie". Rex replied with a deep growl and he received a very strong correction.

About three weeks later the crate arrived from the K-9 Corp and Rex was enlisted.




Our next additions came from a crazy aunt on my mother's side. She sent us two Myna birds in a ornate Indian cage. As luck would have they got out and Michael and I had the rare experience of complete identification with our mother's phobia. She was deathly afraid of birds and said this was because when she was a little girl bats some how got tangled in her hair. Sounds like the old crap a roo to me but, whatever? Those little fuckers were flying all over, banging into walls, flapping their little wings as hard as they could. Mama hightailed it, her hands covering her head as she made a run for the stairs. Directly behind her were Michael and I heads also covered in order to protect our self from their needle sharp beaks which were intent on spearing our brains. This newly acquired fear of birds was so well implanted that Michael would not enter a room unless he was assured that the bird was locked in a cage and could not get out. Even when he walked amongst pigeons his eyes grew wide and the color drained from his face.



Enter Corky Corkscrew our Boston Bull Pup. Corky was brindle in color and looked like the stub of a cigar butt. Full of love and affection he was a natural addition to the pack. Through no fault of his own his physical form created some side effects that amused and disgusted others. His face was pushed in and in order to breath he schnorkeled and snored like a asthmatic old man. Secondly he was the most gaseous dog I have ever know. He let out silent bombs that could wilt flowers and vacate a room. He was oblivious to all this and simply assumed that the humans were nuts. He finally bonded with a German couple who worked for us and they renamed him "Der Fluffer." Many a night the three would be on the sofa sharing a pint of ice cream, Fluffer in the center being fed by both of them. Eventually they took him and he lived a fat, happy life.

The last family dog was Pepper a Miniature Schnauzer of show dog quality. He claimed my Mother as his property and lived for her company. They both had their hair done each week and he was glued to her side. At night he would cuddle deep into her hip and this bothered my Father. After he was kicked off the bed he would trot into the living room which had very expensive floor to ceiling drapes and urinate on each one. Once relieved of his anger he would happily return to my mothers side basking in the comfort of my Fathers snores. The drapes became a shorter and shorter almost like cafe curtains. Pepper not fully satisfied with marking his territory would after my Father went to work climb up on his pillows and extend himself fully, then draw his underside over the top of the pillow. Pepper remained king of his dominion for some fourteen years.

Lastly Michael and his wife Susan got a pup named Harry. This was a puppy that never lost it's puppy smell. It looked a little like a fox and had an interesting relationship with Michael. My brother spoke to harry just like any other person and Harry would cock his head and appear to be on the verge of speech. Being unable to master English he compensated by smiling and baring his teeth and yodeling which provided my brother with hours of amusement. Harry was the father of Harry 2 and lived to a good old age with just a small speech impediment.

Please excuse me for drifting a bit, but Spring is in the air.
Allen

Michael Bloomfield July 28, 1943 - February 15, 1981

AND DEATH SHALL HAVE NO DOMINION

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall raise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no domimion.

And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan't crack;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Though they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.

Dylan Thomas (1936)

Kooper's Birthday Bash at B.B. King's Club

People were waiting in a very long line on 42ND street to see Al Kooper and celebrate his 65Th birthday on Saturday February 7Th. It was standing room only and it was great to see this turn out. The show opened with Danny Kalb, fame guitarist of Al Kooper's Blues Project days. Danny played acoustic guitar accompanied by Al and up right bass and drums. It was as if time had ceased and the familiar groove was effortlessly found. Then Al shared a chronological walk down memory lane and playing guitar he recreated the sounds of the baby boomers youth. Next Jimmy Vivino was brought on and he and Al did two numbers on acoustic guitars from the Rekooperation days. I then was invited on stage to introduce the Mike Bloomfield Signature Les Paul 1959 Sunburst Guitar. I shared a true story which occurred some forty years ago with the audience.

Alan had introduced me to his manager, and I was hired to be his assistant. I was working in that capacity at a concert in Boston featuring Alan and my brother Michael. While we were waiting for the opening act to conclude, Michael had yet to arrive. As the band on stage began their finale still no Michael. The atmosphere in the office turned south and the promoter became more and more sullen and angry with each passing moment. Alan was trying to find a safe shelter and I became as still as a mouse. Alan and I made eye contact and I could see the proverbial light bulb go off in his eyes. As if transformed he rushes to me and says with the self confidence of a Prophet what we were going to do. He started by putting a jacket on me and began hustling me towards the stage. Next he draped a guitar on my shoulder and revealed his inspiration. "Here's what you do. You go up on stage and because you look a little like Michael you tell them you are really sick, have a very high temperature and can't play tonight, but want to thank them all for coming and hopefully I will be over this shortly and make it up to you. Then run for cover." Several things crossed my mind. This inspiration probably was similar to the one General Armstrong Custer had when he thought it might be a hoot to check out the Little Bighorn. Next I heard the mention of "we" which reduced down to me, translating into I am going to receive the hot lead enema. Lastly, while I was now walking down the last mile I see out of the corner of my eye this familiar form stomping down the aisle. Michael immediately recognizes me and removes his guitar from my shoulder and with a with a full grin says, " Allen I didn't know you play guitar!" Off he goes to the stage stopping every few feet, shaking his head and chortling to himself.

That was the first and only time I wore his guitar up until now. So much had changed and now I had the honor of placing this prototype into the hands of my most favorite guitarist and friend Jimmy Vivino to be played for the very first time. Jimmy V has been blessed with talent that seems to know no limits. This similarity with Michael is obvious. What is more significant in my heart is that Jimmy and Michael both shared a respect for the masters of the blues and reached out and supported their abilities and did all they could to introduce them to a greater audience. Both men maintained their friendships with musicians they started with and never abandoned them. Lastly each has a loving generous nature and remained humble in attitude toward others. When this outstanding character is coupled with great musical skill the sound is so pure and special it has a transforming effect. Jimmy then played the Michael Guitar from the Super Session period and brought the house down.

Al concluded with his Berkley Band and while on remote hook up left the stage and roamed into the audience singing and sharing his joy.

What a nice night. So much love and appreciation abounded, what a joy to behold.

Mike Bloomfield Signature Les Paul Sunburst introduced at Namm Show

Jimmy Vivino called me last night from the Namm Show In Los Angeles to describe the prototype Mike Bloomfield Les Paul Sunburst. He said it was beautiful and that Gibson did an absolutely fantastic job. Jimmy will be taking that guitar back to New York and will be playing it at B.B. Kings on February 7Th celebrating Al Koopers birthday. I look forwards to seeing some of you there to share in this very special event.
Best regards,
Allen

A Christmas to remember

I was living with my brother in California and got sick and went home to Chicago and into a hospital. I got out three weeks later, it was the last of Fall. As was my habit I rode a bus to the Lincoln Park Zoo. On the way the bus stopped and in stepped the most beautiful girl I had ever seen, and to my astonishment she took the seat directly across from me. It was impossible not to try and look at her. She must have been a model or actress. If only I could make contact. I had my arm resting on the top of the bench and felt someone gripping my arm. I spun around and there was an old down and out man wearing a filthy pea coat and he was gesticulating to me in a incomprehensible way. His rummy blue eyes were protruding and his face was turning chalky gray. I yelled to the bus driver that we have a problem, it looks like a stroke or seizure.
I placed him down on the bench and loosened his belt and collar, then noticed his dentures were obstructing his breathing. I got them out and placed them in his coat pocket. He rolled over and proceeded to vomit. Now the other passengers who were watching this began to pull towards the front of the bus. He had a blue knit hat that had fallen off and was now resting in the pool of discharge. I sat down on the bench and pulled him into my body so he won't choke. We made eye contact again and with a shudder and a gasp he slipped away. All this happened in a matter of seconds. The driver came back, I told him he was dead and they called for an ambulance. I don't know why but I reached down and got his cap. Outside people were milling around and I drifted towards the park. I felt a tap on my shoulder and there was the girl, her eyes filled with tears and her beautiful face drawn tight. We walk for quite a while not saying a word. We began dating after that.
I was born on Christmas Eve and my birthday was celebrated at my parents home. This time my brother and his wife, my cousin and my girlfriend Priscilla would all be there. As is the habit we are generally a loud family. Priscilla on the other hand came from a reserved, remote family that seldom raised a voice let alone use profanity. We got through the cocktails and salad and main course and then it started. "Michael, Michael play something on the piano." By now Michael's wife was starting to weave and my cousin was nodding into his plate. "Come on Mike play." More often then not he would simply let this slide and knock out a few tunes. With a devilish gleam in his eyes he said, "OK, I'll entertain you right now." With that he jumps up from the table and runs to my parents bathroom, next a closet and then a cabinet under the sink. He then goes to the guest bathroom and locks the door. We are all waiting in apprehension for what is to follow. "Allen cue up East West." I stand ready to drop the needle and in comes Michael with a wire hanger twisted around my Mothers sanitary napkin and a can of lighter fluid. He looks at me and says,"My man hit it!" With that he saturates the torch, takes a mouthful of light fluid and sends a flame up to the ceiling. He shoots out another flame expelling all the fluid and then extinguishes the torch in his mouth. He then grabs his wife and their coats and you can overhear him saying, "that ought to hold them."
What can you say after that. I took one look at Priscilla and saw shock. Cousin Chucky was stumbling to the coat closet, my Mother went into her Loretta Young character and my Father was cold and distant.
I tried to explain what had occurred to deaf ears. I dropped Priscilla off at the Young Woman"s Hotel, no kiss, no happy birthday, just a see ya.
About a week went by and I decided to call her at her parents place in Lake Forest. Her Mother answered the phone and before I got a word out she told me Priscilla never wanted to see or hear from me again.
The funny thing is Miss P. was short on heart and I am glad I saw it early on. Also my brother could sure eat fire, best I ever saw.
Happy Holidays,
Allen B.

I am doing something wrong?

I have been told that this blog is intimidating, not really loose and easy. I am very sorry if this is the case. The last thing I want to do is put anyone off. I would like nothing better than to remember Michael through your observations and mine. Say whatever is on your mind, please express yourselves, your impressions, likes and dislikes there will be no judgement on my part.

If you are interested in some aspect of his life ask, I'll tell you if I don't know and who might. If your taste is for funny moments just say so. You have my full attention. Allen B.

Who would you cast to play Michael Bloomfield in a feature film?

Happy and healthy holidays to all. I have been approached several times regarding a film of Michael's life. Keeping in mind that who ever plays him must be a competent actor who would best be able to fill the role and have musical talent? The time frame would be from the late fifties to the end of the seventies.
Allen Bloomfield