On that day in 1976 - 16 July

I was really into Argent at this time (they did have songs beside "Hold Your Head Up", nearly all of them much better!), who I came to because I was such a Zombies fan, as well as Russ Ballard's solo albums. RB either played at the Whisky or the Roxy; I can't remember! (Sounds more like it was the Roxy...) I will have to see if I can find the photos from that night; I'm thinking the Plus-X might not have been a success. (To those unfamiliar with black and white photography, Plus-X was a more detailed film, which required brighter lighting if you were not using flash (which I never did; in addition to it being rude and annoying for the performer, flash destroyed all the contrasting tones of your subject), and therefore I would usually use the more grainy faster film, Tri-X, for gigs.)

Robert M. was my tightwad Scottish ex; Dan, Bill and Susan friends from school. It's unclear what the boys did when we went in the Rainbow as I'm pretty sure they would not have been able to get in; they were both only 16. Stuart is this guy we knew from the Rainbow parking lot (where everyone would hang out at the end of the evening); he looked a lot like Todd Rundgren and tried to dress like him (without the multi-colored hair though), and he claimed to know Todd, but we thought he was making that up. I had not seen him since the early 80s or maybe even the 70s until just this month; Rachel Haden and I met him at Todd's show at the Canyon Club and I kept thinking he looked familiar... Well, turns out he did know Todd way back in the Philly days, so more fool me!

The guy who looked "like Peter" was Eric Idelson - many stories about him coming up! I don't know what happened to him after the late 70s though. (Later: I just found him on Facebook! VP at UBS?! - who would've thunk it?! https://www.facebook.com/ericidelson He has shorn the Bolan ringlets but the rest of his family seem to have them!) The Peter I'm referencing was another friend from school, Peter Furru, who looked a lot like a more Nordic Marc Bolan (as did Eric). Peter had played in a glam cover band at high school called Second Phlight with Brent, Dan and Al... Who played drums? I can't remember!

16 July 1976

This morning Cheryl said Cathy was on par with her - really! [Two friends from high school; I'll leave it to you to figure that one out!] We went to the beach today - it was good. [It wasn't till 1978 that I only would go to the beach when the sun was down.]

Robert Marlow decided he couldn't afford $4 and also would need a ride home, so I got Dan and Bill to take us, me and Rich [Susan Richards]. [I think $4 was the cost of the Russ Ballard gig and I think I had just passed my driving test so would have driven but did not want to drive Robert all the way back to the Hollywood Riviera (which isn't in Hollywood or anywhere near it, but south Torrance) anyway, especially as he never gave me gas money.]

I hope the Plus-X is all right; I did have time to go to another store but oh well, I needed the Plus-X for Saturday anyway. [This was always a problem with film; trying to get the timing right for finishing a roll!]

That guy must have been Stuart with his hair cut, it scared me! Ooh yeah, that Steven Tyler/Earle Mankey [I guess he looked like a cross between them] guy - I wasn't staring at him too much!! [Gag me with a spoon; I almost sound like a valley girl!]

We were sitting there sort of on the side and all of a sudden I go: "Russ Ballard!" and he had just walked in.  He was great; he did: [I then proceed to list his entire set but I shan't bother you with the song titles!] Mostly stuff from his first album, which is good. [I just got his three, or first three, albums out; I seem to remember the third one was a clunker...]

Jay Ferguson [Who?! Sounds here as if he's the main act! Just googled: Jay Ferguson is an American rock and roll/pop musician, known for his work with Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, and his 1978 solo hit "Thunder Island". His later career has been as a composer of music for television programs and films.] was OK but then we left for the Rainbow. 

It was pretty good; first time I've been there without Robert in so long. [Cause even after we stopped going out, we still went to the Rainbow together.] Saw that guy who's in love with my butt. [??!!!] Also this really neat-looking guy said Susan was too young. I go, "She's only 15," and he goes, "What's her phone number?"

That was funny - there was a guy there who looked like Peter, dressed like him in Second Phlight, and acted like him too; he danced by himself but couldn't even dance! Once he smiled at me and when we were leaving he said, "Don't go yet!!" Neat.