Drugs, alcohol, groupies - none of these cures for homesickness will be on the Badger Days tour when it travels across Wisconsin this summer. For those unfamiliar with Badger Days, it's a tour of Badger coaches to cities around the state.
Last Thursday, UW officials announced that the tour will make stops in Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Wausau.
I'm sure all the coaches will behave themselves on the road, but the whole idea of a tour got me thinking ... what if they weren't coaches, but a rock 'n' roll band cruising across the state in the early 1970s? What instruments would they play, and how would their personalities mesh ...
May 29 - Our camera crew catches up with Red Zeppelin on the band's tour bus before its first show in Baraboo. Manager Barry Alvarez climbs aboard the bus wearing a yellow and brown checkered suit coat, aviator sunglasses and several gold chains. He holds a martini with two olives in one hand and the nub of what once was a Camel cigarette in the other.
Babies,"" Alvarez begins, pausing to take a final draw from his cig. ""I don't need to tell you how important this first concert is. It sets the tone for the entire tour. Now let's get out there and rock this house for 60, I mean, 120 minutes.""
""It's a great day for rock 'n' roll,"" drummer Mike Eaves screams as the band walks onto the stage to a thunderous ovation.
Lead singer Bret Bielema wows the throngs of Red Zeppelin supporters when he opens with ""Hey, Hey What Can I Do (Got an Offensive Line Coach that Won't Be True).""
Bo Ryan, who smokes his distinctive corn-cob pipe during each show, emits a soulful, bluesy sound on his guitar, nicknamed Chester. Lisa Stone also plays a guitar she calls Jolene and adds backup vocals. Greg Van Emburgh lays down a funky beat on bass guitar. Eaves bangs on the skins, while Mark Johnson tickles the ivories and also contributes on vocals. Jeff Rohrman plays a mean cowbell.
After a sensational performance that includes hits like ""Halfback Counter to Heaven,"" ""When De (Andre) Levy Breaks"" and a cover of the Beatles' ""Chryst, You Know It Ain't Easy,"" the band returns to its hotel room at the Baraboo Hilton to party.
""We're 1-0
