The year 1989,
The place Central Florida. A late spring Friday night.
I had stumbled into joining a local hair metal band. We were part of the Tampa scene. The one that gave us SAVATAGE. No we were not anywhere near that level. Local dives, keg parties, that sort of thing.
DDT, was our name. Stood for Dave Donn, and Todd. There were two Dave's btw but DDT sounded cooler than DDDT or anything else we came up with. We told people it stood for Damned Deadly Threat.
That particular Friday night, we had done a set at the Volley club in Tampa. Their claim to fame and name being, you guessed it, a volleyball court.
We were based out of Plant city, a small town halfway between Tampa and Lakeland. Famous for Strawberries and the big Strawberry festival/Fair. One of the members of the Southern Rock band, The Outlaws lived there at the time. A Bass player. That's pretty much the claim to fame.
On our way back to home base, which was a T.V. and VCR repair shop in plant City we stopped in at a Denny's. Only the driver of the van was sober. The rest of us had been partying since early Friday morning. We weren't straight or right.
This part of Florida was very, conservative, a definite notch on the Bible belt and we, were not. We sort of stood out.
Four guys, long haired, leather, spandex, studs, spikes, ear rings, you all know the look. It is 4:30 in the morning. The Only other patrons were strawberry farm workers, the supervisors. The migrant laborers tended to stay on the farms in housing there. So these were middle aged neckish type men. Neckish, as in, redneckish.
I can get away with that description being of mixed Hillbilly and Redneck stock myself, as was every one else in the Band.
The patrons were not amused with our antics. Flipping butter pats up sticking them to the ceiling tiles.
Making high velocity long range spit balls with cucumber, and drink straws.
Flirting with and keeping all the waitress staff at our table.
When one good old boy took offense and said things, we ignored him and laughed louder. The more they complained the crazier we got. Evidently, , licking jelly off the neck of the waitress sitting in my lap was the bridge too far. I don't understand what the patrons were upset about, she wasn't unhappy about it.
Things were said, threats were made, saltshaker thrown, until the cops came.
No real violence ensued, no damages outside of a light food brawl. The cops wrote down our info from our Drivers license. Made sure the van driver was sober and told us to leave. Which, we did. Taking every waitress and dish washer for both Third shift and first shift with us. The party lasted until Sunday morning.
I do believe it was fun. Parts are kind of blurry.
Sunday, there was an SCA event in Tampa. Which seriously , twisted I attended. The event went well. Smashing bashing was fun as usual. Home made Beer, Ale, Wine, and Mead was sampled and off we went back home headed to Lakeland. On the way we stopped at that same Denny's.
I was recognized. Even wearing a kilt, and regalia, the Denny's manager recognized me.
He was not happy to see me and some twenty of my friends as well also kitted out in various medieval garb. That was when I learned that I was banned from the central Florida region Denny's.
So we left, made our way to Lakeland and stopped at Po boys family restaurant.
Along the way, one carload of us stopped for beer and smokes. Taka ( my good friend, kitted out as an 15th century samurai) and I went in the store. Leaving a station wagon full of ladies back at the car. While we were in the store an altercation between the ladies and a pick up truck load of red necks occured.
One fool ran his mouth, Morgan told him where to shove it, he pulled a knife was threatening to slash the car tires. ( Why? No idea) that was when Taka and I walked up loaded down with cases of Beer. It was also when Morgan reached into the Station wagon and drew my sword. An Irish Long Sword. 36” blade.
She flourished it at the redneck holding his little hunting knife.
“ Oh? I will See Your six and raise you thirty six tiny tim.” With a wicked smirk. The Redneck was confused. Wide eyed at the tall chick waving a big sword and now, a dude dressed like a samurai and, me. Kilted and Chainmail shirt. The guys retreated, pulling out of the parking lot.
There, was been more imbibing in route.
At Po-boys, we slid several tables together, and held court.
Evidently the management was not amused by a live action role play , performance of Monty pythons Holy Grail. Yes, we even had coconuts.
Several of us were reinacting the film hopping around and on the table. This after the drunken “Spam, Spam and Spam” routine when ordering.
The polk county Sheriff's were nice to us, if firm. We didn't argue and left as requested. We were told that we would not be allowed back, ever. We were banned for life.
Maybe yelling at the manager “ Burn the witch” was over the top.
“But, I”m not dead yet”
“Time to spank the virgin”
Etc.
And before anyone gets boohurt about that, the only non pagan in the group, was the Samurai.
So that was my week end.
🤣🤣🤣