Back in 1974, Heartsfield opened for Joe Walsh and Barnstorm at the Hammond Civic Center. I got there early to check things out and to see what was going on. I had been a fan since the first album. Having worked for a few local bands as a roadie and security, I approached Heartsfield's sound man and asked if they were looking for any help that night. He said they were short and that I could help out and the job would pay $50.00. I got to work helping to set up and before the show started I was assigned to work security off stage left. I grabbed a couple of "Burgie" beers ( that's what they had) and took my post. I had a great spot for both Heartsfield and Joe Walsh. It was a great time. Afterwards, we packed up the gear and closed up.

Through the years I have kept in touch with Artie, Phil and Ziggy. In fact became good friends with Zig. ( I really hope he recovers from the stroke and plays bass again, send him your prayers).

Seeing the band play at Country Club Hills brought back a lot of memories and the music is still great. It was nice to see Phil on stage.

Hope you guys keep the tradition going and never let the music die.

P.S.  I never got paid the $50.00 so you guys still owe me money..............LOL

I've got a lot of memories saved up from way back when, regarding the first Heartsfield band and their triumphant entry into the Midwest rock/cowboy scene. Lots of good bands then, had some personal favorites, but one day in the summer of 74 I was passing the Champaign County fairgrounds grandstand and heard a band warming up.

I followed Heartsfield for years, back to when I was still in college. Then in 1980 I started playing with a band called Hotspurs, who's drummer briefly was still Stu Nevitt (he left shortly after I joined, but I have great memories of playing with him) and who's bass player was Dangerous Doug Mazique, God rest his soul, the greatest musician I ever had the pleasure of sharing a stage with.

I was very happy to be able to pick up your double CD. It's all I have had in my car CD player for about the last couple of months.

The year was 1973, and I was privileged to become acquainted with two of the finest, most articulate drummers to emerge on the Chicago music scene -- drummer John Panozzo of Styx fame (God rest his soul; he is greatly missed) and Heartsfield drummer, Artie Baldacci who is alive and kicking.

In 1978 or 79, the band was playing a small joint called the JR Ranch just outside of Hudson, Wisconsin. Later that eve Artie got in a small (DWI) jam.

I have gotten a kick out of the Heartsfield website. I can identify the "unknown" newspaper clip reviewing the Carbondale, Illinois show at Second Chance as coming from "The Daily Egyptian," the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University.

Anyway, I will relate one other related story that I remember from the concert in Rolla, MO in March of 1977. I am sure that you don't remember this or may not have ever known it.The concert was in the gym and the stage was on the gym floor and was basically open on the sides.

they had drank a river of coffee...
forgotten what real food tasted like
driven Coast to Coast, border to border
at 90 M P H for d a y s at one time
seldom arrested often sick, s p a c e d, tightjawed
lugged+humped 7000lbs of ancient, crackling gear
into any cold, e m p t y, stinking barroom that had electricity or a stage.
played so hard + l o n g + sweet + L O U Dhat after waking up in some miserable motel in some terrible town with a horrible headache
it was get up, move along and do it all over again.
worked like mules, froze down south, lost in the west.
had a ball.
- Tony Griff

your two hours were incredible....the best show i have ever seen....you'll remember me i told you racin the sun made me cry...we go back to 75' columbia, Mo brief encounter....and then we did the breakfast show at the embassy suites downtown stl after your show with marshall tucker in the round at the westport playhouse...back to the show on march 8th....when you and jc were pickin' at the end of racin the sun i swear to god i closed my eyes and it was better than dicky betts ending to melissa and i started crying...not for memories but because it sounded that good...looking forward to seeing the acoustic show on april 12th...love you guys...jeff reeves