March 23, 2026

I'm very happy that my long time friend, Amy Madigan, won an Oscar last Sunday night for her role as Aunt Alice in the movie Weapons.

It is well deserved as she has been in film for a long time. Her first acting appearance was on the television show Hart to Hart in 1981.

After a lot of television and movies it's great to see her get an Oscar. She has done a lot of work and one of my favorite movies was Field of Dreams.

In the 1970's she was in several bands as a vocalist here in Milwaukee while she was attending Marquette University graduating with a B.S. degree in Philosophy in 1972.

By 1974 she moved to Los Angeles and began to get into acting and then marrying actor Ed Harris in 1983.

In late 1972 one of the bands she was in was Methyl Ethyl and the Ketones.  She was also part of The Hound Dog Band. They too are friends and great musicians that opened for John Mayall and others.

Enjoy a look at Amy and her band Methyl Ethyl and the Ketones at the UWM Student Union.

Joe Roe=Keyboards

John Billings=Pedal Steel and guitar

Brian Perotti=Drums

Todd Galanter=Bass

Mark Kapou=Vocals and percussion

The last photo )fairly bad photo) is from the Hound Dog Band days, Amy with Fred Bliffert and Mark Saicheck.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

November 4, 2013

Last Saturday night was a fun night. It was a charity benefit concert for The Blue Lotus Farm and Retreat Center. Al Kooper and Fred Bliffert were the stars.

A lot of people turned out to tell some great stories and play some great music.

Fred and his family oversee The Blue Lotus Farm and Retreat Center. What an awesome thing for the family to do!

The photos attached give you an idea of the fun we all had. Bob Reitman was the master of ceremonies and started the show.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Bob Metzger and Fred Bliffert of Bobby & the Helmets at the Catacombs Coffee House in 1972.

June 24, 2013

As I grew up in the Milwaukee rock scene, my favorite bands were The Ox and Short Stuff. Ok, I can't forget The Electric Shit Band, Woodbine and The Hound Dog bands.

Life was good for me during high school days in 1971 and 1972 with photography and rock'n'roll!

When The Ox was breaking up, another band was forming called Bobby and the Helmets! Bobby, was Bob Metzger, the great guitar player from The Ox. These days he plays guitar in Leonard Cohen's band. The Helmets are everybody else in the band I guess!

They were all best friends with each other and terrific musicians. Most of them are good friends of mine.

Here is a look at them playing at the Catacombs coffehouse on January 24, 1972.

Have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann