PAY UP, CHEATERS! The Story of THE BEAT FARMERS (2006) - documentary

[@kentborges5114]

R.I.P., Country Dick and Mojo !

[@maybeitsneato]

Their souls rave on forever!

[@rnrpeg1]

Wow Jamie! So cool to see this on KZbin!! Just wish the thumbnail was anything besides Mojo. 😢 Kudos for your great efforts and this solid rock doc on easily one of the greatest bands ever. Just saw Jerry play last week. ❤. Such a legend.

[@THE-HammerMan]

Thanks for posting. They were my friends early on. Went to school with Buddy. They did me a favor playing my '85 Halloween party with Los Lobos. Best of times!

[@jameskpolk3890]

This is an important video.

[@rancemuhammitz1266]

Pre-gig beers on the tailgate of my truck one night in Vegas, circa 1990. Country Dick walks up to us, takes the just-opened beer out of my hand, drains it, and hands me back the empty. We got to talking about cars, he said he had a Comet or something or other, wondered why my truck was so low. Loved that guy.

[@rnrpeg1]

He was the coolest!

[@patrickschaefer7005]

I saw the Beat Farmers open for the Dream Syndicate at the Roxy on Sunset. I had read about the Syndicate in the paper & went to check them out. Country Dick & Company were an unknown to me. I still have the "Beat Farmers Almanac" that Dick handed to me while leaving the club. One of the top-ten shows I've seen in over 45 years of grooving to live music. Listen to the Beat Farmers!

[@matthewpeterson3329]

The second best thing about the Beat Farmers is that I got to see Billy Bacon and the Forbidden Pigs open for them a few times. And fell as much in love with their music as I had with the Beat Farmers. If you haven't had the pleasure of hearing this band, treat yourself to a few hours of the best southwest, tex-mex, jump jive rockabilly that will ever grace your ears. R.I.P Mr. Russell.

[@thomasroberts1004]

Best band ever! Born and raised in San Diego, there will never be another like them.

[@geauxfast8u2]

A most UNPREDICTABLE show of Rock&Roll that will blow your socks off, and bareback you all night long, and on even after the show is over AND YOU WILL LOVE IT ❤ TOO

[@Yldcatz]

Love Plimsouls and Smithereens and Blasters. I want to go back!

[@jerrymeade8099]

Thanks for this video. I first saw the Beat Farmers in the mid/late 80's at Denver's Paramount Theater and to say that myself and my friends were blown away by this talented band, not to mention Country Dick's charismatic performance would be the epitomal understatement. They opened for the headliner and to this day, I can't say for sure who it was (but think it may have been Lou Reed). After the amazing show, we went around the corner to the Paramount Cafe for a few cocktails when in walks the band. We sent them a round of tequila shots which were served in these miniature fluted Coca Cola glasses - smaller versions of the famous larger vessels but nonetheless quite oversized for tequila shots. To our (happy) surprise, Jerry, Dick, Rolle, and Joey grab chairs and pulled right up to our table. More shots were followed by more shots as were several years of our psuedo-friendship. We would often have preshow cookouts when they were in town which they seemed to appreciate (and I imagine was slightly better than sitting in yet another hotel room). They'd always put us on the list at the frequent Herman's Hideaway shows, and we'd all routinely be up on stage with our kazoo's buzzing for Happy Boy. Caught them once in Durango and we all went to Mesa Verde the next day to see the Cliff Dwellings. Saw another show another at the USAF Academy after which myself, a buddy, and Rolle crammed into my pickup and embarked on an acutely unsuccessful after hours bar hopping adventure. Four of us even rented a Lincoln and took a road trip out to Long Beach to catch a show. Curiously, while winding down from the non-stop, "bullet run" drive out from Denver, we were hanging poolside and throwing out an occasional "Hey Baby" to the pretty girls while listening to Buddy Guy on a prerelease CD when who but a well dressed Archie Hooker strolls up quite perplexed at how we scored the disc (one pal had connections at KBCO). We shared a few beers with Archie and talked about our collective appreciation the Blues and later that evening I was fortunate to shake the hand of his uncle - the the late, great John Lee Hooker, who was playing a show nearby). Years later, in 1995, I'm in San Francisco and catch the Beat Farmer's packed show at Slim's. Tom recognized me from the Denver days, waved me over and tells me to hang out after the show - something all too common during the previous years. Once the crowd was gone and the doors were locked, I was able to briefly catch up with the guys and sat at the bar for a few drinks with Dick reminiscing over the "old days" while the crew loaded out. We talked about his battle with throat cancer and his struggle with recovery from the surgeries not knowing if he'd ever sing again. It never entered my mind that this would be the last time I would see or talk to him as it was just a few days later while playing Whistler that Dick sadly passed onstage. A few years later, I'd catch ("The Good") Jerry and The Farmer's show at Tio Leo's in San Diego. They were great - as always - but it was hard hearing those songs sung and played without the unmistakable growl and energy of Country Dick Montana. (I'm now cursing COVID restrictions and looking forward to seeing another Farmer's show - ASAP!) Rest in peace Dan. You are missed.

[@rickygoodman1294]

Man this is one of the greatest comments I've ever seen under one of these videos. Damn what I would have done to hang out with these guys, drinking and raising hell. Your lucky to have those memorys. I was fortunate to catch them twice in Tucson at the club congress. As I recall he grabbed a full pitcher of beer off our table, poured some of it on his head, poured some on me and my ☁️☁️2 buddy's heads, and then he started rolling around on the beer that was all over the floor. Man what a show. I miss this band terribly, and sometimes when I listen to them I get really sad.

[@peggywoods4327]

The Paramount is one of my favorite venues in Denver. Also loved Slims in SFO... I never got to see the Beat Farmers though, until earlier this month. I went on the Outlaw Country West cruise. One of the highlights was the last night; MOJO Nixon & The Pleasure Barons tribute to Country Dick. Featuring Dave Alvin, John Doe, among others. I've had "Riverside " in my head since I got off that ship and looked on KZbin. So yay the algorithms tossed this at me! Heads up there is a Mojo Nixon bio coming out soon, we got to see it on the cruise and it's really good. Thanks for this, it's fun seeing all these guys I met/saw on the cruise, albeit 16 years younger

[@sableann4255]

We had countless good times seeing the Beat Farmers at the Cactus Club in San Jose & the Catalyst in Santa Cruz...We got to know the guys as well. Would have Beers with them...My husband still has his signed T-shirt by the Band, their newsletters & a Kazoo Country Dick gave me one night (yes, I was up on the stage with them) LOL! Lots of good times! 'Sit down, we're going Camping' ...Country Dick Montana 😂🍺🎸

[@kimballwiggins3976]

Ditto - DenCo all the way

[@flamingroove]

The last time I saw the Beat Farmers on November 3, 1995 Joey bought me a drink! First time I saw them Buddy Blue was still in the band. They came back September 9, 2023 and were still great. Was it you I bought this DVD from? Came with an unlabelled cdr of good stuff. Wish I knew where it came from.

[@dianewelte9385]

Memories of dancing for Country Dick Montana live forever with me. I liked dancing for the rest of you too... Dangerously yours Di

[@civil_leuthie]

A friend of my dad introduced me to the Beat Farmers on the way to a Fastpitch Softball tournament. Early teenager? Somewhere around 92-94, before Country Dick died. Didn't look them up, didn't know they were still playing. Figured they were old like Steely Dan and Willie Nelson (who the same friend also introduced me to) But I thought they should be bigger than they are and I borrowed his tape of most of Tales of the New West, Van Go and Pursuit of Happiness (most of them on a single tape, anyway) and made a copy. I later transferred that copy to CD and digital and still listen to them. Bigger Stones, Where Do They Go, Hollywood Hills, Make it Last, Road of Ruin. Just found out Paul Kamanski died. Never knew him, but it seems like he's my favorite songwriter. In any case, belated thanks for posting this.

[@davidburke709]

Oh yeah, I remember the Beat Farmers - and my life has been so much the better for them.

[@chrispybattyone5937]

Dr. Dimento is right, us fans are still here and are still loyal.

[@fistsofshtank]

This is great....I was pretty good friends with Buddy through the 90's up until he passed...teared up a little seeing him on stage again. RIP Bernie!

[@SlapthePissouttayew]

32:47- THANK YOU, Dick! Miss ya, but goddamn right!

[@noisycat91029]

Great video! I saw the Beat Farmers in 1987 in Colorado Springs for my 21st birthday, and even got to help sing “Beat Generation” on stage! Crazy night, but what a show…

[@thepunadude]

THX BROTHER TOM, REMEMBER THEM WELL, MANY YEARS SAN DIEGO-SF BAY AREA, BEST BAR BAND EVER

[@richarddeevine1997]

Independent Music - Being Brave - kicking ass - thank you!!!!!! Lots of love - Richard Dee Vine

[@bldallas]

Thanks for posting this video. My buddies and I were huge BF fans back between ‘85 and around ‘89. We saw them every t8me they came thru Dallas. One of my buddies used to be a photog for the old Dallas Times Herald. Before the first opening act started, he got the band together for a portrait and ended up betting the other two of us backstage. It was just the band and the three of us and a garbage can full of cold beer. They were so nice to us and we had many laughs getting pretty damn drunk, before they went on. During the show, we were front and center and Dick picked out my photog buddy for the song where he climbs on someone’s shoulders. What a great night.

[@JeffreyJordan-gw9vt]

RIP MOJO.

[@SlapthePissouttayew]

I got an autographed pic of Mojo around here that a local (now deceased too) DJ got me from him . "Eat Me, Fuckface! Love, Mojo" lol...I gotta dig that out.

[@JNortron41]

in 85 I was running a college radio station and got the idea to get free promo records from record companies to play at the station. I did a bit of research and mailed out a lot of letters using the station letterhead. after a bit I got a letter from Rhino saying sure but you need to return this piece of paper with you big toe print which I merrily did "no idea how long that ink took to wear off" lol and they sent me The Beat Farmers very first album it was instant love. I'd listened to a lot of music over the years and the energy that first album had was just unbelievable. most records might have one song that jumps out but Tales of the New west was pure rock. I played the hell out of that record, had to buy another and kept on buying the rest as the years went by, nobody ever left my house after a party with out hearing some Beat Farmer song or two, I was devastated when Country Dick died much like I was when Stevie Ray Vaughan died but I always wish the rest of the band could have kept going, they were such good song writers.

[@Yldcatz]

So good

[@SmackWaterMack001]

i went to SRVs funeral… true story.

[@matthewpeterson3329]

They did keep going. They basically just changed the name to The Farmers. We used to watch them play at a Mexican restaurant down the street from F-Street book store in El Cajon. They still play a few times a year around San Diego. When they played the Spring valley in, with the original BF line up, they still played as The Snuggle Bunnies, but they had a chalk board set up where folks could write band name suggestions. Of course, people would write the filthiest names (go ahead, use your imagination) but the guys totally embraced the names and started every song with, "and now, Goldmine by the Bloody Tampons". Ah, those were the days.

[@rnrpeg1]

Love this story! 🤘

[@rnrpeg1]

​@matthewpeterson3329 I just saw Jerry with The Farmers last weekend. They're actually playing more gigs than ever around SD. 🤘

[@sccloser]

I was stationed in San Diego 86-89 and loved going to the live shows.

[@fezriot]

Thanks for posting this video! I've always loved them since mid-80's and sometimes my worn copy of "Van Go" still spins on my turntable. Cheers from Italy!

[@rickygoodman1294]

Damn i miss these guys dearly . I brek down in tears everytime i watch this.

[@driftking3047]

Such a classic SD band! Damn I miss them ! Each time I hear Mojo on XM it reminds of great times in So Cal My local Country station used to play them each Friday at 5 for years

[@marcreid5361]

Thank You Jamie for covering one of my fav bands back in the day.

[@chrispybattyone5937]

So much talent from these 4 !

[@maybeitsneato]

I was fortunate enough to see the current line up of Beat Farmers at Mojo's Final Mayhem in Austin. They were so good! While I love their records the live performances were always where they've shone. Despite everything the decades have thrown at them, they did not disappoint this time.

[@frankkuzava9822]

I remember it like yesterday- sitting at the bar(The Lone Star in Kansas City, MO circa 1986.) with Country Dick - the bass of his voice echoed in my chest.

[@frankmatuk6092]

My band, Frank Banks and the Blues Busters, opened for The Beat Farmers at The Bacchanal in 1985 on Clairemont Mesa Blvd and CA-163. In 2007, I had dinner in Redding, CA with Rick Gazlay of Blue Zoo. Dick, Buddy and Rick are gone now. RIP.

[@glengerod6116]

These guys are San Diego legends. Like the one guy said in the documentary, these wild ass rock acts bubble up from time to time amidst all the mainstream pop. Another good example would be the Unband.

[@jenniegautneymusicartist]

I love the beat farmers! They’ve influenced my music so much! Great documenrary

[@jacobdehollander6465]

Thank you

[@bartewing8099]

Great memories from my days at Parody Hall in KC - on my short list of best live experiences

[@GratefulZen]

Saw these guys back in the day playing a gig at a Georgia Tech fraternity party after discovering their first album, Tales of the New West, having heard the single, “Bigger Stones, on an FM station. What a great time & great album!

[@rickriley9866]

"...Beat Farmers will not give up, no matter what..." Thank you, Jamie Dawson.

[@KoolTunes4Daze]

Thanks Jamie for posting this vid!

[@indiecomicsjones]

Excellent

[@nomadhoss4827]

Joey Harris' father was my favorite teacher in high school.

[@raramcgee4982]

Coronado high?

[@stephenkatko3236]

Use to see em in riverside...always killed it!!

[@philwheeler1069]

Saw them in London about the time they recorded the "Glad n Greasy" EP - one of their best recordings. Top form & Top entertainment all the way !!

[@JeffScottLP]

Great documentary . Thank you so much for bringing back all of those great memories. I was nearly brought to tears.

[@CraigBentley]

Hey Jamie, great to see your doc after all these years. I remember you contacting me about the '88 Farmers doc I shot and edited. About 25% of your film seems to have come from that, so glad you apparently got Tamara's permission to use it. Good new interviews you added to it. Beat Farmers Forever!

[@jootai]

I never heard of this crazy band. And I was well on my way to go trough life whitout knowing of its existence.. Untill as a young buck in 1997 I insert this CD rom into my pc and got blasted with their music. The game, redneck rampage became a classic.. And the music lives on...

[@chuckw1021]

Petes Place in LaMesa in the early 2000,s rocked thanks to those guys. of course they were The Farmers then. Thanks for the video

[@rnrpeg1]

The Flying Putos!!

[@snakehandlerjorge]

Jamie, I saw the Beat Farmers many times during my formative rocknroll years. Many years later, my band Ruby Dee And The Snakehandlers covered "Make It Last" at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley, and you happened to be in the room and told me you were in the process of making this documentary. I'm so glad I finally got to see it.

[@txexmxiii2125]

BEST TIMES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

[@chrispybattyone5937]

Wish I could have been there for that reunion. 😢

[@owenwilberforce6138]

Excellent video. I got to see Country Dick live at Coach House, and met him at the Belly Up at a show. He was the kind of guy that would sit at the back of the club, hold court and talk to you. Super great guy, and he made every performance memorable. Like Chris Gaffney, they both were talented men who were no bs humble guys. I appreciate all the people who celebrated him in this video.

[@VikingWreckchords]

Hanx, really enjoyed watching that, although now I got an itch in my eye, must be the wind.

[@CMarshallD]

Such a great band! I saw them a bunch back in the day…they were amazing live!

[@toterola451]

Thanks for posting this. It was a blast, and a real walk down memory lane. Peace and blessings, Country Dick!❤

[@dictumfactum9468]

RIP Buddy, my old friend.

[@toastoftowne1076]

These guys were my favorite band in the 80s. I lived in New Jersey at the time and the band was pretty obscure there and then. It felt like my own dirty little secret

[@frankbiondo2476]

Jamie, Thank you for putting this documentary together! Met my wife at a BF show in Kansas City in 1991. Found them in 1988 or 89 and gladly lost many brain cells over the years with them. The guys were always just the coolest to chat with. Wonderful memories and happy times. Thanks again!

[@jayclark7155]

Love this - been a fan since 1984 when they came to Fort Collins. Lucky to have a copy of all their records/CDs and one of my most treasured pieces of memorabilia is a setlist ripped from Jerry's stage monitor after a show at the Rainbow Music Hall that I later had Country Dick sign. Thanks for this wonderful trip down memory lane!

[@paulhoward4806]

Thanks for the great tribute and the memories! I have seen this a few times on KZbin and finally decided to sit down and watch it. I first saw the Beat Farmers at the Michelob Street Scene, "6 bands for 6 bucks" in the Gaslamp in 84 as a junior in high school. I went to Monte Vista and 3 or 4 of us got in to the concert and just fell in love with Country Dick and the rockabilly/western punk sound! We couldn't wait for the album to come out, Tales of the New West! Bought it the first day it was out. We felt like pioneers finding this crazy band and just loved that we "discovered" them sneaking into a concert....and even got a silver Michelob beer bucket as a keepsake! (They were serving beers and refills in them) Living in East County we used to sneak into Wandas, a bar on Campo Road and Bancroft which was basically across the street from the Spring Valley Inn....and we never had a clue that our favorite band played there every Friday and Saturday! Damn...if we only would have known! I go see the Farmers every once in awhile when they are playing here in El Cajon and I had the opportunity to sit back and have a few beers with Jerry Raney in the early 2000's during a Hooley's Fest. What a great band and although Country Dick was our King, once you listen to the band it's obvious that Jerry, Buddy and later Joey were skilled musician, singer, songwriters and they were a tight, ground breaking group who really got over looked....but I still consider them my favorite band of all time> Thanks again for the memories!!

[@HockeyRG]

Pay The Farmers!

[@AskArlene]

Did they now get paid for this?

[@HockeyRG]

@@AskArlene I think so.

[@rnrpeg1]

​Who says it generated any $$? The labor of love deserves the few dollars it ever made back. I know that Buddy, for one, was tickled pink that Jamie was working on this film for many years. He didn't live to see it's release, but he was super proud while it was in the works. 🎉​@@AskArlene

[@winbalds1]

Hey Jamie---years before this came out you bought a Penetrators LP (one of Country Dick's old bands) from me on ebay for some stills for the movie. I'm so happy to finally get to see it. Job well done.

[@rnrpeg1]

HA!! 🤘❤️

[@JackTempchin]

Really Good Movie. I always thought they were a great band!! Country Dick and Candy Kane recorded a song my wife and I wrote called LETS PUT THE X BACK IN CHRISTMAS. Hey, Great Movie!

[@rnrpeg1]

Another great song from you, too, Jack!

[@Shovel1978]

I have one of the "please don't throw beer" signs that I pulled off the wall at Slim's in SFO

[@johnbatinovic6593]

Probably some time in 1985, just by chance I walked into Vortex Used records here in Toronto. I bought 3-4 vinyl records and I saw Tales of the New West. I didn't know anything about the Beat Farmers, but thought the cover of the LP was cool/interesting. I took a chance and to this day it's still one of the best records/bands I've ever come across.

[@robertgloeden5798]

Great work i truly appreciate your effort to bring us this Documentary

[@christianeflentie1228]

I'll never forget Country Dick saying "I know all you maggots paid $5 to get in here but I need drinking money". He opened a guitar case and basically bullied us into tipping. And it was worth every dime. This was Toes Tavern in Redondo Beach. We tried to make every show when they were there. So much incredible music and fun.

[@dustinwilson7830]

29:35 does anyone know where to get the full clip?

[@twolaneasphalt4459]

Just stumbled into - as I typically seem to do when it's something that especially counts, like your documentary ... and to say, "Thank You," for the time and effort you put into it. I knew Dan; it was a chance meeting that ought to have struck fear in the hearts of ... anyone, but we kept it quiet; we were more like kindred like-minded phone pals. We are only a few days apart in birthdays and had the same, or close enough, things in common that it was a private relationship. Even though he'd always call me in advance to ask how far away such and such a town, city, foggy back alley, was from where I lived, and if within reasonable distance - average was about 2 hours - we'd squeeze in a wee bit 'O time. A good solid hug and firm handshake, anyway. Did manage to get to a particular venue early, so we disappeared briefly to inhale a green leafy substance. It was the last time I saw him.

[@KoolTunes4Daze]

Daniel Monte McLain (May 11, 1955 - November 8, 1995), known by the stage name Country Dick Montana. 💗 Bernard R. "Buddy Blue" Seigal (December 30, 1957 - April 2, 2006) ❤Barret Eugene Hansen (born April 2, 1941), known professionally as Dr. Demento

[@KoolTunes4Daze]

Mojo has left the building to join up with Country Dick Montana and Buddy Blue Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. (August 2, 1957 - February 7, 2024)

[@robroymacgregor7279]

Went to high school with Dan... Wild times back then...

[@rnrpeg1]

When he was Jr. Class President at Grossmont?!... for half the year... LOL

[@robertmathis4497]

I saw them in Gainesville at the UF Bandshell, Dick climbed on the shoulders of a clueless frat boy, singing California Kid and telling him how he was falling in love with the back of his forehead. Hysterical show!

[@JG-cv4cl]

This video is on fire and I'm sharing it with my friends. Thanks for posting!

[@justincoleman2740]

Fucking legends.

[@The55thyme]

Ah the memories, I have one of those Beat Farmer Almanac's handed to me by Country Dick himself.

[@hondomckee.8232]

I went to a Farmers did a show at The Breakers in Point Roberts, Washington ... I bought a t-shirt and had Dick sign it. While doing that, I said something that made him pause .... and he looked me, smiled and muttered "You Canadians .....". When he handed the shirt back to me it read, in thick black marker, "thanks alot, fukwad". I still have it.

[@alq2868]

Required viewing for anyone that thinks they know and understand American music. They/BF were musical greatness, in spite of the corruption and feeble mindedness of record companies and the corporate music industry.

[@kendallevans4079]

For some years they played the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach so often they were almost like the house band.

[@earofnewt]

awesome documentary!

[@420dieter]

hung out with the Big MR at Monty Rockers a bunch....

[@sevenbillionthbeatle7884]

Talked straight co-workers into a Beat Farmers concert where Dick was handed an inflatable black sheep on stage which had an orifice in it's rear that Montana filled with beer and drank from during show. My co-workers were never the same after that night. God he was fun!

[@MyRecordPlayer]

This was a killer, killer act.

[@smithgdwg]

The Beat Farmers is like what would happen if Punk and Country went out drinking together.

[@rnrpeg1]

Uh, Maybe that's why it's called CowPunk? 😉

[@txexmxiii2125]

💗🎆

[@19desoto47]

Seen them play in Madison ,WI I think in the 70,s Put on a great show table jumping and all.

[@rnrpeg1]

Lol. 80s.

[@eternalsplitter7594]

Hello, what's the first song name ?

[@jonnylivesley315]

FUCK I MISS THESE GUYS!

[@420dieter]

Bodies!! if you know then you are cool..

[@420dieter]

not to brag too much , but I was there at the very start.. one day at the house where they lived, Buddy Blue gave me a note with some band names on it and said, which one do you like best? I rad them, and choose The BeatFarmers, he said yeah me too,, so a few minutes later the guys decided to call it that...... true!

[@420dieter]

coach house lots of people crowding around Dick, I walked up and said hey Dan,, he stopped and turned to me,, we were old pals, and i was the only one there who called him Dan SO I got all his attention....

[@garthevens8661]

Dwight yoakum?

[@rnrpeg1]

Was a contemporary.

[@SuperOlds88]

They died when Buddy left.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Great cult band...cowpunk but really it was just Beat Farmers music...defines itself! The Curb records deal was terrible...indeed should of stayed with Rhino records...just timeless

[@jootai]

I gotta be honest that manager looks distressed to the bone.. Dealin with these guys

[@libbysnowflake6911]

So really, the Beat Farmers were a comedy act?

[@shirtshine73blitz]

Its simple. Do you want to be taken seriously or do you want to be a Novelty Act? They chose Novelty Act and that puts you in the cut out bin.

[@rnrpeg1]

Oh okay, genius. Glad you disseminated these 5 lives down to your simplified outlook. Thanks for that. 🙄

[@jameserickson3386]

Saw them many times at the Cabooze in Minneapolis. He didn't like the warmup band one time and said who the fuck is this, Hot wax Nipple?