Subject: Billy Sullivan Memories
Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 1:55 AM
I remember meeting Frank thru Kirk Yano in the late 70's. I met Tommy shortly after. Dennis and I briefly played together in a Youngstown band called Lazer. I was leaving the band when Dennis was coming in. Earlier on in Lazer, around 1981, me and Drummer Tommy Amato [no relation to Beau Coup's Frank & Tommy} used to stay at Frank & Tom's house in Chesterland when ever we played on the eastside of Cleveland {Cosmopolitan}. The parties were legendary!!! I vaguely remember Frank asking me if I wanted to be in a band he was starting. At that time, I was involved in a recording project with former Dead Boys guitarist Jimmy Zero which later became the band Club Wow. Fast Forward to 1987. My brother Pat Sullivan, a policeman in the city of Beachwood, has had some business with Ellis Lewin, Dennis's Father concerning Mr Lewin's towing business I believe {I think}. My brother also knew Dennis. One day, I met with my brother at a bar somewhere on the Westside and he tells me that Beau Coup is interested in me to join the band. I joined right before the release of their album "Born & Raised On Rock n Roll". Newly signed to Amherst Record, my first gigs in the band were probably some of their most highly acclaimed shows of the band's career especially headlining the Front Row Theater. I played the Front Row a few times after that but nothing compares to the Beau Coup Front Row Show!! It was like Beatlemainia!!!!! Girls screaming and crying!!! Total insanity but in a great way! One of the best Rock n Roll shows of my career!!!! One other funny memory was on a flight to Phoenix! Our road manager Wiesel Stricknine was playing poker with some loadmouth guy in the back of the plane and totally kicking his ass and cleaning him out!!! Inflight gambling mixed with a few cocktails,,, very funny stuff!!!!!
Billy Sullivan
Frank --
You can use this in the memories section:
I was in high school during Beau Coup's "glory days". We first saw them at the Front Row Theater... then we were hooked! The next show was at Nautica, and then we traveled to the Sandusky Mall gig. My best friend and I traveled EVERYWHERE to see Beau Coup! We went to all the college shows; even went to Pennsylvania and West Virginia to see them. We took photos at all the concerts, and then we would bring them to Waterbed Emporium where Frank worked at the time to show him. You'd think he'd get tired of us constantly coming around! Well - he probably did, but he and Lisa ended up getting some great babysitters out of the deal! Can't wait to see them performing again!
-- Shelley
Front Row Show
I was there!...and wont forget that night. It was an amazing show what else can I say? I was even at the party after the show, I don't remember who's house that was but man was it NICE! Two things about that party come to mind that I will never forget...meeting Dennis Kucinich (of all people) shaking his hand and while he tells me "your vote counts son" LOL...and singing Elton John tunes at the piano...with umm....Mark Addison? ....I may have been Born N Rasied On Rock N Roll, but I that night I think it was more like Born And Raised On Budwiser. I'm amazed I remember as much as I do!
Thinking back I have some really great Beau Coup memories, numerous parties in the park, the one I remember most was at the airshow, the Bus Boys and Van Stevenson! Gezze I remember a gig at Lakeland Community College that we had a ton of fun at too. Also spent many nights at Jimmy's in the flats....Bill Peabodys... Getting into a car wreck on the way to see the guys at Parmatown..(and still making it to the show) I can go on and on and on...so I will.
One of the coolest stories I have is a short but sweet one, and is not directly related to an acutal night of Beau Coup. Quite a few summers ago I was at Blossom to see The Moody Blues. I was third row dead center in the pavilion. I sat and looked around and noticed a familliar figure in front of me....Jane Scott. I knew it was her becuase I'd see her at just about every concert I went to....(anyone who's been around knows that's a fact, she was EVERYWHERE) so I had to do it, I tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and looked at me having no idea who I am and I just said "Jane you watched me changed from a boy to a man"...I had to say it....because she kinda did without even knowing it. Needless to say my comment to her resulted in a nice smile and her pen and notepad Just one of those moments...I can't help but sit here with a huge smile on my face as I remember all of this.
Thanks for the great memories Beau Coup, and here's to Jane whom I hope is doing well.
-Craig