Go back in time with me, if you will. Just for a bit.. to 1982. One of my favorite years. I was 22, at Valley College, and it was a very fun time in my life.

The 1st time I saw them play was at Madame Wongs East, in Chinatown. February 1982. Charlie and I were HUGE fans of the TV show “Facts of Life”, went to all the tapings, and we had heard the cast goes to see them play sometimes. We were curious to check this out, so we did. Neither of us drove yet (late bloomer on the driving thing), so we asked our buddy Lee Clarke to take us. Lee drove us, in his VW Bug.

Wasn’t the best area in L.A, as you will soon learn. But we figured a paid parking space should be ok.

I’d never been out at a rock club before, and so this was a new experience for me. It was dark, crowded, chaotic, and very noisy. Well, as it should be. ;p I think it was the middle of the week, but the place was always hopping.

We found some seats, ordered drinks, and I was talking with this very pretty, really cool and very friendly girl sitting next to me. She asked us who we were there to see and we said “The Weirz”. She told us she heard they were great! Then she went on to talk about the band that was about to play 1st, in which her husband was fronting. His name was Freddy Moore. So we watched him and his band, (not for certain but THIS may be the show!!) - and then “friendly girl” gave me her number and told us to keep in touch so that we can go to more shows. She really seemed to like us! She talked with us all through the night, until she got up to go join her hubby.

I never called her. That girl, I found out years later, was Demi Moore! ;p I kid you not. It didn’t dawn on me for years!

So then the Weirz played. I loved Theresa and her sax. Love at first sight! ;) She was amazing! They were more pop and jazz than anything else. But very unique sound. We were definitely not disappointed, even though there was no “Blair” to be seen. ha!

We left after they played…. went back to the public paid parking where Lee left his bug.. and it was nowhere to be found. It was stolen, along with his guitar that he had in the trunk. :(

Charlie and I felt so guilty because we’re the ones that asked him to go with us.

My dad came to pick us up, and rescue us from the depths of Hell. We dropped Lee off first. I don’t remember what happened. I think they eventually recovered the bug, but not the guitar. :(

Fast forward a few months to May 11, 1982-

The Weirz came to play at our campus (Valley College, in Van Nuys). That officially marks the day Charlie and I became “groupies”. Haha! They were a local band, for the most part, except when they would travel to Canada with Micheal Damien (their brother, and “Young and Restless” star, and recording artist).

We remained devotees for several years. 1982, to maybe 85′ or 86′! Met many characters along the way. Enough for a book/comedy movie! Shout out to a few I still remember: Kathy Dunn, Loretta Coronado, Judy, Peggy, Lisa Ensley, the guy that the Weirz song “Man Overboard” was written about- but I can’t remember his name. I should! I even went ice skating one time with he and Theresa.

As for the ORIGINAL reason we had ventured out to see the Weirz in the 1st place.. well, we never saw Lisa Whelchel at any of the shows ever, even though I was assured she would show at some point. She never did. But among the teen celebs of the time that I *did* see: Nancy McKeon (Jo on “Facts of Life”) and her brother Phil (of “Alice”), and Dana Hill (several TV movies, and “Shoot the Moon” and “European Vacation”), Danielle Brisbois (Archie Bunker’s Place”), Justine Bateman (”Family Ties”), and Micheal J Fox (”Family Ties”). Also some soap stars. This was all during the early period of our seeing the band, and when they used to play Madame Wongs West all the time. They played about twice a month, every month, for a couple of years! At Wongs east and west, and elsewhere, like The Palomino. Some good times. :) Lots of them.

I remember a party I went to once, at the Weirz house, when they used to live in Beverly Hills. That was so much fun. The moment that stands out for me the most was when the Missing Person’s song “Words” came on the stereo, Theresa turned it up LOUD, and EVERYONE of us gathered in a circle and danced and sang! I also remember we sang along to Moon Unit Zappa’s “Valley Girl”! These just had to be my own personal “80’s movie moments”. ;)

When the Weirz stopped playing regularly and Joani Weir pursued other musical outlets, I stayed on top of her pretty much as well. Her bands were “Push Push”, and then a bit later she formed “Siren”. But by the time the 1990’s began, it was all pretty much over for me as far as following. Joani didn’t play that much, we all drifted, and I was into other stuff as well.

And now, years later, someone posted a GEM of a video on the YouTubes. I was so thrilled to find it! This was shot a few years before I knew of them. I am thinking vintage 1977 or 78′. In those days, the Weirz were still more jazz and included Kathy and Pixie Weir. They remind me alot of the groups Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears. (2 bands I love).

THERESA: vocals and sax KATHY: vocals and trumpet PIXIE: vocals, flute and trombone MARIA: bass LARRY: vocals and guitar ESTELLE: keyboards TOM: drums MICHAEL: vibes JOANI: congas, percussion

Here is their music video, for their 1983 hit “Imagination”..

Also VERY recently (like a few days ago) found out Theresa Weir is now “Tracy Barns”. I googled her and found she has a cd out on itunes, so go check her out! It’s called “Good Days Are Comin“. I left a review at the iTunes store for her. If you have iTunes, click HERE. I’m not a big country music fan but I must admit this is some of the best I have heard in this genre. I really liked quite a few of the songs! And I don’t live too terribly far from where she is now, so I might take a drive sometime (about an hour and 45 min) and check out a show. That would be awesome. :)

Lastly, here is a photo I found of myself, Joani Weir, and my mom! Circa 86′ or 87′, at FM Station.

Lots more photos coming up soon, so stay tuned. I have to dig for them and scan them.

Hope you enjoyed my very loooong post. ;-p