Will the Real Redbone Please Come and Get Your Love?
Sunday August 13, 2006
They came from miles around for a performance by Redbone at Montana's Butte-Silver Bow County Fair. There was just one teensy little problem. The band that was performing wasn't Redbone. Oh, they said they were, but it turns out that it was a band of imposters -- not a tribute band, not a cover band, just a group of people pretending to be someone they weren't.
The real Redbone established themselves in the 70s with songs like "Witch Queen of New Orleans," "Maggie" and "Come and Get Your Love." They are still touring, but at the time of the Montana concert, they were performing in Wisconsin.
The fake Redbone was booked by a man who identified himself as Denny Freeman and said that he was a founding member of the band. The real Redbone was founded by brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas. The real Redbone's manager says he's never heard of Denny Freeman, and that the Fair was the victim of a con. Silver Bow County officials are investigating.
Here's the current tour schedule for the real Redbone.
Album cover image courtesy Sony Music
Comments
Am a fellow player who has know these guys for years. have even co-written songs with two of the members,
I’ve never even heard of anyone named Freeman who knows Redbone.
The only change in personell that I know of was various durmmers used on differnt albums,,,, I know them all and there was never anyone named Freeman associated with the group!
Just another “Wannabe Crook”
I’ve played on stage on various gigs with most memebers of that group and trust me…..THERE’S ONLY ONE REDBONE!
(That’s what made them unique)
Jerry Gibson – Keyboards
Pinon Hills, California
I hope the band got good bucks for use of their song in the movie, The Postman, with Kevin Costner. Touring red man country in the future?
Dear Dave
Thank you for your efforts in giving the right information about the real Redbone which were a wonderful band with great guitar riffs and sphisticated native american feeling. They havebrought to american music, a special flavour. Thank you again for talking about the brothers Vega with respect in an era of cowaqrds and wannabees hiding behind internet to steal wih the combination of modern electronics what was achieved by hardworking real men and women in music. Again, thank you.
Hello,
I fell in love this band back in the 70’s when they performed in Fairmount Park (Phila).
They gave fabulous free concerts at what were called “Be-Ins” in those days.
i have always loved this band. I loved it when i was a teen and now while I am 51.