By the count (69.14.141.142) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 05:10 pm:

HEY people,our very talented and loving friend GIL BRIDGES has had a heart attack,but is doing okay.GIL(sunliners and still holds the RARE EARTH band together)Lets all say a prayer for our friend GIL.
We love you GIL,hang in there,and anything,I MEAN ANYTHING you need,you kall me!!!!!!!!!!.
"COUNT"

By David Meikle (80.5.115.241) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 05:17 pm:

Sorry to hear this Count, he looked so healthy when we saw him last month.

Please pass on our good wishes for a speedy recovery.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 05:34 pm:

Count:
Please relay my best to Gil - may he get well very soon.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 06:53 pm:

Thanks for posting this Count. We met Gil also,on our visit to Clawson last month. Give him our best and prayers for a speedy recovery.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 07:42 pm:

Count,
What happened? Is he in the hospital?

By Gil (172.166.0.117) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 08:42 pm:

Well heres a good example of a rock rumor.Only thing is its about me.Im flatured by the concern of everybody and truly appreciate the comments but i must immediately say i did not have a heart attack.I had symtoms of a possible attack but after testing everything is a-ok.Im not sure what caused the symptoms but am looking into it further.Again i really appreciate all the concern.Gil

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 08:57 pm:

Gil,
Well now that a year of my life has been taken, I'm glad to hear your going to be OK. Geez Gil....

By the count (69.14.141.142) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 09:52 pm:

HEY GIL,thats the best news yet.I'am so sorry if I starteled anyone,but I got 2wo e-mails today about this,one from Tom Vail and one from Pam Kovaric.When news like this comes across,it's just human nature to start to panic when it concerns friends.I'am sorry,but glad it's not what we heard.First thing I did was come to the forum,didn't see anything and thought it should go here.Well,I got a phone kall about an hour ago and was told you were alerted of this posting and that I posted it.But,thats what happens when you kare about a friend and want to join hands with all here and pray,but at lease we were alerted that something was wrong.KEYRIST GIL,take it easy,we just had a few beers together a week ago at Jamies,we have a lot more to catch up on man.Still,anything you need or I can do,please kall me.

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

Gil, is it anything to do with tooting those low notes on the sax? Maybe you need to change a reed or drill another hole in the instrument! Still, we are glad The Count mentioned this and we were able to respond, at lightning speed, to show you we care.

By Vonnie (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

Gil take it easy. I will still put you in my prayers anyway. Prayers are good for everyone.

Vonnie

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 11:19 pm:

Vonnie; I second that emotion. S.S.J.

By Lynn Bruce (68.41.107.30) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 07:40 am:

Gil,it kind of reminds me of the quote "the news of my death is greatly exaggerated"or something similar. Take care and good health.
Lynn

By Gil (172.132.161.117) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:03 am:

Hey Ralph if there is any thing i can do to replace that year you lost you know i will and thanks so much for the phone call last night it was really great talking to you again.Im going to visit Calif for a visit sometime soon and i sure would like to hook with you.Its been to long since we have seen each other.God bless you Ralph. Love ya Gil.
Thanks for all the concern from The Count(Steve) David,KevGo,Carl,Vonnie,Soul Sister,and Len.Ive asked Gods blessing on all of you.Carl that was really funny about a new reed or drill anouther hole.You made me laugh at that.Take care everyone.Thanks again. Gil

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:36 am:

Gil,
Great talking to you also man. About that year I lost Gil. In reality you owe me more than one. Remember that day on Cass Lake when you took me for my first ride in your drag boat? Hell Gil, I lost at least a year that day. Actually though I considered myself lucky. I thought I was going to lose it all that day. You sure were a crazy M....F... in those days. Let me know when you're coming to California.

By Gil (172.173.239.74) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:46 am:

Hey Ralph im still a crazy guy with a fast boat.I still love speed.If you ever get to Detroit ill take you for anouther thrill ride.lol I sure will let you know when i get out your way. Take care. Gil

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 07:24 pm:

Well now that we know my old friend and band mate is in good shape, let's turn this thread around to the lighter side and talk about Gil's career in music. Let me give all of you some history on Gil. Before Gil joined The Sunliners we were looking to expand the band. We were interested in having John Persh ( John Parrish ) join us and Fred Saxon and I went to talk with him.John didn't have a lot of confidence in himself in those early days ( although he would eventually join the band and blossom into a fine musician and writer ) so he suggested we talk with Gil Bridges. We met Gil at the Detroit Public Library on Southfield and 7 Mile ( I bet even you don't remember that Gil ) and the rest is history. That was around 1957 I believe, and Gil is still with the band. Talk about staying power. Gil, you've had one hell of a career. You have been a good friend all these years and I wish you continued success with the band.
Speaking of the band....are you guys planning any Europeon tours in the future to entertain our British friends?

By Gil (172.130.236.245) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 07:55 am:

Ralph i do remember meeting you guys in the library.Its my short term memory thats the problem.lol. Were looking for and working on new material for a new cd for Rare Earth and would like to have it complete before we go back to Europe.We want something new to promote over there.We have completed a new cd of the show as we play it today.I have a modest studio in my home where we do most of the recording then go to a bigger studio if needed.Hopefully we will have something ready by the end of the year.When we do you will be one of the first ones to get a copy Ralph.Talk to you soon,Your buddie Gil.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 09:26 am:

Thanks Gil. I'll be looking forward to hearing the new CD. Any chance you guys are playing in my area any time in the near future? You REALLY do remember meeting at the Library??? It just kind of popped into my head. Why the hell were we meeting at a library anyway?

By Gil (172.129.105.207) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 08:41 am:

I just wanted you guys to think i was studious.lol. It was a strange to meet wasn't it.I remember John telling me he was scared to join but if i did he would think about it.The rest is what they call history.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 10:28 am:

Gil,
John didn't have a lot of confidence in those early days. I seem to remember soon after you joined the band we talked him into singing one song at a dance we were playing. Remember the song? " Hey Hey Hey Hey " John wrote it. He came out on stage looking at the floor, sang the song and immediately walked off stage. We laughed about that for some time. Then Glen Frundell joined the band. It wouldn't be until Glen moved to California that John would come back into the picture, but I forget how all that happened.

By Gil (172.137.107.23) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 07:49 am:

Geeze Ralph i totally forgot about Glen.That brings back memories of us always going to that hamburger joint on 7 mile for burgers and a malt.I cant remember the name of the place but i remember the burgers and malts were great.Do you remember the 7-Grand hang out?

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 09:41 am:

Gil,are you talking about Powers on 7 mile and Evergreen? Yes I remember the 7 Grand hangout. From what I remember the place didn't last all that long. Nobody ever bought anything to speak of.
Glen was brought into the band because we felt two guitars would fill out the sound a lttle more. We were right and after Glen left we finally got John to join the band.

By Gil (172.161.176.149) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 08:10 am:

That was it Ralph. Powers.You have a great memory.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 09:47 am:

Yeah? You could fool me at times about the memory thing Gil. I don't remember malts there though. Just great burgers. And remember if you got a red star on your ticket, the meal was free.