My buddy and I are probably a couple of the most loyal fans from way back. I used to glue my ear to car stereo play "The Fever" and "I Don't Wanna go Home" to help me through a crummy job. My pal and I would see the Jukes all over Long Island and sometimes in NYC (My Father's Place in Roslyn was our favorite).  We would be the first on line--often waiting a whole hour before the next fans would show up. Many a party has had the Jukes classics in the prime spots on the jukebox. We all sang very loud and very poorly during many a midnight hour bash.   

Once, we drove all the way to Southampton College to see the Jukes. It was early, some would say ridiculously early, but we dutifully waited outside the hall for the concert to start. It was OK, as we had plenty of "beverages" to get us in the party spirit. That night, they moved the concert to a smaller place- a theatre across campus.  

Of course our group (about 8 of us) took the first two rows, and the concert began. We thought the Jukes were really tearing it up, and were dancing up a storm. But the rest of the place might have been a morgue they were so quiet, and Southside was asking "if you guys were in the middle of finals"? I'm telling you, the horns were blasting, and it was vintage Jukes.  

But to back up his challenge to the audience to "pick it up", Southside pulls out a bottle of Jack Daniels (I swear to god!) and passes it out to us, the wild people in the first two rows. After taking some swigs, yours truly walked up and down the aisles passing the bottle "pass that bottle, deal cards, I ain't waitin' no more..."  to exort the audience. Well, it must have worked, or maybe it was a fired up "I Don't Wanna go home" but they really got the place rocking. At one point I looked around and EVERYBODY was dancing, even these egghead students, and I was proud to have helped to create the frenzy. Mr. Lyon even thanked us for our efforts.

Ironically, later in life (fast forward two decades) and I find myself in Pt. Pleasant, NJ, a stone's throw away from the Pony and other early haunts. Anyway, I have not seen the jukes in a long time, but I would like to submit this story for me and my buddy, as early, dedicated fans. Very impressive that the Jukes are still rolling.  

I won two tickets for the New Year's bash at Ocean Place Resort and my wife and I couldn't wait to go. I owe my old friend Tom Stro for the early loyalty and interest in the Jukes-my fiance gave me two tickets to see them at the Palladium for my birthday, and instead of taking her, I took him, my best friend!

Bill Young