Let's Hear it for Columbia! The lead singer of the British rock group Fastway puts a plug for his host city while fans cheer the band with upraised arms and deal with sound so loud their chests vibrate with the beat. Saturday's billing started with Axe and led to Mitch Ryder, Quiet Riot, Krokus, Blackfoot, Joe Walsh, Molly Hatchet and Shameless. Today's performers are Grand Alliance, The Elvis Brothers, Steve Marriott's Humble Pie, Madness, Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, The Producers, INXS, Greg Kihn Band, Cheap Trick and Dennis Brown. Monday acts include Bastille and Greg Allman, Kansas, Cedar Creek, Johnny Van Zant, Leon Russell, The Outlaws, Quarterflash and the Marshall Tucker Band.

FROM THE TENT

Walking through the camp at night was an adventure.. Small groups following the merchandise until kicked in. Beautiful September weather.. Hot and humid, mostly wore cut offs and boots. Being with friends and remembering some that have gone away. The Duck River... thinking about the performers upstream and how fans downstream swam naked in their pee...good place to go to pee btw... and plenty of shade trees ( the river was feet from the stage ). Big fat dude walking around naked with a camera around his neck. I'm guessing it was David Logston. Tie-died tshirts from the "farm" are the best quality. Awesome music.. a hot air balloon... plenty, plenty of cold beer etc. Ray pissed on himself...LOL . Getting close to the stage.  In "the PIT"

Is this a 1966 Plymouth Valiant in the background?

ROCK FANS READY
SOUTHERN-ROCK pioneer Gregg Allman kept the excitement going with instantly recognizable classics, while main stream rockers Kansas and Quarterflash provided a change of pace prior to the return of Southern rock with the Marshall Tucker Band. Although before evening's end, many festival-goers had left the Bam Webster farm to return to their homes and jobs, the consensus of opinion was that "it was a helluva three days." Phillip Griffith of Birimingham, Ala., perhaps summed it all up with "This is the best time we've had in a while. They don't do much stuff like this anymore. If they have another one, we'll be back." The first Electric Cowboy Pop Festival was sponsored by Miller Beer, Pepper's Pizza and WKDF FM.

Richard Singleton's son Ricky, seems to have had his sun, fun and rock music as he rests on his father's shoulders. 

COWBOY ROCK FANS READY FOR ANOTHER
FOR THE THIRD day in row, the basically mellow crow, was whipped into a frenzy by non-stop music, mostly of the Southern-rock variety. The Electric Cowboy Band started the show at midmorning, followed by Cedar Creek and Johnny Van Zant. Van Zant, the brother of the late Ronny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame, led an energetic set that had the fans trying to climb the barricade in front of the stage, clamoring for more. Leon Russell, white mane flowing in the gentle breeze, performed both with his band and solo. The recently-revived Outlaws from Tampa, Florida, demonstrated the best of Southern rock typified by extended, sizzling guitar breaks. Even sound problems during their set caused the audience to lose none of its enthusiasm, and the shrieks and squeals of the massive amplifiers were soon corrected.

FROM THE STAGE
Columbia music fest likely to take financial beating
Bob Millard Banner Entertainment Writer

Like the US Festival in California earlier this year, Columbia's Electric Cowboy Festival appeared to be taking a huge financial beating this weekend. No official ticket sales count was available but there were obviously nowhere near the 30,000 participants that promoters announced would be needed to break even against their estimated $800,000 to $1 million budget. The festival continued today, with music set from noon to midnight including popular acts like Quarterflash and Leon Russell. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were the crowd's favorites on Sunday, the second day of the festival. The bouncing "bad girl" of hard rock had the main field audience of about 8,000 stomping, waving, shouting and singing along with such tunes as Bad Reputation, Victim of Circumstance, Nag, Tossin' and Turnin' and Do You Want To Touch Me. She took the stage dressed in a black-and-red jump suit, drawing hundreds of fans down from the natural amphitheatre formed by a gently rolling hillside. The fans crowded close to the stage and sang along with Ms. Jett on her biggest hits, like I Love Rock' N' Roll. Wearing heavy, provocative eye makeup and singing conventional power chord songs about the same raw sexual themes that her male counterparts sing, Ms. Jett has an image she feels is unfair. "I'm very aggressive and determined," she said before the concert. "People always mix that up with being mean”. "Some people think it's very unladylike to sweat and run around on stage, but it's not," she continued, "It’s a natural bodily function. If you jump and run around like I do on stage you are going to sweat”. "I'll tell what's really gratifying. I get letters from girls who say I inspired them, whether it’s to pick up a guitar and play rock 'n' roll or to go in and ask their boss for a raise. That's inspiring to me." There were some changes in the Sunday bill of fare. Steve Marriott, former lead singer and guitarist for the hard rock band Humble Pie, delivered a powerful set in place of the scheduled group Madness, including a finale of the early Humble Pie hit I Don't Need No Doctor. Despite a broken leg that kept Marriott seated, he sang forcefully and his new ensemble played with an intensity equal to his former, now legendary band. A pair of acts new to this area. The Producers and The Elvis Brothers. The Elvis Brothers were a tight trio hailing from the Chicago area who dressed in rockabilly fashion but played fairly straight rock music of their own devise. The drummer, wearing a long, shiny green jacket, flailed the trap set from an unusual position – standing. Pop rockers, The Producers were another delight. Their infectious melodies and energetic stage presence were a standout in the afternoon's offerings. An encore from this five-man act heard A Hard Day's Night done with spooky perfection, with harmonies and arrangement just like the Beatle's 1965 movie theme. Wolfman Jack, advertised as an integral part of the festival as emcee, was seen only once during the day when he briefly introduced Joan Jett.

THINGS ARE RETURNING TO NORMAL AFTER ELECTRIC COWBOY FESTIVAL

The Tennessean Thursday Sept 6, 1983  By Sandy Neese

Columbia- On the Bam Webster Farm, the thousands of blue jeaned rock fans have gone and things are returning to normal after last weekend's Electric Cowboy Pop Festival. The size of the crowd is still conjecture at this point, and the figures vary greatly depending on who's doing the talking. But one thing's for sure: The three day event drew anywhere from 10, 000 to 30,000 rock devotees to the grassy field on the outskirts of the Maury County town to see the like of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Marshall Tucker Band, Cheap Trick, Kansas and Mitch Ryder. Actual attendance figures won't be available for several days. THE MAMMOTH stage, shipped from California, is being dismantled and loaded onto trucks, the miles of chain-link fence are coming down, the trailers are gone and the concession tents are being rolded and re­turned to the rental agent. "We've got the stage going down now, and they're unhooking the power," said Mark Green, administrative assistant to the director of security. "Arrangements are being made for clean-up crews to come in now. I've never worked so hard in my life." It's like working on a political campaign: After it's over, you're numb, you don't feel anything. I haven't slept but three or four hours a night since Wednesday, until last night, when I locked myself in my motel room." Green said security forces were primed to handle any problem that could arise, but conceded that there were few problems. "WE'RE GLAD nothing really bad happened," he said. "The, counterfeit tickets were the worst problem we had." Richard Slarve, director of on­site medical services, echoed similar sentiments. "We had one person who had to be transported to the hospital because of some gastronomical up­set," he said. "But 99% of the things I saw were camping accidents, litte cuts, sprained ankles, sunburn and a few lacerations resulting from falls. We had no serious injuries, no life-threatening injuries. We're pretty pleased with it all." BAM WEBSTER, who leased his property to the promoters, said he was satisfied with the outcome. "Five years ago, in 1978, we had the greatest show on earth here .. the Nashville Music Festival with Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard, Lynn Anderson and Tammy Wynette," he said. "This is about twice as many people as we had then. "I believe this is the largest crowd by far that's ever been here. The people involved handled it very professionally and lived up to all their obligations. It was great for the economy of Maury County." RON DINI, director of public relations for the festival, said most aspects of the extravaganza went according to plan. "As far as the entertainment end is concerned, everything went over extremely well," he said. "Then we had the matter of the other incidentals that prevented the festival from coming out profitably." He was referring to the counterfeit tickets. "That's why we don't have a ticket count yet," he said, "We hope to have one by the end of the week." DINI'S STATEMENT was the first official indication that the Electric Cowboy Pop Festival may not have been profitable, but it comes as little surprise to observers on the scene. Most felt that the facilities were excellent, the sound and light systems were top-of-the­line, and the experienced production crews performed their duties efficiently. Everywhere, there was evidence of an enormous outlay of money, not to mention talent costs.

FROM THE CROWD
By Bill Fletcher Banner Staff Writer

COLUMBIA - Several large motorcycle gangs converged on the Electric Cowboy Festival here this holiday weekend to participate in an alcohol-soaked orgy of drugs, sex and loud music. Although the crowd fell far short of projected attendance, those who attended the three days of music, which conclude today, left no stone un turned when it came to partying. Even though local laws prevented the sale of beer to the 8,000 to 10,000 people gathered there Sunday, there were hundreds of coolers full of canned and bottled beer on the site to fuel the hearty partying .. There was little violence in the crowd itself. The majority of the people at the concert were there for the music and watched in amusement as a small but active minority debased themselves in a variety of fasions. Before the day ended some were dancing nude in the crowd engaging in sex in places scarcely hidden from the public view and fighting unarmed security guards in what seemed like wars for territory as the T-shirted police tried to protect the performers. At the center of the cyclone were at least 200 often-bearded bikers, most of whom sported Harley Davidson belt buckles, tattoos or both. In one instance, a guard attempted stop a man ,from driving a motorcycle into the concert area, where vehicles were prohibited. The guard held his ground as he tried to explain the rules, but the stoic biker ignored the instructions and sat gunning the bike's' motor with the front wheel just inches from the guard's legs. Eventually, the guard ended the standoff and walked away from the gate long enough to allow the biker to roar through. He threw up his hands as the dust settled around him and said loudly to no one in particular, "I don't know what they expect me to do." The worst behavior displayed became known as "The Pit" a large area directly in front of the stage where people stood shoulder-to-shoulder passing marijuana cigarettes, drinking whiskey from half gallon jugs and chasing it with cold beer. Farther up the hillside, a woman wearing only a thin scarf around her waist danced with several men. During the Joan Jett' and the Blackhearts set, several men tried to scale a retaining wall in an attempt to approach the stage only to be repelled by stick-wielding security guards. A battle erupted between the guards and the concert-goers in which the spectators pelted the guards with beer cans. One of the spectators attacked a guard with a leg he had wrenched from a nearby lawn chair. The man swung the pointed aluminum weapon at a guard several times before a second, more burly bouncer stopped the fight by delivering a vicious blow to the head of the angry rocker. A spokesman for the Maury County Sheriff's Department reported that a number of rockers were straggling into downtown Columbia only to find themselves spending the night in jail instead of in the green countryside where the rock'n'roll show was staged. "We have had a problem ever since they been here," said John Stewart, a dispatcher with the Maury County Sheriff's Department. "Mostly it has been just drunks and (drug) possession".

FESTIVAL’S FIRST DAY FIZZLES
David Logston Herald Staff Writer

The rock concert here seemed more like an Electric Cowboy Fizzle than Festival early Saturday because attendance was far less than had been predicted. Perhaps 4,000 people had gathered by afternoon on the Barn Webster farm off Industrial Park Road, but the number seemed to have doubled by nightfall. Neither police nor sheriff's deputies reported any particular problems associated with the concert. Maury County Ambulance Service reported making a few runs on overdose calls and one trip for a man who cut his foot on broken glass. The concert area was peaceful yesterday and last night. Even if the heavy metal rock fans weren't in the tens of thousands, they are enjoying themselves. Most are bare chested young men clutching cans of beer and dressed in jeans or cutoffs. They laugh readily and yell encouragement to the band. Their eyes are red and seem to take time to focus a task more difficult because the bodies are swaying slightly under the beer's influence. Women are fewer, but they, too, tended to dress for comfort under the warm, hazy sky. Halter tops and shorts are common female attire. Center of attraction is the high stage at the bottom of a gently loping hillside. Tall, black boxes loom over each end of the stage. They shoot the music like rippling blasts of air against laughing, shouting spectators massed below. Still, it's easy to move through the crowd of writhing, whooping bodies waving bare arms in time to the raucous beat. Scattered here and there like casualties are a few who have drunk too much or traveled too far too fast. Some are curled on their sides, snoozing peacefully. One young man slumps in a lawn chair,. his bandana-swathed head drooping over his bare, dusty left shoulder. His mouth opens slightly and he vomits without stirring or opening his eyes. His neighbors don't seem to notice. They're intent upon the music and being part of the concert's energetic atmosphere. Uphill and several hundred yards behind the crowd several big tents tremble slightly in the breeze. They draw people steadily, with their cold beer at $1.50 a shot and quick, hot food. One long tent offers barbecue, tacos, hamburgers and a $2.50 chicken dinner, which consists of two pieces of poultry and a biscuit. At least early Saturday the check-out system worked poorly. "I done eat up my sandwich," explained a bleary-eyed young man in the stationary line. "A fella could get hungry again just waiting to pay." Outside are no tables and chairs; just acres of rolling pasture. Most sit on the ground or stand to wolf down their food; the more farsighted brought folding chairs and can dine more comfortably. Behind the high stage and its flanking wall of plywood, meal service for the crews and performers is much better and less crowded. "No Meal Ticket, No Meal" several stern signs warned over tables offering bright green lettuce and red slices of tomatoes as part of the lunch. A few people dine leisurely under the awnings shading tables and chairs. About a dozen yards away and past a. checkpoint is the busy backstage area. Twenty-seven bands are On the program. Axe, Fast Way, Mitch Ryder, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Quiet Riot and Krokus were Saturday's fare. Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, Cheap Trick, Greg Khin Band and INXS are on tap for today. Monday's slate includes Kansas, Marshall Tucker, The Outlaws, Greg Allman, Leon Russell and Johnny VanZant. One band follows another on stage with little interruption. As one cranks up its first heavy metal number, another packs up to hit the road for the next show somewhere else. But most of the people they played for here are staying for the three-day festival. Their accommodations range from a blanket or tiny tent near the stage up to the comfort of mobile campers parked farther to the North. Behind the concession tents and I against the tree line are about 40 tents. A few are pup tents; some are big enough to hold families, but most will sleep three or four people comfortably. Water for drinking, bathing and washing spurts readily from a . double row of faucets, standing about waist high. During the warm afternoon some spectators drifted back to open the upturned spouts full force and douse their faces and hair. ne short burly man pulled off his shirt and sprayed his face and chest; then he removed his pants. and took a leisurely shower in his' dingy jock strap. The smiling, red-eyed man posed for any nearby camera before gathering up his garments and sauntering back into the crowd to dress. Beer is the main recreational drug, and many a bare, bloated ,belly overhangs the beltline of faded jeans and frayed cutoffs. Occasionally there's the sharp, stifling scent of marijuana. Most smokers' pass their joints discreetly, their thumbs and forefingers tightly pinching the flattened cigarette butts. Quantities of beer make it important to have plenty of toilets handy. Long rows of the bluishgreen portable facilities stand in out-of-the-way places, and there is steady traffic, between them and the concert area. As Saturday drew to a close the festival's financier conceded the turnout is disappointing. Dr. Charles Ogle said, he invested more than $2 million in it, but he expects the idea to succeed in the long run. He's planning to make the festival an annual event.

SUE MCDANIEL, manager of CentraTik, the Nashvil1e based ticket agency contracted to handle Middle Tennessee and on-site sales said, "In all the years I've been in ticket sales, I've never seen a better duplication. The stock is the same, down to the glitter. They are perfect." The counterfeiters were blatantly selling bogus tickets on the perimeter of the concert site, but apparently no arrests have been made to date. "The counterfeit tickets are hurting us pretty bad," said Alexander. "We'll prosecute to the fullest if we can prove who's involved. There's no difference in selling counterfeit T-shirts and tickets and going into a supermarket and robbing it. Hopefully, we'll find out what happened."