October 4, 1981✝

Today we were back in routine, putting things away and back together again. We really oughta' get to practicin' 'cause we don't have the money to waste anymore. Like we really did before. Ha! Ha!!!

October 3, 1981

We played for Heaven' Own [Aschaffenburg's Motorcycle Club] today at Nilkheimer Park. It was a gig that was very exciting and that the people enjoyed very much. I am very kuput, I can't even think.

October 2, 1981

Another shorty [practice], but a nice one. Gotta' 'nother gig comin' up. [I am such a dork, writing in the Rock 'n Roll lingo.]

October 1, 1981

A very short practice. We played our new song, "Baby Blue." It's different form our other material, but it's good. [I wonder if we made any recordings of this? It could have been on Stampede's second album, but alas, a second album never happened.]

September 30, 1981✝

I would like to make today the last day of rest. Tomorrow should be the first of day work for me, for the upcoming year. Gotta' get it right.

September 29, 1981✝

Still no practice, everybody had their own thing to do. I put my bass equipment together, thats about all.

September 28, 1981✝

No work except unloadin' the van into the studio.

September 27, 1981

Today was our anniversary gig at the Heyland's (Schwind) [Brewery Guesthouse in Aschaffenburg] It was 14 days too early though. Good gig even though I was missin' something. I don't know exactly, it was the same feelin' [of excitement, energy?] I had during the first gig. The people [audience] went crazy just like the other time. [Apparently I was expecting two gigs to be the same. That's weird thinking to me now. I think that I subconsciously knew that things would be coming to an end soon and I didn't want things to change.]

September 26, 1981

Practice was very good. If we stop now, then we'll never reach the point of almost exact playin'. I just we don't work in Rolf's Apartment tonight. [Ok, that last sentence hardly made sense, maybe I had a little to much Weizenbier that night, who knows. I did have a job of cleaning a couple's apartment a couple of times a week. What was also cool was that they had a grand piano and so I began to practice piano a little.]

September 25, 1981

Once again another good practice. Seems we're on the right track at least it fells that way. We'll see what happens. [I'm pretty skeptical and frustrated a lot, all I wanted to do was practice, write songs, and play gigs. I couldn't get enough of it. It seemed overly complicated to me why we just couldn't just do that everyday.]

September 24, 1981

Good practice today, I was able to hear good things and bad things. With more practice were gonna put this thing in the bag. We need Gigs, we need good gigs.

September 23, 1981✝

The first day I work and look, we didn't practice. Oh no, it won't interfere. I'll keep my mouth shut and see what happens. [I was such a baby, what a prima donna. If I was my kid I'd kick his butt.]

September 22, 1981

Practiced today, it was good. I asked for a job at McDonald's. I hate the idea of getting away, but I guess it's the way they want it. [I really had a victim mentality at this time. "I asked for a job" "it's the way they want it." Please, can you say little boy. I must have been a pain in the butt to my bandmates.]

September 21, 1981

Finally got to practicin', that's good, we have to keep it up.

September 20, 1981✝

Didn't even reach Laufach on this day. [Now I'm really curious. Laufach, a little village outside of Aschaffenburg, is where Lexel lived and where we were practicing at that time. Lexel was compassionate enough to let me stay in one of his spare bedrooms. I wonder where I stayed that night?]

September 19, 1981✝

No practice. I walked in the woods and came back to late.

September 18, 1981✝

We need gigs bad. And we have to work harder makin' new songs and gettin' tight and doin' it. Damn, I wanna Rock-n-Roll.

September 17, 1981✝

No practice on this day. Lexel gave lessons the whole day. [I have an newspaper article glued in to my journal titled, " Stampede Kraftvoller, abwechslungs-reicher Blues-Rock." trans. Powerful, varied Blues-Rock. The journalist had high praise for the band, but was pretty tough on Franz's english pronunciation.]

September 16, 1981

Wrote the words to "I'll Come Back to You." This is for the song that we wrote on the 14th [Sept.]. It's a very good song. [I don't remember the song, this was after our album was recorded, not sure if any tapes exist anymore. ]

September 15, 1981

Wrote another song today, quite different from the other, but still very good.

September 14, 1981

A very short practice, but we managed to make up a good song.

September 13, 1981✝

We were supposed to practice today, but Ritchie didn't come. I still have a little cold, but I've kicked most of it off. Gotta' get my sh** together, I'd like to practice soon.

September 12, 1981✝

Too tired to write [in my journal] today, but I feel better.

September 11, 1981✝

Didn't write today, 'cause of illness, stopped smokin'.  [It wasn't permanent, I quit a few more times after that. It wasn't until I joined my church in 1984, that I was able to quit smoking cigarettes permanently. Good thing too, I inherited lungs that seem to attract emphysema and lung cancer.]

September 10, 1981✝

So sick that I didn't write on this day. [I think that writing refers to this journal].

September 9, 1981✝

Went to get my residence permit. It'll be finished in about 3 weeks. Met Mike Byrd today, I don't know what he can do, hopefully a lot. A little problem with the Army Clubs. I'll have to clear it up. Money makes people think crazy things. Lexel is a afraid of it, Franz likes to spend it, I don't know what to think of Ritchie. [This is a strange entry. I don't remember who Mike Byrd is or what I was hoping he could do for me. The "little problem" with the Army Club, may have been about me seeking employment at the NCO club, which I eventually procured, as a dish washer. Sorry about the youthful judging about the guys, who were all just trying to deal with a difficult situation.]

September 8, 1981✝

Got my Passport at the American Consulate today, I'm glad. Ritchie came up with a good stage set up. Looks very good, I like it. [I still remember this day, though I don't remember the "stage set up." Ritchie and I took the train to Frankfurt. We stopped at a music store and I picked up my copy of "Major and Minor Scales" by Andreas Segovia. I still have that edition, and I used it a ton.]

September 7, 1981✝

Pulled out Lexel's drum stage, it's easy to assemble and a good stage. Ritche didn't go to the North Sea after all.

September 6, 1981✝

Brought the drums and bass equipment up from the living room. I think that Ritchie went to the North Sea for a vacation and to finish recuperating from his illness.

September 5, 1981✝

Day of rest. We were supposed to play in Gravenboud, [I'm sure that this is misspelled] but the club isn't quite ready.

September 4, 1981

Ein Hammer! In Logos we brought 'em to their knees. The Americans like us a lot. 200 people and they were freakin' . We played well as a band. We need more practice. Once w get a few good weeks of practice in, we'll be dynamite. I'm tired need to catch some sleep. Today was a very good day. Brought the spirit up. [Logos was a new club, I think in the basement of the Heyland Schwind, but I can't say for sure. I have a newspaper article on the event, apparently we were the act that opened up the club.]

September 3, 1981

A good practice session. It has been 25 days since our last gig, one coming up soon. I'm tired and can't think of much.

September 2, 1981

Practiced later than we normally do. It was pretty good, still room for improvement. "Once in a While" was good, hope it turns out good during the gig. Caught a small fish. Made some music for "Winter Rose." [I don't think that "Winter Rose" ever made it to the stage. Surely the lyrics are no longer extant. I wonder what it was about and how it went? It is a strange song title for a rock song.]

September 1, 1981✝

New Month. No practice today because we went to see a lawyer, then we discussed our money problems. To bad we don't live in Heaven, 'cause then we wouldn't have to worry about money and we could play as much as we wanted to. I wonder if they have Marshall stacks [really big guitar amplifiers] in Heaven?

August 31, 1981✝

No practice today, time to get out s*** in gear. We have no time to cry, what has happened, happened, and that's all. [I'm pretty sure that this is in response to Johnny going going back to California. He was a critical part of the band. I wonder if he knew that? This was the beginning of the end for Stampede.]

August 30, 1981

Today we practiced and it was very creative and good Rock n' Roll. Today I found out that John [Guadamuz] had left for California. I don't know what to think. I wish it  were only a vacation, but I don't think so, I'll soon find out. [This was quite a shock to me, John didn't tell me that he was leaving, and frankly, it was quite frightening to be left alone in Germany. John and I had become quite close over that last year and a half, and he was my courage at times. John seemed not to worry about much, so I figured things would work out. Now I was left to myself to work out my issues. John returned to California with his girlfriend Ingrid, who he later married.]

August 29, 1981✝

Today, Ritchie wasn't in the mood and I was rather frustrated, I hope tomorrow is better.

August 28, 1981

We started to practice, but Lexel was in a bad mood and frustrated, so we stopped after half an hour. [Us musicians can be so temperamental at times.]

August 27, 1981

First practice and my fingers hurt, we made a song, but we have no name for it, as of yet. Sounds good too. We also jammed [improvised], that was fun.

August 26, 1981 ✝

17 days and no practice, but a lot of work was done, exactly 13 days worth. Almost everything in cases, looks good, still nome more things to clean up.

August 25, 1981 ✝

Finally finished bringing all the equipment from the Music & Theater. Things are starting to look better, I hope it's not an illusion. [I can't believe that we left equipment at the Music & Theater for 17 days. What were we thinking?]

August 24, 1981 ✝

Worked all day today. I'm tired, autumn is coming soon, but I wish it wasn't.

August 23, 1981 ✝

Nothin' today either. Went to Summer Nights for free, Blackfoot was good. [I was really impressed with Iron Maiden as well.]

Golden Summernight FestivalStadion am Böllenfalltor
Sunday 23 August 1981

Foreigner, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Blue Öyster Cult, Kansas, Tank, Blackfoot and 38 Special

August 22, 1981 ✝

I didn't do any work. I did a personal job at a Freak Festival, 7000 of them. [What the hell is a "personal job." I have no idea what this entry means, I don't think I caught any thing contagious. ]

August 20, 1981 ✝

Started on the flight cases today. John and Franz almost finished the effects rack, looks good. Went to the garage [Badergasse] tonight and picked up some more crap.

August 19, 1981 ✝

Almost got the effects rack put together. John helped today. I cleaned up the bass today, but I still need to polish it. I hope we can start practicing again, I miss it.

August 18, 1981 ✝

Soldered cables like a maniac today. Got a lot done, still more work to do. Sill got lots of energy for workin', which I enjoy.

August 17, 1981 ✝

Threw away more garbage today, still more left, but I think we're over the halfway point. I payed a P.A.S. session today. [I have no idea what a P.A.S. session is. Maybe Franz or Johnny would remember.]

August 16, 1981 ✝

Unloaded some more equipment this morning, caught a fish, then went to visit Ritchie, and that's all Folks.

August 15, 1981 ✝

Went to the Music & Theatre today [with Lexel] to pickup some of the P.A. in the VW bus. [Lexel's] Tow or three more loads should do it. I sure do miss practice, wish Ritchie would get better soon, but it's better if he fights it [the illness] off slowly.

August 14, 1981 ✝

Lexel and I cleaned up a lot in the Basement, still a lot of S*** to do. [The "basement" was our practice room. It was in the basement at Badergasse 16, in Aschaffenburg. It was below Franz's Music Store. He had put quite a bit of money and time into making it a nice work place. Eventually Gundy moved his teaching studio into the place.] Tonight is a full moon , as full as it could be. [I'm] in a weird mood today, but full moons have been known to do that more times than once.

August 13, 1981 ✝

Loadin' and unloadin', that's about all. I caught 3 fish from the little stream out back, just finished eatin' one, tasted gooooood. [Lexel has a lovely home in the country, a little village outside of Aschaffenburg called Laufach.] [He was very gracious to allow me to live with him for several months. Lexel, if I didn't tell you then, Danke brother.]

August 12, 1981 ✝

The only work done today was Lexel tuning his drum kit and me polishing his cymbals. Since Ritchie is sick we should try and get all of the garbage thrown away and things that we can use should be repaired or put into service.

August 11, 1981 ✝

Didn't do anything on this day. Today was the first day I missed out on this Journal, I'll have to be more careful next time. [Not true, I was just confused about what day it was.] Ritchie has a bad lung infection. The doctor says se should stay in bed for 3 weeks.

August 10, 1981 ✝

Today was a nothing day, didn't do any work except help Lexel build up his drums. Shroeder and Tier loaded up some equipment from the Music and Theater, while we sat on our asses. That was damn good of them. The crosses [next to the date entry] are symbols for the days that we don't do anything, because it is very important to keep going, we can't slow down now or we'll end up where we started from, confusion.

August 9, 1981

Day of Rest. I wonder what's harder, creating a world or playin' in a Rock-n-Roll Band. God worked for 6 days before makin' his rest, I did 2 gigs and I felt Kaput. Well, maybe God practiced a little before makin' ours [our world]. Slept in today, but my energy was still drained. After breakfast I felt better. Lexel and I unloaded the bus afterwards. S***, gotta get up early tomorrow. Oh well, that's Rock-n-Roll.

August 8, 1981

We played for the Amies [the Americans] as Franz would say it, at Jeager [Kasern, Aschaffenburg], Music and Theater. Boy, am I beat. Had a little fun, we still need more practice so I can really enjoy myself on stage, but it was ok. The people [audience] could have been better, but don't get me wrong they weren't bad. I [indistinguishable] enjoyed today more than yesterday. I'm so bushed. Today was better than yesterday. [redundant]. [I believe Jim Adamaro and Jose Alvarez was at this gig.]

Aug. 7, 1981

Erlensee, Hansa Bruene. Wow what a mind rush, I never played so many mistakes in one gig, but I really didn't give a f***. We sweated like pigs upon the stage and only about 8 people were dancing. We had two encores. Ritchie was in a pissed off mood afterwards. I have to stop now only have a couple hours of sleep ahead of me.

Aug. 6, 1981 - continues.2

We still had our problems, we couldn't pay rent, we made a record, and we didn't eat. We fixed a few of them, [but] we still had more ahead of us. But now my head is in better condition, so I think.  Maybe all of this will drive me crazy eventually, but then again, maybe the insane know something we don't.
Today, "Behind the Curtain" was played on Hessen 3 Radio. F***, I didn't even hear it, someone (Rick?) told me.

Aug 6, 1981 - Continues.1

....Then came the crazy feelings, oh God, it was like ridin' a low rider at 50 on a dirt road with 3-foot potholes everywhere. Didn't know what to do, didn't know who to talk to, didn't know what the hell was going on. Didn't even understand my own thoughts and feelings. It was like smokin' one of those giant Cheech and Chong joints you know red and white with stripes and little stars in a blue background, perfectly rolled. Everybody smoked, without even knowing it, we got stoned for 7 months, then the sh** finally cleared. [more to come]

Aug 6, 1981 - Continues

Then we had our first gig [at] Heylands Schwind (homebase) [a guesthouse (pub) that was next door to Aschaffenburg's local brewery of the same name]. Oct, 11 1980 was the only time in Heylands Schwind's history to have 410 people in [house] at one time. Freak out? They [the audience] went wild, people were standing on tables and chairs, they were dancing and screaming and singing "Hey Pretty Mamma, Disco is Dead" 3 hours after we were finished. After that gig we said, "ok, let's become a profi band" We all said it, we can't blame anyone [else]. [More to come}....

Aug 6, 1981 -

About this time one year ago Lexel (Hain), Franz (Ullrich), Ritchie (Klaus Reichardt), and I made a jam session. Lexel, Franz, and Ritchie had jammed before and Stampede had existed in the pass also, but it was the first time that I played with them. [Stop, I don't know where I got this information or misunderstood the German language, but this can not be true.] During our first jam session there was something strange in the air, something almost mystical. Nobody really noticed it though, or if they did they either forgot it, in that instant or they didn't care because they didn't understand it. [I'm assuming a lot.] [To an objective audience] It would sound very normal, maybe even a little boring, and it would not sound mystical or magical, the feeling was something that [probably] could not be [captured] in a recording, but it was there.
[At this time I was living in Laufach (a few miles away from Aschaffenburg, in the country) in Lexel Hain's home.] more to come....

Joey Costello's Stampede Journal Aug 1981-Nov 1981

Okay you want to have some fun? I kept a journal for a few months while I was in Stampede. It is the egotistical wanderings of a lost 19 year old American in Germany. [Now I'm just a egotistical lost wandering 47 year old in Kansas.] Usually it is boring, sometimes it is funny. Just to let you know I will do some editing, because sometimes it's kind of ugly, and I love all the band guys now, and I was a frustrated young kid. We also have a reunion concert coming up in Aug 2010 and I only want the best of feelings to exist between us.

Sometimes the journal reveals tiny little glimpses into gigs, practices, composing of songs that are probably long lost, and stuff like that. I will also make commentary or explanations if I can remember the events.

The Journal runs from Aug 6, 1981 till Nov, 26, 1981. It wasn't everyday but it was nearly daily. This was a time in which Lexel Hain came back to the band and Frajo Kromerich had left. My friend John Guadamuz also went back to the states, Ritchie Reichardt left and Gundy Keller became Stampede's guitarist.

I will only transcribe a few lines per entry. And you guys can make your comments.

Still want to have some fun?