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(posted 10/25/03)
Questions for Tuscaloosa musicians … answers from Spanky Twangler, the Penetrators
These musicians have answered our local music questionairre about the closing of the Chukker.
If you'd like to submit your comments, click here.

Druid City Online ... What was your first experience with the Chukker as a patron? as a musician?

Spanky Twangler, guitar, the Penetrators ... My first introduction at the Chukker was in ‘89. I was at a Hitchcocks show on the strip and between sets BF Stokes (Hitchcocks lead guitarist) suggested we go to the Chukker for a shot and a beer. If I remember correctly, Buffalo Rome from Mobile was playing and they were friends of BF’s so we went and did just that. Buffalo Rome was great and we got back to the gig BF was getting paid for way late.

Who is the first band you saw at the Chukker and what do you remember about that night?

see above

Who are the best and worst bands you’ve seen at the Chukker and what do you remember?

The worst are forgettable and who wants to dwell on that?

The Best - Dick Dale, Man or Astro Man, The Space Cossacks, Sublime (who played early week in front of about 8 people. Trace invited them to stay at our house and the Singer dude hooked up with a chick in our living room) The House Levelers, Thee Phantom 5ive, Ronnie Dawson (RIP), Los Straitjacktes, Sugar Smack, Hillbilly Frankenstein, Ray Condo, The Billygoats, Sam Lay, The Atomic Teen Idols, Cat Fight, The Moto Litas, The Shame Idols, The Primitons and more and more and more.... I would have loved to have seen the Replacements in like 85 or 86, but it was before my time.

Name as some of the best local bands you saw at the Chukker. Include any information you can remember about those bands.

Hooper, The Hitchcocks, Kilgore Trout, The Nooners, The Phoebes, (The Nooners and the Phoebes helped save Tuscaloosa local music during a down time) The Woggles (Not really local but Dan lives close by) Pain, Conspiricy a Go-Go, The Corvairs, and plenty more. There really weren’t a whole lot of local bands that played at the Chukker I didn’t like. Even if a band wasn’t neccesarily my thing, I appreciated them doing theirs.

Where will you go to see music once the Chukker is closed?

Is there anywhere else?

What’s the strangest sight or experience you can recall from the Chukker?

Mitch getting in a fight with Gabby. Wonka-fest was interesting in its attempt. When the Penetrators went out to play in San Francisco I announced that we were from Tuscaloosa and from the balcony came a cry for “Chukker Chilli!!!” Apparently some chick had gone on tour with her boyfriend’s band and played the Chukker and was fed Chilli. Good or bad it made an impression on her.

How would you describe the Chukker under its final ownership?

From a band’s standpoint, I think they had their act together. Having moved far away at that point, my days as a regular had kind of dwindled.

When you hear the name Ludovic Goubet (former owner), what comes to mind?

The man you love to hate. He did good, he did bad. His critical mistake, that I spent an hour trying to convince him of was canceling his “patronageship” with WVUA. The new blood started to dwindle. I could type a page at least on why that theory is true. And not just because I make my living on radio advertising.

What will Tuscaloosa lose when the Chukker closes on Halloween?

An institution. An outlet for experimental and interesting music. A place where goofballs from all walks of life can congregate and fit in. From frat rats to artsy yahoo’s everybody had their place and was welcomed.

What do you plan on doing on the Chukker’s final night?

Sit in our house in coastal Georgia, raise a couple beers or a scotch or a martini and remember the many good times. I played in two bands that got their start at the chukker, courted my future wife at the Chukker over the Adams Family pin ball machine, made countless friends at the Chukker, and helped heal some wounds after Rip’s death when we returned to play as a 3 piece just last month.

The Chukker will be missed.

Spanky Twangler is/was a member of these Tuscaloosa bands ...
The Penetrators, Flywheel

The Chukker closed forever Halloween weekend 2003. Music for the Last Stand of the Chukker was provided by the Woggles, Club Wig, Model Citizen, Sweat Bee, DC Moon and his Atomic Supermen, and The Last Gunslinger. Click here to read more about the history of the Chukker.

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