# Michael Lofton's [my] Blog | A journey of musings along the path > Notes to myself as a way to keep track of my life experiences and projects... --- ## Pages - [Michael Lofton](https://michaellofton.com/): Michael Lofton’s [my] Blog... Journey musings, thoughts, and feelings…Keeping track of my life experiences and projects. Take a look if you wish... - [Business Endeavors](https://michaellofton.com/business-endeavors/): Businesses that Michael Lofton is involved with that includes landing pages (URLs) that relate to his biz endeavors. - [Flying Rocks Book](https://michaellofton.com/publishing-projects/flying-rocks-book/): Was fortunate enough to had flown the Grateful Dead band for 18-years ('77-'95) also the last guy to fly Jerry (Garcia) home from Betty's (Ford's) place... Jimmy Buffett for 12 years... hung with Jimmy in Holiday Inns in the late 70's... Van Halen a great 7 yrs run... and a bunch more.... eg., Rolling Stones Steal Wheels, Barry Manilow, Paul Simon, Kings of Comedy. - [Music & the Arts](https://michaellofton.com/music-the-arts/): Music and the Arts as they relate to Michael Lofton's blog. - [Health & Wellness](https://michaellofton.com/health-wellness/): Health and Wellness – - [Publishing Projects](https://michaellofton.com/publishing-projects/): Flying Rocks – Entertainment Book Synchronicity – Manifestation Book Organic Wines and Organic Wine Clubs Slabory Day – The History... --- ## Posts - [Fleetwood Mac Tusk Tour](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/fleetwood-mac-tusk-tour/): In 1980 I had the opportunity and arranged tour use of a Boeing (707) for Fleetwood Mac as a part of their Tusk Tour. The ship had a forward suite-style arrangement with couches, club tables, galley/bar, etc - [Rolling Stones Steel Wheels Tour](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/rolling-stones-steel-wheels-tour/): In 1989 I flew (as their personal private aircraft transportation consultant) the Rolling Stones... Had the opportunity to fly the boys for their Steel Wheels North America tour in this Boeing 707-128 (remember this aircraft?) model ship. This bird had a converted 50 passenger corporate interior with get this, a working shower - [Richard Marx - World Record](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/richard-marx/): October of 1991, Richard Marx's management got a hold of me with the request to assist with a private aircraft, which would provide a means of moving their band, sound & lights members, and management across the country (USA) to achieve a world record of the most concerts in one day with the greatest distance from east to west coast. - [The Osmond Brothers](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/the-osmond-brothers/): In the mid eighties I worked with the entertainment group, the Osmonds (the Brothers, not Donnie and Marie) to secure their private jet ownership... I even arranged for their financing of such Westwind 1123 aircraft. - [Guns N' Roses Riot Tour](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/guns-n-roses-riot-tour/): It was late evening July 2nd, 1991 and I get this call from (one of) my airplane crew member, flying the "Guns N' Roses" private aircraft, of which I had arranged and managed for their (#gunsnroses) 'Use Your Illusion" World Tour (1st leg). - [Jimmy Buffett Tours](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/jimmy-buffett-tours/): Jimmy Buffett was one of my first clients (of many) that I personally flew for my own company. I handled all his personal aircraft flight arrangements, for 12 years hence this image of me as the Co-Captain of the 'Cheeseburger' plane, of which I personally operated and flew for Jimmy's... Son of a Son of A Sailor and Cheeseburger in Paradise tours... - [Heart, the band...](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/heart-the-band/): For 13 years (in their hay-days from the early 80s thru the 90s) I arranged and managed all of the private flight (air) transportation for the band, 'Heart'. Here's a pic of their 1986 World Tour (US and Canada) aircraft... - [Lynyrd Skynyrd Meets Jimmy Buffett](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/lynyrd-skynyrd-meets-jimmy-buffett/): So, what does Lynyrd Skynyrd have to do with me and my aviation adventures flying the biggest of rock stars in the 70s, 80s and 90s?... well, one year later in 1978 I delivered an aircraft to the mid-west to pick up Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefers band for their subsequently tours, and... - [Grateful Dead Tours](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/grateful-dead-tours/): Yep, back in the day Grateful Dead was a client of mine... actually for about 18 years I handled all of their private air transportation consultation. And no, they didn't take VW buses around the country to play their gigs. Private aircraft was and is the only way most of your touring bands get around back then and today... - [Jimmy Buffett and the Volcano Blows](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/jimmy-buffett-and-the-volcano-blows/): Jimmy Buffett and the Volcano Blows at Mt. Saint Helens Shortly after the May 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption, Jimmy... - [Nazareth, the band](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/nazareth-the-band/): I flew the band, Nazareth, with my hired Captain (I flew first officer) on a modified interior (sub-contracted) Viscount 700 series aircraft from Toronto, Canada to Oakland, CA, as they ended their (Nazareth) World Music Festival. Then lightening hit !... - [Van Halen Tours](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/van-halen-tours/): I had arranged for all the private aircraft transportation in private planes and flew the 'Van Halen' band for the Balance Tours (and) for 7-years, starting from the mid-nineties. Even though I grew-up just up the street from Eddie & Alex in Altadena/Pasadena, Calif... I would never know... - [Lionel Richie and the Commodores](https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/lionel-richie-and-the-commodores/): In the mid-seventies, another band I had the pleasure of flying was... the Commodores. With Lionel Richie as their lead singer. It was their 'Brick House (woman)' tour and interesting times, indeed! If you can dig this, the Co-captain and myself were the only white guys at their concerts... --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages > Michael Lofton’s [my] Blog... Journey musings, thoughts, and feelings…Keeping track of my life experiences and projects. Take a look if you wish... - Published: 2025-08-05 - Modified: 2025-08-05 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/ --- > Businesses that Michael Lofton is involved with that includes landing pages (URLs) that relate to his biz endeavors. - Published: 2025-08-05 - Modified: 2025-08-05 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/business-endeavors/ --- > Was fortunate enough to had flown the Grateful Dead band for 18-years ('77-'95) also the last guy to fly Jerry (Garcia) home from Betty's (Ford's) place... Jimmy Buffett for 12 years... hung with Jimmy in Holiday Inns in the late 70's... Van Halen a great 7 yrs run... and a bunch more.... eg., Rolling Stones Steal Wheels, Barry Manilow, Paul Simon, Kings of Comedy. - Published: 2024-11-08 - Modified: 2025-04-06 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/publishing-projects/flying-rocks-book/ --- > Music and the Arts as they relate to Michael Lofton's blog. - Published: 2023-03-03 - Modified: 2023-03-03 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/music-the-arts/ --- - Published: 2020-07-08 - Modified: 2020-07-08 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/health-wellness/ --- - Published: 2019-08-08 - Modified: 2025-08-05 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/publishing-projects/ --- --- ## Posts > In 1980 I had the opportunity and arranged tour use of a Boeing (707) for Fleetwood Mac as a part of their Tusk Tour. The ship had a forward suite-style arrangement with couches, club tables, galley/bar, etc - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/fleetwood-mac-tusk-tour/ --- > In 1989 I flew (as their personal private aircraft transportation consultant) the Rolling Stones... Had the opportunity to fly the boys for their Steel Wheels North America tour in this Boeing 707-128 (remember this aircraft?) model ship. This bird had a converted 50 passenger corporate interior with get this, a working shower - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/rolling-stones-steel-wheels-tour/ --- > October of 1991, Richard Marx's management got a hold of me with the request to assist with a private aircraft, which would provide a means of moving their band, sound & lights members, and management across the country (USA) to achieve a world record of the most concerts in one day with the greatest distance from east to west coast. - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/richard-marx/ --- > In the mid eighties I worked with the entertainment group, the Osmonds (the Brothers, not Donnie and Marie) to secure their private jet ownership... I even arranged for their financing of such Westwind 1123 aircraft. - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/the-osmond-brothers/ --- > It was late evening July 2nd, 1991 and I get this call from (one of) my airplane crew member, flying the "Guns N' Roses" private aircraft, of which I had arranged and managed for their (#gunsnroses) 'Use Your Illusion" World Tour (1st leg). - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/guns-n-roses-riot-tour/ --- > Jimmy Buffett was one of my first clients (of many) that I personally flew for my own company. I handled all his personal aircraft flight arrangements, for 12 years hence this image of me as the Co-Captain of the 'Cheeseburger' plane, of which I personally operated and flew for Jimmy's... Son of a Son of A Sailor and Cheeseburger in Paradise tours... - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/jimmy-buffett-tours/ --- > For 13 years (in their hay-days from the early 80s thru the 90s) I arranged and managed all of the private flight (air) transportation for the band, 'Heart'. Here's a pic of their 1986 World Tour (US and Canada) aircraft... - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/heart-the-band/ --- > So, what does Lynyrd Skynyrd have to do with me and my aviation adventures flying the biggest of rock stars in the 70s, 80s and 90s?... well, one year later in 1978 I delivered an aircraft to the mid-west to pick up Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefers band for their subsequently tours, and... - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/lynyrd-skynyrd-meets-jimmy-buffett/ --- > Yep, back in the day Grateful Dead was a client of mine... actually for about 18 years I handled all of their private air transportation consultation. And no, they didn't take VW buses around the country to play their gigs. Private aircraft was and is the only way most of your touring bands get around back then and today... - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/grateful-dead-tours/ --- - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/jimmy-buffett-and-the-volcano-blows/ --- > I flew the band, Nazareth, with my hired Captain (I flew first officer) on a modified interior (sub-contracted) Viscount 700 series aircraft from Toronto, Canada to Oakland, CA, as they ended their (Nazareth) World Music Festival. Then lightening hit !... - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/nazareth-the-band/ --- > I had arranged for all the private aircraft transportation in private planes and flew the 'Van Halen' band for the Balance Tours (and) for 7-years, starting from the mid-nineties. Even though I grew-up just up the street from Eddie & Alex in Altadena/Pasadena, Calif... I would never know... - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/van-halen-tours/ --- > In the mid-seventies, another band I had the pleasure of flying was... the Commodores. With Lionel Richie as their lead singer. It was their 'Brick House (woman)' tour and interesting times, indeed! If you can dig this, the Co-captain and myself were the only white guys at their concerts... - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/flying-rocks-book/lionel-richie-and-the-commodores/ --- ---