# 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... - [Flying Rocks Book](https://michaellofton.com/publishing-projects/flying-rocks-book/): Fortunate enough to have flown the Grateful Dead band for 18-years ('77-'95)... Jimmy Buffett for 12 years... Van Halen 7 yrs... And a bunch more! Rock n' Roll - [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. - [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: 2026-06-10 - Modified: 2026-06-10 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/ Michael John Lofton's Blog Journey, musings, thoughts, and feelings... ... keeping track of a few experiences and projects. Take a look if you wish *** CustomerCounts. com New Age SEO/AEO (even GEO -hehe) Marketing Strategist... Discovering and Fixing Your Traffic and Conversion Blocks! New-age AI Foundational SEO Content Applications *** Flying Rocks Book On the side, keeping track of my life experiences/projects, including writing a book on flying rock stars in private aircraft during a snippet of my life, called 'Flying Rocks' Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World... - Click above image to go to book information - *** Hobbies - Drummer - Couple of times per month, playing drums in a Grateful Dead cover band, and as a drummer host for open mics- Golf - Averaging a 15 handicap on a good year... LOL - Yet, also being a driving range junky! mmm. - Competitive Table Tennis with friends- Home MacGyver expert (hehe) *** Along with the Menu/Tabs on this page, I'm noting other gigs here... Facebook siteLinked-In site Customer Counts . com digital marketing consultant service for the expansion of your business. Organic Wine Clubs Organization (another project to initiate) site providing you with insightful organic wine-related topics. Picasso Art For Sale . com provides some available and collectable Pablo Picasso Art pieces. Jazz Now and Then . com is a work in progress regarding Jazz music. The Flying Rocks book I'm currently editing on the fly (pun... > Fortunate enough to have flown the Grateful Dead band for 18-years ('77-'95)... Jimmy Buffett for 12 years... Van Halen 7 yrs... And a bunch more! Rock n' Roll - Published: 2026-06-10 - Modified: 2026-06-10 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/publishing-projects/flying-rocks-book/ Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World… From the zany to scary moments! Flying Rocks Aviation & Music Adventures... by Michael J Lofton Backstage and production insights about the high-flying episodes of some of the biggest rock n' roll stars in the world, traveling and touring on the road in private airplanes! Music and private air transportation experiences. (ok, it's a memoir! ) A scrapbook/dossier primarily for my family, my kids and grand-children, to provide further insights into what the heck I did for a good portion of my life on this planet. If you're an individual who enjoys music and/or airplanes, this book could be a read that you might find of interest. Michael J LoftonWriter/Publisher Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World... These example chapters are a work in progress. Completed in the published book. Note: Comment section below each chapter is reserved for future input. . You are an early (re)viewer of this work. Any edit suggestions or inputs regarding existing chapter content are greatly welcomed and appreciated by forwarding your ideas directly to my email: michael@customercounts. com   Some Chapters Flying Rocks Book Website Rolling Stones Steel Wheel Tour - 1989 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... Read More Here... https://michaellofton. com/flying-rocks-book/rolling-stones-steel-wheels-tour/ Fleetwood Mac Tusk Tour - 1980 In 1980 I had the opportunity and arranged tour use... > 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/ Business Endeavors -   Digital Marketing for Your Business or Organization Customer Counts . com- Digital Content Marketing Strategist to Expand Your Biz!   (Website)https://CustomerCounts. com (Facebook Page)https://www. facebook. com/CustomerCounts/ - BAMMO . org - Brick And Mortar Marketing Online Organization(a work in progress)http://bammo. org * Organic Wine Clubs . org(Website)https://organicwineclubs. org (Facebook Page)https://www. facebook. com/Organic-Wines-and-Wine-Clubs-Organization-323030971664953/? modal=admin_todo_tour * Wine Stores - Google My Local Business & Facebook Delivery System(App... is a work in progress) * Biz Templates for GBP, FB, and Email postings (posts) delivery system. App... A work in progress(refer to BAMMO. org) * Affiliate and Personal Marketing Projects(a work in progress) > 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/ Musician - A drummer (past guitarist) - Rock, Blues, Jazz (grew up playing guitar but picked-up traps in the late '90s)   Flying Rocks A book regarding flying rock stars in private aircraft... https://michaellofton. com/publishing-projects/flying-rocks-book/   Building Your Own Drum, Cocktail Kit (how I did it) Building a cocktail drum set (aka: knock-down kit) is fairly easy by using your existing drum set while achieving such a very small investment. In this example, I wanted to keep my existing drums yet eliminating the need to bring my kick drum and two upper tom drums to a smaller gig... Taking only my; snare, high-hat, crash and ride cymbals, and the floor tom... eg. , a 'cocktail' sized gig drum set. Oh, I also didn't want a 'stand up' kit. I prefer to take the drum throne and sit during gigs. Standing up while managing the kick and the high hat may look interesting but it's a chore. Realizing many cocktail kits use only a kick, making standing up an option. Here's what I did to create the cocktail kit... (a walkthrough) Oh, I'm further keeping my YouTube Channel (somewhat) updated... It has numerous other music (and other) references,here:https://www. youtube. com/user/IamMichaelLofton A list of my previous bands includes... Altadena/Pasadena, CA. (my birthplace) The Turning Point, 1966, with me on the left, along w/ M. Cusic, R. Bigalow, T. Gage. I played guitar back then. Facebook thread pursuant to such (click image below) Then in 1968, Green Bread, myself on guitar, along with... - Published: 2020-07-08 - Modified: 2020-07-08 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/health-wellness/ Health and Wellness - - Published: 2019-08-08 - Modified: 2025-08-05 - URL: https://michaellofton.com/publishing-projects/ Flying Rocks - Entertainment Book Synchronicity - Manifestation Book Organic Wines and Organic Wine Clubs Slabory Day - The History of debt and our monetary slavery system Interview about Book and General Endeavors with 'Seriously' Bud Kraus... (taped mid 2025) ## 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 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... with the aft portion of the aircraft in first class seating. Unlike most all of my other private aircraft tour arrangements with bands, where I handled all aircraft tour details... pre, post and en-route flight following management thereof, with Fleetwood Mac I was (in this instance) primarily the initial aircraft securement charter/lease broker. Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World... > 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/ Rolling Stones Aircraft This aircraft had a converted 50 passenger corporate interior with get this, a working shower! 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! The lessons I learned from providing private aircraft transportation consultation for the largest of entertainers in the world was to keep a fairly low profile. In this instance however, with the Rolling Stones 'tongue' plastered on the side of the aircraft (partly for marketing) I had to come up with some interesting diversions... some very silly... Like the time I had convinced the aircraft parking personnel that the tongue was an icon for a 'flag' of the foreign country that owned the aircraft. Most of the time we couldn't hide the fact that the boys were on the plane. I feel so privilege to had flown the biggest and the best of major rock 'n roll bands in the days (gone past)! More in my book... Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World... > 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/   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. Oooo, it was a nice challenge Indeed. I secured the required aircraft (a modified DC-8 back then) for their request and went about arranging the details needed to pull-it-off. Heck of way to promote your recent record release, eh? I was a fortunate man to had taken part, indeed! More to read in my book... Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World... > 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/ 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. I also secured their flight crew for their touring and corporate endeavors. A couple of years later the bank called me and said they needed to sell the jet as they took back possession of the craft. Even though the aircraft market tanked for this airplane, I was able to move it for them. It was the last of the pure jets (ala: LearJet -25 style), as the new era of 'turbo-fan' jets secured the marketplace... This ship was the predecessor to the later generation, Westwind 1. More in my book... Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World... > 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/ Guns N' Roses Big FD Tour Use Your Illusion 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). He goes... "Michael, we've got a problem on the road tonight and we'll need some brilliant ideas to get out of dodge (St. Louis) without hassles. " Perplexed, I further learned what happened... You see, on that July evening at the Riverport Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Missouri, just outside of #StLouis, during a performance of "Rocket Queen", lead singer, Axl Rose discovered that a fan was filming the show with a camera. After asking the venue's security to take away the camera, Rose decided to take it upon himself, jumping into the audience and tackling the fan. He had a heated confrontation with the fan before physically assaulting him. After being pulled out of the audience by members of the crew, Rose said, "Well, thanks to the lame-ass security, I'm going home! ", threw his microphone to the ground and stormed off the stage. Ha! ... could you imagine today requesting that you turn off your camera... . Amazing what just a decade can mean when it comes to the digital world regarding the capturing images. Interestingly enough, the sub-title of this tour was... 'Get in the Ring Mother Fucker'. Read more in the Book... Stories from the... > 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/ Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger in Paradise My aircraft interface with Jimmy and the Coral Reefers. Jimmy Buffett Tours... https://www. facebook. com/photo. php? fbid=10200854436775942&set=a. 4678032421516. 177499. 1014924234&type=3&theater As a part of the Jimmy Buffett's Cheeseburger in Paradise Tour '78... I portrayed myself as an incognito pilot. No problem, I'll get you there safe and sound! - lol Actually, our F-27 Cheeseburger (corporate) airplane was the largest whenever we pulled into the private (aircraft) parking slots... All the other corporate pilot jocks wore suits and ties (or pilot costumes, as I called them). Us, no way! We wore Jimmy Buffett 'T-shirts' - Ha! (the other pilots hated our freedom). 1977/78 - I had flown a few other bands for other companies up to this time, but Jimmy Buffett was one of my first clients (of many) that I personally flew for my own company. I subsequently 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... (note: JB insert inside aircraft). I'm even mentioned on the liner notes on his "You had to be there! " double live album. Good Times Indeed! I still have mine! ... After seeing a clip in the FM movie, I was reminded to look in my closet to flashback on my 1978-issued JB and the CRB jacket, still in my possession from being their... > 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/ The Band Heart, Touring ... Ann and Nancy Wilson   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. Gulfstream G1 image... In this instance we used a a twin-engine Rolls Royce turbo-prop Gulfstream-1 ship, which held 10 in living room style comfort. Many found memories of working with the girls and the band members, their management, attorneys, and accountants, being at the band's gigs and hanging with their wonderful road/tour manager (at that time), Dick Adams... BTW, pretty much every one of the road/tour managers that I had aircraft flight arrangements with were unpretentious and great to work with! Since I continued to provide for some small aircraft inspections at my local airport as a trade for use of air time in such airplanes, I fortunately had a my disposal the use of many small airships to shuddle around in from my existing Big Bear Lake, CA. docimile. What a handy treat it was in those days to have at my disposal many different small aircraft for flight use. Discover more in my Flying Rocks Book! Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World... > 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/ Following a performance at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, South Carolina, on October 20, 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd band boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 airplane bound for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where they were scheduled to appear at LSU the following night. Due to a faulty engine, the Skynyrd aircraft ran low on fuel and the pilots were diverted to the McComb-Pike County Airport. After running out of fuel they attempted an emergency landing before crashing in a heavily forested area five miles northeast of Gillsburg, Mississippi. 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 late 1978 I delivered an aircraft to the mid-west to pick up Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefers band for their subsequent tours. My book provides the (mystery) brush with Lynyrd Skynyrd that took place in the aircraft I personally for Buffett... Keeping in 'tune' and relating to a reference of Muscle Shoals and the southern influenced music scene, I have a rather interesting and wacky twist of fate, music story... with a different sort of message. About an hour or so into Jimmy's flight, we could see some pretty large thunder bumpers ahead of us, over the Gulf of Mexico. Flashes of lightening exploded in that night sky, like the fourth of July over the White House. Yet, we managed to stay clear of most of this weather activity,... > 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/ Grateful Dead Aircraft Tours What A Long Strange Trip... Back in the day (1978 - 1995) Grateful Dead was a client of mine... 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 the way the Dead toured, as most popular bands do to this very day Their private plane essentially became an efficient tool, which was used for its ability to provide safety and convenience along with their touring schedules and security requirements. I'm so grateful that the Grateful Dead were an entertainment group that I took care as a private aircraft consultant for almost 20 years! Lucky for me I handled all of their airplane touring for the band members, whenever they hit the road (mostly in US and Canada). Right up to the last day that I arranged for the private jet flights for Jerry ('95) to and back from Betty Ford's place (within a week of his very early departure from this planet). I've been out of the air transportation consultation biz for many years. Now in the middle of creating some chapters in a new book from my experiences with many great entertainment groups, such as the Dead. As a Dead Head you know that Jerry Garcia was a vital part of the original foundation of the band, as such and after his departure, the Grateful Dead 'avatar' took on another embodiment altogether. I certainly... - Published: 2024-11-17 - Modified: 2024-11-17 - URL: 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 Buffett had scheduled an acoustic tour of the Northwest. I secured a Beechcraft F-90 for such... and in June of '80 we departed one of our points, Portland, OR. - and decided to make a slight detour on our way to Seattle (his very next gig). St. Helens was still smoldering on this day, hence its top being blown-off shortly beforehand. We had heard that private aircraft with proper transponder flight following could get a closer look and take a peek inside the bubbling blown-out lava pit. I suggested that Jimmy ride in the right (co-pilots) chair as we approached the flume. 'What a Trip' it was to be amongst the very few that had been able to circle over and look deep-down inside a very recent volcano! Hence, we renamed this Jimmy Buffett acoustic tour... "the Mount St. Helens King Kong Volcano Tour" Image is myself with Jimmy on the ramp in Seattle just after our volcano viewing flight. Learn more in the book... Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World... > 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/ Nazareth World Music Festival Aircraft Tour - 1979 Lightening, Smoke, and the Border Crossings- Nazareth’s Roadies - After popping through the other side of a severe squall line of thunderstorms, heading the opposite direction of our route just west of Chicago, the Boeing 727 United Airlines captain came on the horn and asked, “What kind of aircraft are you? ” I responded as the co-pilot in the right seat of our ship, “We’re a Vickers Viscount. ” With a slight chuckle in his deep voice the United captain responded, “If I were you I’d turn around right now and find a suitable airport to wait this weather system out. ” Damn, not what we wanted to hear! Next thing we were flying toward a Squall-line (a massive line of thunderstorms that doesn't allow for passage in any aircraft that can't get above 28K feet! ) just past Chicago... our intended boarder crossing entry point was Des Moines, IA. - Shit, scratch that... time to turn around and head for Midway, Chicago. Problem was... we alerted the gov border folks of such change in plans and they weren't all to happy about it. Anyway... Upon landing @ Midway (back when there was only one terminal open for the occasional airline flight in 1979) we were greeted with a couple of, not so friendly airport gov't entities... A lot more to come about my venture with Nazareth's roadies in my book about flying rock 'n roll in private aircraft... 'Flying Rocks! '... > 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/ Van Halen Aircraft 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 these guys and their touring management until my turn later in life as their aircraft charter consultant. Had the privilege of handling the air gigs for many big touring (mostly rock n' roll) groups... Original Facebook Thread on Van Halen... https://www. facebook. com/photo. php? fbid=10200687474841998&set=a. 4678032421516. 177499. 1014924234&type=3&theater Read More in the book... Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World...   > 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/ Commodores Brick House Woman Tour with Lionel Richie- In the mid-seventies, another band I had the pleasure of flying for was... the Commodores with Lionel Richie as their lead singer just before he struck out on his own. It was their 'Brick House (woman)' tour and interesting times! If you can dig this, the Co-captain and myself were the only white guys in the entourage and at their concerts. Ahhh, the wonderful and fortunate experiences for a mid-twenty-year-old (back then). Original Facebook for this Thread https:// www. facebook. com /photo. php? fbid=10200938986929643&set=a. 4678032421516. 177499. 1014924234&type=3&theater Read more here... Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World...