Classic rockers 38 Special to close out 2021 Down by the Riverside series
Known for top hits “Hold on Loosely” and “Caught Up in You,” the famed classic rock band 38 Special will light up Rochester this weekend.
The band will take the Think Bank Down by the Riverside stage this Sunday at Mayo Park at 8 p.m. — with the southeast Minnesota rock group Fred the Bear opening at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Formed in 1974 by Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant (younger brother of Ronnie Van Zant, former lead singer of Lynyrd Skynrd), 38 Special debuted their eponymous album in 1977.
Starting off with a strong Southern influence of blues jams, the group's style transitioned to commercial rock, selling out large arenas. They have since gone Gold and Platinum while releasing more than two dozen albums over four decades.
The band's lineup has also changed over the years with guitarist Don Barnes, keyboardist Bobby Capps, drummer Gary Moffatt, bassist Barry Dunaway, and guitarist Jerry Riggs currently on tour.
Connecting with frontman Don Barnes, reporter Haley Handelman learned the story behind the band's iconic name, about the band’s changing dynamics across the years, and more.
MCB: Can you tell me about the significance of the band's name "38 Special"?
Barnes: We used to rent a warehouse somewhere to rehearse, ‘cause if we were in someone’s garage we would get the cops called for noise. So, we would come to these places in the middle of the woods, so far away from civilization. We had this whole place and boarded up the windows and chained the doors to leave our equipment out there since we had day jobs at the time and would practice at night.
About two months went by with us practicing in this old shed in the woods and one night the cops in the area decided to raid this building since they figured some wild parties were going on in there. We were in the middle of playing and didn’t hear the banging on the doors until we stopped the song. They were yelling on the bull horn and everything.
To preface this, we had lost the key to the chain on the door, so we all had to climb in through the window — and we heard one of the guys out there say he had to shoot the lock off like the old westerns. He had a .38 special that was going to do the talking for him. When we played our first club, we didn’t have name for the band and thought back to that funny story.
MCB: How has the band’s musical style evolved since you first started nearly four decades ago?
Barnes: Well, everybody’s trying to get on the radio, and there’s only 24 hours in a day with a lot of commercials. You’re trying to vie for a position to get your song played so you tend to keep your ear to the ground to what’s going on with styles around you. When we first started out, we were kind of a clone of other Southern rock bands like the others that had come before us. Ronnie Van Zant, the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, was a mentor to us and we all grew up in the same neighborhood. One day he gave us a piece of advice: “Stop trying to be a clone of something; put whatever makes your heart sing, whatever influences you have in your life, and fashion something to create a style of your own.”
We took that to heart and worked with different approaches to songs. We felt like we were bigger fans of the British Invasion; we liked the melodies and were Beatles fans. We would call that a ‘melody and muscle’ — you got muscular guitars and a good melody soaring over top.
We figured if it ain't broke, don't fix it, but we started hitting on a style that people hadn't done — kind of an arena rock style — back when we started having some success with that.
MCB: You have played with so many great musicians over your career. Are there any concerts or studio sessions that still stick with you today?
Barnes: Oh, well, yeah, there's plenty. We played Red Rocks in Colorado. It’s a beautiful and natural amphitheater; it's been around since the ‘20s. I mean Sinatra, everybody, played there. They light up the walls of the rocks and it’s just a huge amphitheater. You could stand on stage looking out into almost like a dream world — really like another planet.
We played in the Meadowlands in New Jersey. So, we were told to build our career slow and steady, you don't want to go in and try to play too large of a building and then they only sell about half tickets. You want to start slow at smaller theaters, sell those out, and then get to larger theaters. We wanted to go to Meadowlands — which is 24,000 seats. And our manager and handlers said you don't want to want to go in there and not sell out; it might reflect negatively on you. We said we think we can bring them out, and they said, “okay, whatever, your funeral.”
And we went in there and sold out 24,000 seats. It was a big pivotal, pivotal moment in our life. We showed them that people want to come here and hear all those iconic songs and had a great memorable night.
MCB: You are the only original member still in the group touring today. Can you share a little bit about the lineup you have now?
Barnes: First of all, if you want to achieve greatness you, gotta surround yourself with legends and it’s just been an honor to have these guys. The band’s been around for so long, some guys have had to retire or move on. I’m the voice and writer, so maybe the only original guy left, so I can make it sound just like the records and the audience will see that history unfolding.
The newest addition is Jerry Riggs. He’s a very accomplished guitarist and lead guitarist, it’s really an honor to have him — it’s like having one of the greats, like Clapton, on stage. We gave him a special segment of the show where there’s an interlude that he does unbelievable guitar histrionics and people are dazzled. Then we have Barry Dunaway, a bass player, who came from touring from groups around the world. He brings the thunder every night. The drummer, Gary Moffatt, has been around for 30 years, he’s one of these just iconic station drummers, one of the best in the South. I have Bobby Capps who’s a legendary keyboardist and vocalist. There is big talent from all those guys and we go out there an unfold that history — it’s the greatest joy in this job to go out and bring happiness to people.
MCB: Many in Rochester are excited for you guys to play here, especially after the past year with the pandemic. How are you feeling about performing?
Barnes: Oh, it's been great to get back on the road. Sometimes you get to a point where you're overworked and you kind of want a break — well we had over a year break and we didn't know what to do with ourselves. My wife and I moved during that time; it might not have been the most ideal time to move, but we bought a new house. The guys came by and we put some amps up and jammed, but we definitely missed the road. We've seen the audience just absolutely hungry for all entertainment, for rock and roll. It’s been crazy, everybody wants to get back to it — once something is taken away from you like that, you realized how much you appreciate it.
Watch 38 Special live in concert this Sunday in Rochester. Details here.
✍️ Interview by Haley Handelman
About the opening act: Fred the Bear
Fred the Bear is a southeast Minnesota band that blends soulful, bluesy vocals and skilled guitar playing with multi-part harmonies, sweet organ sounds, and an unstoppable rhythm section, putting their own stamp on an eclectic mix of classic rock, Americana, country, and alt-rock. They write and perform their own original music, highlighted by insightful lyrics reflecting on life’s promises and disappointments, set to dynamic melodies and rhythms.
