Stories and Comments from friends and family

Ok I'll start, I was in Uncut with Pete, Sam and our drummer was Eddie LeGate. We were a band for a few years and played mostly Flint clubs like Contos, the Dugout, and also Bay City at a bar called The Sawmill. The band did well everywhere we went. I think Sammy shined on stuff like Quiet Riot, Wasp, REO. But his favorites were Led Zeppelin and older stuff like that. Sam was the oldest at the time. Pete was a big fan of Judas Priest, VanHalen and other bands that had great guitarists. But his all time favorite was definitely Judas Priest. Pete used to smoke the guitar on songs like Bloodstone and other not so "A" side priest songs. Friends at our gigs would say things about Pete like, "Man that guy puts feeling in that guitar".

In an earlier version of the band, we had a drummer named Bill Bradley who was a great drummer, but had a real attitude problem. he loved to nag Sammy all the time. One night at a show at the dugout, we were on stage in between songs, bill kept lightly hitting his symbols as Sam tried to talk to the audience. Sam asked, then warned him multiple times to quit, but Bill kept it up until Sammy turned around, and in the Mic, loud as hell told Bill that he had all he can take and after this set was taking Bill outside and kicking his ass. Sure enough, when the set was over and we were "taking a break" Sam turned around to the drum set and said, "ok lets go asshole". Bill of course did not want to go get beat, so we all talked sam out of it. but I don't remember Bill ever doing that to him again.

Another great story (to me anyway) is the time the band played on my Sisters back porch in Ortonville at a party. It was small and awkward, but turned out to be a great time. I felt good that my Flint friends got to meet and hang out with my family. My sisters had made a huge dinner spread for the guests, where the main course was a smoked turkey. I remember Pete and Sam mostly raving to the point of being annoying about how good this turkey was. Those guys didn't have much money and lived in terrible parts of Flint so I was glad to see them hang out in the country and get good food for once.

I'm sure i'll post more stories on here.

Eric VanLandingham

I used to play guitar in a Muskegon band called Shock back in '88 or so. I remember Sam very well.  He had a great personality.  His band at the time, Neo Savage, was playing some gigs at the Fireside Inn, in Muskegon.  I remember him cooking breakfast in the kitchen of the local party house where his band crashed.  He offered to cook for all of us.  We had some great times in Flint, when Shock played at Conto's.  I crashed at his place, on his living room floor.  He was the nicest guy, always said to us "Muskegon!  Welcome to Flint!"  It was a lot of fun hanging with him.  Great singer, and a great frontman.  I play in a band called Beer Nuts now, and our drummer, Steve Arnouts, played for Shock as well. He knew Sam.  We still laugh about how crazy he was.   I didn't know that he had died all these years ago.  It makes me sad.  I'll drink a toast to him.   

Sincerely,

Scott Nesbit

s.nesbit@comcast.net

Wow- I am so sorry to hear about their passing! I moved back home to Florida back in 1990. I waited tables at Contos.Those guys were both great people with so much talent. Thank you for this tribute page. Sammy had some awsome parties at his house. I passed out there a few times.
Terri

Hi Eric, I dont think that you will remember me but my name is Cheryl Carter I am Warrens sister and if you do remember me you will also remember that I was very close to sammy & pete espically sammy. When I found out about your web site I was excited. I have a lot of great memories of Sammy From the first time that I met him until my last phone call with him a couple of months before he died. I also have a-lot of great pictures of him including one of him playing the drums. you remember he started out in a country band playing drums. I dont know how to download my pictures onto my computer please help  me and I will share with all. My favorite saying to Sammy was I love you more. and with that I will finish.
Cheryl Carter

I just heard about Pete today 2-27-2007, It breaks my heart. I loved Pete, we were really good freinds. Bros forever.

Man, too many stories, Pitcher Night, Wednesday's at Contos, and that was just Wednesday's excuse. Need I say more. Contos was our clubhouse and Flint was our playground. I'm looking at a picture of him and me, sitting at the bar at Contos, arms around each other, chugging $4 pitchers. I'll have to scan it and e-mail it to ya. its about 1987.

God rest your souls Pete and Sam.
Requieum, ex perpetua luceat ets, Grant them rest, may perpetual light shine on them.
Best Regards,
Mike Saylor