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Aint Yo Mama played its last scheduled gig this past weekend had a blast.

A big damper fell on the night when an F1 tornado ripped thru the little community that our singers parents live in. The cemetary where my great grand parents and grand parents are buryed was really messed up, it ripped up trees, most over 100 years old, and even moved the church building 20 ft, kinda like Wizard Of Oz when the house landed on the wicked witch.

I spent yesterday helping with cleanup, even got on the nightly news.

But as far as our gig it was awesome, everyone was playing thier asses off, I cant think of any tunes that I screwed up, which is rare for me. Had a huge crowd, one of those crowds who for the most part sat and listened all night long, it was our singers 50th birthday. We wound up playing an extra 30-45 minutes cause people just wanted to hear us play some more, plus I knew that it would probably be the last time.

My bassist who is moving posted the below on FB.

I dont guess its really sunk in yet, but the drummer, singer and I started forming the band in 1988, I played in it til 97, then I got asked to rejoin in 07 and weve been playing every since. I dont know what the future holds for me musically, but its been quite a ride.

Heres our bassist post.

Played my last show for quite awhile with Ain't Yo Mama Sat. Night it was bitter sweet, we had a great time! And had a packed house.
First and foremost i want to thank my beautiful wife and my biggest supporter, Nicole Kunkel , she's had ...my back all these years, affording me the opportunity to live a dream, I can't wait to start this new adventure with you, I love you with all my heart and more than life itself, without you every thing I've done wouldn't be worth anything, you are my soulmate and my best friend.

I want to thank everyone who has continually supported us, it's been a great long ride and I am gonna truly miss y'all we couldn't have done it without you. I also want to thank John Wilder, Kevin Byrd, and Brooks Holcomb, these cats are 3 of the best friends I've ever had and 3 great, talented musicians, to whom I give all my respect. For those of you who don't know how hard it is to be in a band and have everyone get along and get it done, I need to tell you over the past 17 years of playing with these guys there has never not even once been a disagreement, argument or harsh word between us. There is something special in this group, and I think everyone who has seen us knows that, I will miss jamming with you guys on the regular.
Now I'd like to thank the quiet true member of Ain't Yo Mama, Ted Simmerman, not only is he one of the best friends you could have, but he is the best boss I've had the pleasure to work for. like Kevin Byrd said at the show sat. Night, without Ted Simmerman, Ain't Yo Mama would not have lasted as long as it has. I can't even go into all the things he's help the band and myself personally with over the years, I will always consider you my brother, I love you man, thanks for everything!!! He also got me a sweet bass that he took the time to have a lot of our loyalist fans and friends sign it for me, I will always look at it and remember the great times we've all shared together whether we remember them or not, lol. Last but most definately not the least, i wanna thank Richard Wallace, Ronald Thies, Craig Yates, Shawn Yarbro, Eddie Matlock(rip), who all played in AYM over the years. And Donn Self, who has run sound for us fixed broken sh*t, got us beers and has help me in my studio and personally over the years. Thanks again everyone i will miss you!!!See More

The end of an era. Wow, moving. I appreciate you sharing this. Rock on bro!

Sounds like it was a great final gig, and sorry for the tornado distaster right after it.

Why not try to find another bass player?

Mike one word chemistry.

Although the band has gone thru a lot of players and changes thru the years, this was the classic lineup in my opinion. There have been 3 drummers, two bassist, I was actually the first bassist and then onto guitar, so Im the only one thats held two postions in the band. 2 bassist, 7 guitar players, and one singer. We actually played one gig with another singer when our singer was sick and it just wasnt the same.

Our singer and I both have agreed not to replace our bass player, he is moving to Toledo, close to Jimmy, maybe I can hook the two up! LOL!

But, we over the past few years really cut back the gigs, so as far as adding a bass player at this point, it wouldnt be fair to the new guy, cause we really only want to play a few times a year, and although we do make pretty good money per gig for a cover band, I just dont know how you would interest someone in it, plus I would be the one to work them in.

I wouldnt even know where to start with a songlist, over the past 5 years, we have played somewhere around 200 songs, and its crazy but we actually played a couple of songs this past weekend, that we havent played in 15 years, so how do you get someone into a situation like that?

Yea its possible, but for now we will let it rest.

Fortunately our bassist wife works for an airlines and he thinks he could get a free flight in occasionally, so there is the chance we might resurface at some point, but as we all know life moves on, and if he gets involved with some projects where he is moving too, would it really work to have him come back? Especially after the last 3 gigs have just been killer. I would rather go out on a high than out on a low note.

But I just thought I would share this, Im very happy to have been involved with this group for the past 25 years, I mean everyone here knows how hard it is to just get a group together, but being together this long is a major accomplishment, or at least I think so.

As Andy said in his FB post, this lineup, has never had any issues that I can remember, we never fought over songs, hell there are so many to draw from that if we didnt like a song, we just dumped it and moved on.

Sat night people were just yelling out thier favorite songs, and we played them, whether we had played them recently or not, and thank some higher being, I remembered all my parts and didnt play any of them out of key!

But it is bitter sweet to say the least.

Well I have to go help clean up the cemetary today

Good luck , man
Sucks about the tornado damage - hope everyone was OK
Give the band thing some time .... you will get the itch
New projects are fun ... who knows where they will lead

Everything happens for a reason, John.

"Chin up, shield up, sword out".

John, I don't understand why you guys don't just look for another base player and be up front with them about what you guys want to do? You guys obviously enjoy each others company and playing gigs together. I wouldn't just let that go! I know sometimes it becomes obvious that it is time to end a band, based on the facebook post of all you guys it doesn't sound to me like ya'll really want this. Maybe after thinking on it for a while things will change. If not good luck I know that good folks such as yourself will find other good people.

....John ... What a great thing you have done in posting this. I think any of us who read it will get tears in their eyes and "feel their guts".

The Winds of Change are in full motion. What you have all shared is an incomparable thing of true beauty and most rare... let it go ..do not attempt to cling to it ... just cherish it. If your Bassist may one day "fly in" then so be it, if not then the same. Delicate, vulnerable, innocent, wholesome and good things are better "passed" before the tornado becomes "The Great Dark Storm". It is a memory to be "Honoured" by all of you. You are most fortunate.

Hey John, what an excellent and most graceful way for a fella to wrap it up...

When Led Zeppelin lost Jon Bonham, the remaining members couldn't see going forward without him. Thus it ended. The one word...'chemistry' and also 'bond' was /is always the deciding factor, it seems.

Well you should definitely feel proud, in many ways you guys draw that parallel of Zeppelin-like camaraderie, friendship and bond.
In your own words ... Rock on!

JW,
Yours has been one of the good story about being in a band... not all can say that.
I'm sure you've got more stories to tell.
Thanks for sharing things!

One door closes, and another door slams shut on your foot. Everything works out, it always does.

Sorry John...