 |
| Frettless Mistresses - Promotional Still from the Domination tour |
The Mistresses had started off strong with solid albums sales over 3 records and the corresponding tours managed to sell out every time. However there was a small rift forming that over time, would eventually tear the band apart.
I was writing new material for a new album, but Shannon just wanted to keep playing the same stuff over and over. And I get that, it's what the fans want, but I know that some of them want new stuff. Hell, my favorite Rush albums are all stuff that doesn't get played on the radio; Presto, Bones, Echo, Trails, Snakes. I needed a creative outlet so I started up a side band, The Professional Amateurs.
With Jon pulling double duties drumming for the Mistresses and creating new material for the Amateurs, something had to give. He gave up his managerial duties for the Mistresses.
Jonny just wasn't around much except for rehearsals so it's not like it wasn't a big shock. Shannon said she new guy that would help out, "ease the burden" as she said. Of course, the guy was more interested in Shannon than us as a band.
Lawrence Williams became the Frettless Mistresses' manager as Jonathon spent more time in the studio producing tracks for the Amateurs.
I spent way to much time in the studio and I paid the price and broke the cardinal rule; I missed the first opening gigs of our last tour. Lawrence was good enough to get a tour drummer on short notice but the damage was done. I was neglecting my family and spending too much time with my side project and buddy Joy.
Aaron Joy was a friend of Jonathon's from back in Sacramento. A studio musician of some talent, Aaron would initially play bass on the Professional Amateurs' first three albums. He would also become Jon's counselor when Shannon dropped the bombshell.
 | |
| Aaron Joy - Bassist, Professional Amateurs |
AJ: Yeah, it was rough on Jon. Shannon admitted that she was sleeping with Lawrence, their manager, and that since he had missed tour dates, he was fired. I still can't get over what she did to him. I mean the dude practically built that band from the ground up and they go and yank it right out from under him.
At first, I agreed with the decision. Jonny missed dates and wasn't spending a whole of time with us anymore, not even during rehearsal. However, it started getting bad. Shannon had started getting crazier and crazier, usually at Larry's suggestion. Doing lines of coke, injecting junk, drinking... I tried to keep Wolfie away but she wound up consoling me a few times. It started getting bad though when Larry started coming on to both of us. I mean, the dude was already porking the kid's mom, what more did he want? Then Shannon started coming on to me as well. Things got worse and I started pulling away, eventually following in Shannon's steps.
Jonathon and Aaron worked in the studio full time to produce the Amateurs' first album. Joy also had the secondary duty of making sure Jon didn't sink further into depression.
Jon gets pretty creative when he's depressed, but he wrote some dark stuff. I mean it was a complete Fleetwood Mac/Rumors scenario going on. What got me though was him blaming his sister. Dude was pretty upset about Nikki betraying him. It was so bad we had to get a second producer in to mix the tracks that Nikki played on since Jon didn't want to do ANYTHING with her and wouldn't even share studio space.
The Professional Amateurs' first album "For Hire" was a collection of covers featuring Aaron on bass and Jon playing drums, vocals and about 2/3 of the songs on guitar. The break-away hit was a cover of P!nk's "So What?" featuring Nikki on guest guitar.
It was like a mini reunion of sorts and because of Nikki's playing the fans bought it. I honestly believe that we wouldn't have gotten a second album if it wasn't for her.
