Chick Chat
From the Rockin' DC Ranch
Before they hit the big time -- and one time after -- the Dixie Chicks sent a newsletter to their loyal fans. The irregularly published Chick Chat was a facinating stream-of-conciousness look into the lives of a group of talented young ladies (and gentlemen) struggling with life on the road.
After taking a brief vacation in summer of '94, the Dixie Chicks were about to embark on a grueling fall concert series. Travelling in their battered RV, they played nearly every small town west of the Mississippi, and even started getting a bit of the spotlight with appearances on TNN. But are there hints of future trouble? See the Editor's Notes for more info on the summer vacations.
Page 1
Whoa, Nellie!
[Photo caption: When Ross Perot was spotted with a couple of chicks, it made the front page of The New York Times]We're gonna be on our longest tour to date beginning October 2nd to November 5th. We'll be pickin' and panickin' in eighteen cities... well, towns. If our Coop de Ville poops out, we'll be calling on you to come pick us up. The feathers will be flyin' from Butte to Mt. Pleasant.
In a piñon shell, here are this summer's highlights:
- We were on the front page of The New York Times September 12th. Too bad they left out our two favorite words -- Dixie Chicks.
- Laura danced with President Bill Clinton (she asked him)
- We were on our first nationally broadcast morning show, CBS This Morning with Paula Zahn.
- The Ft. Worth Ballet was a whirling success this summer as we accompanied them in a new ballet suite entitled All The Right Women.
- We boogied and woogied with Bruce Willis and his band at the fabulous Planet Hollywood opening. We met Daryl, Arnold, Roseanne, and Troy.
- August 4th-14th, we took our first vacation in 16 months (details inside).
- We were the band at the Vince Gill Charity Golf Tournament. We met Amy Grant and watched Garth and his new goatee tee off.
- Mr. Peppermint had us on his show. He's a twenty year veteran of children's early morning television.
- We had our barnyard debut in The Barns at Wolftrap, Virginia.
- We didn't get to put our hands in cement at Billy Bob's TX.
- Music City Tonight with Crook and Chase had us on for the second time this year. Thank you TNN.
- High up on the Copper Mt. top, we had a proper cup of coffee from a proper copper pot with Red Steagall, Waddie Mitchell, Don Edwards, Michael Martin Murphey, Collin Raye, and Amado Pena at West Fest '94!
Don't Step On The Cow Patty Daddies
Road Manager / Engineer Jeff and drummer Tom have been with us four years this month. They've been like big brothers to us through thick and very thin. We love you both so much!September 24th, Jeff will be wedding Sharon Thomas of Junior Cheerleader fame in Jackson, Mississippi. Jeff finally decided to marry. He said he had to -- he couldn't hold in his stomach forever.
Top Chip Tom got himself a new beagle named Daisy.
We witnessed our bass player, Bobby Charles, Jr., consume a 3 ½ lb. steak at Harlow's in Abilene.
Guitarist Troy Wells laughs like Muttly on the Dick Dastardly cartoon.
-----
"Swing hard in case they throw the ball where you're swinging"
-- Duke Snider
Page 2
Thanks Pahdnah!
As summer comes to a close, we have fond memories of our farmer-tanned fans who endured the heat, sun, and rain just to catch a show. Thank you, you're why we do it!What We Did On Our Summer Vacation...
[These are printed in the style of a student's "what I did over summer vacation" paper, complete with teacher's comments -rb]| Martie | Emily | Laura |
| Once upon an august noon, a fair Prince Charming came to swoon
On top of Vail Mountain, on bended knee, he asked me to be his June chickadee. A princess cut diamond's been placed on my hand; I'm the happiest fiddler in all Dixieland! |
On my summer vacation, I went to Camp
Ricochet.
There were lots of fun activities,
like two-stepping in Honky Tonks all across the country and crochetting
Ricochet pot holders under shade trees.
The best part was getting to ride in the back of a genuine tour bus with Mr. Wright. |
I took Asia to the Grand Canyon! |
| Well, this explains the day-dreaming! | A+ Nice Work! |
Laura Dear, See me about extra Geography tutoring. |
Page 3
[Tour Schedule]
Page 4
Highway Rubbery
We popped a tire in Tucumcari, New Mexico en route to West Fest. We found that if we all sat on the driver's side of the R.V., we could limp on in to Raton and sing for a tire.¿Donde Esta Juan?
Dixie's do Mexico -- our 6th country to perform in. Now that's a country countdown.The Thigh's The Limit
Has anyone tried the thigh cream that's advertised on the telephone poles? We are the self-appointed thigh cream guinea pigs. There are no documentable results to report (see photo at right).
Page 5
[Chicks Boutique]
Page 6
[No articles, just a picture of the Chicks with Troy Aikman
and a talk bubble that says, "Da Boy and Da Chicks! (Troy Aikman of Da Dallas Cowboys)"]
With three CDs behind them but no major-label deal in sight, the summer of '94 may have been a
turning point in the history of the Dixie Chicks. Martie Erwin was in preparation for her wedding -- that much
was widely known. Sister Emily's visit to "Camp Ricochet," though, didn't turn out as well when she and
Ricochet
member Heath Wright broke up... according to the
Young Country Dixie Chicks Bio,
the end of the relationship wasn't easy for Emily.
And Laura Lynch was under stress as well -- according
to the calendar in this issue, her daughter Asia Abraham turned 13 in the fall of '95.
A seven-year-old Asia (presumably) is
pictured with her mother in the liner notes of Thank Heavens for Dale Evans, and Laura
nearly always mentioned her daughter during the Chicks' concert appearances.
One member getting married, facing questions of whether she'd stay in the band...
another member about to get left behind on the roadside of love... another worried about the teenage
daughter who she seldom saw. This was the volatile mix of emotions the Dixie Chicks carried
into 1995... and when the smoke cleared at the end of that year, some would say that
the all-blonde Chicks who emerged could scarcely be compared with the Chicks of old.
Editor's Notes:
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Transcribed by Robert Brooks. Grammar and structure are from the original, but typos and misspellings are probably my own fault.
Original Chick Chat copyright note:
(c) Copyright 1994 Dixie Chicks, Dallas, TX 75230
Last update: 01/11/1999 by Robert Brooks
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