In early 2002 Onward had two new albums to support. Evermoving (2001) and Reawaken (2002). Both were popular and between Century Media, management and friends- our first U.S. tour was planned. We weren't tour bus worthy so a close friend of the band loaned us his van and off we went!
First stop, The Milwaukee Metal Fest. We got a slot in the afternoon on the main stage and played to a full house. Lots of smiles in the audience and horns up, so I think it was good. Back in our hotel room that night, Helstar's James Rivera joined us for beers and heavy metal talk. We listened to old Grim Reaper albums and I happened to have one of his CD's on hand so I of course asked for his signature on it. Very good memories. We left Milwaukee the next morning and had to pull the van over to puke a few times.
Knapp Grant and James Rivera
Next stop, the Abrasive Rock Fest in Olympia, Wa. Notable acts on the bill were Hirax and a one off reunion performance from Forced Entry. The turnout was pretty bad but we didn't care, we were having fun. Word got to us that the promoter was planning to skip town with all the money, fucking all the bands over. Michael Grant and Chris Payette were big boys and they found him and got our money. They were prepared to use force if necessary. We heard later that no one else got paid. This is the touring life. We jumped in the van to hook up with a David Wayne (Metal Church) Reverend tour in progress. The long trek from Washington to San Luis Obispo, Ca. After driving all night, we found the venue and the sign on the door that read "heavy metal show cancelled, line dancing tonight". This is touring? What a cluster fuck it was. We decided to get very drunk and look for girls in the happening local club scene. No luck.
Knapp and manager Dan
Back in the van for Los Angeles and we finally met David Wayne and his band. Very nice guys and we got along very well. David and I had the same sense of humor so we hung out a lot, just laughing. The LA show went great. Next stop, Las Vegas. I brought a cassette Walkman and several compilation tapes of cheesy 70's hits and Motown soul and R&B music. I needed to get stoned and escape heavy metal burnout a few times. When Onward weren't playing Heavy Metal we were listening to it in the van or at a party. Sometimes you need Dionne Warwick, The Fifth Dimension and the Bee Gees to get you through.
We hung out with David and Reverend all day at our manager's house and he told us music biz stories and the trials and tribulations of his Metal Church era. We sipped Heinekens and I think we ate breaded deer meat or liver, not sure. The show went great and David and I exchanged numbers before departing and stayed in touch until he passed away in 2005. He had been planning on visiting me in Wyoming.
Knapp and David Wayne (R.I.P.)
At some point during the tour we played in Portland. This was a gig my friend and his death metal band set up for us. It was some dismal hole in the wall with zero promotion, but it was good to see an old friend and there were a couple Onward fans attending (and when I say a couple I mean two). We were broke! The little bar passed a jar around and everyone there (even the old drinkers who didn't care for our music) contributed money to get us fed, paid and back on the road. Pure kindness and generosity. This was our first tour and though it seemed terrible at the time, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything!
Next up, better gigs and the beginning of the end of Onward.
