Cat Fight!

"I knew something was rotten in Denmark when I didn't see Joey [Harris] at the Beat Farmers reunion at the San Diego Music Awards [in September]," said Candye Kane. She performed at Monday's Casbah tribute to Country Dick Montana. It's been ten years since Montana died onstage in Whistler, British Columbia. He would have turned 50 this year. Country Dick cofounded the Penetrators (1978--'84) and the Beat Farmers (1983--'95), two of the most influential local bands of the past 30 years.

On Monday, Rosie Flores, Mojo Nixon, Steve Poltz, Jose Sinatra, and other Country Dick friends got together for the tribute. Jerry Raney, who played guitar with the Beat Farmers for their 12 years, wasn't there. Neither was the first Beat Farmers guitarist, Buddy Blue, who stuck with the band for 2 years (Harris, who replaced him, played until Dick's death).

"Buddy and I don't plan on being there," Raney said by phone last week. "There are certain people involved we don't want to be around."

Insiders say there is a rift between a reunited band called the Farmers (Blue, Raney, original bassist Rolle Love, and drummer Joel Kmak) and others who feel Harris should not be excluded from any Beat Farmers tribute. Harris, the "band leader" for the event, said he didn't want to contribute to any bad vibes.

"I'm sure Dick would be bummed," said Kane.