For Years, It Was Called

"For years, it was called the KSON Flatbed Show," says Steve Nichols of the mobile soundstage he's renamed the Rolling Radio Show. "Al Turner at KSON drove it, but after he lost his vocal cords to throat cancer and retired, [KSON] shut it down." Nichols had been cashing KSON paychecks for five years as the Flatbed Show's music director and guitarist, and he says, "We all lost our jobs. I talked to KSON'S promotions director Chris Turner [Al's son] about getting it back on the road, but the bottom line was all about money and politics...he quoted me a ridiculous price to have a band play in it at Seaport Village, but it was just insulting."

Nichols purchased the RV and Chevy truck from Al Turner, with its built-in 15' x 7' stage, lights, sound, lounge, bathroom, and even a dressing room.

He's now glad KSON turned him down. "I just covered up their logos, painted the truck, and I don't have to split the money with them...I charge about $600 for a three-piece and a soundman to drive up and play for an hour, and it's about $200 per additional hour." Crosswinds will perform on the Rolling Radio Show June 4 as part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.