The John Wayne Band Story

Saying Farewell To Two Old Friends

Sorry for the hiatus; it will probably happen again.

A few days ago, on Thursday, June 22, Indiana music legend Mike Sheets died. This, on the heels of another legend, Greg Horn, departing this life in April.

You’ve probably never heard of the John Wayne Band, nor should you. It was a wacky side project that included Dave Fulton (Last Four Digits), Brad Garton (Dow Jones), me, Greg and Mike, and sometimes others as 1980 turned into 1981. Greg was the guitar maestro for Dow Jones and the Industrials of West Lafayette, and Mike played bass and guitar in the Last Four Digits. Those bands were front and center in the early days of punk and new wave in Indiana. Mike also led the hilariously fun Cheeses From France; there was nothing like their raucous, extended take on Neil Young’s Heart of Gold.

Greg had acquired some digitally generated drum tracks—rare then, and a few of us joined with him on synths. L4D’s Dave Fulton, Mike, Greg were the core. Membership in the John Wayne Band was fluid, but I played with them a few times, most notably as the opening act for The Dancing Cigarettes at the Bluebird in Bloomington. The Bluebird proudly supported local bands if they could generate a crowd.

Dave Fulton recalls the music of the John Wayne band as “an unrelenting cacophony of sound with a catchy backbeat”. Instead of dancing, the crowd began heading for the door, and we were tossed off the stage after maybe 10-15 minutes. The John Wayne Band was banned forever from The Bluebird, and that was pretty much it as I recall.

It’s a tiny anecdote in a very storied history for both Greg and Mike. Dow Jones and the Industrials was one of the founding greats in the new wave/punk era, fracturing too soon, unfortunately. Greg ended up in Arizona and in Tone Set, a synth-based new wave duo that is well remembered, to the point that a comprehensive box set was released a few years ago on the German label Vinyl-On-Demand.

After L4D split in 1982 following a well received set at CBGB’s, Mike joined with Paul Mahern in the Dandelion Abortion, which released two cassettes and created quite a stir. There should have been a record and still should be.

Mike was also a key member in We’re Jimmy Hoffa, Your Grocer’s Freezer, Cast of Thousands and Wheezing Combo. He appeared on The Price Is Right and WON a car, which he then sold and used some of the proceeds to start Rusty Cow Records, releasing key but overlooked mid to late 80’s 45’s by Acid Green, Steve Kowalski and others.

Much later, The Last Four Digits reformed and played live frequently, with Mike once again on guitar. Their retrospective LP/CD “Don’t Move” was released in 2017; the band kept playing for another year or two, and then called it quits. L4D was excellent live from the early days through their last show.

Mike was everybody’s friend. He always had a huge smile and loved socializing and supporting the latest bands, though ill health slowed his roll the past couple of years. It seemed back then that most everyone trying their hand at punk/new wave had a dark streak; Mike was the exuberant exception, a jolly guy who embraced life and living more than most. Greg, on the other hand, was the textbook tortured artist; edgy, wildly creative, and could be great fun, or challenging to be around, depending on the moment.

Greg Horn and Mike Sheets were essential pioneering musicians at a moment in time when it seemed anything was possible and therefore worth attempting. They will be remembered for changing the musical landscape and leaving a proud legacy of accomplishments. It’s hard to believe they are gone.

When I moved back to Indy last year, there was brief talk of reforming the John Wayne Band for old time’s sake. It never happened, and now, it never will.