BLMar24

Brevard Live
5 Questions with
PAT BAUTZ
By Steve Keller
Pat Bautz was born and raised
in Brevard County before
starting his amazing career as a
professional musician and producer.
After a brief stint in Colorado
Springs, he and wife Laurie are
coming back home. He announced
his retirement via social media as
of January 1st of this year, while
still keeping his famous sense of
humor (“If people still think I’m still
in the band, why should I tell them
that I’m not”). Brevard Live had a
chance to catch up with him and
ask him 5 Questions...
After 31 years with the same
band, Three Dog Night, you’re retired.
How does it feel?
PB: Um...’what do I do next?’ That’s
kind of what I’ve been doing. I was recently
watching one of our concerts on
YouTube. I looked at it and said “who
is that guy on drums?” That was like
25 years ago. All of a sudden, I’m old.
What spurred the decision to retire
and come back home?
PB: I’m sick of riding on a bus. It gets
so old. I can’t sleep on them anymore.
The typical schedule is: you play a
show, get on the bus at midnight.
Drive maybe 500 miles. They’re nice
busses and all, but you’re bouncing
up and down. Roads aren’t what they
used to be. It’s amazing that they are
this bad now. I don’t sleep on the bus.
500 miles, you don’t sleep. You get to
the next city at 8 in the morning. Get
to your room. Sleep. Get up and go to
soundcheck. Play the show and do it
all again the next day. The older you
get, it’s harder to do all that.
How did the band take the news
and what is next for them?
PB: Well, Danny, who is one of the
singers in the band, his son is the bass
player. His other son is now the drummer.
They both used to play in the band
Sugar Ray. He’s a good player and it is
a good thing. He has been around and
has been listening to the music since he
was a kid. They already have 70 plus
gigs booked for the upcoming year.
The band seems to have a real
family vibe to it. Once a member, always
a member, I would imagine?
PB: Oh yeah. Michael (Allsup), the
guitar player, got off of the road a few
years ago. We still include him on all
of our group texts. He’ll chime in with
some smart Alec comment and then
we’re off to the races!
In addition to the band, you have
had a recording studio. Will that continue
now that you’ve moved back?
PB: I’ve been talking to Tom Gaynor
and Mark Brasel about working out of
their place (Zone Productions) instead
of doing what I have always done in
the past which is build a studio in every
place I’ve ever lived. Tim Hutton
and I are also working on creating a
record label.
Congrats to Pat and Laurie on the upcoming
move! Look for Pat to be active
in the local music scene!
28 - Brevard Live March 2024