It doesn’t get any better than good friends, an open road, two wheels, and time to burn. These songs were inspired by motorcycle rides and experiences all over the USA (and Canada). Incredible scenery, all kinds of weather and roads, all kinds of bikers. Rallies, good times, challenging times, opportunities to help others and to be helped. I’ve been blessed to meet and become friends with many bikers from all over the country, an incredibly diverse and awesome bunch of people. As the inspiration came, I started writing songs about riding, bikers and biker culture. As the songs piled up, it became clear that I needed to make a record about these experiences. After years of riding, writing and singing, the project came together. RoadHawg – Songs From The Seat was recorded in the summer of 2008. How the music started: I’ve had the opportunity to attend many motorcycle rallies and events over the years and have made the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota every year since 2002. In 2004 for my annual Sturgis trip, I joined with my riding buddy, “Sidecar” (the original motorcycle rain man). Leaving from Dallas, two and a half days later we arrived in Sturgis in the late afternoon. We set up camp and the first evening while talking around the campfire, “Sidecar” made a simple statement that started us on an annual motorcycle road trip together through “everywhere”. He said, “you know, I’ve seen this place on a map of Canada called “Moosejaw”. I’d like to ride up there sometime just to say we’ve been there. The name sounds like it’s worth visiting.” Well, that’s all it took, we pulled out a map and calculated it was another 500 miles from Sturgis to Moosejaw. So very early the next morning, we took off to ride up into Canada. Turned out Moosejaw was further than we estimated, and on the trip up we encountered a variety of “conditions”, a rain and hail deluge (ouch), pot holed and gravel roads (ouch), and even a tornado (whoa). Big dresser bikes are not designed for some of these road conditions. But that makes for an "interesting" ride. Several times we had to get off the bikes and take shelter behind signs or wherever we could find a place to hide from the storms. Later we were in desperate need of gasoline. Finally finding a station just in the nick of time, we rolled into the station on fumes. The water from the rain was shin deep. We almost drowned out the bikes before we got to the pumps. Late in the day, we finally rode into Moosejaw as the sun was setting. Moosejaw is in the middle of almost “nowhere” in the Canadian prairie. One claim to fame is that Al Capone reportedly hid in the tunnel system that lies under the city. And they have some great natural hot springs spas too. Moosejaw is a great little town, not exactly a major tourist destination, but hey, it’s all about the “ride” anyway. We headed back toward Sturgis the next morning with detours into other states along the way, completing our “Moosejaw adventure”. So that was the beginning of our annual road trips together all over America and Canada (me aka “8ball” and Jeff aka “Sidecar”). We’d take a couple of weeks each year and ride like the “dickens” hitting as many states as we could. All the while trying to be ready for any opportunities to help anyone we encountered along the way. And occasionally we needed help too. Invariably there would be bikers or regular folks friendly enough to assist. We have so many memories and stories from these rides that we have forgotten more than we remember. Fun, adversity, exhaustion, danger, incredible rides and scenery, opportunities to help and encourage others on the road, etc, etc, etc. 2004, 2005, 2006 and then in 2007 we completed our four year journey through all 48 continental states of this great country. We also picked up most of the Canadian provinces along the way. The 2007 road trip covered 28 states in the eastern half of the United States (in 17 days). Overall, we covered 48 states over 48 months - mission accomplished. You can never predict what awaits you on any given day (or night) on the road. You just have to “handle it”. But nothing compares to the freedom and enjoyment of the open road with only a general idea of where you are heading. “Chewin’ up the asphalt and spittin’ it out the back, from Sturgis to Laconia, Daytona to L.A., accumulatin’ miles is the name of the game. I’m a RoadHawg, and I’m on a ride.” And as another tune explains, “It don’t matter what you ride if it’ll do 75. There’s a kindred spirit on the open road, a brotherhood of riders always ready to go. Old or new, expensive or cheap, what really matters is the man in the seat.” (or the woman in the seat as the case may be). Through my record,“RoadHawg – Songs From The Seat”, I’ve tried to capture the spirit of adventure on two wheels, in a different and entertaining way. The songs are about the pure joy and freedom of riding motorcycles and the great folks who ride them, with a touch of heavenly inspiration. I hope you find the tunes enjoyable (on or off your scoot, or even if you don’t have a scoot). Hope to see you on the road sometime. “Two Wheels, Better Than Four”. And thanks to God above who watches over us as we roll through the twisties and chew up the asphalt… RoadHawg – Songs From The Seat. Tim Banks – aka “8Ball”. Dallas, Texas.