In March, Michael Bruce and new Manager Jeff Jatras flew to Connecticut to make "Red House" tapes with Richie Scarlet. That's Michael playing the grand at the Hilton playing "Dwight Frye" and "Halo of Flies".. That's Richie and Michael at Richie's house in Danbury.  Later, Jeff produced a documentary "Red House Session" chronicling the making of two songs by MB and RS (RS was GREAT on lead guitar and acting as Producer in the studio). Tthat's Neal (of course ) signing an autograph or two in Richie's jam room.

Well, there's Michael cooling his heels backstage at Alice in August.  Turns out Alice wasn't very happy about some of the comments MB made about him in his book, "No More Mr. Nice Guy".   Talk about embarrassed!   But, later that month, on the 29th Michael rebounded and opened an acoustic set for Al Stewart. Jeff had always been an Al Stewart fan, and when he learned about the gig, he called Al's Manager Steve Chapman and arranged to have MB open.  It was a last minute addition to the show, and Al loved it! It was the first time MB had ever gone on stage with a straight acoustic set.    Featuring material that had not been heard in ages, like "Hard Hearted Alice" and "2nd Coming" along with many standard classics, even acoustic you could clearly hear the distinctive and unique sounds that could only come from the guitar and voice of Michael Bruce.

In September, it was on to Piney Woodstock. Michael had been rehearsing with a talented bunch of guys and over a number of rehearsals groomed them to "do it" the old fashioned way, by earning it. That's Michael working up a sweat with Guitarist Rayburn Hance.. Afterward, MB, Jeff and headliner Rick Derringer partied for awhile into the night (don't ask!).  Michael always has lots of good things to say about Rick if you ask him, and Rick really smoked at Piney Woodstock. He may be small in size, but he's tall in talent.

Of course, then came October, and the days of halcyon glory revisited. Jeff Jatras had created a management company called Torn Ticket Production to handle the business end of Michael and had arranged for Glen Buxton, Neal Smith, and Richie Scarlet to come to town.  Originally, it was only going to be Glen, but when Neal heard about it, he decided to come too.  Since Dennis couldn't make it, TTP flew Richie Scarlet in to play bass and the quartet practiced for 10 days with Jeff living a rock and roll fantasy as lead vocalist during rehearsals.  Talk about the ultimate Karioke experience, having Michael, Neal, Glen and Richie as his backup band!   While Glen stayed with Jeff at his place (lots of late night brews and "I Love Lucy"), Neal and Richie were roomies for ten days in close quarters, spending almost every waking hour together. Here they are rehearsing at RS Studio's (thanks Steve Bundrick) where the boys nailed down the set for their scheduled show at AREA 51. You should have seen the look on Richie Scarlet's face when Glen hit the first lead notes of "Under My Wheels". Then, time for a group picture (below center)

Oh, yeah! The Bikes N Babes photo shoot just fell into place on October 6. Click on the blue letters to see more pictures devoted to it, but it's not hard to figure out that it wasn't a hardship tour. We couldn't believe how good they all turned out, and the special appearance by Houston's own Heidi Heidelberg was icing on the cake. Where's the spatula?

One day during rehearsals, the guys at KLOL, who have always had a great working relationship with Michael and called and asked if the boys would consider a live broadcast from Billy Blues early one morning, and in short shift the deal was cut, and KLOL got to scoop the competition. The boys actually got there around 6:45 am (!) set up, and played about 6 songs over an hour and a half period filled in with crazy antics, interviews, and fun. There's Glen there in front of the Rock KLOL banner having some fun, and, when it came time for business, Glen got down to it! He and Michael, performing together in public since the end of the Muscle of Love tour was a treat for everyone who came.

The next day (we don't have any pictures), Aeromsith road manager James Ayer was kind enough to supply complementary front row seats for the Aerosmith show. Although the bands did not connect up with each other (Tyler and co were on a plane immediately after the show), our heroes were well treated and really enjoyed the show. At one point however, Glen did look around at the soldout venue and was whimsically heard to say, "This was our crowd once". Be that as it may, the next night, the crowd really did belong to Glen, Neal, Michael and Richie

when they played on October 12. What a night. Opening with "Hello Hooray" which quickly turned into "Caught in a Dream" and onto the most rockin' "I'm Eighteen" since the "Beat Club", the sounds we always wanted to hear was finally released inside a small but lively club on the strip in Houston Texas. There's Glen, Michael, and Richie backstage before the show, and a shot of the boys at soundcheck. To see more of the now-legendary AREA 51 show, clicking on the blue letters. The very next morning, everybody left, with barely time to say goodbye. Then, disaster struck. One week later, Glen Buxton passed away in Clarion, Iowa.

Family, friends, and fans of the Alice Cooper Group were in shock as arrangements were made to pay last respects to this wonderful, kind, sincere person, and also to pay tribute of a Rock Legend of legendary proportions. Individually and in groups they came, the Buxton family from Phoenix, Neal Smith and Dennis Dunaway from Connecticut., Michael Bruce from Houston, even Rockin' Reggie Vincent. Alice Cooper himself, unfortunately had a prior commitment to play Mr. Scary at Boston's Spookyworld all that week which could not be cancelled, and therefore could not attend. That's a shot of Glen's house in Clarion.

November was a time of change. Michael made arrangements to go to Phoenix for Christmas, and spend time with his 3 children. Neal began moving into his new house. Richie Scarlet began rehearsals to tour with his buddy Sebastian Bach. And the Buxton family came to grips with the loss of their beloved son and brother. However, the Buxtons also came to understand the depth of the love which Glen had instilled in the hearts of those who came to know him, either personally, or through his music. Messages, web sites, articles, and memorial announcements have continued to pour to comfort Glen's family.

In December, things began getting back to normal, and before heading to Arizona, attended the Jim Pruett Holiday Fundraiser sponsored by his friends at KLOL. Michael (in tux) and his date Heidi Heidielberg kicked off their shoes, plinked the ivorys, and danced into the wee hours of the morning with fans, and those great guys at KLOL.