Billy Sedlmayr's Kickstarter Project

Who is Billy Sedlmayr?

Billy Sedlmayr has some stories he needs to tell, and that need to be heard. For over three decades now Billy Seldmayr has been deep in the fabric of Tucson music, from his early days as an underage musician playing dusty bars long since gone with punk rock pioneers The Pedestrians, then playing with Giant Sandworms, laying down the blueprint for Tucson music. Over the years Billy's made music with local legends like Rainer, Howe Gelb, Dave Seeger, Rich Hopkins, Dan Stewart, Van Christian and many more, a founding member of a scene that produced bands like Naked Prey, Green On Red, Giant Sand and more.

What is this project?

This project is the culmination of a now 2 year collaboration of Billy Sedlmayr and Gabriel Sullivan. The two began playing music together in the legendary Tucson dive, The Red Room, and have since been working towards recording a solo record of Billy Sedlmayr's music. Gabriel will be producing the record and will be recruiting his own band, Taraf de Tucson, to back Billy for the recordings. The Create Co. (headed by Bryce Myhre) has been documenting the sonic endeavors of Billy and Gabriel and will be filming the entire recording process of the upcoming record.

When all is said and done, there will be a physical album of 12+ original Billy Sedlmayr songs, and a documentary of Billy's music and life story. This is a bold endeavor that is reliant on your support!

What do your pledges go to?

•7 days of recording
•7 days of mixing
•the filming of the recording process
•the editing of two years of footage
•paying the studio musicians
•mastering the record

To fully understand Billy and his music, be sure to check out the music video for the song "Tucson Kills"!


Here is link to Kickstarter Project:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2076249075/billy-sedlmayrs-debut-solo-record-tucson-az
November 17th is last day to back this project.  Any amount will help.  Thank you.

Yuma Joe Byrnes , Joe Frank Byrnes, Joe Byrnes Was the Sweetest Man I Ever Met

I found out yesterday Joe died.  He died on June 21, 2012.  I am not sure yet if it was suicide or accidental. Yuma Joe Byrnes was probably the sweetest man I have met in my life. A gentle soul. He was the drummer of the band, Broken Horse, Tarnation, and countless others.

A couple of years ago, my brother told me Joe landed in jail for killing his dog. My brother said Joe heard voices telling him to do it. After he did it, Joe brought the dog inside a church. This was where he was arrested. This was in San Francisco where Joe has lived for more than 20 years.

I heard the judge let him off on the condition he had to get psychiatric help. I do not know if he did or anything from then on. I sent him a message on Facebook telling him to come back to Tucson where life was easier and rent was cheap. I never heard back.

I am waiting for his good friend Alex to call me with the exact details. I am hoping it was an accident. I do not want to think about the despair sweet Joe might have been feeling. I am sure the guilt of killing his beloved dog was always with him. Joe would not hurt a fly under normal circumstances.

There are so many good medications out there that make the voices go away. Folks can lead a normal life on these meds. I work for a behavioral health agency in town. I see the wonders of the right medications daily.   Another thing that would work wonders is removing the stigma of a diagnosis of a mental illness in our culture.  A person with the diagnosis of diabetes can lead a normal and productive life with insulin.  A person with a diagnosis of a mental illness can lead a normal and productive life with the right medication and therapy. 

Having auditory hallucinations is one of many symptoms for a diagnosis of
schizophrenia. This is what I think happened to Joe. Most likely broken dreams, the pain of remembering his dog, and life in general added to his distress. The gentle and sweet ones usually cannot take this world that can be so cruel at times.

This photo of Joe with the motorcycle is the only one that is mine.  He gave it to me while he was in Tucson for my brother's first wedding in 1994.  Joe and I went out after the wedding and reception.  We went to the Hotel Congress and saw the Meat Puppets.  The next day we went on a drive through Gates Pass and beyond.  It was a perfect day.  Sweet Joe.   You will be missed.