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- [00:00]
Jeff Zito
This is the story of the One as head of maintenance at a concert hall, he knows the show must always go on. That's why he works behind the scenes, ensuring every light is working, the H Vac is humming, and his facility shines with Grainger's supplies and solutions for every challenge he faces. Plus 24. 7 customer support. His venue never misses a beat. Call quickgranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. Hey, it's Jeff Zito and thanks for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast, currently number two on Apple Podcasts Music Interviews chart. Thank you so much for checking us out past episodes and guests online@celebrityjobber.com not to mention you can follow us on IG celebrityjobberpodcast or our YouTube channel, which is YouTube.com theat signcelebrity jobber. What would become of some of these people if not for making it big? What was the big break, if you will? And what was their life like before they reached superstar status? And if you will, my guest today was one of the members of one of the biggest Southern rock bands in the world. Not Lynyrd Skynyrd But 38 special. You know Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant, his brother Donnie Vanzant. Very influential in the Van 38 Special, but their hits were not sung by Donnie Van Zant. The hits of 38 special hold on loosely rocking into the night, caught up in you. Don Barnes just so happened to be the lead vocalist on all of those songs. 38 Special just released their first studio album in over 20 years called Milestone last week. So we'll talk to Don about that album, his early life before the band, some of the jobs that he had before 38 special took off. What did his dad do for work and what was he trying to push Don into as well? And the moment that changed everything for don barnes and 38 special? We are about to find out. 38 special's don barnes is my guest this week on Celebrity Jobber. The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito.
- [02:38]
Don Barnes
If you like what you hear, please.
- [02:40]
Jeff Zito
Subscribe, give a five star rating and leave a review. Check out all our past episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you pod.
- [02:48]
Don Barnes
What if these celebrities weren't famous? What would they have become? What was their first job?
- [02:53]
Jeff Zito
We're about to find out. The big story, I guess here of the last few weeks is that this is the first studio album from 38 Special in over 20 years.
- [03:06]
Don Barnes
Yeah, you know, it was Just, you know, the live business is, it's gone through the roof. Everybody's out there running around the country and around the world. I've got 16 guys out here and their families and they're all rely on this, this band to keep them everything going. Everybody's solvent so we're just basically taking care of our people. We're doing over 100 cities a year and you know, I had bits and pieces of songs but I just didn't carve out any valuable time to go into the studio and put something out. But the 50th anniversary came up. It was a commemorate, this big milestone and you know, it's only. I couldn't think of a better word to call this album but milestone so. But you know it was, it was a lab of love. We put some great songs together. We finished. I started writing back in last year, finishing some of these ideas and, and so it's, it's come out where it's been out about three days now been released. So we're really excited about it. A lot of different diverse songs. Some big guitar bangers in your face songs and you know, mid tempo introspective songs. Had some co write some people. So I was honored to have some of those guys. Randy Bachman, Jim, Peter from Survivor and Pat Monahan did a duet with me from his train to band train and so it was just a great time. It was time to put something together for a 50th anniversary and you know it's, we're real happy about it, real, real excited about it.
- [04:36]
Jeff Zito
And Don, you mentioned the name Jim Petrick and you know, you guys go back, you guys go back a long ways and Jim was in the band Survivor at the time. Can you tell me the story about. I think what, what was the first hit that you, that he was, that he was involved with? Was it rocking into the night where it was. Three out of the four members of Survivor wrote this song and it ended up in your lap. Can you tell us that story?
- [05:04]
Don Barnes
Yeah, it was a demo that was sent to us. It was a really kind of a crappy demo. It was very scratchy, you know, just a quick, hurried demo. But they were going to put it on their album and they, their producer felt like it didn't fit them very well. So it got it made its way through A and M Records and get came our way and we decided we'd give it a try. It was a chant song. We hadn't, didn't have a song at a chant rocking into the, you know, Right. And so we, we put it together and we. It at the time we had two albums out that didn't do so well. So we were, we got the door opened at radio a little bit with that song and so my manager said, would, well, would you like to write some songs with this guy that just rocking to the next. Sure. So we went to Chicago and we were in his house, a pretty, you know, modest house. And he, he had, I didn't realize he had done I'm your vehicle, you know, from Ides of march.
- [06:05]
Jeff Zito
Right.
- [06:05]
Don Barnes
Wow. 18 years old. Yeah. And so we sat at this kitchen table and first day ever met him. And he said, so how you guys been doing? I said, you know, I was actually in a relationship was kind of going south. And I said, man, what is it about people with, you know, they try to, they can't tolerate differences, they try to change the other person in the relationship. You know, they try to keep them under the thumb. Anyway, I had the notebook open and songwriters have notebooks with lines and titles and all kind of things. You hardly ever use them, but you have something there. I said, well, I looked down the notebook, I said, what do you think about this song? Hold on, this title, hold on loosely. And he said, oh yeah, but don't let go. And that was the first thing out of his, first thing out of his mouth. It was a perfect couplet, you know, perfect bookend. And we were off to the races and you start framing a story of how that happens in relationships, you know. So we found the most, most fortunate and relationship oriented song since then. We've been doing it all these years.
- [07:08]
Jeff Zito
Were you able to salvage the relationship, Don?
- [07:12]
Don Barnes
No, that went, went south, went away a long time ago.
- [07:15]
Jeff Zito
Yeah, well, I thought maybe this, maybe the popularity of the song could have, could have changed a lot of people's mind.
- [07:22]
Don Barnes
Yeah, well, she knew that the song was about her, you know, but it was one of those things. But you know what's funny that you mentioned that because the. I was dating this woman a little bit after that. And I said, and we are, we're contractually obligated to have an album out six months from there. We had already done a nine month tour. We were worn out and we didn't have an idea of one single note going on this, this album, you know, and it's like the publishing deal, you know, the guy writes a book and I woke up this morning, dot, dot, dot, you know.
- [07:52]
Jeff Zito
Right, right.
- [07:54]
Don Barnes
So I told the woman, I said, you know, I just can't seem to get Any work done? I'm just so caught up in you all the time.
- [07:59]
Jeff Zito
Wow.
- [07:59]
Don Barnes
And it was like a light. Like a light bulb went off. Like, you know, that's a pretty good title. That's positive. It's, you know, it could be. We could turn something. Turn that into something. So I wrote that with Jim, Peter too, and Jeff Carlisi, original guitar player of the band. But he had. He had been in Survivor like you mentioned, and one of the guys, Frankie Sullivan, was in Survivor, didn't want him writing with outside writers or with other people.
- [08:24]
Jeff Zito
Right.
- [08:26]
Don Barnes
What's. What's funny is we had to sneak around and we wrote Caught up in you down in this dingy basement of his mother's house. We didn't want Frankie coming by his house and seeing us there, so we had to go to his mother's house.
- [08:39]
Jeff Zito
Like you guys were cheating on your. Like your girls, you know, sneaking around.
- [08:45]
Don Barnes
That's true. Yeah.
- [08:47]
Jeff Zito
The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff S.
- [08:50]
Don Barnes
This is the story of the 1.
- [08:52]
Jeff Zito
As a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing.
- [08:54]
Don Barnes
Facility, he knows keeping the line up and running is a tough top priority. That's why he chooses Grainger. Because when a drive belt gets damaged, Grainger makes it easy to find the.
- [09:04]
Jeff Zito
Exact specs for the replacement product he needs.
- [09:07]
Don Barnes
And next day delivery helps ensure he'll have everything in place and running like clockwork. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito.
- [09:23]
Jeff Zito
So, Don, growing up in Jacksonville, tell me a little bit about your. Your mom and dad. What, what kind of your family? What kind of business were were they in? Were they musical people also?
- [09:36]
Don Barnes
My dad was the music director for the Baptist church. He was. I started early rumblings of chord patterns and things that I very young age from just, you know, he played a little piano and he was a music director, but he was a train engineer for 40 years. He drove his. He started as shoveling coal in the old locomotives and he built himself up to brakeman and then he. And he finally became an engineer and would. His work ethic kind of rubbed off on me, but he would pull these trains or two and a half miles long with five diesel engines. Two and a half miles. It would take a mile to stop. I rode up on the engines. Yeah, that's. That's the truth. Takes a mile to stop. There's so much weight behind him. But I rode up in the engines a few times. That's. That's his work ethic. And he. He went 40 years and driving a train, and he was finally retired and. But, you know, he was always supportive of me. He drove me around playing the birthday parties at 13 years old, you know, with the little guitar and amp and the big trunk of his big Mercury, you know, but he was always supportive. And, you know, by the time I was 20, I was still struggling trying to do it. And, you know, he would say, son, you know, I was doing day jobs, I was married with a baby and everything, you know, and he said, you're going to make any money from this, Dad? I think it's around the corner, but it was a pretty wide corner. But he ended up lining his den with platinum and gold albums all the way around. He was. And he would bring the neighbors in and show them also.
- [11:08]
Jeff Zito
Oh, man, that's awesome. That makes you feel good, dad. You made him proud, man. So when you. When you were just saying that, though, when he was like, hey, man, you're 20 years old. He's like, what? You know, what's going on? You said, he's supportive, but was he maybe encouraging you to get into another job to make some money? What do you think he wanted you to do?
- [11:30]
Don Barnes
He wanted me to get started on the railroad, and I didn't want to do it. I just, like, no, I'm. I'm gonna be. I mean, I was working jobs because I had to support a family, but I was. I was dead set on not making a career in the railroad. You know, I wanted to do this and thing, and I felt like I could do it. That's the thing. If you had the confidence to know that you might be green at the time, but you feel like you could develop your talents and learn as you go. And, you know, I've told these young guys that they want to get a record deal, and, buddy, if you absolutely have to, do it. But if there's anything else with some stability to fall back on, if you're good with your hands, carpentry, schooling, or whatever, do that, because there's no guarantees. You can give 110% and still not make it. So it's just one of those things that we were too stubborn to quit, but we definitely went through a lot of. A lot of disappointments, a lot of failure. I've told these young guys, you got to accept a lot of failure. Nobody knows who you are. They don't care whether you live or die. You're out there trying to make it, make your mark, and it's. You're sacrificing. Everything right, Anniversaries, holidays, but you've got to rehearse. You got to be five steps ahead of yourself. I don't want to sound discouraging some of these guys, but it really is one of those things if you absolutely have to have it. But, you know, if you do it for the wrong reason, some of these guys that do it for the pretty girls or the partying or whatever I said, I said, man, you got to be an artist. You got to have your material together. You got to be. Be like I said, five steps ahead of yourself. So, you know, people ask me, if you had to do it over again, what would you change? I would probably have a better time at it. But, but, you know, we were doing all these arenas were sold out every night, but we had to be five steps ahead of us. You see the marquee sold out. Yeah, that's all well and good, but we've got a. We've got work to do. We've been so much ahead of it, you know, so it's one of those things, you know, it takes all your time. The Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Szeto.
- [13:28]
Jeff Zito
Celebrity Jobber Don, tell me you were mentioning, you know, you had to do, you know, you had other jobs to fall back on during. During those times. Tell. Can you tell me about some of those jobs and your ver. And if you remember your very first.
- [13:42]
Don Barnes
Job, the first job, I was made donuts. I would go, come up. We'll be playing in a band. Now. Jacksonville, Florida is a navy town. And you know, and there was a lot of five naval bases there. So all of us learned from a very early age to play in these sailors clubs. At 15, 16 years old, you're playing cover songs. The Doors and the, you know, Young Rascals and Three Dog Night and all those song cover songs back in the hits of the day, you know, and. But I'm talking about Dwayne Almond, Greg Almond, Ronnie Van Sant, all a Skinner, Molly Hatchet, up back, Blackfoot, everybody. I mean, outlaws came right from there. They, you know, they, they'd come up to Jacksonville.
- [14:25]
Jeff Zito
Yeah. From Tampa Bay anyway.
- [14:26]
Don Barnes
But yes. So you would. You didn't realize at a young age you were absorbing this fundamental foundation of songwriting because you. Every song you had to work out and rehearse, you start seeing the payoff, you see, with the pre chorus where the bridge, the outro and all the things that go into songwriting, and you see the craft of it, the way it's done. And so then you, you do that for a few years, and you get a little cocky and you think, well, I can write my own songs now. And that's when you go star for the next 10 years. It's just not something I recommend.
- [15:03]
Jeff Zito
So you said your. Your very first job was making donuts. What else can you tell me? A couple other jobs.
- [15:09]
Don Barnes
All right. I felt like I did 50 of them, but I, you know, I was like. I said, young man, married with a baby. I did. I made house trusses. I was the. The webbing guy on the house trusses. Went from there to driving trucks, which I did. I like that. Out of an office or out of a building. And you could. As you're driving along, you can, you know, make up things. I was writing songs up in the cab of the truck, you know, driving in traffic and. And did all that, delivered all kind of things. And then I got another job as a pest control man. I was out there spray spraying houses and everything. But I did. I wrote a song with Randy Bachman on this milestone album called Long, Long Train. And I told him. I said. I said, man, you're part of a real pivotal moment in my life. First of all, I played his songs in high school and Guess who songs and all that. And I told him. I said, I was a landscape guy. I was a foreman of landscape company, and I was out there digging palm tree holes. They're like five feet wide, five foot deep. And you know how Florida has a lot of palm trees. So I was. I was down in this hole digging, and I was. The heat and humidity. And the radio was hanging on the mirror of the truck there, and it played the intro to Taking care of Business that blah, blah. And I thought, down in this hole, I thought, I can play that right there. That guy's on the radio. I got to get myself literally up out of this hole and get to work and get. I want to get on the radio. I can play that. You know, that's what it takes, you know, so he loved that story I told him. But, you know, so you know that many decades later, I'm sitting there writing a song with Randy Bachman.
- [16:56]
Jeff Zito
That's cool.
- [16:57]
Don Barnes
The first. Yeah. Here is something funny how things come full circle like it is, man.
- [17:03]
Jeff Zito
The Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Zito.
- [17:07]
Don Barnes
Celebrity Jobber.
- [17:08]
Jeff Zito
What do you think it was, Don? Like, you know, everybody talks about making it big and having a big break, and for a lot of guys, it is like, over time. It's gradual, but was there a moment in time? Something happened, whether it was a Song on the radio, whether it was signing a record deal, a moment in time, a thing that happened that changed your life forever, maybe a big break.
- [17:33]
Don Barnes
There were several moments like that that we, we did it slowly. You know, it's a slow burn. You get, you get on a. First of all playing clubs and trying to get it fan base, but then, then you get a little bit lucky and get on be the third act on a show, on a three act show, you know, and you're. We started out, of course, playing all those clubs. We're all huddled together because the stage is so small in the corner somewhere and we get all these stages that were 80ft wide and we're still huddled together like, like we were used to. And you realize, oh, you gotta spread out. Oh, I see. You know, so you learn as you go. But one of them was we, you know, we, we slowly would play the bars and little bigger rock clubs and then we'd play the theaters and we try to build up to. And you don't want to jump into something really big too, too fast because then you look, it looks like a failure, you know. So we were, we were scheduled to play the Meadowlands arena. This is 1984. And our, you know, you got handlers, you got managers and accountants and every behind the scenes and they're like, oh, you don't want to go in there and try to a. It's 24, 000 seat arena, right? And. But we had been up in New Jersey, we've been around, we'd felt like we garnered all this fan base for all that year. And they were saying, no, you don't really want to go in. You want to go to smaller venue. And like, no, we feel like they'll, they'll come out there and we, we could go in and do this. And they're like, okay, well it's your funeral, you know, so we went in there and let me tell you, 24,000 people showed up in Meadowlands Arena. It was all the way around this place and Donnie Vanza and I were looking at you and we could hear the roar of that crowd. I said, listen to that. And that was. I'm getting chills. Just talking about that was a turning point. You realized this actually worked out. After all the starvation, all the struggles and all the problems and disappointments, you're actually got a roar of 24,000 people roaring in the Meadowlands arena, you know, so yeah, you know, it was a big, big moment.
- [19:35]
Jeff Zito
You know what's funny about that, Don, is that you said that was in 1984. So like that, that was after, you know, you had those big hits out on the radio. So it, it's still, it still took you that long to think of your. Because I'm sure you had success. I mean, you had success prior to that. But that was the moment though that you were like, wow, we did it.
- [19:57]
Don Barnes
Wow. Well, you know, because we were always like supporting actor on a show or something, you know. Yeah, we did have some hit songs and radio airplanes and MTV of course did help, you know, but, but that was, you know, but you're always looking for something bigger. And that was the big milestone there, you know, that was a pivotal moment. But the MTV, we were the 13th video on the first day. That's right, opened it and you know, they didn't have any content there. It was a little cable channel. No one had any content. My manager, we were out in Denver as Rainbow Music hall and he said, they got this, this cable channel called mtv. They want to bring their own cameraman, three camera crew out there to film you guys live. You. Do you mind doing that? I'm like, who is it? So cable channel. And so they, I said, sure, if they want to do it, you know, we don't know what, what do you think about. I remember they came out and filmed and the guy wanted me to do a little spot, but read me a card on the camera to say, you're watching mtv, you'll never see music the same way again. And I thought, what a strange slogan that was, you know, this little cable channel. And I guess I wish I'd have bought stock in the company back then, but I just dismissed it. But we were like the 13th video the first day and we. Everybody's got two or three feet of hair. We look like bridge trolls, quite ready for prime time. But, you know, I guess it was a different, different look for everybody, you know, but.
- [21:24]
Jeff Zito
And here we are, here we are all these years later and a new album, first album in, first studio album in over 20 years. It's called Milestone. And I know that Donnie Van Zant's participation on the road has been, you know, I think he kind of stepped back maybe a few years ago. What about now? And coming out with Milestone, is he going to be involved a little bit out on the road?
- [21:53]
Don Barnes
Yeah, he does. He comes out every now. He's. He suffered inner ear nerve damage after 40 years. But he always wanted us to point these big 6 foot amp amplifiers at him so he could hear the guitars and all that. Said, well, it took Its toll on him. And they Mayo Clinic read him the riot act and said, buddy, if you continue doing what you're doing, you only have a few nerve fibers left in your ears. They said, if you continue doing what you're doing, you're going to be absolutely stone deaf. There's nothing we can do for you. And so he had to leave the road because it's not worth it, you know. I told him, I said, man, if they told, they told me I'd be gone tomorrow, you know. But I told him his brother Ronnie, who we lost in 1977, I said, he been so proud that you made it 40 years. So he's still my partner, he still owns the trademark. He gets a licensing fee every year. And you know, he does participate every now and then. He'll come out and do like one or two songs. Okay, so I'll tell him we've got these inner ear, inner ear monitors in your monitors, you know. And I said, I said, we'll keep everything down. We'll keep it low in your head so you don't, you know. He goes, no, you don't understand. I gotta have it on 12 to even hear it. So, so he does come out when some, some charity things, he's, he's come out and done, you know, and of course the crowd goes crazy because I, you know, you know, I was, he was the one that wanted me to start singing back then because we had already done three albums of him singing. He's got a little more earthy, bluesy voice, but it wasn't so adaptable to radio. And so I, I sang a couple songs and started, it started happening and we're still brothers and we still team. And it was always like, you know, it doesn't matter as long as it doesn't matter carries the ball as long as we're, we're still a team Long. We win as a team, you know, so that was always our creed. And he's always been supportive, never, never any jealousy there. We always split the songs and all the records and everything. So he's always still, even to this day. I talked to him just, just yesterday. He's got these ten thousand dollar hearing aids in his head. He hears better than ever. He hears better than he ever heard before.
- [24:01]
Jeff Zito
That's great. Well, I gotta tell you, Don, I'm really glad the engineer deal didn't work out for you. So, yeah, this is, this album is called Milestone. It was just released the first studio album for the band 38 special in over 20 years. Don Barnes Real pleasure speaking with you. Good luck to, to you the rest of the way. Not like you need it, but really.
- [24:30]
Don Barnes
We'Ll try for 50 more, man.
- [24:32]
Jeff Zito
I tell you what, that's, that's awesome, but just, I just wanted to say some of that stuff, man. Digging the palm tree hole and, and thinking about Randy Backman and, and the couple of the other stories that I've never heard before. Really cool, man. Really appreciate your. Your time this afternoon and good luck with the, with the album.
- [24:55]
Don Barnes
Thanks so much. I appreciate it, Jeff. Thanks for having me on. And I just want to say thanks to everyone all these years that making us a part of their lives, it really has helped. It changed us and, and come see us sometime. We always bring 110% and we'll unfold that history for you and you'll walk through all your memories and new surprises, new songs, milestone, and, you know, be. Be checking it out. Thanks for having me on, Joe.
- [25:20]
Jeff Zito
Awesome, Don. Thanks again. Take care.
- [25:21]
Don Barnes
Thank you, bud. You too.
- [25:22]
Jeff Zito
There were so many parts of that interview that really hit me, but I, I would have to say the story that he told about, you know, his quote, unquote, big break or, or the moment where he felt his life changed forever. He talked about 1984 at the Meadowlands Arena. That's called Brendan Byrne Arena. I'm from New Jersey. I know all about that arena. Fits about 20, 20 some odd thousand people. And he mentioned, like, that place sold out, filled up for him in 1984. And he looks at Donnie Van Zantt and he goes, hey, man, we did it. We finally made it. And I just, I found that to be very interesting because, you know, caught up in you and Hold On Loosely and rocking into the night, that was all, you know, prior to 1984, even in the late 70s as well. So for him to say that he felt like his life changed and that he really, he made it in, in the mid-80s. To me, I was a little surprised by that. You know, he said he was an opening act for, you know, a lot of bands. And he, you know, he mentioned 38 special did have, you know, hits on the radio. But it was that moment in time that he was like, wow, you know, we did it. So I thought that was pretty interesting. Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, his daddy working on the railroad and actually tried to push Don into working on the railroad as an engineer as well. You know, it was a. Wasn't what Don's dream was. But, you know, his dad wanted him to have some stability and, and talked about all the different jobs that he had to do, you know, Cause he was, you know, he had to support a family. And he said he starved for about 10 years. And all of his jobs that he talked about, the first job being one at a donut shop and said he did landscaping and just a whole bunch of, of other jobs, digging holes for palm trees. You name it, this guy, he did it. And now the first new album for 38 special in 20 years. It's called Milestone, and it just came out last week. And if you're a fan of southern rock, this is definitely something that you're going to want to check out. And Donnie Van Sant, you know, the legendary Van Zant family. These guys are legends in southern rock. You know, with Johnny Van Zant, who's now with Lynyrd Skynyrd and of course the iconic Ronnie Van Zant, the original lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, who passed away in the plane crash. You know, the Van Zantzer are very important to southern rock. And, and Donnie Van Zandt had to step away from 38 special because of ear problems. Many years ago he had some ear problems, nerve problems in the ear. Had to step away. But he's, he's coming back. He's, he's participated in the album and he will participate, you know, a little bit on the road with 38 special as they're touring the new album Milestone. Really great stuff, man. Thank you so much for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast we are streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Iheart, wherever you listen to podcasts, plus past guests and episodes you can go online, check them all out. Celebrityjobber.com please subscribe. Would love a 5 star rating and leave a review please. Very important and I thank you very much. Currently number two on the Apple podcast music interviews chart. So thank you so much for, for checking out this podcast and got some huge guests, guests coming up in the very, very near future and I believe celebrity jobbers very first billionaire coming up in the next couple of weeks. Again, thank you so much for listening. And until next week, this has been another episode of the Celebrity Jobber Podcast. I'm Jeff Zito.
- [29:34]
Don Barnes
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