Comedy Salad with Buddah #12 Dr. Gonzo

It's salad time with the incomparable Dr. Gonzo a.k.a. John Means. To put it in music terms, I have dubbed this week's interview "Double Live Gonzo meets Live at Buddahkan." Dr. Gonzo bolted from central Illinois to find his way in the San Francisco Bay area music scene in the 1970's. Sometimes people fall ass backwards into a profession they didn't know they were destined for. That's the case for Dr. Gonzo who one day showed up with his guitar in tow for what he thought was a musical open mic, which was actually a standup comedy open mic. So, what happened? You will have to read the interview for the full answer. (Did he become a comedian?)...that is exactly what he did and then some, as he went on to headline many comedy clubs across the country. His musical background was blended with standup comedy which led him to opening for several music artists from Joe Walsh, The Beach Boys, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jerry Garcia, Gene Simmons, Huey Lewis & the News, Jefferson Starship, Joan Baez (he even dated Joan's sister) and Rick Nelson to Meatloaf, Night Ranger, Todd Rundgren, Greg Kihn, ABC, Haircut 100 and Pablo Cruise. Gonzo, as I call him (never saw his medical degree) shared the stage with comedy legends such as Sam Kinison, Drew Carey, Rodney Dangerfield, Robin Williams, Tim Allen & Will Durst. Later in his comedy career he took a young Rob Schneider under his wing. And I just scratched the surface, as there were many more household names (including a few of these I mentioned) that never came up in our in depth conversation. Dr. Gonzo retired from comedy in 1999 and moved back to his roots in central Illinois where he began a new chapter in life when he and the lovely Mrs. Gonzo (Peggy) opened up PJ's, a restaurant specializing in pizza and Italian cuisine located in his hometown, Mason City, IL. He is a jack-of-all trades of sorts when he also made time to teach at a local college and filled in on a morning radio show from time to time. Many of us have gone out and painted the town but Gonzo literally PAINTED the town after purchasing a handful of buildings (see pic below) which he restored and painted store fronts in an old town feel. Artsy culture came to town in the 2000's when an art gallery, book store and and of course, a comedy club came to town. Man, I am windy as hell and I still haven't started the interview. So here it is...



BUDDAH: Your start to standup comedy was a bit different than most. How did you become a standup comedian and where did you get your start at?



DR. GONZO: I went to what I thought was a music open mic. It turns out it was a comedy open mic. I went up anyway, winged it and got some laughs. "Hey, this is awesome!". I sucked the second time and went home and wrote some new bits.



BUDDAH: As a veteran of the comedy game, how has standup comedy changed since you began your career?



DR. GONZO: There were a shitload of comics in a ton of clubs and just like the baseball expansion of the 1960's with the Expos and Padres and later again with the Rockies, Devil Rays and Diamondbacks, the competition wasn't bad. Then it got really good, when along came the Patton Oswalt's and Jim Gaffigan's of the comedy world.



BUDDAH: What was the strangest moment you ever had while on stage?



DR. GONZO: There was a couple. Opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan or the Beach Boys, in the middle of my set a guy threw a large cup of beer and nailed security guards and me. Then he started coming after me over the wall. Don't screw with the comics! Another night a woman flashed her tits in a club.



BUDDAH: Dr. Gonzo has opened concerts for many bands and shared the stage with countless big name comedians. Who are some of musicians and comics that you have worked with which lasting friendships were developed?



DR. GONZO: Garry Shandling was good to me. He always wanted me to give him relationship advice so he could find a use for it in his act. He was one of the comedians that also told me to be sure and help out the next guy (comics) coming up behind me. Drew Carey was a crazy guy to hang out with. I also developed a long lasting friendship with Rob Schneider. I enjoyed hanging out with Craig Chaquito of Jefferson Starship and Paul Kanter too.



BUDDAH: You are a college professor and you teach the oddest course on campus. What is your class called and would Buddah pass or fail?



DR. GONZO: Creative Writing Jingles 101. Everbody should pass this.



BUDDAH: You are the winning run in game 7 of the World Series. Who do you want at bat (any player past or present) to bring you home to score the winning run (hint: he's a Giants fan)?



DR. GONZO: Willie Mays or Orlando Cepeda.



And here comes one question from Dr. Gonzo to Buddah (he actually threw me two questions). You are on an island with only one other person. Who is it going to be?



BUDDAH: My ultimate comedy hero, Johnny Carson. Alone time with Johnny can only make me funnier.



DR. GONZO: You are still on the island, so who will be your sexual partner?



BUDDAH: Sorry Johnny. Time for you to go. Mrs. Buddah has allowed me to get busy with only one other woman....my celebrity crush since the age of 12, Valerie Bertinelli. I still dig her.



I was fortunate enough to emcee one of Dr. Gonzo's last shows when he made a comeback a few years ago (raising money to renovate those Mason City buildings). At this time he and his wife would love to sell you a restaurant complete with a loft living space above the business in small town America.

It was the 80's. man!

Bag o Jokes?