The investigation into the cause of the fire revealed the
culprit. An electrical short in the alarm system sparked a small
flame, which quickly spread throughout the wooden structure.
Although the band’s concert equipment was safe, the studio console,
tape decks and a library of recorded material had been destroyed.
Once again, insurance covered the physical losses, but the loss of
the early Golden Fingers sessions would prove to be
incalculable.
The dream studio destroyed, the band resorted to practicing in each
other’s houses, despite Henry’s protests to “turn it down.”
The fire and its subsequent investigation wasn’t the only thing on
Henry’s mind. The continuing investigation of the Watergate break
in was having a troubling effect on him as well.
“This is not looking good for Nixon,” he told Juliette. “I’m really
getting worried that this is going to mark him badly.”
“Don’t blame me,” Juliette lectured. “I voted for McGovern.”
“They’re all turning against him. All of his trusted aides, they’re
only looking out for themselves.”
“Can you blame them? I told you, he’s a crook!”
“He is not a crook!” Henry insisted. “He’ll be cleared of any
wrong-doing. I’m sure of it.”
I came in near the end of his parent’s conversation. “Dad, you’ve
got to drop this thing you’ve got for Richard Nixon. It’s bad for
my career.”
“Your career? What, are you into politics now? What about the
music?”
“I’m talking about the music. If word gets out that you are an
ardent Nixon supporter, that doesn’t look good for me.”
“Well, your boy McGovern didn’t do that well against him.”
“McGovern,” I revealed, “was not ‘my boy’. I voted for
Spock.”
“You Trekkies are all alike; no respect for the process.” Henry
claimed.
I shook his head as he left for the day’s practice.
He joined the rest of the band at the Daly house. Sandy was between
men and the extra space gave the band a place to spread out. Her
attempts to seduce Osgood were largely ignored. He wasn’t exactly a
“ladies' man.”
Spike was arguing with Isaac about his love for the weed. “You’ve
got to quit that stuff, man. It’s not good for our image. We are
trying to promote good habits, and yours is in contrary to the
whole direction.”
“It’s just a little weed, man. It don’t hurt no one, and no one is
going to care. I don’t do the hard stuff.”
“Still,” Spike insisted. “You need to clean yourself up. It's not
going to work for us.”
Isaac assured them he would clean up. He’d made that promise
before.
I got after the others to start with the practice. “I’ve got a new
song we need to learn.” He grabbed Isaac’s guitar and proceeded to
show him some licks.
Isaac told him, “I got it. I got it. I ain’t no dummy, you know.”
Isaac fell into the groove, not only picking up the leads, but also
improving them with his own additions.
Osgood started adding the keys and Spike laid down a beat. It was
up to I to do his part, and he joined Isaac in echoing the lead
part on the bass. He began to sing: