he gig was Monday, April 17th, 1989. Though more than seven years has passed, I know this precisely because I'm a packrat: I still have my 1989 gig-calendar. A musician's calendar superbly indexes the places and events of what might otherwise be a blur of one-night-stands. Leafing through brings back floods of memory, people, places, and couples them in black and white with hard facts one may or may not prefer to remember. (My entire take-home pay for the week of May 8th 1983: $37.) April 17th 1989 is distinguished by two entries: 1) supervise the repair of my parent's garage door at 9am and 2) show up at 2pm for a rare Monday gig, indicated "Jim Brady Party."

The gig, at a plush Washington hotel, was a fundraiser for the James S. Brady Presidential Foundation, a bipartisan organization dedicated to promoting the then-nascent Brady Bill. The gig was a freebie, unusual even for a benefit. But the circumstances were special, we were doing a favor for a friend.

'We' were Jimmy Thackery and The Assassins. The friend, Buz Peele, was a gentle-souled musician who growing-up in Columbia South Carolina had played in prep school bands with a friend who ultimately opted out of music and into politics. In 1989, Buz's friend Lee Atwater was chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Atwater was riding high, basking in the success of his meisterwork, running the 1988 Presidential campaign. His cunning instincts regarding people's cares and fears combined with go-for-the-throat strategy was already the stuff of legend. The most notorious reflection of his approach was a devastating ad, in which (according to the ad) Democratic nominee Gov. Michael Dukakis' prison furlough policies allowed murderer Willie Horton the freedom to murder again. The ad pandered to racist fear and stereotypes. Though Atwater was not personally responsible for producing the ad, he was widely given credit for the strategy. He was the point man with the chainsaw, the man who invited fear and racism to the victory party. He later boasted his every intention to make Horton into Dukakis' "running mate."

Though a powerful national politico, Atwater still played guitar here and there, especially for high profile special events. He jammed onstage at Bush's inaugural ball, and reports of his occasional appearances graced the gossip columns. The Brady event was one such occasion, but he needed his own band. He called Buz, Buz called us. Political conscience be damned, the deal was done. (Musician's creed: "Hey, a gig is a gig.") The Assassins were enlisted to play backup at a James Brady Foundation fundraiser. This item transcribed from the April 19th New York Post gossip column Page Six illuminates the fun:

CLOSE CALL
WASHINGTON, APRIL 17TH -- The swells who packed the $1,000-a-head fundraiser for the James Brady Foundation the other night in Washington didn't know it, but the band they were listening to was using an alias. Brady is the former White House press secretary shot in the head during John Hinckley's assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan. The rock band that played at the fundraiser -- with Republican National Chairman Lee Atwater sitting in at guitar -- is normally billed as The Assassins. Sources told PAGE SIX the group was hastily renamed the "All-Star Blues Band."