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The
following article appeared in the August 2004 edition of
"Nite Times". It is being reprinted here with
permission from the author, Brett Sharp. Chuck and Brett
were very close friends.
 Goodbye
my Friend
On
Wednesday, July 14, 2004, Chuck Worden, the lead singer
for the band 'Chain Lightning' became unresponsive after
their show at the Moondance Jam in Walker, Minnesota and
died of a heart attack back stage. If you don't know Chuck,
let me introduce you to a teddy bear of a man. He was the
true epitome of a southern man in a northern land as he
stated in the song "Southern Man" that the band wrote on
stage as Greg pounded out a riff and Billy joined in on
drums in the formative years of Chain Lightning. Available
@ www.chainlightningband.com
- At the site, you can watch some really inspiring video
clips of the band, see pictures of Chuck, and get some MP3
samples. Chuck really believed in following his dreams.
When times were tight and life was tough, he sang. He used
songs to entertain, to remember, and to penetrate the darkness
- his own and anyone else's. All he ever wanted at the end
of the show was to be satisfied with the knowledge that
people could walk away with a song in their heart and a
new outlook on life that presented new possibilities.
It
all started in 1992 on the East Side of St. Paul at a bar
called Peppercorn's as he was working security and booking
the room. The bar should have been a rough place, however,
Chuck made many friends and was very close to the biker
community. He earned the respect of many fellow bikers by
being respectful and by listening and being fair when disputes
arose. When time permitted and a friendly band was on stage,
namely Damien, he would get up and sing. It was about that
time that Chuck became friends with Greg Lee and Mike Rowe
(alias Woodstock); Chain Lightning was born. Greg and Chuck
developed a great respect for each other, in both each others
talent and personality, occasionally fighting like brothers
until their feet hit the stage, where the magic began and
they grew to love the music in each others passion for the
trade. They wrote great music together and they brought
out the best of each other on stage. Chuck was a peaceful
soul. His motivation was to honor some of his favorite music
representing things like family, friends, honor and love.
He loved southern rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers,
and Molly Hatchet. On a personal note, after so many years
of listening to Chain Lightning, they sound more like Skynyrd
to me than Skynyrd does. Chuck loved to sing Country, Southern
Rock and even some Blues, his voice had a very powerful
presence. He once blew the diaphragm out of a brand new
microphone during a sound check when, Pud, the soundman
asked him to give it a good growl. One night at Famous Dave's
in Uptown at Moses Oakland's Blues Jam (www.moseso.com)
- Chuck was on stage with only the keyboard player, a group
of about 15 people were heading for the door as he began
to sing 'Walkin' In Memphis'. I watched them freeze in their
tracks and just stand and watch in awe as Chuck belted out
the song.
Chuck
had a good-humored, mischievous nature about him with a
gleam in his eye. Take the night at The Blues Saloon, it
was the Monday Jam led by Moses and Chuck was asked to sing
'Wonderful Tonight' so he could get out and dance nice and
slow. With Moses off stage Chuck's mischievous aura struck
the band. At the end of the song the bass player (Bob Skoggins)
began 'Smoke on the Water'. It snowballed - and much to
Moses' dismay, it was damn powerful and brought the house
down. All the college kids in the audience were awe struck.
I'll always remember the Bikers for Make a Wish Benefit
a few years back when the drummer, Todd Silverstone and
the bass player, Bruce Aitken, began the song 'White Rabbit'
as a joke. Chuck just shrugged his shoulders and hit every
note in the song - I was there and I couldn't believe he
actually did it. That brings up Bikers For Make-A-Wish,
(the SRO Lounge, Kokesh MC) Chuck and all of the present
and former members of 'Chain Lightning' were always very
proud to donate time and gigs on their behalf. Chuck loved
kids and dreams (a very good match for Make-A-Wish). I once
saw Chuck calming a teething and very cranky baby. It took
quite a while, but he just sat there rocking that baby to
sleep with a smile on his face. Although, the guys would
and did benefits for almost everyone and anyone, the kids
were special to Chuck and the band. I can't remember a night
that Chuck didn't dedicate the song 'Dreams' by Molly Hatchet
and to the kids of Make A Wish. He always said, "It's for
the kids."
Music
and dreams kept Chuck going during the lean times, and there
were quite a few of those. After one of his girlfriends
died in the bar that they were playing, Chuck felt even
though times were bad he must move on. When his partner,
Greg, fell off a roof and broke his back, a few of the Chain
Lightning family joined in just to complete the shows on
the books until Greg was able to stand on stage in his body
cast. Shortly thereafter, it was Donny's turn, when he dropped
his Harley on his leg. Chuck resorted to another Chain Lightning
family member, Jay Jacques, to finish the gigs. Jay's personality
and awesome playing became a full-time member of the Chain
Lightning outfit. Times seemed to get tougher as time went
on but still Chuck held it all together. He loved to perform.
He wanted to give good music to good people. He was currently
working with John Mika, the keyboard player, at a shot for
Nashville where Chuck and John had marketed their music
several times. Things seem to be looking up down there until
his untimely death. He wanted to share what God gave him,
a wonderful voice. His goal was to get a record deal in
Nashville. He had an agent interested, a producer interested
and several big A&R people interested in hearing more. But
as money was always a problem, it restricted his availability.
As the years progressed and the band got tighter it brought
opportunities for better shows and better venues culminating
on the final night of Chuck's life warming up on the same
stage for ZZ TOP. It seemed to be a highlight of their career,
as he was joined by four of the original members of the
Chain Lightning Band. After ten years that seems like a
good long run to me. Chuck is and always will be a hero
to me as he died with his boots on doing what he loved.
It just a crying shame the CD the band was working on did
not get finished. He was encouraging to his friends and
very direct if he needed to be. Chuck believed in being
true to your dreams, your friends and your music. I think
he would like us to remember these things and keep trying.
In
the last few years, he was very blessed to find a soul mate
and great love with his wife, Kelly. She became one of his
greatest supporters and also helped him reach personal goals
in his private life. The two of them were very in love.
In the last couple of years she had even begun to sing backup
with 'Chain Lightning'.
Never
give up; look for a way to work out your dreams. I think
it's time to raise a glass to Chuck. He did occasionally
enjoy some Jack Daniels, but preferred a root beer or a
tall, cold carafe of milk. I think I'll go pour a glass
of milk, grab some tissues and create a play list of tunes
that describe Chuck and some memories. I expect tears and
smiles. Here is my play list: Drift Away by Dobie Grey,
then Dreams To Remember by Delbert McClinton. I'd have to
then hear Dreams by Molly Hatchet (for the kids J}, next,
CDB's Simple Man, and Skynyrd's Simple Man. Last will have
to be Free Bird. It is time to press play now, as I raise
the glass high.
Chuck
I'm gonna miss ya bud, enjoy the new band and don't raise
too much hell.
Goodbye
my friend,
Brett Sharp
http://www.bsharp.us/
http://www.bsharp.us/chuck/
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