Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2012!!

The Desert Rose Band will kick off January 2012 with a brand new series of Reunion dates! For now only three dates are yet confirmed by their management. These three dates are very special because the show will be akoustic. This means Chris, Herb, John and Bill will be heading the January shows. A great privilage to see these guys at their best. This means we willl probably see a different setlist compared to the dates from last years with JayDee and Steve. Blendid harmonies and spinechilling akoustic guitar and mandoline work from Chris and John with backing harmonies from Bill and Herb. Let's wait for some more dates later this year with all the guys included. More datails to follow.

Doug Johnson has put together a brand new Winter and Spring 2012 pasture catalog which can be found at chrishillman.com. This catalog features the finest products to support the DRB for a very reasonable price. Some of these articles are original items from the late eightees and are real 'collectors' goodies. The new 2012 Desert Rose Band T-shirt is also available and designed for the upcoming 2012 dates. Order yours now!

Desert Rose Band Fans recieved the following news from ChrisHillman.com:

Dear fans of Chris Hillman,

It's time again for Winter Pasture, the catalog from Chris Hillman's Bar None Bunkhouse of items we have in limited supplies and/or no longer produce. You'll see a few things from last year and a couple of new things.

On the Bar None Bunkhouse Store page you'll also see that we've got two new T-shirt designs as well as our new Flying Burrito Bros caps.

New shirts are:

• The latest Chris & Herb Bar None Wonder Tonic shirt, with the design inspired by the old "Patent Medicine" (or "Snake Oil") cures of the 19th and early 20th Centuries. This shirt has both front and back printing.
• The new Desert Rose Band shirt, featuring a classic design of a cowboy on a bucking bull.

We hope you enjoy the new designs, and that you'll find something you like in the new Winter Pasture catalog!

The Bar None Bunkhouse Gang

New Pictures and Review of the only DRB performance this year. Rocky Mountain Music Festival in Colorado turned out to be quite memorable. Jay Dee had to have surgery the day before showtime, so the DRB had no Pedal Guitarist and Chris played the mandolin a lot more to fill in the mssing parts of Jay Dee which is of course quite hard.. He also promised to be there next year with a few new DRB reunion shows!

It seems the concert at Rocky Mountain Music Festival on the 28th of August will be the only one this year.Tickets at http://www.therockymountainmusicfestival.com

Let's hope 2012 will be a better DRB year!

I removed the link to the DRB forum due too a lack of interest.

New Desert Rose Band Reunion 2011 date announced!

The Desert Rose Band will continue their succesfull Reunion series with a concert at Rocky Mountain Music Festival on the 28th of August. Tickets will be available from April 15th at http://www.therockymountainmusicfestival.com

Let's hope more Reunion dates will follow soon. Do not miss the chance to see these guys live. You will be blessed.

Desert Rose Band Fans recieved the following news from ChrisHillman.com:

Dear fans of Chris Hillman and The Desert Rose Band,

While cleaning out a drafty storage room at the Bar None Bunkhouse a few months ago, we came upon some items we didn't even know we had. Under an old reel of rusty barbed wire was an aged Arbuckle's Coffee box, marked "Old Biscuits for Recycling", but when it was opened we discovered a small stash of Byrds Fifth Dimension T-shirts in both long and short sleeve versions! These shirts were available for a few years on Chris' website and were discontinued, but we are happy to tell you that a few of them still exist after all, and they are available for you right now.

We also discovered the last lot of the cloisonné Desert Rose Band pins that came out in 1988, for the Running & Pages of Life tours! In addition, we still have a few posters from recent tours by Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, and some recent Desert Rose Band posters. Again, all of this stuff is no longer being made, but what we have left we're happy to sell. There are some other items, too, so take a look at our PDF catalog.

There are a few more dusty boxes still to go through, but we've gotta go buy a machete to cut through the cobwebs before we even think about opening those. We'll get to them eventually, and if there's anything we figure you all might be interested in, we'll let you know; who knows, the boxes might just contain old biscuits, but there might be treasure, too.

If you would like to see the complete catalogue, click here, where you will be able to download a PDF version of the catalogue. Please follow the instructions on the PDF document if you find something that you've just gotta have in your own bunkhouse.

Thanks for your continued support of Chris Hillman and his music, and keep checking the website!

Doug Johnson
Bar None Bunkhouse

Desert Rose Band Fans wishes everybody a blessed and wonderful 2011!

A studioperformance of Chris, Herb and John at WAMU Studios, Washington DC, CA is added to the tourdates 2010. This performance was done in the morning while the Birchmere show was in the evening. The show features an interessting setlist with nice rendition of the song 'Twilight is Gone' from the 'True Love' album. As far as I know this song never featured in the Reunion shows. But... it was played in the old heighdays with Bill and Herb on Dobro back in 1991 and stands out to be one of my favourite DRB songs. Let's see if they put in on the setlist. Link: 'Twilight is Gone'.

Chris joined John (JJQ) for two songs at the Grammy Museum on the 24th of January 2011. Let's hope the Desert Rose Band will do some new Reunion shows in 2011. According to various sources there are some plans, but nothing has yet been confirmed by their management. If they are published, they will appear on this site.

I also added a couple of missing 'old' tourdates from 1986 and 1987. Thanks to my friend Gary for the research. There are still a lot of missing dates, so any help is welcome and truly appreciated.

Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen’s At Edwards Barn is a career retrospective, featuring songs from various aspects of their careers including such numbers as “Eight Miles High,” “Wait a Minute,” and the “Turn, Turn, Turn.” The album preserves a live concert performance that included songs from Chris Hillman’s days with bands such as The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and The Desert Rose Band. During some of those years Herb Pedersen was playing with many artists, including David Grisman and Jerry Garcia. Chris and Herb’s musical partnership creates a fresh take on some classics of the modern folk era.

Along with Hillman and Pedersen, the album features Bill Bryson on bass, Larry Parks on acoustic guitar and David Mansfield on fiddle. The band has an organic sound, as if each of the musicians were truly listening to each other and adjusting their contribution accordingly. Refreshing, to say the least.

The album includes live versions of 15 tunes that only touch on the contributions each has made to the American music scene. Of particular note: there are a couple of rarely performed masterpieces here too, including live versions of “Have You Seen Her Face,” “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” and Buck Owens’ “Together Again.”

At Edwards Barn sounds absolutely live and wonderful. Recording it (in 2009) at the intimate setting of Southern California’s Edwards Barn was a smart move; the acoustics there are outstanding and this quality transfers to the album. I wasn’t there that night at Edward’s Barn, but when I turn up the CD (not too loudly) I feel like I suddenly am.

These guys may have played these songs for years, but hearing them introduce them and play them for the live audience, it is clear they have found ways to keep them fresh. There’s nothing like having an audience to bring out the best in musicians that love what they do.

CD available at www.rounder.com

Link: Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen live at Edwards Barn

After eight 'sold old' shows the Desert Rose Band will take you back to the roots of Country Music for their final two dates at Copper Country Festival, Copper Mountain, CO on the 5th of September and The Ellen Theatre, Bozeman, MT on the 6th of September.

Don't miss the chance to see the guys in full action playing all their top-ten hits such as 'Ashes of Love', 'One Step Forward', 'Summer Wind', He's Back and I'm Blue and many great other ones. Once you have seen them, you will love them!

Tickets 'The Ellen Theater' HERE

So far the DRB had a great time. Sold out reunion shows and two more dates added in August and one in September. John Jorgenson was so nice to write a little review on his FACEBOOK page from the second day of their performance at the Birchmere. The first night ath the Birchmere was cancelled due to a storm and continious power outage.

QUOTE: "Wow, what an amazing show we had with the DRB at the Birchmere tonight!! Packed house and very enthusiastic audience, we played nearly 2 hours and signed for an hour afterwards.
Lots of friends and colleagues at the show, making for a very warm and fun evening for all."

The Desert Rose Band will play The Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, CA on the 29th of May and Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT on the 5th of August 2010.

Doug Johnson, The Desert Rose Band merchandise director, is going to have new things for sale through Chris Hillman's DRB site. For the Reunion Tour 2010 Doug already designed a very new DRB t-shirt which is available now.

Check out here!!

The Desert Rose Band will play Buck Owens famous Crystal Palace on the 27th of May.

Finally great news for all the Desert Rose Band friends. The guys planned a few dates coming year. The tour will kick off in May 2010. Till now we have five confirmed dates, which also can be seen on John Jorgenson's website. www.johnjorgenson.com

Hopefuly more dates to follow. Check out the dates and venues at the "Tourdates" section.

A new audience recording was discovered by my friend Gary. The Desert Rose Band live at Coyote Joe's, Charlotte, NC. So far it's the only 1992 bootleg from the DRB with an electric show. Most of the year were akoustic ones, so this is a warm welcome. Night after Night was played and Chris also mentioned the preparations for the Life Goes On album.

Some new articles added to the Press/Articles section and some 'old' dates. Thanks Gary for your input.

At Chris Hillman.com's guestbook I read the DRB is considering some new Reunion dates later this year. Nothing is yet confirmed by Chris or his management. Due too the busy shedules of John Jorgenson, Herb and Chris we can imagine it's not easy for the guys to fit in a few dates.

We hope to receive some info soon. The last dates in 2008 were a 'blast' for the DRB.

Tom Brumley, famed pedal steel guitarist with Buck Owens' Buckaroos, Rick Nelson and the Desert Rose Band (1991-1994) passed away today in Texas. He was 73 years old.

Brumley was renowned in the steel world for playing the solo on Owens' "Together Again", a heart-felt ballad of reconciliation punctuated by the beautiful melodic solo that perfectly captured the sentiment of the lyric. Much like George Harrison's "Something" the solo is so intrinsic to the song that it sounds wrong if a band covers the tune and does not at least nod to the original.

Brumley's father, Albert E. Brumley, wrote the gospel classic "I'll Fly Away". Only drummer Willie Cantu is still left from the original Buckaroos line-up, a combo that is largely acknowledged to be among the finest road bands to ever perform.

The Desert Rose Band were part of the 1987's action movie Steele Justice from director Robert Boris. The DRB did "Love Reunited" and "One That Got Away".

So far this seems to be the only footage from the song "One That Got Away" available, but it seems likely the song featured in the unedited Austin City Limits performance from 1987.

For those who love the 'Tourdates' section on this site, I added some dates from 1993 to the site. Reviews/ Articles can now be watched at the 'Memorabilia' section.

Pictures of the Copper Mountain gig are added to the site. You will find them at tourdates>2008>copper mountain.

In a recent interview at the Copper show in Colorado (08/31/2008), Chris Hillman said: "If all goes well, the DRB might record a live album at Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, CA".

There is no date confirmed when this show will take place.

Great News!! The Desert Rose Band will be 'live' on the radio and internet on the third of October. 107.5 FM KPIG will broadcast the concert from The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA.

Could this be the taped show where the fans will see a 'live release' from next year?

Check out "The Catalyst" or "KPIG 105.7 FM" for more detailed info.

Update: due to licensing agreements the DRB won’t be simulcast on KPIG.

So far the Desert Rose Band played three succesfull, sold out concerts in August. The reviews we got were very positive and the crowd loved the Reunion. This surely asks for more concerts. Hopefully the guys will add some gigs to their tour. They really enjoyed themselves playing with each other. If you have tickets from The Belly Up Tavern, Coach House or Copper Festival; Please scan them and mail them to me.

Just two more days and the DRB will kick off there Reunion tour at the Belly Up in Solano Beach, LA.The guys will play material from there first three albums. This will be the first time in fifteen since they last played together.

For fans of all ages, there is nothing to compare to the rich sounds of live music when the songs are timeless and the performers are at the top of their game.The Desert Rose Band’s sterling musicianship and impeccable three-part harmonies, from country to bluegrass to Bakersfield, promise to deliver a not-to-be-missed reunion tour.

On the sites of Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson are four dates planned for the "Reunion" concerts. The rehearsals for the concerts will take place on the 25th and 26th of August.

Planned dates:

• 08/27/2008 - Belly Up, Solana Beach, CA
  
• 08/28/2008 - The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA
• 08/31/2008 - Copper Country Festival, Copper Mountain, CO
• 10/04/2008 - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, San Francisco, CA

We don't know if the last albums "True Love" and "Life Goes On" will be incorparated in the upcoming shows.

The Desert Rose Band will reunite for a few concerts this year. Very little is know about this yet, but we can confirm that all six original members will be playing songs from the first three albums 'Desert Rose Band', 'Running' and 'Pages Of Life'. The Desert Rose Band called their quits in 1994 after starting in 1986. John Jorgenson made a guest-apperance at the Station Inn on the 2nd of May joining his old bandmates Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen.

A proper live CD/DVD release is discussed, but no futher info is confirmed.

Welcome the the first unofficial Desert Rose Band fansite on the internet. The Desert Rose Band, which is Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, John Jorgenson, JayDee Maness, Steve Duncan and Bill Bryson, has been a major influence in the country scene in the late eightees and ninetees. The band were often entitled as the inventers of the name Country-Rock, which wasn't appreciated by everyone.

During the years the Desert Rose Band were at their peak, topping the country-charts with several number one hits, they produced six succesfull albums and a Greatest Hits album proving they were and are one of the best musicians around. After seeing many Byrds-related fansites on the web, the idea raised to design a site for the fans and friends of the Desert Rose Band. This site represents the unique quality this band stands for and gives them the credits they deserve.

I hope everybody who is connected to the DRB will enjoy this site. All information connected to the DRB is welcome. Updates will be shown frequently!