BILLY PETOT of WHISTLE PEAK:
in a 37 FLOOD exclusive; John King talks to Billy Petot of Whistle Peak on ticks, the new record, up-coming events, and finding a cure...
Billy: what up?
john: hey billy, sorry i'm late.
Billy: no problem.
john: my cat has ticks and i was running around trying to find tick repellant.
Billy: eee dog.
john: yeah.
Billy: how many?
john: i found 3. managed to wrestle off one. and every time i have an itch, i think i have them crawling on me.
Billy: you mean fleas?
john: nope. ticks! anyway, thanks for talking with me today.
Billy: my pleasure.
john: so, what are you up to these days?
Billy: Well trying to finish an album, still recording and writing some for that, also getting ready for the bike ride.
john: let's talk first about the new album...
Billy: oh and grad school, but yes, the album.
john: that's a tall order!
Billy: yessir.
john: how long have you been in grad school?
Billy: just started this semester.
john: good job. what are you studying?
Billy: English, or Composition and Rhetoric...
john: got it. teaching in the future?
Billy: that's the ultimate goal. teach college. talk about books and such.
john: knowledge is power.
Billy: for sure.
john: did i spell that right, Teach?
Billy: good work. Don't get nervous about your grammar now.
john: i had an english teacher in high school that asked me if she spelled pizza correctly... but back to the new album...
Billy: nice.
john: are you in the studio now?
Billy: yeah. we record at David's. he does most of the production, or all. so just been busy trying to get things how we want them to sound. been bringing in Jeremy and Mike to lay down their stuff. an still writing new ones too.
john: You and David Boston are the primary writers?
Billy: yes.
and his role is probably 60 to my 40...
john: and Jeremy Irvin and Mike Snowden backing you guys up?
Billy: yes. on the last album it was just Dave and I. but now we have Jeremy and Mike who are both better musicians than us. so they play 'em real good. and always have great input.
john: is Jeremy still moving to Nashville?
Billy: I am unsure. i know it has been put off a bit. and maybe it won't be a full time move, maybe more of a periodic commute. we're glad, he'd be hard to replace.
john: yes he would. He is still playing with Second Story Man too, so hopefully it will keep him here.
Billy: yeah. he says he'd commute for music. but i am skeptical.
john: it's easy to say a 4 hour commute can be done, until it's done a few times over.
Billy: exactly.
john: when do you think the new album will be out?
Billy: the goal is to get it done this summer, but we were saying that last summer.
john: You can't rush genius.
Billy: yeah. if its good, it doesn't matter if it came out today or february.
john: Your last record came out a year and half ago?
Billy: Yeah, about a year and a half, almost 2 years.
john: that record was fantastic. is this one going to be self released, or have you found a home for it?
Billy: Karate Body has offered to release it.
john: They have put out a good deal of great albums in their 1.2 years...
Billy: i would be happy to be in the club. they have put out some talent that would be nice to associated with...
john: i'm gonna have to agree with you there. Invaders, Rachel Grimes, and the Cheyenne & Bonnie Billy album "among the gold" to name a few...
Billy: yeah and i just got the Phantom Family Halo record last week..
john: also a worthy contribution. your debut album has some the best cover art i've seen in a long time. any word on the new album cover?
Billy: we have some ideas, people we want to talk to. i can't really divulge what that may be, but we will be using a local artist to do it. Again that is, cause Rebecca Crutcher did the last one.
john: we'll keep it a surprise then. i can't wait to see it. and hear it. Let's talk a little bit about the Bike Ride you mentioned earlier..
Billy: oh, and thanks for the complements.
john: sure. i love a good naked lady record cover..
Billy: yes, so I started a team for this TourdeCure by the American Diabetes Association. i raise money and ride 20 miles.
john: and this takes place in Louisville?
Billy: yeah, out past Norton Commons, where i don't venture often cause its a little too white out.
john: I'm not even sure where that is. the East End i'm guessing?
Billy: yeah, eastern jefferson county. North east.
john: white, yes. that area is a mystery to me. i often hear peeps from out there say they live there to get away from the traffic addled downtown, but every time i'm out there i'm stuck in traffic and long ass traffic lights.
Billy: it generally isn't pleasant in the burbs... beautiful country roads though.
john: so, anyway, TourDeCure is an annual bike ride to raise money for Diabetes research, correct?
Billy: correct. to supposedly find a cure, as it is incurable. i was diagnosed with type 1 last november. i am entirely dependent on insulin. which means 4 shots a day. and regimented meals. forever! less drinking too.
john: wow. in 6 months you went from not knowing, to in the thick of it!
Billy: and now they tell me I have to quit smoking!
john: i've quit just about everything now, except smoking! i could never see a drop of booze again and be just fine, but the idea of never being able to enjoy a cool refreshing Winston again scares me.
Billy: yeah. its pretty crazy. but you get used to it. and yeah, i definitely don't mind going out less. its a good excuse to go to bed early.
john: yeah, once i gave up the drugs and booze my night time hanging kinda stopped dead in their tracks.
Billy: going to bars loses its luster when you can't live it up. i have started smoking more, when i am suppose to be quitting.
john: well, i'm sure the stress of being diagnosed with type 1 gets you wanting a smoke.
Billy: and grad school. but i would like to say, anyone interested in supporting my bike ride can donate at tour.diabetes.org. click donate and then it'll help you search for my donation page.
john: yeah, before we go off topic... when is the event, and can anyone ride along?
Billy: its May 15th, and i could use more teammates. so at the same page you can click Join Team Petot.
john: but anyone, bicycle rider or not, can help donate to the team?
Billy: absolutely. and i believe they still need volunteers, to pass out water and stuff like that. anything anyone can do is appreciated.
john: i'm sure there are lot's of peeps who will want to help, we need you in good shape to finish this next album.
Billy: well i am doing much better than i was 6 months ago.
john: what tipped you off that something wasn't right?
Billy: i'd lost nearly all body fat, 40 lbs, my immune system seemed real weak, blurry vision, insatiable thirst, i wasn't absorbing my food properly and was wasting away. my blood sugar was in the 500s when i went to the doctor and he knew right away. it is supposed to be between 80 - 120.
john: Heaven's gate, that is scary!
Billy: last time i was at the doctor, he said "well, according to your numbers it doesn't appear that you have diabetes anymore" of course, he was joking.
john: well, that must mean your doing things right.
Billy: yeah. the drugs are working. and then i have to monitor everything.
john: all day every day. it's a life long relationship. but honestly, people should be monitoring their intake more anyway. what are some diabetes warning signs we should look for?
Billy: burry vision, insatiable thirst but you know you aren't just dehydrated 'cause you pissing all the time too. my type of diabetes is rarer than the other though. type 2 is a bit easier to manage. type 1 just is.
john: i'm sorry this has happened to you Billy, it's a shitty draw. but it sounds like you are doing all the right things, and helping to bring awareness to the table.
Billy: yeah. i'm good. no worries.
john: i wish you the best of luck with it, and with the TourDeCure.
Billy: thank you.
john: any other projects/events/opinions worth sharing?
Billy: yes. we will be playing in New Albany for the, I believe it's, the Glass Art Festival with the Louisville ballet and the Deloreans. June 11 at the New Albany Amphitheater on the rolling Ohio.
john: That's right, the rock N' Roll Ballet! free to the public at 7:30pm in sunny New Albany IN!
Billy: woo hoo!
john: i'm really looking forward to that!
Billy: so are we.
john: thanks so much for taking time out to talk with me about all it is that you're up to these days!
Billy: thanks for being interested!
john: thank you sir, and keep up the good work Professor Petot!
Billy: yessir. thanks
More Information on up-coming events:
Tour de Cure
Rock N' Roll Ballet
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