I love and miss the Altar Boys - it was a special time, that I will never ever forget and will always cherish. We were fortuate to do a few reunion concerts at Cornerstone, and in particular the Broken Reunion event held in 2005.

We played one last time together at Spirit west coast 2006 - neat event, but kind of a let down from the Broken concert a year before. Unfortunately, that really was the last time we will play together in that format. In actuality, the last 3 years of my life have been "consumed" with taking care of my elderly mother (on going), and earning a master's degree and another teaching credential. I did all this while "trying" to be a good father, husband, and working two part time jobs and a full time job as a music specialist in the Santa Ana Unified School District.

With that said, I really have been "restricted" to playing only at church (both at my home church in Santa Ana, and at Kindred Community Church in Anaheim Hills). I also was able to play in a little Beatles tribute band with my son, called the Deatles every Halloween night at Calvary (light the Night). All were/are wonderful opportunities and a huge blessing, but it was not the same as playing "your" own songs. Did I mention that I miss the Altar Boys????

To make a long story short, about seven years ago, I saw this guy walking through the Calvary Church parking lot with a Ramones shirt on. Something drew me to him, and I started up a conversation - he mentioned to me that he saw the very last Ramones Concert. We really hit it off!! Little did I know that his wife and my wife were friends and that his son was the same age as my son. So there you go, he was like an instant buddy . I knew John was a musician, but he was on "Furlough" - for lack of a better term. Every few months I would ask him to play with me, but he said he wasn't ready.

Finally in 2006, or was it 05???, I begged John just to sit in with me on Wed night and play acoustic guitar for a special Bible study (where I have been leading worship for over seven years). Well, he loved it and felt he could start playing again.

At some point he mentioned to me that my music - particularly that of The Altar Boys - could easily be arranged and set to the Rockabilly style. I looked at him kind of cross eyed like, and went......"huh?" So he did a quick demo of "Against the Grain" to show me what he was thinking, and a immediately light bulb went on in my head.....I said "all right"...."YEAH!"..."let's do this"....."no wait, I am in the middle of earning a master's degree and juggling everything else in between." We did manage to do one little performance at my church where my son Keith sat in on snare and cymbal - he did a great job by the way, but that style of music reallly isn't his thing (he's in to that fandago modern music stuff, but he does have good taste). In the end anything John and I were going to do together had to wait, because the time just wasn't right......, I had to finish this masters degree and new credential - it really killed me, but I really had no choice. John supported me all along the way, it was a really was a difficult journey - I studied up to 20 hours a week

Finally, in October of 2008, after 2 years of time consuming work and studying, I finished my academic goal - as detailed in a previous blog. With all of that behind me, John and I "almost" immediately started working on songs (I still was a little hesitant) and eventually were blessed to find an extremily talented drummer from church named Chris Cummings. We are also hoping that Steve and Jeff might join us on occasion - especially since Steve lives close by and has already shown an interest in playing acoustic.

All of us are on the same page: dedicated Christians, husbands and dads with full time careers. Our Lord, families, and church are everything to us. We manage to get together to rehearse every Saturday morning, and it really is like magic. I doubt we will be able to tour like the Altar Boys did - we actually will be very grateful and happy to play once a month or so - and carving out more time than that would be a challenge.

But, I love this little band and am excited about playing music again, and to hold that old beat up tele (she plays like butta). Yes, once again I have been given the wonderful opportunity to play the music that the Lord has given me. So with a big "Yee Haw" I would like to introduce all off you to The Altar Billies.......we're back in the saddle! Thar is some fancy geetar pick'n goin on in that band, and I think it's me! See ya all at the next barn dance or revival meet'n!

Mike Haybale Stand