Bill Grossman was late to his first show with the Dimeslots.  In a story that has become Dimeslots lore, Bill was a no-show as the rest of the band stood ready on stage to open their set with a drum solo....

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Bill entered the Dimeslots' "Scene" in 1982.  When Gary left the area after a torrid year of successful shows from '81-'82, the Dimeslots were once again in search of a dummer to occupy the back line.  As luck would have it, there was a smoking' lodge party at Lynn's lodge heading into the core of the group's senior year. Ed, Bill W. & Neil played a few songs at the party and Bill was in attendance.  Bill was quickly recruited signed and was playing a sold-out Pub show with the Slots by the following month.

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Knowing that a big crowd was coming, and knowing that the "new" drummer was not yet "battle-tested" MOST of the guys were a bit jittery.  Doors opened, the crowd piled in, the beer was flowing, the stage lights were on and FOUR of the five guys were standing on stage plugged in and ready to go.  Bill Grossman was a no-show..  Fearing that Bill would be the first Dimeslots drummer to spontaneously combust before he even played a show with the band, they waited. And waited.

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And just as the clock struck 9pm (the "start time" of the gig), in strolls Bill Grossman, having already self-administered a considerable amount of pre-show "medication".  With a big huge shit-grin, Bill walks right on stage with a "What's up Guy?  You all ready to Rock?"   - And he did.  And they did.

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In Bill's Gown words:

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I first arrived at W&M in the Summer of 79. Met Christy second or third night there, before classes started. Engaged in ‘82 and married in ‘83. I graduated from W&M in ‘83 with a degree in Econ. The real reason for that degree is it only required 30 hours. Left lots of wiggle room to do things like, join a band!!

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I think my first gig was with the Spess Neblitt Trio. Spess was a jazz pianist and fellow Lambo. He, some bassist with a stand up bass and I played weekly at the Cascades Restaurant for pretty decent money...and a free Prime Rib dinner. I think that was the only “band” I played in til I met up with a slightly intoxicated Ed at a “lodge” party before classes in ‘82 started. I think he was wearing a cardboard sign that read “band in desperate need of a drummer”.

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I had a tryout with the Slots in the Pi Lam basement, and I was sure that I wasn’t the pick after seeing Neilheads expression after most songs. Later, I learned that those Neil scowls were nods of approval, apparently.
 

Not understanding that the band consisted of a few type A perfectionists, my favorite memories were from our first performance, at the Pub, with me as the drummer. After sound check, I proceeded somewhere for a Preshow cocktail or two, and arrived back at the Pub right on time...right Ed? I think I heard the numbers “1,2,3,4...” as I walked in. Any hoot, it was a freakn blast of a night!!!

 

Discography (if applicable)

W-L HS Jazz Band Ensemble, featuring Bill Grossman on the Xylophone- 1979

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I have been Happily married now 37 years to that same girl I started dating back in ‘79. Have lived in the same home since ‘86. 2 girls grown and out of the house. Work with Outreach projects services at our church, St Mark Catholic Church in Vienna for the past 20 years. I guess I don’t venture away much, except to visit Reid in Paris. Currently recovering from a much needed Hip surgery and looking forward to playing the drums again soon!