Gusto
Now, tragic as losing equipment is, it's nothing compared to losing a member of the band. Picture the 10,000 Maniacs boarding a tour bus in Italy, and not realizing until Munich that bassist Steve Gustafson is not on board. He has been left behind in Italy while exchanging some money.
"We call the hotel. Steve is in the lobby. Nearly in tears. Steve, it turns out, speaks no Italian. He knows no one. He has even tried to call his wife back home in Buffalo, but no one answered," recalls keyboardist Dennis Drew.
"We talk to the hotel manager. The manager pins a note on Steve's chest. It says in Italian to take this man to a rest stop in the Alps, in Munich. Steve climbs into the cab and takes a five-hour cab ride to meet us. The bill was about $500. Thank God the rest stop we waited at served liquor."