What Was New With the Wetband 2000-2001

Subject: Press Release
Date: October 18, 2000 11:25 AM

Reports indicate that final transfer of the now famous Play & Learn III
Sessions from master tapes source is complete...
In a brief communique to an almost empty room, producer Kenny B. Wetnick
hinted that transfer to CD format may not be possible at this time. He
refused to elaborate, but was heard mumbling something about 'if time grew
on trees', and so forth.
Asked if this might not dissappoint the fans, he simply laughed....

Otherwise, he appeared extremely happy with the results of the sessions on
tape, and enthused about the tracks being 'speaker-ready', and high volume
playback being 'recommended' , whatever he meant by that...

Mr. Wetnick also indicated the probability of the final product being
available in time for the much anticipated T-Fest 2000,
coming up early in November...

In an aside, he also mentioned that various of the cuts chosen for the
final album have been taking turns running through his head for some weeks,
now, todays evidently being 'If I Only Had A Mike', combined exquisitely
with something about 'Through These Crocodiles to You'.... yesterdays was
'It's A Mystery'....

The critics are falling all over themselves in praise of the new Wetband recording. Full of great new songs as well as covers and new versions of their older material. They even venture into the jazz realm with their superb cover of "You Don't Know What Love Is". The new recording was released during the Wetband's annual Turkey Fest gig, where they played much of the new material and brought down the house. An emergency home renovation team has been dispatched to the scene.

A counter and a daily Wetband trivia question have been added to the web site thanks to suggestions by Kenny B. Wet himself.


Subject: Press release
Date: January 11th, 2001

A document has surfaced that has rocked the world of Wetband history, nothing less that the alleged autobiography of Jethro Bassman, though Jethro himself has yet to acknowledge this potentially explosive document:

Mr. Bassjangles: The Autobiography of Jethro Bassman As Told to Joe Dummer


Subject: Press release
Date: January 12, 2001

In a startling turn of events, the alleged Jethro Bassman (no relation to his Aunt Gloria) has stepped forward to endorse his autobiography, 'Mr. Bassjangles':

Hey, my autobiography is real. Has Joe Dummer lied to you before? I forgot to add that the name of my second group (with no instruments) was 'The Black Plague'. Could the Wet Master add this?
Thanks fans.
Jethro Bassman


Long John Silver, the new barkeep at the Golden Nugget, has hired some dancers, thanks to a suggestion by the great Jethro Bassman himself!


Subject: Press release
Date: January 19, 2001

A Melee ensued at the famous Golden Nugget Saloon when barkeep Long John Silver tried to introduce Floyd the Barber to Koko the Gorilla:

FloydB: But I already have my own barber shop!
LongJohnS: Sorry, but I'll be re-possessing that to pay yer tab!
FloydB: But I don't even drink
LongJohnS: Arr, but ye be a generous man with thems that do!
LongJohnS: I'll pay ye a dollar a day, free room and board and all the ale ye can swill
FloydB: But I already have a house of my own
LongJohnS: Sorry, but I'll be repossessing that as well, to pay for the new equipment
FloydB: What new equipment, I already have my equipment
LongJohnS: Floydy, me lad, we be talking real barbary pirate barbering equipment
LongJohnS: Razers like little cutlasses
LongJohnS: A barber chair like a pirate ship!
LongJohnS: A dryer that can bear down like a nor'easter!
LongJohnS: We'll be the talk of the territory
LongJohnS: Pirates will come in from the four corners of the earth
FloydB: But we're not even by the sea!
LongJohnS: Aye, well laddies will come in, what's want to be pirates one day
LongJohnS: I'll start me own pirating school
** Koko the Gorilla knuckles in **
KokoG: Me, Koko, who you?
LongJohnS: Begad, Floyd, here be yer first customer!
LongJohnS: Floyd! Floyd! Come back, where be ye running to?
LongJohnS: Stop waving yer hands around, yer great hairy lug and tell me what ye be ordering
LongJohnS: Didn't I sail with ye on the Barbary coast?

** New Gallery of the Greats! **
The Wetband has been fortunate to play with many great friends and fellow musicians, so check out the new and ever growing Gallery of the Greats Who Have Played With the Wetband. The first inductee is drummer Neil P. Ludwig.

Subject: Press release
Date: January 24, 2001

The Free Willy Movement:
Declassified CIA documents have come to light that reveal that the famous motel singer Willoughby Wet was forcibly abducted by illegal aliens, taken behind the Iron Curtain and brainwashed into believing he was Willie Nelson. The figures behind this heinous crime have been traced to a talent syndicate based in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan that was attempting to cash in on Willoughby Wet's similarity to the famed country singer. Wetband spokesperson Ray Brother had these comments on the revelations: "This would go a long way to filling in Willy's missing years. We can now see that there was a considerable time there when he was wandering around thinking he was Willie Nelson. They also believe he might have actually done some stadium gigs where not only he but everyone else as well thought he was Willie Nelson. Fortunately he did gradually regain his true identity, though he still signs his name: Willie."
   In related news, a grassroots movement spearheaded by motel managers from coast to coast is gathering steam. Calling themselves the Free Willy Movement they are raising funds to send Willy back to Russia in order to complete his deprogramming.


Subject: Press Release
Date: February 4, 2001

Practfest 2001: A Resounding Success
The Annual Practfest hosted by (drumroll) Neil and Kim P. Ludwig was a resounding success, though early on almost erupted into a brawl when Willy B. went ahead and brazenly appropriated Woody's beloved musical sitting chair. Woody quickly recovered said chair and Willy B. learned a valuable lesson he would never forget. Kenny B. was volunteered to produce the live Practfest 2001 recording. The Practfest also turned out to be a release party for the Willy and Shirley B. Wet production of the Turkey Fest 2001 live recording: Slow Down the Squirrels, a two volume set which comes for a limited time only with real nuts (no not those involved) and a set of glittering squirrel stickers for use at the home or office:

Welcome to the Wetband Universe!
The Wetband Website has now been upgraded to the status of PORTAL, which means you can set up your own related web site through the Wetband Portal at the bottom of the Wetband Website main page. This provides Wetband members and fans with an easy way to set up their own photo galleries and commentary, as well as providing an introduction to website design and mechanics. Check out the Woody site at: http://wetband.websitenow.com/woody

Kenny is the newest member of the Wetband Universe!
Kenny B. Wet has joined the Wetband Universe and is hosting the Wetband Studio Galleries through his website at: http://wetband.websitenow.com/kennyb

Press release: February 12, 2001 In his further investigations into the life and name of Willy B. Wet, Kenny B. Wet recently unearthed this old press clipping suggesting that at one time Willy filled in for Wiarton Willie the prognosticating groundhog. Other investigators think that Willy was brainwashed into believing he was indeed Wiarton Willie. Still others think that Wiarton Willie was brainwashed into believing he was Willy B. Wet.

Jethro Bassman is the newest member of the Wetband Universe!
Jethro has joined the Wetband Universe and is hosting the Wetband Discography through his website at: http://wetband.websitenow.com/jethrob


Subject: Press Release
Date: February 21, 2001

The Late, Lamented Wetband Message Board
The Wetband Message Board we all knew and loved is gone, but we were able to salvage enough (thanks to an idea from Kenny B.) to provide this Message Memorial Page where you can pay your last respects to the many messages therein recorded for posterity. A new message board has been set up with many new and interesting features.


Press Release: February 22, 2001 7:25 PM
Notorious WET Band producer Kenny B. Wetnick today announced the imminent release of the band's latest extra-Bluesfest recording, "PractFest 2001". The band had been in session just weeks ago at the up-and-coming Creditview Club, hosted by Kim and Neil P. Ludwig, at an undisclosed location in Mississauga.
Wetnick as usual would say little about the contents of the new album, except that the sound quality was quite good, and that the famed "Banana Kid" performs an entire 3-number suite on the recording. Indications are, although as yet unconfirmed, that the famous Motel-Motor himself, Willy (sic) B. Wet, introduces 3 brand new tunes on the album.
However, we have managed to get a sneak preview of the cover art for the album, to be officially released at the upcoming Burton-Webster Blues Festival 2001, this Saturday:

Press Release: July 23/2001
Notorious Wetband producer Kenny B. Wetnick announced just hours ago that the Wetband splinter group West Wind Trio's latest recording has just been released. The famous cult trio apparently were in covert recording mode just days ago, putting down numerous tracks at an un-announced recording session at the Creditview Club. Nothing has been heard for years from the Trio, whose last recording was done in 1998, or the more well-known mother-band, The Wet Band. Rumours had been circulating that the WET Band, on hiatus since the Blues Festival 2001, may have packed it in. But the sudden enexpected release of a recording by the franchise's splinter band West Wind Trio has rocked the undergound rumour mill, taking The Wet Band off the hook for the moment. No trace of the Wet Band's annual Bluesfest recording for 2001 has been seen, fueling rumours of the band's demise. Wetnick, as usual, would say little about the Trio's latest recording, and was contrite about the extremely brief interval between recording date and release of the finished product. He would only say that Kenny's vocal pickup was a touch too high, but that the recordings overall were very good quality, speaker-ready, etc. He would not elaborate about the content or theme inherent in the new album, but 'accidentally' allowed us access to the cover-art for the new recording. Wetnick did say that he personally would like to dedicate the new recording to George Harrison, one of his all-time heroes.

Neil P. Ludwig is the newest member of the Wetband Universe!
Neil has joined the Wetband Universe and is hosting the Wetband Jukebox through his website at: http://wetband.websitenow.com/neil
The Jukebox will soon feature some authentic Wetband recordings!

Press Release: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001; 4:24 pm

Today K.B. Wetnick announced the release of a brand new recording by two of the founding members of the underground group, The WET Band. The eponymous release, The WE Project, apparently features two B. Wets, Woody and Kenny, reuniting as a duet so many years after their early teaming in the primordial days before the WET Band was born. Although the recording sessions, done on two separate sessions in September, were not held in much secrecy, no-one noticed anyway, until Wetnick made his announcement just hours ago. Wetnick denied that the sessions and recording were done to galvanize the WET Band itself back into action, but did say that both Woody and Kenny voiced the desire for the full band to get back into action soon. Both artists have expressed enjoyment in working with each other again in a duet format, and did not rule out the possibility of future recordings by The WE Project. The recording features, among other things, several brilliant new tunes by master tune-smith Woody, and some fascinating explorations into new vocal territories by the duet. There has been no comment yet by the other two members of The WET Band, Willy and Jethro, or the famed session drummer (and third member of the WEST Wind Trio) Neil P. Ludwig, which is not too surprising, as this is probably the first they've heard of it either... Jethro has been on tour in the United Kingdom recently, and Willy also has been busy with projects on the East Coast. Kenny B. Wet has since just returned from NYC where he was on a promotional tour. K.B.Wetnick said in closing that he was "very excited" with the recording, and that many fine tunes are as yet unreleased due to space and other considerations. Complimentary copies of the 60-minute recording were being made available to the band as soon as possible. We have obtained a scan of the cover art for the landmark recording:

Press Release: Friday, Nov. 16, 2001; 9:00 pm

Today Ray Brother announced the upcoming release of the long anticipated Wetband Bluesfest 2001 recording. The official release will take place at the upcoming Burton Turkey Fest. Unnamed insiders who have heard the recording say it is without a doubt the best Bluesfest recording ever, and possibly only the first volume of a stunning multi-volume set that will rock the ears off the music critics. Sources were able to obtain the following unoffical snapshot of the cover and contents:

See: What's New for more recent news