The Dixie Desperados formed in 1976. The original members where Jeff Sims, Mike Chasteen, Allan Lowe, Greg McMillan and Steve Nelson. Then James Young would later join the band around 1977.

The Dixie Desperados were an almost forgoten band known for their original "southern country rock and roll" music, drawing huge "I hope the fire marshal does'nt walk in here" crowds in clubs, and the masters of monster partying(which by the way, led to this killer bands destruction). The band formed in 1976 by three cousins; Allan Lowe,Gregg McMillan, and Mike Chasteen. McMillans' earlier high school years were spent playing in bands with Nancy Luca,Guffy Crampton,Steve Nelson,Pat Davis,Jim Milsaps,James Young,Mike Leadon,Tim Henry, and brother Brett McMillan. Also once a week, taking guitar lessons from former Gainesville resident Mike Campbell. Allan Lowe to me, was my first songwriting hero. Allan played the Halloween ball in either 74' or 75' with his brand of acoustic folk/rock with Locky and DeDe Mcguiness. I remember thinking, this guy is a waste here in Gainesville, he needs to go to Nashville or L.A. (Killer songwriter) Chasteen and Lowe played in bands prior to the Desperados also (Wild Blue Yonder). Chasteen was said to have quit his job in 1976 and pretty much locked himself in his room and played his ass off during the daytime and did not come out until rehearsals at night. Needless to say, Mike was ready to rock when Jeff Sims was asked to replace Guffy Crampton who did not show up for a gig at the Kings Table. Sims made that band when he joined. He taught Chasteen all kinds of stuff, motivated everyone, was truly a brother and at the time was one of the best guitar players around. I remember the band never needed a pedal steel player because Jeff ,along with his trusty Morley volume pedal, could make that cream colored Les Paul do anything a seasoned pedal steel player could do. Sims played in several bands before the Desperado days along with future drummer Robert Simpson, Stan Lynch, and Allan Lowe just to name a few. Steve Nelson was really in the band from the beginning but the first gigs were done as an acoustic 4 piece. Once the band went electric, there was no question who the drummer was going to be. Steve has always laid down perfect metronome" meat and potatoes drumming." Just for the record, Jim Milsaps, a great drummer, never understood why he did not get the job. The reason was exactly that; Nelson delivered no bullshit meat and potatoes and Jimmy who has learned that and is now an awesome drummer in his own right, was just to jazzy for these good ole boys. Young joined the band upon McMillans' begging for a piano/banjo/mandolinist to join the group. Young had also played solo and with Mike Leadon and many others in high school before the Desperados. James could really make the girls melt with his Vince Gill style vocals. Before the Desperados fist hit the road, Steve was replaced with Robert Simpson who had been in many Gainesville bands including the original Riff with Mark Pinske,Stan Bush,Archie Mccoy,Bruce Bush,and many others. The band spotted Robert playing at Bobbys Hideaway in the house band and asked him to replace Steve who had planned to go back to school. After a few years on the road, McMillan left the band and was replaced with Bruce Bush for a year exactly and then returned to play bass until the band split up. Sims left the band around 1980 and was replaced by Bruce Parker(Parker House)who was from Daytona Beach and having played with several from the Allman Brothers close knit family. He also was spotted at Bobby's Hideaway in the house band. Concert Appearances as special guests to: New Riders of the Purple Sage-Halloween ball UF 10/31/1978 Pat Travers-Great Southern Music Hall Gville 1/22/1979 Axe-UF 9/23/1979 Henry Paul Band-GSMH 5/23/1980 -FSU 5/31/1980 -The Islands 10/6/1982 Johnny Winter-Orlando 7/4/1980 Leroux-Orlando 7/11/1980 Pure Prairie League-Ft. Lauderdale 9/4/1980 Allman Bros Band-Jacksonville 10/29/1980 Charlie Daniels Band-Ft. Pierce 12/10/1980 Molly Hatchet-Ft. Pierce 12/29 /1980 -Deland 9/26/1981 -Panama City Beach Three Dog Night-Jacksonville 9/25/1980 Danny Joe Brown-Tampa 1/22/1981 Johnny Van Zant Band-Live Oak 3/25/1983 Head East-DUBS 11/15/1982

I saw The Dixie Desperados in Shreveport Louisiana back in 1978-79, at a place called Johnnys Cimmeron Club. The club was located in the heart of downtown, you know, right off the street. It was long lengthwise, but the band played on a stage facing the width of the room. It was a smokey place with pool tables and Johnny was this really cool older guy about 45 that looked like Willie Nelson. He was a quiet guy that supported any musician that walked through those doors. Rest in peace and god bless your soul, Johnny. Anyway I had seen a promo picture of the Dixie Desperados a week before they were to play there. It was color instead of black and white and it caught my attention. I think they played 3 nights. That band was so tight the two nights I saw them. The lead singer(one of them) wore a cowboy hat, played acoustic very well and sang his ass off to all original country rock songs. The two lead guitar players played dual leads in the fashion of the Outlaws or Lynyrd Skynyrd when it was appropiate and I remember before I looked onstage, I thought they had a pedal steel but it was the work of those two guys. The piano player also played banjo,mandolin,and harmonica. I remember he sang "Desperado" by the Eagles and messed up slightly in the middle of the song and I thought "would'nt you know it, the one song that was'nt their own and he messed up". He had a great voice also. Then their was the bass player. He was short with long black hair and cowboy boots. He played that bass like it was his last night on earth. When he and the drummer did a solo in (24 hours at a time) people went nuts. I remember the drummer looked like Jackson Brownes drummer; Russ Kunkel. There is one funny story I'd like to share. I don't know what ever happened to those guys. I just thought the bass player was it, so after they finished I asked him if he would like to go for a tour of Shreveport and across the river to Bossier City. He agreed and he told his bandmates where he was going. When we backed out in my car I did'nt see the telephone pole behind us and smacked into it pretty hard. He had a drink in his hand and it spilled all over this white jacket he had just put on. I was so embarassed, the rest of the guys in the band saw everything and were laughing histericaly. The next night I came back and things had changed; a gorgeous blond from Bossier City had beat me to the bass player. She must have offered him that same tour of the town and I watched with the other members of the band, them back out and do the same thing I did the night before. We all laughed as the bass player got out the car with a fresh drink in his lap. I looked at him like "uh huh that's what you get Romeo" . He looked backed at me and smiled. I must say out of all the bands I used to hang out with these guys were very polite and not rude. I invited them all over for what we called COWBOY STEW. They all were pretty skinny and I don't think they passed up too many free meals. Rock on wherever you are. Libby Spencer