Photo courtesy of Rusty Bullets
Prescott Now: How long have you guys been playing together?
Rusty Bullets: We began over two years ago as a weekly guitar jam session at the Back Alley Wine Bar, morphing into a more formalized performance session there every Friday afternoon. By summer 2023, so many people were asking when and where we played, we decided it was time to expand. We are playing gigs at several locations throughout the greater Prescott area.
Prescott Now: What genre or genres of music do you play?
Rusty Bullets: Our five members, all having spent their musically formative years during the 1960s and ‘70s, focus on the type of music we all came to know and love — classic soft rock, blues and country rock. In addition, band members “Bull” Pratt and “Doc” Wainess have written several original songs.
Prescott Now: What is the key to being a successful musical act in Prescott and Northern Arizona?
Rusty Bullets: You’ve got to know your audience and play to your audience! Prescott is comprised of many individuals who share the same musical timeframes that make up Rusty Bullets. We try to remain true to the spirit of the popular songs we play, but we like to think that our style and interpretation of those songs is unique.
Prescott Now: What’s the smallest audience you’ve played for; the biggest?
Rusty Bullets: We’re not a “cookie cutter” band, as all five of our members come from highly diverse musical backgrounds. Doc and bass player Jime have had professional musical careers playing in front of large throngs, and all of us have performed in venues that vary from small, intimate locations to complex commercial stages.
Prescott Now: Where do you find the inspiration for your songwriting or performances?
Rusty Bullets: Almost everyone associates music with their memories and emotions. If you hear a song on the radio, it may trigger a memory of a particular time, place or person from your past. Music is woven into each of our lives, and Rusty Bullets try and share those feelings through the songs we play.
Prescott Now: What brought you to Prescott?
Rusty Bullets:
William “Bull” Pratt
Lead vocalist/rhythm guitar. After 24-year career in the Marines flying F-4 and
F/A-18 fighters, Bull retired as a Lt. Colonel. He and his wife, Linda found Prescott and moved here in 2014.
Richard “Doc” Wainess
Lead guitar/vocals.
richard made his living in the ‘70s as a lead guitarist. Doc is recipient of the 2022 SongsAlive® Songwriter of the Year award. Doc and his wife Janet moved to Prescott in 2020.
Dave Long
Rhythm/solo guitar/vocals. Dave and his wife moved to the area in 2020 leaving the East Coast behind. Dave immediately started looking for musicians to play with. After making many friends and playing lots of music, he joined the Peaceful Outlaws, finally becoming a Rusty Bullet over two years ago.
Jim Bacigalupi
Harmonica. Jim has been a Prescottonian for over 20 years. A year ago, he sat in with the Rusty Bullets crew and one thing led to another.
Jime Van Booven
Bass/vocals. Jime is the newest member and has been involved with music in various bands since his return from Vietnam in 1971. In 2019, and he and his wife Peggy moved to Prescott.
Jime has worked with various musicians and groups in the area since his arrival, finally joining Rusty Bullets in 2023.
