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‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place’ a walk down Memory Lane

Brings back memories of Roadhouse and Heartstrings bands

Iola-Scandinavia natives Mike Bestul and Dan Halverson recently posted a YouTube vid of the rock song “We Gotta Get Out of This Place”. You’ll notice the background images are of Iola and Scandinavia.

It is a song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It was first recorded by the British group The Animals in 1965 and became a big hit. The song was immensely popular with the US Armed Forces during the Viet Nam War.

In 2004 the song was listed in the 233rd place in the list The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine. It is also in the list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The vid can be seen here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSki78CAR8M

Memory Lane

“Looking back, Mike and I have nothing but fond memories of Iola and Scandinavia but back in the day our thoughts were, ‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place,’” states Dan Halverson, now the owner/webmaster of the online radio station ParadiseTunes.com.

Dan took us down Memory Lane and the evolution of his and Mike’s involvement with rock bands from the 1960s and ’70s.

The Day Dreamers – The picture was taken in Mike’s living room in 1967 where we rehearsed and is the house at the end of the video.

“Back in the ’60s and ’70s, Mike and I were pretty rebellious and anti-establishment. We couldn’t wait to graduate, leave our homes and move into a hippie farmhouse in Amherst Junction with a few of our friends which included Jim Hotvedt.

“The beginning scene of the video is the hallway where for years we entered the old high school and back then were only interested in playing music.

“The brick building is the old hardware store in Scandinavia where Mike and I share many funny stories regarding people and families who lived there and a few we grew up with.

“Mike and I started playing together in 1967 while in the 7th grade and the band was called The Day Dreamers.

“We later changed the name to “The Scarlet Letter” added Jim Hotvedt and went three-piece.

The Scarlet Letter – The evolution of the musical group changed to “The Scarlet Letter” and Mike and Dan added Jim Hotvedt and went three-piece.

“In 1972, we changed the name to “Roadhouse” adding Jim Prideaux.

“After Jim Hotvedt left the band around 1974, we were finally “Heartstrings” with Dave Olson on drums and Pat Houlihan on vocals.”

One of the favorite local places for fans to hear Heartstrings in the mid ’70s was at Little Norway Bar. The place was jammed (not hard since it was so small!) and music enthusiasts packed the parking lots around it. The band was a regional favorite.

What are your favorite memories of these bands?

Roadhouse – In 1972, we changed the name to “Roadhouse” adding Jim Prideaux.