Cheeseburglerized: Have you seen this Cheeseburger? The proud parents of Mayor McCheese are heartbroken after a derelict absconded with the lovable grease-ball. There’s a reward being offered for the safe return of the Mayor.[/caption]

This is a story about a cartoon cheeseburger turned mascot of a mountain-born band and the adventures that followed….

If you’re reading this and happen to be an original spawning salmon head, this tale was written especially for you.

Now, try to remember back…way back…in the early days of the 1990s, when Leftover Salmon (LOS) first broke out of the mountains to eventually move beyond the plains….

Looking back, it almost seems like it happened at lighting speed. Every show, every venue, and every festival played by LOS was a different experience – more energy, more music and more people showing up to see the hottest band this side of the divide.

Eventually, fans of Leftover knew to expect a new musician, guest musician, or some other random musician joining in through the night. Sometimes there might be someone who decided to play a solo with a vacuum cleaner or bring out a washboard and spoons. Other times the night would end with more than one banjo player. And most always, an accordion made its way into the mix.

Today, we can expect and always love to see both founding members, Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt, performing together at every show: keeping that ever-evolving music spirit alive. But, we’re not here to talk about them – that’s another story for another day.

This tale is about the often-overlooked other “founding member” of Leftover Salmon. You’d know him anywhere. He has been greeting people through clouds of smoke-filled rooms for three solid decades. He’s been on stage at almost every LOS show and has been touched by all: the one and only Mayor McCheese.

Somehow, the sight of a hat-wearing cartoon cheeseburger, so out of place, has always been a welcoming sight. And a funny one. The inclusion of this particular repurposed icon on the stage may also be a little ironic. Either way, when that beat-up burger head goes bouncing through a huge crowd of hyped-up, fully-fueled festival goers, it’s undeniably hilarious.

First hand account: Through the years, the Mayor has remained a beloved part of the salmon culture, but in 1993 his part of the LOS story was almost lost for good when “a derelict absconded with the lovable grease-ball.”

The Mountain-Ear reported the theft to the public with the news of a reward for the burger’s safe return. That week, the headline read ”Burger Burgled!” To further explain to those confused by the report, the story added “Mayor McCheese is a three-foot cheeseburger, and Leftover Salmon is a popular local band. The Mayor has become the band’s mascot. He travels to shows, dances and, every now and then, he is joyously tossed over a gyrating dance floor. Definitely a crowd pleaser.”

The story went on to explain how the burger came to be susceptible to burglary. “On Saturday night, McCheese was enlisted to help guide holiday revelers to a party on Ridge Road. He braved the cold to sit at the Conifer intersection and signal the way.”

Frontman Vince Herman was quoted as saying, “He had been doing his job quite well until he was last seen at 7:32 p.m. helping someone park a car. He’s my son’s favorite cheeseburger. Please help us find him.”

Thankfully, with much rejoicing, the cheeseburger showed up within days of the report. The follow-up story began with “A cry of joy was heard over Ridge Road on Sunday afternoon. Leftover Salmon’s cheeseburger was returned, fairly intact, after being abducted the week before.”

Further: “After an article about the disappearance appeared in The Mountain-Ear last Thursday. Vince was contacted by someone who said the cheeseburger had been found near some trash cans and, thinking the hapless burger had been abandoned, he decided to give it a home.”

The story went on to describe in detail the meeting between Vince and the inadvertent burger thief. “It was a tense moment. As the Jeep carrying the cheeseburger came down the hill, a helicopter flew low above us. But the mayor arrived safely, without incident. There were no signs of abuse, just use, but he appeared startled, and we fear his eyes are not as symmetrical as they were before. We immediately gave him some ketchup. That helped a lot.”

Later that night, Leftover Salmon was scheduled to entertain at an Eldora employee party at the Chalet Suisse. After the show, in celebration of the reunion between burger and band, it was said the beloved mascot was carried on a litter through the streets of Nederland in a “Welcome back, Mayor” cheeseburger parade.

In the end, the person who returned McCheese was rewarded with a Leftover Salmon CD signed by the Mayor, “Thanks for the wild vacation, my little french fry.” Vince’s son Colin was ecstatic at the return of his buddy. “After all, what is childhood without your favorite cheeseburger?” asked Vince.

Unfortunately, this incident has sparked other copycat kidnappers over the years. Maybe they are looking for some kind of notoriety. Maybe they just want a signed CD. Who really knows?

In 2022 it was reported on the band’s Facebook page that a fellow by the name of Andy Frasco, whoever that guy is, kidnapped the Mayor and took him to a lake in Utah, claiming “I just wanted a buddy to fish and drink beer with and felt the Mayor would make the perfect pal.”

After receiving several death threats, Frasco returned the Mayor, just in time to make his appearance back on the stage later that year. Fans again celebrated the Mayor’s return during a two-night run in Mexico at the Strings and Sol festival.

According to Leftover Salmon’s banjo player Andy Thorn, for now, the Mayor is safe and living quietly in Nashville. Understandably, he is a little more timeworn. His ketchup is now being limited, due to the high sugar content. Otherwise, ask any salmon head around – that cheeseburger still does know how to kick off a great party. We also hear he might just be making an appearance or two this summer.

Be sure to tune in to our podcast and listen to the audio version of this story. Search “The Mountain-Ear podcast,” available across every player.

BONUS: You will also be able to hear an interview with LOS banjo player, Andy Thorn. Listen to the end to hear Dango Rose narrate both original stories as reported in The Mountain-Ear, January 7 and 14 of 1993.

Go online to read more about this story and other historical archives of The Mountain-Ear newspaper by visiting https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org.