Michael Gullekson was just another geeky high school freshman in Westfield, Massachusetts. He didn’t have much of a social life, and he hoped to remedy that by becoming cool. His plan was to work his way to the back of the bus and hang with the high school seniors.

But when he got there, things did not go as planned. The seniors grabbed his books and threw them out the window. Michael ran out to retrieve them, which made Art, the crotchety old bus driver, so angry he came unglued. Then came the moment that changed Michael’s life forever. Art looked at him and shouted, for all to hear, “You’re a squid-head!”

That was in 1979. It was the end of geeky freshman Michael, and the start of rock drummer Squid. You know him from his band, Back Stabbath, and from his day job at the Transfer Station.

Squid started playing in 1976. He got his first drum set in 1980, shortly after the rechristening. “I took lessons for a few months, but mostly I just started banging on everything in the house.”

At first the Squid-head moniker was a curse. After a few months, though, when people realized he was a drummer, it became a blessing: “He plays drums like a squid!” His status as a rock drummer was set. Squid went on to drum with a couple of different bands, playing some Zeppelin, Sammy Hagar, and 80s rock. He also performed with his band Skidmarks at the James Dean Festival in Fairmount, Indiana, and opened for Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon.

Squid was destined for Colorado, even when he was just plain Michael. In 1977, Supertramp released its Even in the Quietest Moments album, recorded mostly at Caribou Ranch. The cover was shot at Eldora. It’s a beautiful picture of a snow-covered piano, with our snowy mountain peaks in the background. “I knew right then I wanted to live there some day.”

Finally, in 1994, a friend moved to Boulder and invited Squid to join him. “When I arrived, I knew I could live here forever.” He started searching for bands, and ended up drumming for two years with Go Nad Go. They played various gigs around Denver and Boulder, at the PI, and at the Assay Office in Ned (where the First Street Pub, Rocky Mountain Oyster Bar, and Mineshaft Restaurant were later located.) And, off-and-on for five years, at the Millsite in Ward.

But then Squid got the call. His dad took ill and the family needed his help. He went back home for three years, taking care of his parents and playing with five different bands. Skidmarks got back together and they toured around the state, opening for Bill Haley’s Comets, and Mark Lindsay, of Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Squid visited his mountain friends during that time. He wanted to come back, once his dad’s health improved.

“My friend Laura happened to be at the Millsite one night, and heard I wanted back. She offered to let me live in Jamestown with her and her fiancé, Tom Williams. Laura always thought Tom and I should have a band together.” In 2003 Squid moved in, he and Tom hit it off instantly, and they’re still going strong.

Squid eventually moved to Ward. “I used to camp in Ward. It was a great low-key party town, I got to know a lot of people. Caribou Ranch, the mountains, I fell in love with the area and wanted to be part of it.”

Dave “Ozzy” Emmit had played in various bands with Squid. They talked in 2017, when Black Sabbath was breaking up. Dave suggested they form a Black Sabbath tribute band. Black Sabbath’s drummer was Bill Ward, Squid lived in Ward, “you could be SquidWard.” Tom became “Tony,” the lead guitarist. Jamestown rocker Gary “Geezer” Dunn joined in on the bass. They practiced for a year, then played in bars, including Cheers in Northglenn, The Venue, and several hard rock clubs around Denver. They even auditioned for Jimmy Fallon’s Clash of the Cover Bands.

Back Stabbath is a popular band, but it doesn’t pay the bills. Squid has had several day jobs - The Millsite, Left Hand Brewery, the Jamestown Merc, the PI, Busey Brews. And now Nederland’s Transfer Station. “I tried to get that job for years, from back when Fred ran it, and then Dave. Donna finally hired me, she said I was a really good match. It’s good, steady work, I love the environment, the people I work with, and the people who come in.”

Squid is not a relationship guy. “I like being on my own, being independent, making my own schedule. I’m able to go play music whenever I want, without being tied down.”

“Got no religion, don’t need no friends

Got all I want and I don’t need to pretend

Don’t try to reach me, ‘cause I’ll tear up your mind

I’ve seen the future and I’ve left it behind.”

-Supernaut, Black Sabbath

Lyric notwithstanding, Squid has a mountain-full of friends. I’m proud to be one of them.

[BELLA LORENA: “Now I have you with me, under my power, our love grows stronger now with every hour” N.I.B., Black Sabbath]