With Patricia Vonne during SXSW 2024. Jay Janner photo

Zilker Park during SXSW 2024. Jay Janner photo

Zilker Park during SXSW 2024. Jay Janner photo

Ronda, Spain, "The City of Dreams"

Rocking Montejaque, in the mountains of Andalucia, Spain.

Ronda, Spain, The City of Dreams

With John Di Grazia, Ian Brooks, And Willie Longoria. San Miguel, GTO, Mexico. July 1994. The last Train Station seen by Neal Cassady, hero of the book

Outside my Adobe Casa near Llano Texas, wearing my favorite rib bone crown.

1986 - You gotta jump in the water to get wet!! Taking a bath in my Adobe Casa.

Galveston, Tx., Mardi Gras - 1993. I jumped from this balcony and landed in the Drunken arms of the crowd. The highest fall I've ever taken en my life. On the encore song 'Having A Ball' my Telecaster guitar slipped and fell to the ground splintering into 1,000 pieces.

I like this T-Shirt because it has Odessa on it, and Odessa is cool!

Austin, Tx. - 1985. Bobby Balderama from ? and the Mysterians, Marcelo Gauna, George Reiff, Dick Ross. After returning from Colombia, Joe King became the Colonel Kurtz of Tex-Mex. He went down the Vallenato River and never came back!!

1992 - With Lalo, Chuggie and John Di Grazia. 'Hasta Beret Senor'

Michigan 1981 with Mike Navaro from Monterray Mexico on Drums and Brad Kizer on Bass from Sin City, Texas--better known as Witchita Falls.

King Bee Tour with Michael E. Johnson. In 1992 I hooked my Tex-Mex sounds with Michael E. Johnson's reggae to become King Bee. I call it manana meets soon come!!

'Gangster a go go' - 1981. I wore this hat to enhance my gangster image so promoters would be sure and pay me!

There was so much sweat on the 1980 Stiff Tour that you had to wear a swimming suit to make it through the night. No Sweat-No Rock & Roll!

I've probably worn this Tex-Mex T-Shirt in over 300 shows.

Paris France - 1985, Hopping a train back to Texas. Near the River Seine next to a recording studio where we recorded an LP after having had no sleep for 24 hours, where the engineers spoke no English and we spoke no French!!

Providence RI. Summer of 1980. 'No Floor - No Joe King.'

Our first Big Time record company photo session done in New York - 1980. That is if you consider Stiff Records to be 'Big Time'.

Houston Tx., Fitzgeralds - 1983. Joe Nick Petoski and Nicole Farnsworth. Rescued from Disaster by Swami Joe Nick and Nurse Nicole who provided oxygen and inspiration!!

1979 - Performing a song by the legendary Roy Head called 'Baby Let Me Kiss You Just One More Time'.

South Padre Island - Spring 1985 with Steve Jorden (El Patche) King of Tex-Mex accordion. In my opinion the most innovative Psychedelic accordion player that will ever come from Tejas, Don't even question this!!

Photo from the album Synapse Gap which was produced by Tony Ferguson.

Better living for Tex-Mex! To me if it ain't Shakin it ain't Rock & Roll!

Mano A Mano - Hand to Hand at South Park Meadows - 1983.

Thun Festival - The Swiss really dig Tex-Mex.

Cold Sweat at Thun Festival, Switzerland.

A Show near San Antonio 1983, where Kris was upset because the opener was a lingerie act.

1983 - Joe Nick Patoski - 'Now editor of Texas Monthly', being the Tex-Mex Swamp Swami, taking me offstage in the James Brown tradition.

1992 - This is the band that went to Puerto Vallarta to play at the Hard Rock Cafe in 1992. Unfortunately, we crashed the bus at a railroad crossing in Tequila, Mexico, but still played the gig. This group was definitely protected by Angels!!

Performing the song 'Person Person' with Kris during the Stiff tour in which She used a telephone to call me up.

1983 - During Party Weekend album tour, wearing the weird Swedish pajama bottoms that were muy excellente for knee drops.

Dallas Tx., Nicks Uptown - 1981.

With Question Mark from ? and The Mysterians pointing the way to the question of the answer.

I've been trying for years to figure out who makes these crowns. I hear they're made near Chicago. If anyone knows who makes them, call me! If someone gets a wild hair and wants to make me one, that would be muy bueno.

1983 - Chris Stevenson, Javier Zenteno, Chuggie Hernandez, Tom Cruz. I believe Tom Cruz is the best Latin guitarist in Texas. His father in law is Little Joe from La Familia.

Working on the Mayan Hand Moves - Muy Importante!!

Wearing a 'Don't Mess With Texas' T-Shirt from Chuy's Restaurant, Austin Texas. Sporting my latest Andre Agassi mall haircut.

South Park Meadows Austin Texas 1984. Just back from Jamaica.

South Park Meadows Austin Texas 1984. Opening up for UB40 and the Police. One muy frio!

Club Foot, Austin Texas 1981. I did my all time best shows here.

Waiting for a sign from the aliens at Great Sand Dunes National Monument Summer of 1981.

In the basement of the Living Room, 1980 Rhode Island.

No where else but San Antonio, 1983.

Madison, WI 1982. I wore these yellow pants at almost every show for a year and a half. They brought me lots of luck.

After Kris left the band in 1984, I decided to hire Marcelo Gauna and Bobby Balderama from the Mysterians.

Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, 1982. New Orleans on Bourbon Street with my girlfriend.

Reaching out to the mutltitudes, but I must have been nervous that night because my T-Shirt's on backwards.

Doing the Encore on the Son of Stiff tour 1980 with the groups Any Trouble, from Manchester England - Dirty Looks from New York City - Ten Pole Tudor from London - and the Equators from Birmingham England. The encore song we performed was 'You can't Hurry Love' and 'Rock & Roll' by Gary Glitter.

1982 A photo shoot in New York City where we spent hours upon hours trying to get the right shot as I was walking out the door with all my things. I had alot in common with bag ladies.

A King on his throne. 1980 Son of Stiff tour. Tut's, Chicago, Ill.

1984 Houston Tx. Fitsgeralds, ? And the Mysterians. They held the #1 position on the American Charts with the song '96 Tears' for four weeks in 1966. This song along with 'Wooly Bully', by Sam the Sham and 'She's about a mover', by Sir Douglas Quintet definitely shaped my musical direction up until this day.

The Band playing in Toronto - My favorite North American City!!

Here I am being a wineholder for Bob Merlis of Warner Bros. records, also spokesperson for Madonna. On right- Marshal Crenshaw 1981, Grenwich Village.

The Equators were from Birmingham, England. They were produced by Eddy Grant. They toured with me on the Son of Stiff tour in 1980 and played a huge part in the way that I combine Tex-Mex and Reggae today.

With Leo from the Equators 1981-who cost us 6 hours at the Dutch-German Border because of passport left at Hotel.

Tamale Time with the British Jamacian Band - The Equators. Club Foot Austin Tx. 1981.

Being forced to sign with MCA Records 1981, Hollywood Ca. The end of Tex Mex nuevo wavo Innocence.

On a party safari going through Sweden - 1982.

Hypnotic A GO-GO

1986 - 'If it ain't Tex-Mex, It ain't...'.

1982 - Another Jump for Tex-Mex. A small leap for Jalapenos.

Stripes going sideways.

1985 - During my Mayan Hieroglyphics phase and flying sombreros. The sticker on my '57 Telecaster guitar says U.S. out of El Salvador.

Being helped off stage by Swami Joe Nick Patoski in the traditional James Brown Fashion.

Waiting for a sign from the aliens at Great Sand Dunes National Monument Summer of 1981.

Billboard at the University of New Mexico, Mid 80's

Rock Island Club, Houston , Texas. Probably the one and only show with these polka-dot pajamas. The beginning of the Burger King Cult showing up at our shows.

Filiming Current Events Video - 1981

1983 - Big Muscles. No workout = Party Weekend!!!

Austin Tx., 1983 - With King Sunny ADADE. An african King meets A Tex-Mex King. Both known for Party Music. Probably one of the best music shows I will witness En My Lite!! Cool African Ju Ju Surf Guitar!!

With my favorite '61 Telecaster guitar

Near the San Antonio River - 1983. Wearing the earring that I bought en a little shop on the left bank in Paris before my dog yanked it out!!

Bordertown Days - In 1984 during a tour for Bordertown when my religious beliefs included Yabba Dings with Flying pyramids and lost Sombreros.

Bordertown photo session, 1984. Kris Cumming, Dick Ross, George Reiff.

The infamous Go Go's Tour in '81 on the East Coast. E-mail for more Info!! On the Spicy details!

During a show I only wore the crown for about two songs. The rest of the show I just do the shakin' thing.

Joe with the Crownettes, Pasedena, Ca.

During the Sons of Stiff Tour, thinking I'm James Brown

Taking a night flight through the legendary Club Foot Austin, Tx - 1981. The best club Austin had in the early 80's!!

With Kris Cummings, George Reiff, Dick Ross - 1984. On the set of the Dinero video.

Spring ,94. Feeding Carly the pet Wolf at my Rock House outside of Austin, Tx.

1980 - This picture has Houston written all over it!!

Medford,Oregon - 1979. Our first out of state show. I was wearing a Red Rivers Motors T-Shirt.

Austin, Tx. - 1984. Kris Cummings, Dick Ross, George Reiff. Working hard to perfect that

Outside of Tucson, Arizona - 1984. During 'Bordertown Days', that was the band Mascot 'Pedro' laying on the ground.

With my son Noah and dogs Peso and Susie - 1994

Dallas, Tx. Summer - 1982. Testing a custom Ted Newman Jones guitar designed by Keith Richards; that actually Floats in certain Liquids when the Vibe is Right.

Performing in Bogota, Columbia - 1983.

Providence,Rhode Island - 1980. The Living Room Club with the original Clowns.

New York City - 1980, Danceteria Club. Recruiting N.Y. Punks to join up with Tex-Mex-Nuevo Wavo.

South Padre Island, TX. - 1988. Photo session at about 4 in the morning. Check out Bobby and Marcelo's eyes. We shot the Banana video the next day.

1984 - Kris Cummings always had the Incan Dance Trance down to a fine Egyptian Art!!

Bogota, Columbia - 1983. One of my favorite shows of all times at 'Media Torta'. They gave me the 'Spoon to the City'. In Columbia I learned about a cool style of accordion music called 'Vallenato', from a good friend called Camilo Pombo. Who is very popular there in T.V. and Radio.

Austin Tx. - 1981. Falling into the crowd at Club Foot. Probably one of the best clubs in Austin in the early '80's.

Austin Tx. - 1979. El Molino with Kris Cummings at Rauls. In El Molino we were playing Polkas and Cumbias but as the skirts got shorter the Polka's got faster.

Austin Tx. - 1979. Jalapeno Con Big Red with El Molino at Rauls.

Probably one of the earliest pictures of my first Austin band, El Molina with Richard Elizondo, known as 'Eh Eh'. He was my compadre, who had the same birthday as me, December Sixth. He believed in what I was doing in 1976, and introduced me to West Side San Antonio. I would have never done what I did without his help. He passed away in October, 1995.

1982 - In front of Davey Jones Locker in Toronto.

Toronto, Canada - 1982. Every time I take a lead I like to go out in the audience. Being out there seems a little more fun than being on stage. It's where the party is.

Boston, Mass., Paradise Club - 1980. Kris Cumming, Son of Stiff Tour.

Boston, Mass., Paradise Club - 1980. Brad Kizer - Bass player.

Europe '82 - What does the note in my pocket say?