MUSIC GUIDES HIS CHISEL

Superfan erects a colossal monument in an inspired mission.

EVANSVILLE (AP) — Lonnie Doosh isn't demanding you turn from your wicked ways.
The retired Evansville sewage engineer just hopes motorists driving on Howard County Rural Road 26 are inspired by the massive sculpture under construction on his property, one he hopes is the largest of it's kind anywhere.

Doosh was compelled to erect the monument — a block of stone more than 16 feet tall and weighing more than 12 tons — after having what can only be described as a life-changing epiphany upon hearing a song by a little-known rock group.

"It may sound goofy, but it was like talking to the Lord in my head or something... the tune was so good. It may sound corny, but the feeling just wouldn't let me go till I finally said 'OK, Goddammit, I'm gonna build a monument to the Bronx Cheerleader band.'" Doosh said. "F*ckin' A," added grandson Derrick, 18, who came across the inspirational song while downloading MP3's.

The Guinness Book of World Records is researching to determine whether any known privately owned sculptures dedicated specifically to an indie rock band are larger than his, Doosh said. The massive stone tablet graces the 16-acre property where horses once grazed before Doosh's obsessive behaviour took hold.

"If anyone goes by and it makes them feel good, or maybe they think twice about going down to the mall and buying some sh*t they just seen on MTV, well, I'll be happier than a long-tongued dog," he said. Neighbors have speculated that the erection of the monument is merely a ploy to irritate his estranged wife, a claim Doosh denies. "Now hold on, these Bronx Cheerleader boys are real, real good, even if they ain't from around here," he said. The band is a five-piece hailing from the frozen tundra of Canada.

Doosh then paused, stroking his beard in the dining room of his doublewide.

"Well, I gotta do it, whether I want to or not," he added with a chuckle, possibly referring to a perceived heavenly request. "No, it's nothing like that, but if I can turn anybody on to the gospel of 'The Cheerleader' then it'll all be worth it. I just think it's a good thing that needs to be done is all... got a problem with that, f*cker?", said the man known to his friends as "Big Doosh".

Doosh regularly flags down motorists to get their take on his project. So far, according to the feisty 46-year-old alcoholic, passersby have offered nothing but support for the monolithic structure, which dots the horizon about 40 feet from traffic as drivers head south into Evansville proper. "People don't say sh*t about it, at least not to my face," Doosh said.

Doosh said his intense desire to construct the homage to a rock band is a labour of love, although
the retiree had many reasons to ignore the compulsion. He's had three strokes. And with two children and one grandchild free on bail (all three paid for by Doosh) and his soon-to-be ex-wife pursuing his limited assets, there was little money to splurge on gigantic monuments.

The Evansville man responded by selling his vast gun collection. He also cut back on expenses such as weekly trash collection and internet pornography subscriptions to help fund an estimated $11,000 in tools, materials and Old Milwaukee.

Doosh already had the hefty stone on his property. He created a concrete and steel base in November, and his sons helped him put up the limestone blocks on Boxing Day.

He works alone on the project daily, sometimes for several hours depending on the weather and his sobriety. He ascends a ladder to chisel the surface, moving carefully to avoid cracks. Some finishing touches are yet to be done. Several of the band member's names in two-inch letters are visible in an outline for Doosh to carve. "After this, the f*cker's done," said a soiled and sweaty Doosh.

"I had a couple of friends ask me if I'm okay," he said. Doosh, who has years of experience not listening to others, has rejected unsupportive gestures such as the intervention attempt at Thanksgiving dinner last year. "That goes against my grain, because I'm a stubborn s-o-b," he said.

Neighbor Roxanne Bivens recalled seeing Doosh covered with dust from hammering when she walked over to check on the sculpture's progress. A supporter of the project, Bivens said the result of Doosh's talent and vision would make drivers take a second look. It was remarkable considering the difficulties Doosh has endured, she said.

"When that bitch left him his drinking got crazy," Bivens said. "I mean, it was amazing to watch him get inspired by anything enough to actually do sh*t."

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