Tuesday evening evening Dar Holdsworth invited a few friends of the industry to meet with Toby Keith for an official announcement that they just partnered in his Oklahoma City-based shop Brass Balls Cycles. A longtime motorcycling enthusiast (as depicted in his “American Ride” video), Keith met Holdsworth through the Pros 4 Vets organization when he built a custom bike that was raffled to support the Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral project.
To celebrate the partnership, Toby Keith came backstage at the Buffalo Chip to pour a shot of Mezcal (distilled alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant native to Mexico with bottle usually containing a “worm”) to the member of the press present at this intimate celebration. Keith, supposedly, take a couple each night just before performing.) Next to me, fellow journalist Marilyn Stemp screamed “I got the “worm”, to which Keith immediately replied “lady, I am certain it’s not the 1st time you got the worm…”
Back on topic, Dar Holdsworth explained to me that he intends, with Toby Keith financial and marketing support, to go into custom mass production, that he is already equipped to manufacture 100 units a year, and next year will shoot for 300 for each model he conceives.
Featured on the cover of the July 15th issue of Forbes and named the highest-paid country performer of 2013, Keith is known for many successful ventures including his “I Love This Bar And Grill” restaurant chain, “Wild Shot Mezcal” and more. But his business acumen is secondary to his success as a music creator and performer. His latest single “Drinks After Work” is rocketing up the charts, and leads an upcoming album of new music.
An Air Force veteran of Desert Storm, Holdsworth is a two-time AMD World Champion custom/production motorcycle builder who founded Brass Balls Cycles in 2006. The company specializes in timeless and uncompromising American motorcycles, offering a line of Bobbers, Choppers and Sport Cruisers.
After the announcement – and a couple of drinks (without the “worm” already in another cup), switched on the Buffalo Chip stage to watch Toby Keith perform his mega hits on the stage of the Buffalo Chip front of thousands of fans. At midnight, the crowd was happy and me just a little bit drunk.
The “worm”. LOL. Good luck Dar.
“highest-paid country performer of 2013”
Great way to pay less taxes – lose some money in a side business lol
solo cup
Many celebrities love motorcycling. Good. They try to get involved with play money. Good. They all lose interest. Bad. Most recent examples: Branscombe Richmond, Lorenzo Lamas, Steven Tyler. Well, good luck to Brass Ball Bobbers.
Cyril a little bit drunk?!?! Want to see that. So, Dar, when will we see a new Holdsworth/Keith bike?
Is Toby Keith the main man here?
Always fun to play with OPM (other people’s money) Dar makes some nice bikes. Hope it lasts longer than some of the other celebrity involvement.
Hmm…another celebrity with money in the game. Don’t see this ending well but wish them luck.
Congratulations Dar, family and team. Dar is one of the most genuine guys in the industry. Toby is a die hard American and pro military. Great match up and I couldn’t be more happier for you mate. Its a good partner that has a solid business background and financials to further your company.
here is a great little song about Brass Balls new co-owner Toby keith and his time with Willie Nelson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg_4DGiFHOQ I’m sure nothing like this ever takes place at Brass Balls!
Dar convinced Toby that he could end up with a million bucks……as long as he started with 10 !!!!!
Knowing Marilyn, I would guess she secretly wanted to take that bottle of mezcal and introduce
it to Toby’s thick skull. Good for the boys in OKC.
Mike Tomas, Kiwi Indian “Toby is a die hard American and pro military” Others die hard for him,and he sings songs wearing big hats.If he really was “pro-military” he would have served his country and maybe fought using all the grit his lyrics contain in mere words as real life inspiration.He could always serve his country by flying around in circles over Texas bravely avoiding enemy fire like his hero George.Whats that quote that starts:”patriotism is the last ……………………………..” ?
Toby Keith is, like me, a conservative Democrat. Unusual among country singers. Good luck Dar.
walking under the influence, bet he don’t drive his own motor home !!!!!!!!!
Terence, you’re an idiot. Toby Keith has done many, many USO tours around the world including Iraq and Afghanistan. All of US (and I include me because I AM in the military) are willing to die hard for him so he can wear his big hats and continue to support the folks in the military. Just because he chose to chase his dream of being an entertainer instead of joining the military doesn’t make him less patriotic. Would you say the same about Gary Sinise? (he never served either but supports the military enthusiastically)
Paul, Toby Keith may have been a conservative Democrat, now he is a registered Independent.
Conservative democrat and independent are almost the same thing. Glad he is not republican. Proof that you can support the military even if you disagree on the reason(s) our soldiers are sent to war.
Sinise (?) is a nobody to me,I’ve never found his acting the least bit captivating or memorable.Is he a Bob Hope for a new generation? As far as USO entertainers go I prefer Henry Rollins efforts as he truly cares about the young troops but abhors war.Rollins has never penned inane swaggering sentimental lyrics about revenge.
Way to go Dar and Toby. Two really great guys teaming up to make things happen. I think both are genuine and really nice guys. I am hoping for the best!
Thanks everyone for the good words. Toby & I have been friends for a few years. We both support Pros4Vets, a military charity. Toby has done over 200 USO concerts for our troops. Many of them in Iraq & Afghanistan during combative war time. He flys there on his own dime. He loves our troops & our Country. He also supports children with cancer and is building a $10,000,000+ facility for them while being treated. Go to TobyKeithFoundation.com . Toby loves bikes. He loves our bikes and what we stand for. He loves our desire to continue our evolution of uncompromising American motorcycles. He loves that we give back to the troops & Pros4Vets even when it’s not easy financially to do so. He does not need to be in the bike business. He believes in me & our bikes and wants the focus to be on the Brass Balls Cycles… not himself, though I believe he deserves to be recognized. Toby Keith is genuine & authentic and I am really proud not only to call him a friend, but a business partner as well. Cyril, thanks for sharing time with us in Sturgis & reporting on it.
Congrats Dar!
congrat’s great news Dar……….
Good luck Dar !!!!
Hope this celebrity / motorcycle collboration works ….