Tribute to MINK - Manager of Viper

Written by Joe Viglione

Sunday, 04 October 2009 13:20

"Songs from the El Rey Motel" produced by Peter Calo Medford - Her name is Eileen Juliano, but to the many, many friends of her son and daughter she is "Mink." Flowing pink hair on this rock and roll mom is the trademark. This writer probably first met Mink when Boston area recording artist Ron Scarlett made the introduction to the band Viper, which splashed onto the scene performing at The Channel and The Paradise nightclubs, packing those two clubs and other venues, always under the guidance of Eileen. She would come to my office/home in Woburn or take me to pizza at Santarpio's on Chelsea Street in East Boston. Doing business with Eileen wasn't work in the 1980s - it was always memorable and fun. The great thing about her is that she isn't a "stage mom" - she's part of the band; so much so that I don't think anyone thinks of her as drummer Bonk's mom. The ultimate chaperone, everyone around us in the 1980s behaved because back in the day everyone respected Mink. They still do! Parties at her home in Chelsea were fun but always under control - the jokes would fly - and she could always outdo everyone with a one-liner. Over the years we lost touch, but in 2005 when I was doing public relations for a Malden nightclub, she worked with me to put her son's band, "Hat Trick," in the room. The band featured an ex-roommate of mine, so it was like a big old reunion. A mutual friend said, "Hey, not only did you move to Medford, you moved four streets away from Mink." I left some twisted message on her answering machine disguising my voice - and she took a good day or two to think about it before calling me back! With our friendship, it was the only way to re-connect. Her daughter Lisa says: "She's quite amazing. She took in troubled teens and guided them in the right direction. Many of the friends we had lived with us at one time or another until they were in a better place. "She taught us all tolerance and how to get along with each other despite differences between us. Loving all of us in her own special way as only she could do. She gets my vote also for funniest woman ever. She is a very loving and giving person and my best friend." Her son, John F. Coelin, Jr., a.k.a. "Bonk," says of Mink: "She definitely kept us off the streets and in the basement, rehearsing four days a week. She worked very hard at promoting the band and getting us quality gigs. Every Sunday night, she would sit us down and have band meetings. At the meetings, she would make us hash out our differences. She graduated from Bunker Hill, Suffolk and Northeastern all with high honors and a major in psychology. And that is how we lasted 10 years together. "Even to this day, all who were involved with Mink are still very close and in touch with each other. That's a pretty amazing accomplishment that we are all proud to be a part of, we being the band and VRC, our Viper Road Crew, who were with us on this incredible journey. She's an amazing mother, manager, woman and friend." Mink is currently in the Courtyard behind Lawrence Memorial Hospital. It was good to chat with her and her cousin, Barbara Juliano (Bonk's Godmother), in mid-March prior to writing this little tribute/essay.