Perhaps Michele Boldt should invest in a revolving door. If things continue the way they have been for the bassist of Black Caesar, it wouldn’t go to waste.

But wait, one shouldn’t get ahead of oneself.

Four years ago Boldt met drummer Terrie Benson at an open jam. The two hooked up to form the now defunct Butter that included an ever-changing lead. At times, they had no one to sing with them. At times, they were asked to leave the venue.

Enter lead man Rob Ankum. A one-time physics major here at Iowa State, he left Cyclone country to study music at the University of Iowa where he met Benson and Boldt.

“I was at Iowa studying music,” Ankum said. “Every Monday night there was a blues jam where I performed. One night Michele and Terrie saw me and asked me to sing with them.”

Butter became a trio. Then they did what any fledgling band would do to boost their egos. They went to Prague in the Czech Republic. This was Ankum’s first clue that Benson and Boldt were planning on keeping him around.

“In Prague, American music is premium — anything American is premium,” Ankum said of the group’s success overseas. “And us, two blacks, two women and playing blues, there was a curiosity factor.”

While in Prague, Butter developed quite a following. Their demo tape was a hit and they were getting gigs. So, what to do next after establishing yourself? Change your name.

“The name Butter was Terrie and Michele,” Ankum explained. “As my input became more pervasive, our sound changed. Butter didn’t fit anymore.”

And so they christened themselves Black Caesar. Then it was back stateside to tour Iowa. Through the revolving door one more time.

Not long after returning to Iowa, Benson got an offer she couldn’t refuse; drumming for the Joanna Connor Blues Band. Welcome Ross Allen through the door to the group. If his name sounds familiar, he was the drummer for the famed Ames group, The Law which played here in the late 80s.

“Ross is a cool cat,” Ankum said of Caesar’s new drummer. “We had gigs booked and needed to fill the spot soon.”

So now that everything seems to be in place for Black Caesar, it might seem the wrong time to purchase that revolving door. Or is it?

“It’s time for a change really soon,” Ankum said. “We’ve been in this place kind of a long time.” (about a month).

Maybe just a turn-style would be more convenient for the group.

You can catch Black Caesar, when they open up for Johnny Clueless on Friday at People’s Bar and Grill. Cover is $3 and show time is 9:30 p.m. ID is required.