Working Musicians: Defining Moments from the Road, the Studio, and the Stage

Cover Image......Page 1
Title Page......Page 3
Dedication Page......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Acknowledgments......Page 15
Special Thanks......Page 17
Introduction......Page 19
Part One: Starting Out I......Page 29
Johnny Bee Badanjek: Drummer, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels: You Need the Work......Page 31
Harry Connick Jr., Keyboard Player: If I Wanted to Have Fun I’d Be Out Fishing......Page 35
Richard Lloyd, Guitarist: Television An Untouchable Urge......Page 38
Tracy Nelson, Singer: Mother Earth Self-Indulgence......Page 43
Lita Ford: Guitarist One of the Guys......Page 46
Dan Zanes, Guitarist, the Del Fuegos: A Professional Attitude......Page 48
Max Cavalera, Guitarist, Sepultura: Total Sex Pistols......Page 50
Kool Mo Dee, Rapper: Raising the Bar......Page 53
Kevin Kadish, Singer-Songwriter: Show Me the Money......Page 58
Part Two: First Gigs......Page 63
Gene Simmons, Bass Player, Kiss: Breathing Fire......Page 65
Steven Gustafson, Bass Player, 10,000 Maniacs: Star Quality......Page 67
Dawn Silva, Backup Singer, Sly and the Family Stone, Funkadelic: The Key Is to Blend......Page 70
Larry Dunn, Keyboard Player, Earth, Wind and Fire: I Made Them Proud......Page 74
Brian Q. Torff, Bassist, Jazz Educator, Fairfield University: Breaking the Code......Page 78
Raquel Bitton, Chanteuse Dreaming Big......Page 81
Dan Lipton, Pit Pianist, The Full Monty Into the Pit......Page 85
Johnny Douglas, Drummer, Keyboard Player Doing What You Love......Page 89
Peter Tork, Bass Player, the Monkees Mistaking the Finger for the Moon......Page 94
Part Three: First Album III......Page 97
Cindy Bullens, Backup Singer, Elton John, Bob Dylan: It Was the Rock-and-Roll Dream......Page 99
Essra Mohawk, Backup Singer, the Mothers of Invention: I’m Starting to Remember Why I Forgot......Page 105
Julia Darling, Singer-Songwriter: Nobody’s Jewel......Page 109
Speech, Leader, Arrested Development: In My Room......Page 112
Tim Rice, Lyricist, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King, Aida: A Good Idea at the Time......Page 115
Ravi Raman, Leader, Stradavatt: A Case of Vanity......Page 119
Kenny Withrow, Guitarist, Edie Brickell and New Bohemians: The Smell of Success......Page 122
Part Four: The Road......Page 125
Bruce Springsteen, Rock Performer A Sense of the Audience......Page 127
Joe Ely, Roots Rock Performer You Never Know What to Expect......Page 129
James Solberg, Blues Singer, Sideman Ruining a Perfectly Good Hobby......Page 133
Dave Van Ronk, Folk Singer A Professional Performer......Page 136
Bob Malone, Keyboard Player, Solo Performer Another Kind of Musician......Page 139
Milt Jacoby, Keyboard Player, Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs I Still Do the Same Job......Page 144
Part Five: The Show......Page 149
Brenda Kahn, Singer-Songwriter Almost Famous......Page 151
Bob Ayres, Troubadour Who Was That Lady......Page 155
Richie Pollock, Guitarist, Love & Magic Playing the Metro......Page 158
Amybeth Parravano, Rockabilly Performer Elvis’s Little Sister......Page 162
Steve Fowler, Guitarist, the Fowler Brothers The Night Bob Seger Stopped My Show......Page 164
Ian Moore, Blues Rock Performer Mixed Emotions......Page 167
Part Six: The Set......Page 171
Leo Kottke, Guitar Player In Concert......Page 173
Phil Everly, Singer, the Everly Brothers Stand and Deliver......Page 175
Bob Mould, Guitarist, Hüsker Dü Breaking Conventions......Page 178
Peter Buck, Guitarist, R.E.M. Momentum......Page 180
David Lowery, Lead Singer, Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker Don’t Worry About Having a Good Time......Page 183
Dee Dee Ramone, Bass Player, the Ramones You Have to Keep Playing......Page 186
Al Anderson, Guitarist, NRBQ Our Fake Book Is in the Head......Page 188
Part Seven: Playing......Page 191
Liu Sola, Chinese Singer, Composer, Novelist Confucian Blues......Page 193
Jerry Garcia, Guitarist, the Grateful Dead Zen and the Art of Notesmanship......Page 198
Kirk Hammett, Guitarist, Metallica: Feeling the Power......Page 200
Bernie Worrell, Keyboard Player, Funkadelic, Talking Heads: It’s Not Easy to Get the Feel......Page 202
Boyd Tinsley, Violin Player, Dave Matthews Band: Lead Violin......Page 206
Lisa Kaplan, Classical Keyboard Player, eighth blackbird: More Like a Rock Band......Page 210
Lou Reed, Lead Singer, the Velvet Underground: Self-Taught......Page 214
Robbie Robertson, Guitarist, the Band: Playing with Van......Page 216
Part Eight: Instrument S/Sounds......Page 219
Rick Nielsen, Guitarist, Cheap Trick: The Collector......Page 221
James Durst, Singer-Songwriter: Searching for #77......Page 223
Wallace De Pue, Founder, the De Pue Family Musicians: Selling the Family Violins......Page 229
Mike Mills, Bass Player, R.E.M.: Covering the Basses......Page 233
Sean Hopper, Keyboard Player, Huey Lewis and the News: Invasion of the Giant Sounds......Page 235
Roland Orzabel, Synthesist, Tears for Fears: A Complex Arrangement......Page 238
Darren Lighty, Keyboard Player, Producer, Songwriter: Redemption Time......Page 241
John Flansburgh, Guitarist, They Might Be Giants: A Statement of Defiance......Page 246
Ted Myers, Guitarist, the Lost: Lost and Sound......Page 248
Part Nine: In the Studio......Page 253
Earl Palmer, Session Drummer, New Orleans, Los Angeles: Playing It All......Page 255
Carol Kaye, Session Bass Player, Los Angeles: Getting to First Bass......Page 259
Forest Rodgers, Session Guitarist, Nashville: Playing with My Heroes......Page 262
Mario Winans, Session Drummer, Producer, New York City: The Vibe Is Definitely Here......Page 266
Paul Evans, Former Session Singer, Teen Idol, New York City: One Block from the Brill Building......Page 269
Lou Barlow, Bass Player, Sebadoh: Great Expectations......Page 273
Byron Nemeth, Guitarist, Studio Owner, Cleveland: Switching Gears......Page 276
Onno Lakeman, Guitarist, Red to Violet: A Different Recording Process......Page 279
John Hiatt, Singer-Songwriter: Getting in the Spaceship......Page 284
Karl Wallinger, Guitarist, the Waterboys, World Party: Studio Rat......Page 287
Part Ten: Songwriters......Page 289
Paul Simon, “Bridge over Troubled Water”: He Wrote Aretha’s Song......Page 291
Desmond Child, “Livin’ on a Prayer”: The Cool Hits......Page 295
Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), “Hey Nineteen”: The Bill Murray Effect......Page 298
Michael Bolton, “Love Is a Wonderful Thing”: Getting Covers......Page 300
Travon Potts, “Angel of Mine”: It’s About Time......Page 302
Hank Ballard, “The Twist”: I Thought It Was Me......Page 305
John Lee Hooker, “Boom Boom”: She Gave Me a Song......Page 308
Karl Williams, “To the New Century”: Thinking Globally......Page 310
Jimmy Webb, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”: Lyrics Have to Come First......Page 314
Neil Peart (Rush), “Vital Signs”: Words and Drums......Page 317
Frank Zappa (Mothers of Invention), “Joe’s Garage”: Building an Airplane......Page 320
Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones), “Satisfaction”: A Band Man......Page 322
Carole King, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”: A Balancing Act......Page 325
Melvin Van Peebles, “Lily Done the Zampougie”: Once Around the Stadium......Page 328
Laura Nyro, “Wedding Bell Blues”: Growth and Change......Page 331
Richard Marx, “Endless Summer Nights”: Surprise Changes......Page 334
Randy Newman, “Lonely at the Top”: I’m Capable of Doing Absolutely Nothing......Page 337
Andy Partridge, (XTC), “Dear God”: Billy Bolt......Page 339
Phil Ochs, “Power and the Glory”: A Layman’s Revolution......Page 342
Part Eleven: Is There Life After......Page 345
Steven Tyler, Lead Singer, Aerosmith: We Owned the World......Page 347
Neil Sedaka, Pop Singer-Songwriter: Vengeance......Page 350
Jay Leslie, Horn Player, the Tokens: Hidden Opportunities......Page 353
Dave Guard, Banjo Player, the Kingston Trio: Life Values......Page 356
Freddy Parris, Lead Singer, the Five Satins: They Still Love the Doo-Wop Sound......Page 359
Shirley Alston, Lead Singer, the Shirelles: Nobody Had a Swelled Head......Page 361
Cheryl “Salt” James, Singer, Salt-N-Pepa: It Wasn’t a Mutual Decision......Page 364
Robby Krieger, Guitarist, the Doors: The Doors’ Guitarist......Page 367
T-Bone Wolk, Bass Player, Hall and Oates, the Saturday Night Live Band: It Changed My Life......Page 369
Part Twelve: Habbits of Twelve Successful Musicians......Page 373
Brenda Lee, Country/Pop Diva: Respecting the Business......Page 375
Richard Thompson, English Folk Performer: Keeping the Shop Open......Page 378
John Sebastian, Singer, Harmonica and Autoharp Player, the Lovin’ Spoonful: His Father’s Son......Page 380
Bruce Hornsby, Keyboard Player, Songwriter: I Just Made It for Me......Page 383
George Thorogood, Blues Rock Performer: Going at It......Page 385
James Hetfield, Lead Singer, Metallica: There Are Definitely Some Tests We’ve Gone Through......Page 387
Lenny White, Jazz Drummer, Return to Forever: A Part of Jazz Lore......Page 389
Leonard Cohen, Poet, Novelist, Singer-Songwriter: A Count of Monte Cristo Feeling......Page 394
Roger McGuinn, Singer, Guitarist, the Byrds: Meeting the Beatles......Page 396
Anthony Gourdine, Lead Singer, Little Anthony and the Imperials: Real Show Biz Takes Years......Page 398
Scotty Moore, Guitarist for Elvis Presley: An Uncanny Sense of Timing......Page 401
Emil Richards, Session Percussionist, Los Angeles: I Used to Stand Right Next to Frank When He Sang......Page 405
Other Books by Bruce Pollock......Page 408
Credits......Page 409
Copyright Notice......Page 410
About the Publisher......Page 411