A Moment In Time With John Cipollina

[drumbob]

The late John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service, and about three dozen other bands, has always been one of my favorite guitar players. I saw John playing with QMS for the first time in '68 at the Fillmore East, and have never forgotten that show. John was simply one of the most inventive and easily recognizable guitarists of the era. I later found out he was a hell of a nice guy too. He died of chronic emphysema and asthma, way too young.

I was sent by The Aquarian newspaper to review a show by The Dinosaurs, a band John played with. Joey Covington from Jeffereson Airplane was on drums. After the show, I went backstage with the express purpose of meeting John, and I wasn't disappointed. He was slouched on a couch, but he welcomed me like an old friend, and after I told him how much I liked his playing, he whipped out a box full of photographic slides of his guitar collection, which included many Danelectros and lap steels. John was affable, amiable, and very happy to answer any questions I had about his guitars and Quiclsilver. He signed the back of my first Quicksilver album cover, "To Bob-Your Pal, John Cipollina." I still have it.

I then noticed that his famous batwing customized SG sitting in the corner.

"Could I see that guitar up close, John?"

"Sure. You want to play it?"

"Do I want to play it ?! Hell yeah!"

I sat there with that iconic Gibson SG in my lap and strummed a few chords. The finish on the back of the guitar was almost totally worn off, and the front looked only slightly worse for wear from all the gigs and tours it had withstood. But it played great, and had mojo 'til tomorrow. I couldn't quite believe I was playing John's guitar.

"Do you remember that article they did on me in Guitar Player?" John said. "I needed to get the guitar back from the shop to do the front cover photo, and the finish wasn't dry yet. I wound up getting that red lacquer all over my clothes after the picture was taken, and I never got it fixed."

We chatted for a few more minutes and I made my way into the New York night, happy to have spent a few minutes with another of my guitar heroes. John was truly one of the great sixties guitar gods.

[kiramdear]

Oh my gosh, Bob, you are so lucky!

I miss John so much. The last time I saw him was at an after-hours impromptu affair at the old Rose & Thistle. I stood just a few feet from him and the famous SG while he played in a very intimate setting with much of SF's rock royalty also in attendance. If only I had known then how special that night was, and that there wouldn't be too many more chances to see him play ...

I'd love to shake the hand that played the Batwing SG if we ever meet up.

[winston]

Oh cool Bob. Thank you. As you know I am a huge fan your series here and your writing of course and this story is a great one.

[8mileshigher]

Great story, Bob, about a fabulious guitarist and his ultra-cool, ultra-mojo SG.
Fillmore East in '68 ... wasn't that when several of the live tracks for "Happy Trails" were recorded ?
Cipollina's SG and equally famous Amp stack are on exhibit at the R&R Hall of Fame.

By the way, do you happen to know which issue (date) the Guitar Player story on him was ?

Last time I saw him play was when I was attending University of San Francisco, in the mid '70s and his spin-off band Copperhead did a gig. Best event money that USF ever spent for the student body's cultural enrichment !

Regards

[libratune]

The last time I visited the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, John's rig, complete with SG as shown in the pic above, was on display inside by the ground floor entrance, with appropriate plaque summarizing his history. (Maybe that's where this pic is from?)

The first time I saw it, I thought: "That rig could blow anyone away!" Then I got curious about John and read up on him.

His setup is a fitting welcome to the corridors of Rock history!**

** Such as it is at the RRHFM.

[N.F.A.]

I saw QMS way back then too. Simply fantastic.. I think they were with Wishbone Ash, in what I think was their first American tour IIRC.. A long time ago now...

[8mileshigher]

The last time I visited the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, (Maybe that's where this pic is from?)

Yes, that's where the photo is from, the RRHF