Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I also met all of the original members of a now very famous band in 1974 when they toured Canada. The band learned their craft in the late sixties and became Wicked Lester for a short period of time. Then they became something very unusual.

Who am I talking about?

This is my 666 post that in it's self is a bit of a clue.

Dave, it doesn't mention Faith but was this the show you recall? I took this from the 'Shindig' archives. I know its been a long time, and you've slept since then but....


Wednesday,October 7, 1964
Filmed on location at London's Granville Theatre: The Beatles ("Kansas City", "I'm A Loser", "Boys"); Cilla Black ("It's For You"); Sounds Inc.; Tommy Quickly; Sandie Shaw; The Carefrees; Karl Denver. (Note: The Beatles were also filmed performing "House Of The Rising Sun", but this song was not used in the show for legal reasons...probably because the ANIMALS just hit with it)

I think I remember that band became Kiss. Not sure, though. The 666 part makes me think it is correct.

Brian: You're asking this (really long) tongue in cheek, arent you? *HINT*

Right you are Benjamin.

Yeh Dave a bit "tongue in cheek" Of course it was Kiss. Now those guys knew how to party. In fact I think they invented the term party. They were lots of fun.

I remember two memories of 1960's icons. My first was when I went to a Paul Simon/Brian Wilson concert event a couple years ago. Brian opened, and after his set the stage hands announced he would be available for autographs at a side table. I couldn't believe it and rushed to the table with a lot of other people, and then realised I didn't have anything for him to sign. There was (convienently) a table selling tour stuff, but then I realized I had no money on me! Darn.

There was also an ATM right next to the store and NO LINE. Quickly, I took out money and rushed to purchase something, anything... in this case a large program. I ran to the back of the line to have stuff signed, and then noticed the store was now packed with people as was the ATM. They eventually cut off the line for signatures like three people behind me. I was lucky. Brian was nice, mumbled something and I remember saying something stupid like "I love your music" or whatever else a gawking fan would say. He was my idol then, and in many ways still is vocally.

My second memory was with Roger McGuinn, whom I had emailed a couple of times before. I asked how to get his autograph and he said that attending concerts was the best way. So when one came up I jumped at tickets. I ordered an extra Rickenbacker pickguard, and the HOG actually talked to his son Henry McGuinn (who worked at RIC then) to get it. However, when the HOG got it in they sold it because they didn't list that i had ordered it. I had no pickguard to have signed at it was the day of the concert! Luck again shone on me, as I had my 360.12CW and that I had replaced the pickguard with a blank one. It was a 360 and not a 370 style, but close enough. Arriving at the concert just in time, I waited for his signature but was told by his wife that he didn't have time to sign stuff anymore. After telling her my story, she then saw that I had not brought the usual records or pictures but something special. "Ahh, you brought the RIGHT thing." I even had the marker ready. She took them and told me to come back after, and when I did she presented me with the pickguard. So, I never technically met him, but have talked via email with him, talked with his wife, and have his signature. Close enough for me!

Stan, looks like I was off by a week. The shows I'm thinking of must have been 10/7/64 when The Beatles did "Im a Loser," "Boys" and "Kansas City." Adam opened the show the next week with "It's Alright." Great thing, the Internet. I am certain I have never been wrong about anything else.

Dave, I still adhere to the rule if you remember the '60s you weren't there. And after reading the bit about the Beatles on the particular performance in question, it made me think how I would have loved to have seen them do, House of the Rising Sun. I suppose no one saved the edit.

BTW for you to even recall what was on the show is amazing!

I can't even recall what I did a couple of seconds ago.

I can't even recall what I did a couple of seconds ago.

You were saying Stan?

:

Oh Yes! The House of The Rising Sun performed by the Beatles.

I wonder if Roy or Peter have a copy. I would love to hear that.

I can think of a few interesting characters that I had the opportunity to work with. I Spent a month in L.A. in 1972 working on an album produced by Gary Usher, who also produced a couple of the Byrds albums and co-wrote some of the Beach Boys tunes with Brian Wilson. This was the period when the old surf-music guys had adopted their own version of the long-haired, hippy lifestyle, but with one big difference - they had money, lots of money. Usher was a nice guy, lived in a beautiful house next to Lee Majors and had a gorgeous wife. To a 20 year-old kid from Illinois, he seemed like the perfect poster child for the hip, California lifestyle. He could wear a leather jacket in 80 degree weather and look cool doing it. He and Majors were really into Pop Warner Football (I guess they had kids, but don't remember) but they were fanatical about football when they weren't working.

I later did some studio sessions, playing bass for Bob Gibson and one or two for Joe Dowell (Muss I Den). Gibson was a big, round, good-natured guy with wild hair, a big beard and an even bigger laugh. He would have made a good movie Viking or old Klingon General with a bit of makeup. He could get more sound out of a Gibson 12-string than any man on the planet. The last session we did was when Bob was recording what he hoped would be the theme song for the George C. Scott movie "The Day of the Dolphins". Nice song, and Gibson's growl and 12-string were perfect for it, but I don't think the movie producers bought it.

Dowell was doing commercial jingles when I worked with him. He had recently become a big-time, born-again Christian and was planning a trip to Africa to spread the word. He kept telling us that he planned to walk right up to the lions and pet them and that his faith would keep them from eating him for lunch. We were skeptical.... On the other hand, I never heard any news stories of Joe getting eaten, so either it must have worked or he changed his mind. Mostly I remember that all these old guys (at least they seemed old to me at the time) had a lot more money than we did and were always surrounded by really hot younger women. We tried our best not to drool.

No Brian I don't have House, but have heard a snippet of it, frankly I am unconvinced it is The Beatles and so are a number of others according to some sites.

Thanks Roy,

This was one piece of the history of the lads that had somehow escaped my attention I was unaware that there was even speculation on this topic.

I partied with Johnny Carson's son one night in 1976. When everyone was huddled near Yes's tour bus to get autographs after a concert in the middle of the winter, I chose to go elsewhere because I hate crowds. Suddenly, the door I was near opens up and I'm standing face to face with Steve Howe. We had a nice chat until we got bombarded by the other people. Steve was wisked away in an old station wagon! That happened in 1999.

I once bumped into (almost literally) Seals and Crofts in a side doorway to a little club on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village (right across the street from the old Village Gate which no longer exists). I just said hi .... they were clearly trying to get inside and hide instead of chatting with strangers.