Whispers of the Past

Or... Another childhood hero passes into memory. Eddie Van Halen, legendary guitarist, died October 6 after a long battle with throat cancer.

In middle school in the late 1970's, Van Halen was the most amazing thing to listen to. Finger tapping, classical inspired riffs, heavily overdriven guitar. Unbelievable stuff. And totally new. Or at least new in the widespread popular sense, as one might discover later.

The legend of Eddie is probably a bit overstated, as all legends are, but that doesn't diminish his stature. Eddie invented finger tapping. Which might be news to Steve Hackett of Genesis, who was finger tapping on Supper's Ready in the early 70's. And he invented classical inspired guitar riffs ala Eruption. Which might be news to Steve Howe of Yes, who was doing the same in the early 70's.

But...  And this is a huge but...  It is undeniable that Eddie Van Halen popularized these aspects of guitar playing far beyond anything that the various Steve's (and others) had been able to accomplish previously. EVH had an influence of absolutely mammoth proportions on future guitarists. And that is where the legend is born (and validated). Who didn't want a red (or black) pseudo-Strat with white (or yellow) abstract tape lines? I know I did. And I couldn't even play guitar.

Looking back on those early VH records, the combination of Eddie's guitar work, David Lee Roth's vocals and charismatic stage presence, Michael Anthony's solid bass work and terrific high-end backing vocals, and Alex Van Halen's solid drumming, were an example of a case where everything came together in a perfect storm of late 70's hard rock, and probably made the whole greater than the sum of the parts. This "hard rock" would seem tame by today's standards, but those weren't the standards of the day.

Van Halen as a band certainly had waaaaay more than its share of interpersonal drama, but it would be a shame to let their later years overshadow what they were at their peak. If you have paid any attention to their recent-years reincarnations, it is almost too easy to fall into the trap of "yeah but back in the day they used to be good...", which is fair in an objective sense. Sammy Hagar was terrific. Everything after that (including returns of David Lee Roth) was... meh... at best. Painful at times. But I digress...

The best compliment I could give to Van Halen (as a band), perhaps, is that when you go back and listen to Van Halen and Van Halen II, as I am doing as I type this, the popular hit songs are great, yes. But everything else on the albums is terrific. End to end. It's the perfect example of the brilliance of many bands in their early years, with a raw energy and style that is hard to replicate afterwards...

I was going to list some of those lesser known gems from VH1 and VH2, but having listened to them again end to end just now, it's all of them. Simple genius. Spanish Fly is the genius of Eddie. Women In Love is the genius of all of them. Just to list a couple of favorites... Feel Your Love Tonight. Ice Cream Man. DOA. And on, and on....

Which isn't to say that there wasn't great Van Halen music after this. Much of the "Van Hagar" stuff with Sammy Hagar was terrific, and Right Now is a song that resonates particularly well these days. Check out The Circle's quarantine version (Hagar and Anthony, with Vic Johnson and Jason Bonham [John Bonham's son]...).

I have a very clear and totally random Van Halen memory that Brother Dave might remember (but probably not). It must have been a summer evening somewhere around 1980. We were at the River, and our neighbor Rob H had access to his family's ~20 foot Boston Whaler (motor boat). We took the boat out to the end the Sassafras, to Betterton, near the Bay. We docked at a public pier there and went into a waterfront place that had coin operated pool tables and a juke box (and wasn't a bar, so minors could come in...). I distinctly remember playing Dance the Night Away from Van Halen II on the juke box while we shot some pool...

Which is a memory, I guess, because Dance the Night Away has always been my favorite Van Halen song. Listen to the original version, or the remastered version if you can; both are great.

And if you want to listen to a forgotten gem, check out Women in Love. It showcases all of what made early VH great. Or so says me. :-)  I guess the point, from my vantage, is that all the technical mastery in the world doesn't mean much if the music isn't beautiful, and doesn't move you when you listen to it. And for all of Eddie's technical skill, that means less to me than the beauty of the first 30 seconds of Women in Love. But that's just me I suppose.

PS - A freebie. Check out Toto doing Africa, covid version.

And as long as we are doing Covid versions of classics... Doobie Brothers Listen To the Music. And Black Water.

PSS - In my memory lane ramblings I seem to have strayed from the original point. Eddie Van Halen was an innovator, a pioneer, and yes, a guitar legend. He will be missed, but his place in rock and roll history is assured. More importantly, his music will live on. Rest in peace.

Stay safe. Be well. Vote against the Fourth Reich.

Mr. D, and High School Band

I was sad to see where Brother Dave posted on his blog that Mr. D, our high school band and orchestra director, had passed away. [see Dave's Musings link at right]. We were in SHS in the early 1980's, and Mr D retired way back in 1991. A very long time ago...

I don't know that I could add much to what Dave very eloquently said, other than "I completely agree".

Many of my fondest memories of high school revolve around the band room, and band and orchestra in general. High school wasn't always easy, especially the first couple of years, but the band room was always a safe place, and it was where most of my friends were.

As a volunteer for the Garnet Valley marching band in recent years, I have been back to Springfield 3 times for what are now "away games", and while much of what surrounds the football field has changed, the field itself is the same. Ghosts from the life of a much younger me haunt the place. I wouldn't want to guess at how many hours I spent on that field for 4 years as a trumpet in the marching band. Summer band. Evening practices. Games. Sweltering heat, bitter cold, and every temperature in between. A bunch of girls who weren't interested. A few who were.

It's funny...I can think back on 4 years at one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the country and feel...not much. But I think back on 4 years at Springfield High School and smile, and have lots of good memories come flooding back.

As for Mr D, there are worse things, I think, at the end of a very long life, than to know that you touched the lives of a great many young people.

Rest in peace Mr. D.

Covid-19 Claims a Friend

I found out from a colleague at work that we lost a friend in Florida last night.

I'd known this person for about 20 years, and would consider him a friend and mentor. We worked together a lot over the years, as he held a number of leadership positions within the area that I support. The last time I saw him or spoke to him was at our national sales meeting in Washington DC in late January.

From what I was told, my friend retired from our company in mid-March. In the craziness of the past month, I wasn't aware of this. A couple weeks after retiring, he wasn't feeling well and had Coronavirus symptoms. He tested positive. Two days later he was in the hospital. Eight days later he died. He hadn't even been retired a month. I'm heartbroken for the wife, sons and granddaughters that he leaves behind.

You will be missed, my friend.

Ray Thomas (1941-2018)

Ray Thomas, a founding member of the Moody Blues, my favorite band, died on January 4 of prostate cancer at the age of 76.

Ray Thomas in recent years

Ray had been retired from touring with the band for the last 15 years or so, but I was fortunate enough to have seen him perform with the band maybe 8 or 10 times between 1982 and his retirement from the band in 2002 (has it possibly been that long??). His rich powerful voice was amazing, even though he was not considered one of the lead singers of the band (and less and less as the years went by).

Earlier times

Ray was less active with the band in later years, but he wrote a bunch of great songs from the "core seven" albums between 1967 and 1972.

Moody Blues from the core seven years

He would probably be best known for the flute solo on Nights in White Satin, but Moodies fans would probably pick Legend of a Mind (this link is Royal Albert Hall in 2000, not the famous Red Rocks show as it claims to be) performed live as his most lasting contribution. The band retired Legend when Ray left, and I still miss it. Shows always ended with Nights, Legend, Question and Ride My Seesaw...

Ray on stage, 1990's

Other favorites of mine that were written by Ray include And the Tide Rushes In, For My Lady, Eternity Road, Our Guessing Game. There are many more.

It is nice that the announcement that the Moodies were being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year came before Ray's passing, but that is probably a more important event for the fans than the band.

I had hoped that the band's induction would bring Ray and Mike Pinder back on stage one last time. Sadly, that can't happen now (and likely wouldn't have anyway).

Thanks for the memories, Ray. And all the great music.

Glen Campbell

Music legend Glen Campbell passed away August 8 at the age of 81. I can honestly say that as a younger person, I had no interest at all (or frankly, knowledge of...) his music. Rhinestone Cowboy would be enough to send me out of the room...

Glen Campbell, earlier

But then sometimes you grow up, and your mind opens up a bit, and your musical horizons expand. My knowledge of his music is admittedly still very limited, but I can recognize that he certainly had a substantial handful of timeless classics, songs that I can now appreciate for what they are.

Glen Campbell, later

My favorite Glen Campbell song is Wichita Lineman, a song written by Jimmy Webb in 1968 (the background to which is here...a good story in and of itself)

Wichita Lineman on PBS, a wonderful version of a classic song. Lovely. Great understated guitar work, with a beautiful simple solo and a bunch of seemingly effortless fills.

...And an amazing solo version with terrific guitar work (and a very interesting arrangement) - song starts at about 8:50 after an interview.

Guitar Man with Jerry Reed.

By the Time I Get to Phoenix, and Galveston. The guitar solo on Galveston (~5:30 on) would make many modern day "shredders" blush. (Who knew?)

Lastly, Ghost Riders in the Sky with Roy Clark. Roy Clark could be a whole other post...

John Wetton

Brother Dave sent me an email with this news this morning. Ugh.

John Wetton

John Wetton, bassist and singer for King Crimson and (way more importantly for me) Asia died today at the age of 67 after a battle with colon cancer.

Wetton's death announcement on his own website...

For a 70's and 80's music lover in general, and prog rock fan in particular, the body blows just keep coming. Chris Squire of Yes in 2015. Glen Frey, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake in 2016. Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon in there somewhere. Now Wetton in 2017.

I can't help but to think what Carl Palmer must be thinking. He lost the "E" and "L" in ELP in 2016. Now he loses the singer/bassist from his other band Asia in 2017. Mortality sucks.

A few good things:

• An Extraordinary Life - My favorite Asia song from the most recent 3 reunion albums. An extraordinary life indeed. A tribute to hope, optimism and the future.
• Ride Easy - A forgotten "B" side song from the early 80's that is a favorite of mine.
• Daylight. Another "B" side from the Alpha album that I like very much (and a fun demo version of Daylight from before the song had lyrics beyond the chorus...)

Farewell to yet another.

Greg Lake

As I have noted before, these "it was with great sadness that I read that xyz had died..." posts are becoming all too routine. Talking with brother Dave at his house on Christmas day, he mentioned something about Greg Lake dying, joining Keith Emerson's death earlier in the year, to which my reaction, unaware of this was, "whaaa??"

Greg Lake

Emerson Lake and Palmer was one of my favorite prog rock bands in the late 70's and early 80's (I was kinda young and got on the bus a little late). I loved that kind of music then, and still do now. Greg was a terrific singer, guitarist and bass player.

In addition to his work with ELP, I will also remember his short stint with Asia. When John Wetton left the band in 1983 (partway through the Asia in Asia documentary/concert film), Greg stepped in and took over the bass and vocal work on the (at that time rare) full length live concert broadcast on MTV (Asia live at the Budokan), joining ELP band mate Carl Palmer. He did a nice job with only 10 days to prepare (although you can see him reading a teleprompter for the lyrics).

A few morsels:

• Lucky Man (1974) - Greg at his peak. It's also hilarious to watch him chewing gum all the way through the song. Anytime there is a second to spare, he takes a few chomps. Seems hard enough to play guitar and sing without worrying about choking on your gum, but hey...
• Lucky Man in 2013 on the Moody Blues Cruise. Voices deepen with age, but not tremendously different...
• Still You Turn Me On (1974) - Great song. This one has another thing I will always remember about Greg - the need to force a rhyme no matter how dumb. In this case, we get the best/worst of all time - "...sadder...madder...someone get me a ladder." Oh my...
• Hoedown (1973) - More about Keith Emerson here, but ELP at their best.
• Welcome Back my Friends (London 2010) - Still OK on their 40th anniversary reunion tour.
• Welcome Back my Friends (Montreal 1977) - ELP at the peak. Faster and more frantic. And thinner... Greg on guitar this time instead of bass.

Greg Lake may not have been the household name that Prince or David Bowie or others who passed this year might have been, but his death makes me nostalgic, and his passing is far more personal to me. Another piece of childhood gone...

The Carl Palmer Band at World Cafe Live

I had the tremendous good fortune to have been gifted with a ticket to see the Carl Palmer Band with a friend last night at the World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington (6/6/16). Carl Palmer (wikipedia entry here) is one of the legendary rock drummers, having been a part of the progressive art rock band Emerson Lake and Palmer, and later the drummer for the supergroup Asia.

This particular show was the third (?, started June 2 in NY) in a 25 show tour called "Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy Tour 2016". The shows would be an entire set of instrumental music, almost entirely of ELP classics.

The Carl Palmer Band (picture by me)

Our seats were in the fourth row, just left of center stage, and the view of Palmer and his two band mates from that close was amazing. Band members were guitarist Paul Bielatowicz and bassist Simon Fitzpatrick, both of who were also terrific. Palmer's energy at age 66 is astounding, and being as close as we were you could clearly see how physically demanding 2 hours of drumming is.

Carl Palmer... (picture by me)

The music was phenomenal, but would admittedly not be everyone's cup of tea. Prog rock/art rock isn't to everyone's taste, and listening to hard rock versions of classical music like Pictures at an Exhibition and Carmina Burana might be more akin to torture to some. But I thought it was great.

This tour is, in part, a tribute to Keith Emerson, the keyboard player from ELP, who committed suicide in March of this year at the age of 71. He suffered from depression, brought on at least in part by nerve damage that affected his ability to play. A very sad story, and a reminder that rich and famous people who would seem to have it all have their burdens as well.

Anyway, Emerson's keyboards were the foundation of much of ELP's music, and upon arriving at the venue, I couldn't understand how they were going to do ELP music without any keyboards (which it was obvious they didn't have). It turns out that the guitarist played pretty much all of what would have been the keyboard parts. I was a bit skeptical at first, and it was different (no question), but it worked.

A few tidbits from YouTube:

• Hoedown (Aaron Copeland), ELP 1973 and the brilliance that was Keith Emerson.
• Hoedown played by the Carl Palmer Band (same lineup we saw) in November 2015.
• The Nutrocker (apologies to Tchaikovsky) - this is the show I saw. My head is probably in this shot somewhere on the left, 4th row, directly in front of the guitarist.

Live music of any kind is terrific, and as I have said many times before, you can't beat a venue this size (capacity is maybe 500-600 if I had to guess).

Autographed promo shot

After the show, the band had tables in the lobby to greet fans and sign things, so I got to fist-bump Carl Palmer and get him to sign a famous (reprinted) ELP promo picture from the early 1970s. Pretty cool.