Mailbag

From: Steve Lukather
Subject: Re: Danny Kortchmar-This Week's Podcast

One of my very very favorite human beings on planet Earth and Ihave been honored to work with him for 43+ years!

I respect and adore the man. We have been thru a lot of life together and done a shit ton of records together as well.

Luke

PS Thats me on the end of Dirty laundry. Walsh takes the first solo.

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From: Bill Berger
Subject: Re: The Moon Landing

I was in the Army, stationed in Pleiku, South Vietnam and we were on a reconnaissance patrol out in the boondocks. We came upon a Green Beret camp, where we spent the night. The Berets had an 8 inch Sony black and white portable that they had figured out how to get a signal from Saigon and so, we all stood dumbfounded watching Armstrong on the Moon.

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From: Mark Curran
Subject: Space Food Sticks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPZ8HHRR1A0

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From: tom werman
Subject: Re: The ZZ Top Movie

Great to hear the musical observations of another ZZ Top fan--
Always in my personal top five, I include Billy as one of rock's very best guitar players.
Without my ZZ Top playlist to keep me energized, I simply wouldn't bother to go to the gym.
They make you lift heavier weights, run faster, row harder and pedal longer.
After the radio hits, there are so many others, like "My Head's in Missisippi", "Jesus Just Left Chicago", "Heard it on The X", "Can't Stop Rockin' " – one infectious, locomotive groove after another. I didn't know there was a doc about this three-man powerhouse. Thanks

Tom Werman

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Subject: Re: The ZZ Top Movie

As the story goes ZZ was third act on 1971 Memphis Allman Brothers Band show. Duane tells band about the opening acts smokin' Texas guitar player that's going to sit in. Middle of the show they hear a guitar start wailing and they look around, there's a guy in hot pants shorts combat boots blowing everybody off the stage with a wailing guitar, Duane smiles as he plays with his buddy Billy Gibbons, they have all been friend ever since, btw Jimmy Hall and Wet Willie were the middle act and Jimmy confirms the story. The ABB & ZZ have been friend ever since. We even tried to do an A to Z tour together, never get the schedules to work. Billy sat in a few times including March 2009 Beacon 40th anniversary run. Lights went dark Billy snuck on stage, lights go up audience roars, Billy looks around and entire ABB are wearing long beards, he laughed so hard he forgot to play for a second.

On another note one of my neighbors received a lifetime membership in the ZZ Top fan club as a wedding present in the early 80's, got tour jackets, special tickets and meet greet every year, they still go.

Bert Holman

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From: tour swag
Subject: we have seen the enemy and it is us

Now when we set up for a rock concert, we look at where to take cover when the shooting starts

We who work in the wings, we are looking for a safer place or arranging gear so as to form some cover

you guys, you are fucked

best advice stay away from the center of the crowd
scope out exits, if you can get outside
look for areas where you can take cover, like overhanging seating structures, most 100 level arena seating has some kind of area underneath

wear a belt which can be used as a tourniquet

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From: Mike Vancha
Subject: Re: Medicare For All (and a lesson from Canada)

Hi Bob,

You are exactly right here.

Let me tell you something you may not know.

I am from Canada and the most popular Canadian of all time is actor/musician Keifer Sutherland's grandfather (Donald Sutherland's father in law) Tommy Douglas.

As premier (governor) of my province of Saskatchewan, Tommy Douglas brought in free health care in 1962 and it was such a hit that the whole federal Canadian government adopted it once Tommy Douglas became leader of one of Canada's federal parties.

At first, all the fear mongers said it was Socialism and there were actually corporate and doctor revolts and demonstrations against it on the streets.

A few years later, it was such a hit that it was adopted nation-wide, as I say.

Today, free health care as a right is the most popular thing Canadians have and Tommy Douglas, the man who brought it to Canada is the most popular man in Canada as proven by a national competition we had to pick the most popular Canadian of all time.

We don't even notice we are paying taxes for free health care as it has been incorporated into our society like the police service, the fire department and other services have been.

In America, free health care would also become the most popular thing of all time and would bring Americans together to appreciate their government, the way it has for Canadians. After a decade or two, costs would be so low that you wouldn't even notice you are paying taxes for it.

I am in the middle class in Canada and I only pay about 20% personal income tax.

Decades after Canadians were given free health care, not even the Conservatives would dare to mention taking health care away, just in the same way they would never talk about taking away the police service or fire department.

Thanks for listening, Bob.

Mike Vancha
Regina, Canada

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Subject: Re: Brush With Greatness-SiriusXM This Week

Bob,

I've been a loyal reader for years, and wanted to share a story. Living in LA for nearly twenty years, brushing up with greatness was a fairly common occurrence. There was only one occasion when I lost all composure and totally blew my cool.

A large group of my friends we're eating dinner at Yatai on Sunset when John Paul Jones and his wife came in. Who in the hell would recognize him? Apparently only me. Did I forget to say I'm a bassist, love Zeppelin, and rank JPJ as one of the best to ever play four strings? I suppose that context will help the story.

Anyway, I wanted to go over and show a little appreciation to him, but was quickly reminded of "The Code." When famous people are out, especially at a quiet dinner, you LEAVE THEM ALONE. This is one reason celebrities enjoy Los Angeles, they can actually go about their day without being harrassed. I know this. I've done it countless times, and agreed with the group that I would let this moment go and not say a word. That was until JC Chasez (NSYNC) walked in and the entire restaurant lost it's collective shit, begging for autographs and photos. Seriously? There was true music royalty in the room and nobody noticed/cared. I could not let this stand!

I approached the table and interrupted with the incredibly eloquent, "um, Mr John Paul Jones, you're awesome!"

Did I really just say that?!? He smiled, as did his wife, as I rapidly began to spit out every word that crossed my mind. I spoke so fast, that at one moment I noticed him leaning back a little. His wife, at least in my mind, looked very proud. I assume he isn't spotted very often.

As I finally wrapped up my verbal diarrhea, I backed away from him while bowing and saying thank you, thank you, thank you.

Wow. So little cool. It's ok, though. While totally embarrassing, at least I got to tell my biggest musical influence how much he means to me. Even if I said it to quickly for him to understand!

Thank you-
Randy Morris

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From: Jane HOFFMAN
Subject: Re: Woodstock

In the historical summer of '69, we landed on the moon, I went to Woodstock, and saw Led Zep on their first U.S. tour as openers for Joe Cocker.

But first - I had to go to jail.

I was the only girl in our group allowed to go to Woodstock because I had the coolest parents around – and my Dad used to take us fishing up there, so we knew the area.

However, by the time I got permission to go with the boys, the concert was supposedly sold out and every DJ on WNEW announced that if you didn't have a ticket, you wouldn't be able to get in.

I had a friend who had tickets and then had to work that weekend, so I was buying his. Instead, he got busted for selling a joint to an undercover cop and ended up in jail. I was his one phone call.

There was no way I was missing Woodstock. I went to the desk Sgt. who retrieved the tickets for me out of my friend's wallet, took my money and did indeed give the cash to my friend when he got out of jail. The tix were a three-day deal with a star, a moon, and I forget what the third graphic was because the wallet that I kept them in got lost on my move from NY to LA seven years later.

Five hours after we began on what would normally have been a two-ish-hour trip with traffic, we still weren't there. It really didn't matter. We finally arrived at a spot where we parked our car in the grass on the side of the highway and walked three miles? Four? It didn't matter as it was a party and we were walking along with everyone else.

The fences were down, the concert was free, the sun was shining and there was a nice spot on the top of one of the hillsides. What more could a girl want?

It was still daylight when Richie Havens took the stage, but it was pitch dark when Arlo Guthrie arrived. You need to know this because Arlo Guthrie is the person responsible for lighting a match at a concert.

Because the promoters didn't plan on the size of the crowd, the lights set up throughout the audience were limited to just a few hundred or so yards beyond the stage. Arlo asked everyone to strike a match so we could all see how many people were there. The flickering lights went as far as our eyes could see in every direction. WE HAD NO IDEA. It was magnificent and a moment I will always treasure as "being there."

Despite the peace and love, my attitude was, "I came. I saw. I experienced – and now I want to go see Led Zeppelin."

Prior to Woodstock, I had already been to concerts to see Jimi, Janis, The Who, Leslie West and Mountain, Johnny Winter and Blood, Sweat and Tears, so leaving the concert wasn't that big of a decision to make when Led Zeppelin was commanding my attention down at the shore. (Following Woodstock, I saw CSN&Y as well as multiple times to see Ten Years After and Santana.)

So, late Friday night, I convinced the guy I was dating at the time to hike back to the car and drive us to Asbury Park to see Led Zeppelin open for Joe Cocker on their first U.S. tour.

I had bought Led Zeppelin's first album and knew every guitar lick, bass and drumbeat, and Robert Plant's wails note for note. I just had to see these guys in person.

Along the way, I called my parents to let them know I was OK. My parents subscribed to the NY Daily News and when I finally returned home, I could not believe the headlines. Thank Gd I had checked in, as otherwise they would have thought I was ingesting any number of drugs, lacking food and water, swimming naked and drowning in a sea of mud. One out of four.

We headed to Asbury Park Convention Hall, bought tickets at the box office (not sold out) and had prime balcony seats stage left. We could see everything going on on that stage. Jimmy Page had on red bellbottoms and a tiny white cowboy hat on his head. When he pulled out the violin bow, I could not believe what I was seeing and hearing. Robert Plant was, well Robert Plant.

They played the entire album. I'm not sure they realized this was the beginning of a career of historic proportions, but we did. It was impossible not to.

Joe Cocker was spectacular and went on to perform at Woodstock the next day. We saw "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" when they came to NY the following year and was introduced to the music of Leon Russell and Rita Coolidge (who Solters and I went on to represent when she had a short residency at The Carlyle). I followed every one of Joe's releases until he passed away, and mourned his death. His rendition of "Bye Bye Blackbird" is still in heavy rotation on my iTunes.

Zep returned to the States just a few months later, selling out arenas including a show at Boston Garden. I was there along with all my new college gal pals. It was a great concert, but it wasn't the same as that Saturday in August of 1969 in what had to be one of music's greatest weekends.

I think about what our world was like 50 years ago, and where we are now. I shake my head, wonder how we got here and wonder what will it take, and what can we do to get us back to the garden.

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From: Ken Kragen
Subject: RE: Warren Leads In Iowa

Bob: Terrific piece today. The points you outline remind me of the 10-week career course I taught for years at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music. One thing, however, it's still early and to prove that I'll share one of my best stories from my long career.

I was managing Burt Reynolds back in the summer of 1991 and created a one-man tour for him starting with a Saturday night show in Little Rock, Arkansas. Governor Bill Clinton and Hillary were at the show and afterward, backstage, he asked me to come over and play basketball at the Governor's mansion the next morning. I said that I'd love to but was flying to Nashville early Sunday for Burt's second show of the tour. Clinton said, "What time are you going to the airport? I'll send my car for you." I said that I didn't need that, but he insisted.

I was leaving the hotel at 6:30am and when I went outside there was no car, so I called a cab. Before that arrived, a beat-up old car drove up and a guy in shorts got out. It was Governor Clinton. He picked up my bags, threw them in the trunk and off we went with a short tour of Little Rock before heading to the airport. When we got there, he carried my bags in and checked me in for the flight. I said, "I don't want to be any more beholden to you than I am so let me buy you breakfast."

At breakfast I told him Burt Reynolds had said Clinton was running for president. He said, "That's true, but the fact is, no one is going to beat George Bush with his huge popularity from the "Desert Storm" victory, but my advisors tell me if I don't run in 1992 I'll have no chance winning in 1996. So, I have to get in the race now."

It's a great lesson on how things can change in the next year. Bill Clinton didn't think he could win in 1992 and he did. By the way, I don't think Trump thought he could win (or at least no one around him did) and look what happened. The game's never over until it's over!

Ken


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