like his fellow famous guitarists. Clapton, Page, etc. I was reading the "Conversations with the Dead" interview book and Jerry totally slams the Doors and this got me thinking about what he thought of other guitarists
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I was watching this Clapton interview vid on youtube where he described when Cream would play at the Fillmore and he said Jefferson Airplane and the Dead were struggling. Id say thats a fair assessment LOL
http://www3.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjg5U_R ... ocumentary
http://www3.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjg5U_R ... ocumentary
Mickey Hart gave a great snapshot about Jerry once when he said something like:
He and Jerry were watching Cream play at Winterland and right in the middle of Toad with Ginger Baker banging away and all that he turned to Jerry and said "Man, Jerry, this must be the best band in the world right now" and Jerry replied something like "huh, well they are the best band, tonight!" So Jerry had a competetive edge to him as well.
Interesting what Clapton said there but he is coming from a different angle, which is the straight blues route and coming from England as well. The SF bands were not as straight ahead blues as perhaps he liked. Perhaps a little arrogant of Eric's part to say that but thats how he saw it I guess.
I know Clapton once said in the early 90's I think that he would love to play with the dead to see if he could pick it up and catch the vibe they had. So perhaps his opinion changed about the dead as the years went by. Neil Young said a similar thing about the dead growing into greatness.
He and Jerry were watching Cream play at Winterland and right in the middle of Toad with Ginger Baker banging away and all that he turned to Jerry and said "Man, Jerry, this must be the best band in the world right now" and Jerry replied something like "huh, well they are the best band, tonight!" So Jerry had a competetive edge to him as well.
Interesting what Clapton said there but he is coming from a different angle, which is the straight blues route and coming from England as well. The SF bands were not as straight ahead blues as perhaps he liked. Perhaps a little arrogant of Eric's part to say that but thats how he saw it I guess.
I know Clapton once said in the early 90's I think that he would love to play with the dead to see if he could pick it up and catch the vibe they had. So perhaps his opinion changed about the dead as the years went by. Neil Young said a similar thing about the dead growing into greatness.
yeah I remember that from the special features on the Winterland DVD right?
well in 67/68 the Dead were balls to the wall in terms of energy but you could tell their playing was immature. Jerry admitted he had a small vocabulary and he spent 3 years fixing his playing between 69 and 72. And during that time was when the band really came around...
but I agree that comment about listening to the wrong music is quite unfair
well in 67/68 the Dead were balls to the wall in terms of energy but you could tell their playing was immature. Jerry admitted he had a small vocabulary and he spent 3 years fixing his playing between 69 and 72. And during that time was when the band really came around...
but I agree that comment about listening to the wrong music is quite unfair
Yes, I think it comes across as very ignorant on Claptons part to say that. In only a couple of years after Cream he would be playing with Delaney and Bonnie and worship the Band after they did Big Pink so he quickly changed thinking/direction too.
I think I've read somewhere else - by Jerry's widow Ms Koons that they went to a Clapton show once and Jerry was up on stage checking out his set-up or something. Making the point that he never stopped thinking about music.
Not sure what Jerry made of Page or indeed Hendrix either...I've never read or heard Jerry ever mention Jimi. Jerry often cited guys from the past. Like Coltane and Miles or guitarists like Chuck Berry, Django or Don Rich. I'm pretty sure he was influenced by some classical stuff too, he quoted bits a fair bit in his playing....certainly in the Anthem era.
I think I've read somewhere else - by Jerry's widow Ms Koons that they went to a Clapton show once and Jerry was up on stage checking out his set-up or something. Making the point that he never stopped thinking about music.
Not sure what Jerry made of Page or indeed Hendrix either...I've never read or heard Jerry ever mention Jimi. Jerry often cited guys from the past. Like Coltane and Miles or guitarists like Chuck Berry, Django or Don Rich. I'm pretty sure he was influenced by some classical stuff too, he quoted bits a fair bit in his playing....certainly in the Anthem era.
Everyone has an opinion and ya can't fault Clapton for his.
We all know the GD is like black licorice, not everyone likes black licorice but those who do really like black licorice
As far as the perceived slam, I don't see it as much of a slam but maybe a slight. I'd venture to say that most of us here didn't see them in the 60s, myself included, and therefore we see those shows with the knowledge of what they became which might has us looking at those shows less than objectively.
Here's my story, when I first started getting into the GD, I bought Skeletons, really dug it and listened to the advice to buy live stuff. From there I bought Bears & Live/Dead (the one w/DS). It bored me. I just thought the jams toook way to long to get to where they were going.
I think that's how many people feel when they "don't get it". Segues are great once you learn to appreciate the journey but too many non-heads are looking to the destination and feel like the journey is a sloppy less than inspiring downer between tunes.
Now, I love those albums.
We all know the GD is like black licorice, not everyone likes black licorice but those who do really like black licorice
As far as the perceived slam, I don't see it as much of a slam but maybe a slight. I'd venture to say that most of us here didn't see them in the 60s, myself included, and therefore we see those shows with the knowledge of what they became which might has us looking at those shows less than objectively.
Here's my story, when I first started getting into the GD, I bought Skeletons, really dug it and listened to the advice to buy live stuff. From there I bought Bears & Live/Dead (the one w/DS). It bored me. I just thought the jams toook way to long to get to where they were going.
I think that's how many people feel when they "don't get it". Segues are great once you learn to appreciate the journey but too many non-heads are looking to the destination and feel like the journey is a sloppy less than inspiring downer between tunes.
Now, I love those albums.
strumminsix wrote:It bored me. I just thought the jams toook way to long to get to where they were going.I can't help but be reminded of a show I saw in Austin, TX on the eve of Jerry's 40th.
I think that's how many people feel when they "don't get it".
During Estimated->Eyes, this young cow-poke was strolling across the Downs and commented to his las, "you realize we been walkin' for fi'teen minutes, they been playin' the same dang song!"
When I told that story to someone who I was getting a tape of that show from, he said if you listen carefully during space you can hear someone shout "Play A Song!" I myself could not hear it, but I have no problem believing it happened.
Jerry thought highly of Steve Kimock and Frank Gambale. He liked Los Lobos (who doesn't!?) and of course was buddies with Carlos Santana.
I think we all had a set of questions (still getting bigger now) that we wanted to ask Jerry but never got the chance to. The only thing I ever managed to say to Jerry was "Hi, weather sure looks good today". That was it. :(
I think we all had a set of questions (still getting bigger now) that we wanted to ask Jerry but never got the chance to. The only thing I ever managed to say to Jerry was "Hi, weather sure looks good today". That was it. :(
Shaggy, I would bet just a nice simple cordial was pleasantly received by JG. From all I've read being a star was never something he strived for and accepted it begrudgingly so I'd imagine just plain nice words would be the best thing.
Shaggy wrote:
Not sure what Jerry made of Page or indeed Hendrix either...I've never read or heard Jerry ever mention Jimi. Jerry often cited guys from the past. Like Coltane and Miles or guitarists like Chuck Berry, Django or Don Rich. I'm pretty sure he was influenced by some classical stuff too, he quoted bits a fair bit in his playing....certainly in the Anthem era.
also, Roy Buchanan, probably one of the most amazing blues guitarists Ive ever heard
jerry may well have been intrigued by claptons success, considering he's the most overrated guitarist in the world. he's too stiff to have ever played with the dead and done well; his licks are all too premeditated and hollow. i wouldn't know, but i bet he plays his songs the same way every time. he's like a spokesman for white guys who WISH they had soul. jerry is the spokesman for white guys that HAVE soul.
jerry may well have been intrigued by claptons success, considering he's the most overrated guitarist in the world. he's too stiff to have ever played with the dead and done well; his licks are all too premeditated and hollow. i wouldn't know, but i bet he plays his songs the same way every time. he's like a spokesman for white guys who WISH they had soul. jerry is the spokesman for white guys that HAVE soul.I have to disagree. Clapton turned more people on to the african american blues of the states than Jerry ever did. His playing is respected by Buddy Guy, BB King, Hendrix, etc. If you listen to early cream, they were a jam band, doing 15 minute versions of their songs. I've seen Eric play on several occasions and he continues to amaze me. He doesn't play the same things twice unless he feels like it. Check out the unplugged version of Layla, the live version of Crossroads on his box set, etc. He has more soul than any 20 people I've ever seen.
On a side note, a friend of mine once sat with Jerry for about an hour, talking one-to-one. I was in awe and asked him what he talked about, as I would be rather tongue-tied. He said: "I thanked him for introducing me to the greatest people on earth and making me all these new friend." When I asked how Jer responded, he told me he thanked him and said "That's what it's all about." Pretty cool!
"The only funeral you should ever try to interrupt is your own, and that should be a full-time job." -Kinky Friedman
AWESOME post Amy completely agree, to add on, Clapton's "I Shot The Sheriff" cover exposed many "whities" to reggae and helped bring it into the mainstream.
What does soul have to do with color? Furthermore what does soul have to do with creativity?
Soul is not so much singing or playing something different but playing it with feeling and emotion.
Think of the soul singers of the 60s and Motown and R&B and Stax. These folks were putting out 3 minute jems over and continued playing them that way to today. Or at least a few years ago when I saw "the funk brothers" nye w/ the dead.
Think of "Higher Ground". That same riff repeats ad naseum. But it still has soul.
Clapton is a magnificent musician. However I feel is a bit overrated but only in regards to how many other greats are overlooked.
What does soul have to do with color? Furthermore what does soul have to do with creativity?
Soul is not so much singing or playing something different but playing it with feeling and emotion.
Think of the soul singers of the 60s and Motown and R&B and Stax. These folks were putting out 3 minute jems over and continued playing them that way to today. Or at least a few years ago when I saw "the funk brothers" nye w/ the dead.
Think of "Higher Ground". That same riff repeats ad naseum. But it still has soul.
Clapton is a magnificent musician. However I feel is a bit overrated but only in regards to how many other greats are overlooked.
I had the privilege to hang out with Jerry a couple times and had some wonderful conversations with him regarding music. He loved to hear what the average Joe had to say about a specific performance. Usually the previous nights as they tend to all blend together over time.
One of the over the top conversation we had was about futuristic art and virtual reality. He expressed a real interest in finding a way to create an auditory experience through visual stimulation and vice versa. Thus, simulating some of his favorite 'experiences'.
Jerry did mention that Jimi Hendrix was among his favorite guitar players. I can't really remember any specific comments as this was 25 years ago.
One of the over the top conversation we had was about futuristic art and virtual reality. He expressed a real interest in finding a way to create an auditory experience through visual stimulation and vice versa. Thus, simulating some of his favorite 'experiences'.
Jerry did mention that Jimi Hendrix was among his favorite guitar players. I can't really remember any specific comments as this was 25 years ago.
