Early "Humble Pie" were so talented... I still play their classic "Rockin' at the Fillmore", loud! With former "Faces" vocalist Steve Marriott at the helm performing at 150% every night they just had to break through but that kind of light eventually burns itself out as was the case with Marriott.
On the night of his death a close friend of mine was the last person to see Steve Marriott alive. Here's what my friend recounted over the phone; Marriott was out here in the Los Angeles area on the coast drinking heavily in a local watering hole. He was consuming so much alcohol he could barely walk let alone drive, doing so at 150% as he had in his performances on stage. He and my friend, a fellow musician, began chatting about trival matters of drink as they embibed together. It was bar talk and they proceeded to get crazy as the night wore on. As my friend told me the tale he began with "you know that guy that used to sing with "Humble Pie", well I met him last night and..." All I could think was of course, Steve Marriott is a rock legend, a blue eyed soul singer with a chitlin' circuit grind that always gave 150%. I was anxious to know if he'd been able to get inside Marriotts head and pick his brain on matters of music. What inspired the early "Humble Pie" material and forming of the band? What was it like playing the Fillmore in it's early days? What was it like working with Peter Frampton in his teen hearthrob years? And working with "Faces" guitarist Ron Wood (now a "Rolling Stone") as well as "Faces" vocalist Rod Stewart? What road stories there must have been... I had so many questions. None had been answered...None would ever be answered. What a waste.
The pair visited several local bars that night and as the darkness was about to become day, my friend dropped off Marriott at his place in the Santa Monica/Venice area. As Marriott stumbled from the car and they mumbled their good byes that was the last anyone would see of Steve Marriott. Marriott was so wasted that he lit a cigarette and passed out in bed burning himself to death. The next morning as my friend relayed the tragic story, I remember being in shock and speechless. I was so saddened by his senseless death and I think he was as well. I still am. And though I was tucked away beneath the covers early that evening, sane and sober, that night has haunted me for years. And I wasn't even there... To loose a talent in such a senseless way...Marriotts flame burned bright and eventually had burnt itself out and perhaps he was ready to go...
Friday, January 9, 2009
What do "Eagles" guitarist Joe Walsh, the dawn of the digital age and the House of Blues have in common?
Subliminal distinction of instinct is what drives us all... As I revolve around the massive injection of direction from those in my sphere of influence I take the time to halt my brain waves and focus on the road ahead. Of course, there are no answers that appear. Maybe they're already in place.
Going back a few years, I recall hangin' at the House of Blues with my buddy who happened to be the head of artist relations for Gibson guitars. Digital cameras had just been introduced and I'd never held one, let alone taken photos with one. As it is I'm quite a fumbling baffoon when it comes to electronics...Guitarist and Eagles member Joe Walsh was touring solo. It was about half an hour before he was to appear on stage. We went up to the dressing room and I was handed a digital camera and told I was the cameraman. Handling one today is rather a rote push and click exercise...but it was different then. Joe was in quite the jovial mood. That was good for me. The Gibson rep positioned Walsh and I held the camera up...only I couldn't quite find the viewfinder. What was the frame of the picture? What button should I push to adjust the framing? What button would actually take a photo and then what should I do to get ready for the next photo. I turned the camera vertical then horizontal then vertical. Luckily Walsh was amused. My Gibson friend was not quite so amused. He sort of guided me in a direction that would be the path of least embarrasment. I glanced up while I was fumbling and Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmidt was looking over. Schmidt didn't seem amused but then again he always seemed to have that serious look on his face. Professional photographer Henry Diltz who took that Morrison Hotel "Doors" album cover photo among many others, was now staring as well. Worse, Diltz had a camera in hand albiet an old 35mm workhorse. Beads of sweat appeared on my forehead. I focused back on the digital camera in hand. Walsh was laughing and made a couple funny comments. I'd heard he was quite the jokester, thank god for little blessings. My buddy said I should 'take the damn picture' and I somehow managed to focus and squeeze one then two then three. We left the dressing room for the concert hall with only moments to spare before Walsh was to take the stage. It was a great show and I laugh about the incident to this day. Should have had Walsh sign something. I had all his solo albums and was quite familiar with his work but my mind was elsewhere that day. Thanks Joe for being so lighthearted and though I'm certain you don't remember that night I do...
Going back a few years, I recall hangin' at the House of Blues with my buddy who happened to be the head of artist relations for Gibson guitars. Digital cameras had just been introduced and I'd never held one, let alone taken photos with one. As it is I'm quite a fumbling baffoon when it comes to electronics...Guitarist and Eagles member Joe Walsh was touring solo. It was about half an hour before he was to appear on stage. We went up to the dressing room and I was handed a digital camera and told I was the cameraman. Handling one today is rather a rote push and click exercise...but it was different then. Joe was in quite the jovial mood. That was good for me. The Gibson rep positioned Walsh and I held the camera up...only I couldn't quite find the viewfinder. What was the frame of the picture? What button should I push to adjust the framing? What button would actually take a photo and then what should I do to get ready for the next photo. I turned the camera vertical then horizontal then vertical. Luckily Walsh was amused. My Gibson friend was not quite so amused. He sort of guided me in a direction that would be the path of least embarrasment. I glanced up while I was fumbling and Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmidt was looking over. Schmidt didn't seem amused but then again he always seemed to have that serious look on his face. Professional photographer Henry Diltz who took that Morrison Hotel "Doors" album cover photo among many others, was now staring as well. Worse, Diltz had a camera in hand albiet an old 35mm workhorse. Beads of sweat appeared on my forehead. I focused back on the digital camera in hand. Walsh was laughing and made a couple funny comments. I'd heard he was quite the jokester, thank god for little blessings. My buddy said I should 'take the damn picture' and I somehow managed to focus and squeeze one then two then three. We left the dressing room for the concert hall with only moments to spare before Walsh was to take the stage. It was a great show and I laugh about the incident to this day. Should have had Walsh sign something. I had all his solo albums and was quite familiar with his work but my mind was elsewhere that day. Thanks Joe for being so lighthearted and though I'm certain you don't remember that night I do...
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