Post by ekforum on Nov 30, 2009 11:55:36 GMT -5
Q - What made you decide to do the reunion tour? Ronnie was the one you were closest to and he was gone.
Gary called me up an asked me to come back and do it. I felt it was the right thing to do. Sounded like a fine idea to me.
No one else but Johnny was considered (for vocals). Perish the thought (at the time).
I NEVER said I sat down to learn Steve Gaines' parts note-for-note. You've GOT to be kidding. My only retort to his marvelous playing is that HE never took the time to learn MY parts either! That doesn't in any way make things square but I had to mention it anyway. Gaines was just over the top.
As for Allen's FREEBIRD solo, I'd sort of toyed with it many years earlier...so learning it was just a matter learning some of Allen's nuances. It was the first time in years I'd actually had "homework" to do.
Randall Hall WAS supposed to play the solo but he didn't want to perform it 'note-for-note'. We were trying to play as close to the original recordings as possible - so I gave it a try.
During that tribute tour I went home every night after rehearsal and listened and practiced that solo (FREEBIRD). Understand that after the build-up (more than the solo's midway point) I just played whatever I wanted to. But, up to that point, I wanted it as exact as I could get it to Allen's part.
Collins never had to help me with that but he was REAL picky about the start of GIMME THREE STEPS. He enlightened me on that and some other rhythm parts. Allen was a GREAT rhythm player. He had STYLE.
Looking back on it, I am glad I did it for a few years but I am glad that I got out of it when I did. I really should have got out long before I did.
Q - When you guys got together again, how hard for you guys to learn the songs that were recorded after you left? For example I KNOW A LITTLE, THAT SMELL, and such?
Those Steve Gaines parts are a BEAR. I hate 'em. I'd rather play the long version of FREEBIRD twice in a row than play I KNOW A LITTLE. He was one of the best I'd ever heard. I've been trying to play this one lick in THAT SMELL for 15 years. Still can't get it.
Gary called me up an asked me to come back and do it. I felt it was the right thing to do. Sounded like a fine idea to me.
No one else but Johnny was considered (for vocals). Perish the thought (at the time).
I NEVER said I sat down to learn Steve Gaines' parts note-for-note. You've GOT to be kidding. My only retort to his marvelous playing is that HE never took the time to learn MY parts either! That doesn't in any way make things square but I had to mention it anyway. Gaines was just over the top.
As for Allen's FREEBIRD solo, I'd sort of toyed with it many years earlier...so learning it was just a matter learning some of Allen's nuances. It was the first time in years I'd actually had "homework" to do.
Randall Hall WAS supposed to play the solo but he didn't want to perform it 'note-for-note'. We were trying to play as close to the original recordings as possible - so I gave it a try.
During that tribute tour I went home every night after rehearsal and listened and practiced that solo (FREEBIRD). Understand that after the build-up (more than the solo's midway point) I just played whatever I wanted to. But, up to that point, I wanted it as exact as I could get it to Allen's part.
Collins never had to help me with that but he was REAL picky about the start of GIMME THREE STEPS. He enlightened me on that and some other rhythm parts. Allen was a GREAT rhythm player. He had STYLE.
Looking back on it, I am glad I did it for a few years but I am glad that I got out of it when I did. I really should have got out long before I did.
Q - When you guys got together again, how hard for you guys to learn the songs that were recorded after you left? For example I KNOW A LITTLE, THAT SMELL, and such?
Those Steve Gaines parts are a BEAR. I hate 'em. I'd rather play the long version of FREEBIRD twice in a row than play I KNOW A LITTLE. He was one of the best I'd ever heard. I've been trying to play this one lick in THAT SMELL for 15 years. Still can't get it.