Post by ekforum on Dec 1, 2009 12:50:44 GMT -5
Q - Mike is great, ain't he? I still have my GuitarWorld issue with you, Mike and Gary in it. That must have been a fun time.
Mike Estes is actually the only writer I've ever met who could write in the older, traditional Skynyrd style. His lyrics were really great...if you've ever heard "Devil In The Bottle". He wrote the chorus to that and it took him 10 seconds. It's TOO BAD they kicked him out, because now all their material sounds, to me, more like POP music. Mike had a lot of tunes in his bag that would've fit right in. But they let him go.
I've got HOURS of music on tape that I plan to release some day. Most of it is stuff Estes and I wrote and performed. There's a version of "Good Luck Bad Luck" that's as good as anything I've ever played and Estes' vocal is STELLAR. A "first-taker". Hopefully you'll hear it someday.
I think Estes got fired because he and I were friends. It was Rossington who had invited him into the band...I was against it as I thought it wouldn't be good for him. Possibly, management told Rossington that they needed a 'name' on 3rd guitar, so they replaced Estes with Medlocke.
Skynyrd's best chance for good lyrics to their guitar riffs was Mike Estes. He can surely write and Van Zant was his hero.
Q - I was watching the Free bird/Tribute Tour Movie and then a copy of 100 Minutes. I have and I noticed in the Tribute Tour, you played the I KNOW A LITTLE intro but in 100 Minutes, Mike Estes was playing it. Who's idea was it for the switch?
Estes can't play that part...are you SURE it was him? Maybe I got tired of playing it (which I surely did). I can barely play ANY of those Gaines parts - I mean, I can play them MY OWN WAY but they sound like crapola compared to the original.