GODSPEED TO MIKE SMITH!
Thought I'd try and re-capture the `experience' last evening (or
should I say earlier this morning!) at BB KINGS in New York City in
the heart of Times Square while I am still `in the moment', on a
high and buzzing from an unforgettable show. I went to the second
of two shows at the venue held as a benefit for MIKE SMITH, former
lead singer and keyboard player for THE DAVE CLARK 5. For those
that don't already know, Mike suffered a setback in 2003 (I believe)
from a fall around his home in Spain, leaving him virtually
paralyzed from the chest down ever since. Mike toured the US in
2003 and I was fortunate to see him, meet him and his wonderful and
beautiful wife Charley, at 2 shows BB KINGS and THE TURNING POINT
in Piermont, NY. Incredible performances from Mike, such energy, in
great voice, with a rockin' band too. Such a shame this guy (and
family) has had to suffer so much. But he's been showing signs of
improvement, we're told; believe his condition is slowly getting
better, and he's gaining strength. There is hope! Which is why
PAUL SCHAFFER and the people he put together put this benefit on
to help with the enormous economic burdens to assist Mike and
Charley. By the way, consult this website for updates:
http://www2.rpa.net/~theboltons/MSRE.htm -- surely you will be
moved by what you find there.
Tickets for the first show sold so quickly a second show was added.
Prices were $75, $100, $150. All that was left was a $75 seat for
me, but I managed to sit with those in the closer seats
.why?
because I am unsteady, and sometimes that works to my advantage!
Shows were scheduled for 7:30 and 11:00 pm, but were not adhered
to. First show started at least 1 hour late, due to many things:
it was being broadcast by XM, so technical glitches were an issue;
changes of the stage between artists; and finally, because the
ZOMBIES arrived quite late. But not the ZOMBIES' fault, mind you.
The band was held up in TORONTO b/c of severe weather, and, as you
no doubt saw on the news or internet, a plane crash of an AIR FRANCE
Airbus there shut down the airport. But check this out PAUL
SHAEFFER's "boss", TV host DAVID LETTERMAN, chartered a flight for
the ZOMBIES the band had to travel, I believe, to WINDSOR, ONTARIO
to get the plane, and it was flown to a small airport in NEW JERSEY
(TETERBORO AIRPORT). Then the band was driven in, arriving probably
close to 10 pm. They didn't hit the stage until maybe 11:15 pm?
Not sure of exact time (they were the last act on).
That means we didn't get in until after Midnight. Music started
around 1:00 am. Should first mention I met a lot of `industry'
people I know before the show while waiting on line to get in (yours
truly stood there from 8:00 pm on in stifling 90+ degree heat yeah
almost 4 + 1/2 hours, but hey you do what you gotta do). Took
pictures with RICKY BYRD (ex JOAN JETT's BLACKHEARTS and now touring
with SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY; he was accompanied by his wife, the Goddess
CAROL KAYE); TWIG (of the legendary 60's garage band, RICHARD & THE
YOUNG LIONS, who have a NEW CD coming out on LITTLE STEVEN's
label "any day" according to TWIG); and a true legend, EDDIE
BRIGATI, former lead singer for THE RASCALS! How cool is that?
Plenty of other people floating by: KEN DASHOW of Q-104, MAY PANG,
MAX WEINBERG, the usual suspects.
ALL RIGHT! LET'S GET TO THE SHOW!
Right before the show, I stopped by the table where SID BERNSTEIN
was sitting, for a little conversation and `photo op'. For those
overseas, he brought the BEATLES (and other artists) over to our
shores for the infamous SHEA STADIUM show and other events. An
important icon in the history of the "British Invasion" for sure.
And I nice guy to boot. The event began with a short film featuring
a black n white clip of the DAVE CLARK 5 playing live their
hit "BITS AND PIECES". Great footage of that TOTTENHAM SOUND! Then
things got rolling with the FAB FAUX, let by bassist WILL LEE (he
plays in PAUL SHAFFER's band on the DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW). As you
can tell by their name, they are essentially a BEATLES `COVER BAND'
but note these guys do the BEATLES' music dead-on! Here is their
set: "TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS" (complete with mellotronic sound
effects, backward loops); "I AM THE WALRUS"; "WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY
WEEPS"; the DAVE CLARK 5's "CATCH US IF YOU CAN"; and "PENNY LANE",
which included the noted horn player LEW SOLOFF (of BLOOD SWEAT &
TEARS fame) nailing the riffs to great applause; "ALL YOU NEED IS
LOVE", with hands waving everywhere quite a sight.
Spoke quickly with JIM RODFORD after the FAB FAUX set he's bassist
with the ZOMBIES, was also a member of ARGENT, and is ROD ARGENT's
cousin as it happens. He's taken over for the late LES BRAID with
the current SWINGING BLUE JEANS, and told he thinks it's a "great
gig". Told him I saw the band in March in Dartford outside of
London with the SEARCHERS, MERSEYBEATS and GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS
could really sense his grief for the loss of LES, who recently
passed away. {Saw this posted by the way: Les's funeral will take
place on Tuesday 9th August at St Lukes Church, St Lukes Church
Road, Formby (England) at 1pm. All are welcome.}
NEXT UP? None other than a pal of mine BILLY J. KRAMER. Damn,
looking good Billy! Neat and looking trim, hair styled just right
and sporting a totally nice jacket too (his wife dresses him
well!). I just love this guy, and he sang his heart out, and gave
his hall, backed by PAUL SHAFFER's band big band I should say
(horns, strings). God Bless PAUL SHAFFER for organizing this and
bringing all this talent together with not a lot of rehearsal.
BILLY J. KRAMER's 3-song set: "LITTLE CHILDREN", the DAVE CLARK
5's "COME HOME" (which knocked me and everyone out), and his tear-
jerker, "BAD TO ME" (a Lennon/McCartney tune, given to him by John
on his 20th Birthday, as the story goes). AWESOME! Dude, you were
marvelous!
Then came a set from DENNY LAINE (no relation to PENNY LANE!). He
did "GO NOW", the song he made famous with the MOODY BLUES; "I GO
CRAZY", also a MOODY BLUES song from their first LP (a JAMES BROWN
tune); and the DAVE CLARK 5's "ANY WAY YOU WANT IT", which just got
everybody crazy. Got a picture after his set
he's a good man, and
gave a great performance.
OK, then things just blew the roof off with PETER & GORDON's
appearance, together playing live for the first time since 1967!
Where have you been my good men? Their set: "I GO TO
PIECES", "LADY GODIVA", "TRUE LOVE WAYS", the DAVE CLARK
5's `BECAUSE" (Unsteady Freddie's maybe personal favorite British
Invasion pop-song of all time), "A WORLD WITHOUT LOVE" (which was
the very first record I bought, at the age of 12! and I still have
it, brought it with me, got it signed!), and "WOMAN". The guys
looked great, and their harmonies? Were you concerned? Don't be!
Glorious! PETER even put on his "BUDDY HOLLY glasses" for the last
few songs!
At this point PAUL SHAFFER introduced a recorded movie clip from
MIKE SMITH and his wife CHARLEY incredibly poignant, moving,
emotional. Obviously it took MIKE a lot of effort to record this,
and he wanted to express his sincere thanks to everyone who put
together this special event. Tears flowing all around me.
Then came the evening's closersTHE ZOMBIES! Their set ran as
follows: "I LOVE YOU"; "STICKS & STONES" (another early ZOMBIES
song; think it's a RAY CHARLES composition?); "TIME OF THE SEASON";
the DAVE CLARK FIVE's "CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE'S MINE";
ARGENT's "HOLD YOUR HEAD UP" (which tore it up!); "TELL HER NO";
and "SHE'S NOT THERE". And this finished at 4 am!!! COLIN
BLUNSTONE's vocals were as breathy as crisp as ever. ROD ARGENT's
jazzy keyboard riffs sounding hot as Hell; and JIM RODFORD's bass
was kick-ass.
Ahhhh, but what about an encore? OK, you got one! The complete
ensembleeveryone on stage for a grand finale of "BITS & PIECES" and
then "GLAD ALL OVER". Think I saw STEELY DAN's DONALD FAGEN mixed
in there? Pretty sure I did. Just UN-BE-LIEVE-ABLE what a
finish!! Finishing up close to 4:15 am!! But who cares? What
does it matter that I get up at 6 am on week-days for my real-life
job? IT'S ONLY ROCK N ROLL AND I LIKE IT, LIKE IT, YES I DO!
Did a `meet and greet" in the LUCILLE'S GRILL part of BB KINGS
took some pictures with: BILLY J. KRAMER (hung out briefly with his
lovely wife RONI), PETER & GORDON. Got a bunch of vinyl LP covers,
45 picture sleeves, and actual 45 RPM's autographed. Not sure if
the ZOMBIES ever made it to this, but considering the hour and their
ordeal getting there, they are excused! By the way, I told PETER at
the "meet & greet" that for me his eye-glasses weren't really "BUDDY
HOLLY", but more like `AUSTIN POWERS". Know what he told me? That
MIKE MYERS actually told him he based AUSTIN POWER on Peter's
1960's "look". Neat, huh?
Ladies, gents, and those in-between: this was one of the highlights
of my life. My Higher Power must like me
.how else do you explain
this? The way I behaved in the past---I should be dead for God's
sake. But don't ask me how but I'm still here -- this
evening/morning was a gem, a gift from God, I couldn't be more
grateful for what I experienced. One to cherish forever. High as a
kite and without foreign substances? It doesn't get any better.
My soul has been stirred deeply. Thanks especially to PAUL SHAFFER
what an effort he undertook, and pulled off.
Great piece in Fox News about the evening:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,164574,00.html
Should have pictures soon (fingers crossed that they came out OK)
and will post them as soon as I can, probably on
www.readyunsteadygo.com.
I leave you with these profound words:
CMON CMON LET ME SHOW YOU WHERE IT'S AT
THE NAME OF THE PLACE?
I LIKE IT LIKE THAT!
Unsteady Freddie
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
<font face=arial size=-1><a
href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12hb9f940/M=362335.6886442.7839733.3022183/D=grplch/S=1705023967:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1123099168/A=2894366/R=0/SIG=138c78jl6/*http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/arts_culture/?source=YAHOO&cmpgn=GRP&RTP=http://groups.yahoo.com/";>What
would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer
in the arts today at Network for Good</a>.</font>
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
BritInvasion archived at <http://www.escribe.com/music/britinvasion>,
<http://www.mail-archive.com/britinvasion%40onelist.com>, and
<http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=britinvasion>. Home page:
<http://home.hiwaay.net/~emilyj/britinvasion/>.
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BritInvasion/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
