Musicians Duet Better

[hookstownbrown]

Quote:"... Jeff Beck is my idol .. sometimes he finds notes that I just do not have on my guitar..."~ Ritchie Blackmore / Deep PurpleI was a Michael Schenker fan for quite awhile. When his band - UFO - came to town, I was in the seventh row, psyched to the max and UFO certainly delivered the goods! They opened for Rainbow, (Their first tour together), but when Blackmore's show was finished, I was absolutely awestruck... I already had all of the Deep Purple albums and I learned most of the songs, but I never saw Blackmore live and up close... I left that show feeling like he shot me through a hard rock wind-tunnel... What a performance! The guy is a Stratocaster-Master...

[drew]

"... the Yardbirds actually asked me to join their band twice. They asked me before Eric Clapton had even left the band, because their manager wanted to get more commercial and Eric wanted to get more purist; their manager wanted to force him out. Then they asked me again when Eric finally left. But I was still too nervous about getting ill while on the road, and I wasn't quite sure about the politics with Eric Clapton, because we were friendly. So I recommended Jeff Beck, who I think was amazing as far as pushing the Yardbirds to the next level. His imagination on those Yardbirds albums is incredible..."~ Jimmy Page

[hookstownbrown]

Hey Drew,Forgive my ignorance, but I thought Jimmy Page was a member of the Yardbirds for awhile.I'm sure he played on at least one of their albums... ?

[ernstinen]

Quote:Hey Drew,Forgive my ignorance, but I thought Jimmy Page was a member of the Yardbirds for awhile.I'm sure he played on at least one of their albums... ?Yes he was a member of the Yardbirds for awhile! He played on many other UK records in the mid-60's, like the fuzzy solo on Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man."Ern

[drew]

Here's a snippet from a bio:******************Although the history of the Yardbirds has been well documented before, a thumbnail sketch of the band will lay the foundation for analyzing Jimmy Page's later behavior. Formed in 1963, the Yardbirds quickly became the darlings of the British R&B circuit. With Eric Clapton on lead guitar, the quintet cranked up the volume and played looser than any of their contemporaries. Songs were stretched out to 30 minute jams. Clapton's furious fretwork was matched by singer Keith Relf's frenetic harp playing. Further, the band boasted one of the loudest rhythm sections in rock and roll, with Paul Samwell-Smith on bass and Jim McCarty on the drum stool. Chris Dreja rounded out the fivesome, with his chunky rhythm guitar bolstering Clapton's stinging leads. The Yardbirds, while known as a breeding ground for lead guitarists, were definitely a band and a tight one at that.To survive in that era, a band needed a chart topper. The Yardbirds soon turned themselves to that process. Clapton, a blues purist, was unhappy with the band's new direction. After playing on their first pop hit, "For Your Love," he left the band.Obviously, the Yardbirds were in dire need of a lead guitar player. They approached London's ace session man, Jimmy Page, with an offer to join the band. Page had played on hundreds of studio tracks by such luminaries as Them, the Pretty Things, the Who, the Kinks as well as many groups that have faded into the mists of time. Amazingly, it is estimated that Jimmy Page appeared on 60% of everything recorded in England between 1963 and 1966.Back to the Yardbirds though. Page turned their offer down, preferring the steady paycheck from his session work. Instead he suggested a brilliant, yet mercurial, guitarist named Jeff Beck. Beck and Page had been chums since their schooldays. Jeff Beck joined the Yardbirds for a 22-month roller coaster ride that many still consider the high point of rock and roll eclecticism. With Jeff Beck, they forged a futuristic sound that culminated in the proto-psychedelic single, "Shapes of Things."By 1966, Jimmy Page tired of session work. Fortunately for him the Yardbirds were once again in need of his services. Page was brought in to replace departing Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith. Jimmy Page initially played bass before switching over to lead guitar. Chris Dreja then filled the bassist slot. Needless to say, with Beck and Page on dual lead guitars, the Yardbirds quickly became the greatest rock and roll band in the world. They recorded only three songs with this configuration, though. One of those songs, "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," is the zenith of psychedelia, a nuclear meltdown and aural firestorm masquerading as a pop song.***********************I promise to try to never use the word "snippet" again.

[hookstownbrown]

So where do you all get these quips and factoids anyhoo? Your library cards must have the ink worn off... Got any history on Blackmore before Deep Purple?

[drew]

I haven't seen much about him before DP, the bands he was in were some I've never heard of before; Outlaws, Screaming Lord Sutch, Neil Christian & The Crusaders, etc. If any of these bands had something out I've never heard it that I know of.

[drew]

Rock and roll is the hamburger that ate the world.~ Peter York

[drew]

"If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest, or some guy on TV telling you how to do your shit, then YOU DESERVE IT."~ Frank Zappa

[drew]

"... although one can get very clever at home, progress comes a lot quicker if you step into a room with other people and start playing .. "~ Steve Howe / YesSteve Howe is one of the greatest, most imaginative guitars players I've ever witnessed.