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THREE GREAT ROCK AND ROLL ACCIDENTS
1) In 1968, Peter Tork of the "Monkees" had a party in Laurel Canyon, most likely at Joni Mitchell's house. Steve Stills, David Crosby, & Graham Nash were there and Nash pulled out a Stills song, saying, "let's sing this."
1) In 1968, Peter Tork of the "Monkees" had a party in Laurel Canyon, most likely at Joni Mitchell's house. Steve Stills, David Crosby, & Graham Nash were there and Nash pulled out a Stills song, saying, "let's sing this."
2) Although pairs of them had sung together before, this was the first time all three collaborated.
Nash said, "Whatever sound Crosby, Stills, and Nash has was born in 30 seconds. That's how long it took us to harmonize."
Nash said, "Whatever sound Crosby, Stills, and Nash has was born in 30 seconds. That's how long it took us to harmonize."
3) Accident number 2: Legendary producer George "Shadow" Morton (see below with my director Marc Leif & friend Esteban Lopez during filming of my movie "Rockin' the Wall") who had discovered Janis Ian, produced Vanilla Fudge, and by then was doing a new group called . . . .
3) contd . . . "Iron Butterfly," had IB in the studio recording their first album. They had a mesmerizing song, "Inna-gadda-da-vida." But they couldn't get it right.
Shadow told me they used alcohol, drugs, breathing, but the band couldn't relax and play.
Shadow told me they used alcohol, drugs, breathing, but the band couldn't relax and play.
4) An exasperated Shadow Morton told them, "We have a problem with the wiring. I'm going to have to find it. You guys rehearse the song."
They started, relaxed as Shadow started recording unbeknownst to them & acted like he was searching for something.
They got better & better
They started, relaxed as Shadow started recording unbeknownst to them & acted like he was searching for something.
They got better & better
5) As they kept playing through the first two verses and choruses, Shadow gave them the "keep going" hand signal. They played a keyboard solo. Then a guitar solo.
"Keep going" as he kept faking a search for a non-existent problem.
"Keep going" as he kept faking a search for a non-existent problem.
6) Then came the famous drum solo. Shadow liked it so much he kept signaling them.
7) Finally, after umpteen minutes, IB wrapped up the song.
8) "I think we're ready to do it" said one of the guys.
9) "No need. I got it." said Shadow.
7) Finally, after umpteen minutes, IB wrapped up the song.
8) "I think we're ready to do it" said one of the guys.
9) "No need. I got it." said Shadow.
10) Accident #3 came when Vanilla Fudge broke up and Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, and the powerful rhythm section from VF, Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert were scheduled to form a new "super band."
11) Before they could meet, the hot-rodding Beck crashed a car and was severely injured.
12) Appice and Bogert had already quit Vanilla Fudge, so they formed a little known boogie band (that could really cook!) called "Cactus".
12) Appice and Bogert had already quit Vanilla Fudge, so they formed a little known boogie band (that could really cook!) called "Cactus".
13) By the time Beck could play again, Rod had a solo career so Beck formed a nice little band called the "Jeff Beck Group" with pianist Max Middleton, bassist Clive Chapman, singer Alex Ligertwood---who only lasted until they heard Bobby Tench sing in a local club.
14) JBG2 (the first was bassist Ron Wood and Rod Stewart and Anysley Dunbar on drums) hired the great Cozy Powell as a drummer---one of the many who by then had adopted double bass drums.
15) Powell looked remarkably like Beck. When Beck first saw him he thought he was looking into a mirror.
15) Ironically, years later, after the band broke up, Powell died in a car crash.
15) Ironically, years later, after the band broke up, Powell died in a car crash.
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