Wham.Lonnie Mack was a legendary figure in the cincinnati music scene when I was still a teenager. he lived in indiana not far from cincinnati and as far back as the late 50's people talked about his edgy style. one of the first true roadhouse blues-rock guitarists, he influenced generations of players like johnny winter, keith richards, and a young kid named stevie ray. his searing exaggerated tremelo could slice off the top of your head if you didn't duck in time. lonnie played (and still plays) a Gibson Flying V, the same one he's played since 1958. it has the serial number 7!
one night after working on graceland all day, paul simon and I decided to see lonnie playing at the Lone Star Cafe. it was his "comeback" tour of 1985 and new york city was buzzing about lonnie mack.
the show was exciting. the small tight balcony above the bar where paul and I sat was crowded with luminaries. at the table next to ours sat mick jagger and keith richards. looking around you could make out the faces of actors: matt dillon, sarah bernhardt, and other people who at least looked famous.
backstage after the show lonnie was surrounded, incongruously talking with mick and keith about his real love: fishing. lonnie is a big man with a deep drawl like toby keith. I really like him. he smiled when he saw me and said, " hey adrin, still playin' with that king chris-min?" "yes, lonnie".
I left him to bask with the "big fish" in the pond. it was lonnie's moment.
but earlier during the show I had my own moment. at one point paul left our table for a while. when he returned he asked me to say hi to someone. we worked our way across the balcony, past the bar to a doorway in the back corner. "I want to introduce you to someone," paul said. he opened the door and standing alone in the stairwell was bob dylan. "this is adrian belew, bob," paul said. "yeah, I heard about you, " bob said slowly in that bob dylan voice I had imitated nearly 20 years earlier. and that was all he said.
leaving me to wonder ever since: what had he heard?
Wow!
ReplyDeleteWhat a classic story!
What a life!
Adrian, I'd like to place a pre-order on your book right now....instant best seller!
I've already begun my personal collection of your incredible annecdotes - 'Anecdotal Evidence by Adrian Belew'....here's 3 classic's to add to the collection.
You certainly have such a flair for storytelling - thank you for sharing your 'larger than life' anecdotes with us....luckily there's no bugs in my office, otherwise I would also have to pick them out of my teeth, my smiles are usually so wide after reading your blogspots.... ;-)
Wow!
ReplyDeleteWhat a classic story!
What a life!
Adrian, I'd like to place a pre-order on your book right now....instant best seller!
I've already begun my personal collection of your incredible annecdotes - 'Anecdotal Evidence by Adrian Belew'....here's 3 classic's to add to the collection.
You certainly have such a flair for storytelling - thank you for sharing your 'larger than life' anecdotes with us....luckily there's no bugs in my office, otherwise I would also have to pick them out of my teeth, my smiles are usually so wide after reading your blogspots.... ;-)
oops...sorry for that...double clicked by accident ;-(
ReplyDeleteYes, great story... but what happened next? Did the three of you stand there in silence in the stairwell, until you awkwardly turned around and went back to your table? Or did you break into a verse of Flakes?
ReplyDeleteBy the way Adrian, if you don't create a book from these blog entries as you're considering, you could use them as the liner notes for Dust if/when you put it out as a box set. I recall from years past you'd occasionally say that Dust was finished but you needed someone to write the booklet... seems like you're doing that now, better than anyone else could! Your writing style here is very entertaining, much more animated than the old Adrian's Corner updates you used to send Rob M. to put on his website.
Wow I had an 80's guitar mag (Guitar I think) that had a long article about the Lonnie Mack comeback (my first introduction to him) the poster for the Issue was of Lonnies flying V. That poster hung on my wall (with Many Others) all through High School and all hail another influence was born.
ReplyDeletePS: I sure am sorry I missed 20 questions. Adrian you even gave great notice.
After a set of three scenes like this...
My Question?
What do you drink for a pleasant conversation to an avid listener(Coffee, tea, Lemonade, Pop, Wine, Beer...); can I buy you one if you ever have time in Columbus Ohio? :)
A book would be a great source of income. Your experences and Work crosses most all musical, art and entertainment boundries the variety of people, types of anecdotes and your style would appeal to almost anybody.
Write it and they will read!
Boy, that sure does sound like Dylan :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge Dylan fan (as in, I not only play a fantasy sports-like game on the Internet to predict his setlists, I do research for it), but I have a sneaking suspicion that he's just gotten really good at making it seem like he knows something you don't. Case in point: his movie, Masked & Anonymous...
I could say this on every anecdote you post, but I'll conserve space and just say here that you seem so happy to be sharing these great moments & memories. The enthusiasm is infectious!
Take care,
Joe
Who is this Bob Dylan?
ReplyDeletetoyman:
ReplyDeletemy drink of choice is and always has been coca cola with lots of ice, but if you really want to get me to talk: a lemon drop martini is the secret.