Ian McLagan: I Had Me a Real Good Time

Dana Spiardi — Thu, 12 May 2016 04:00:34 +0000

“Had me a real good time.” That’s the title of a song by Faces, and it totally sums up my feelings every time I rock-and-roll to the music of that premier British bar band. Their keyboard player Ian McLagan, who died suddenly of a stroke on December 3, 2014, would have been 71 today. I know I refer to a lot of performers as “my favorite” this or that, but you can be certain of this: “Mac” was my favorite band keyboardist.

The charismatic musician began his recording career in 1965 with the Small Faces, a tight rock/R&B band comprised of singer Steve Marriott, bassist Ronnie Lane and drummer Kenney Jones – all of whom were of small stature. (“A Face” was a mid-’60s London slang term for a particularly stylish mod rocker.) The band morphed into Faces in 1969 when Rod Stewart replaced Marriott as frontman and Ronnie Wood joined on as guitarist. They were a crew of good-time, beer-drinking mates. The title of a Faces best-of CD, “Good Boys…When They’re Asleep,” pretty much summed it up. Said Rod in his memoir, “We were the first band to have a bar on stage, with a waiter serving us.”

Following the breakup of Faces in 1975, Mac became a much sought-after sideman, touring and recording with artists like The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards’ New Barbarians, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, The Black Crowes, Thin Lizzy, Warren Zevon, and Bruce Springsteen. In 1977, this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee launched his own group, The Bump Band. A long-time resident of Austin, he adored the U.S.A. and loved to play gigs from state to state. At the time of his death he was planning a tour to support his latest LP “United States.”

I was thrilled to meet Mac face-to-face in June 2013 following his intimate gig at The Tin Angel in Philadelphia (I even got a kiss – ooh la la!). He played lots of great tunes, including many original compositions and songs from his Faces days. He ended the show with my favorite, “You’re So Rude,” a number he co-wrote with the late Ronnie Lane. In between songs he told lots of funny stories about his life in rock-n-roll, including the tale of his first encounter with his fellow “small faces” in 1965: “They were in an office, and as I came ’round the door, Steve Marriott laughed and picked me up. Then, all three picked me up on their shoulders. I’d found my brothers, that’s the truth of it.” You can read more about his life and times in his 2000 memoir All the Rage: A Riotous Romp Through Rock & Roll History. He was quite the raconteur.

Rest in peace, magic Mac. You’re one of the special musicians who rocked my world from the time I was a tween. I love you and will miss you greatly.

Here’s the beautiful tear-jerker “Never Say Never,” that Mac wrote in memory of his wife Kim Kerrigan, who died in a car accident in 2006. (Factoid: Kim was the ex-wife of former Who drummer Keith Moon.)

I included this song on every mix tape I made for my friends back in the day. Here’s the scenario: a bloke takes his girl back to the house for a make-out session, when suddenly his parents arrive home unexpectedly. “What’s that noise? Why’d they come back so soon? Straighten your dress, you’re really looking a mess. I’ll wet my socks, pretend we just got caught in the rain. Oh, you’re so rude!” The original version of the tune was included on the Faces’ 1971 LP “A Nod Is As Good as a Wink…To a Blind Horse.” Mac performs this one with The Bump Band.

© Dana Spiardi, May 12, 2015

Photo in banner © Jim Chapin, 2012

‘White Frankenstein’ Edgar Winter: The First to Wear a Strap-on

Dana Spiardi — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 05:00:59 +0000

Today is the 68th birthday of multi-instrumentalist Edgar Winter, who – along with his deceased brother Johnny – was highly recognizable as one of the few albinos in rock. But far beyond that, he’s also a talented keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist who’s famous for fusing jazz, rock and blues. His Edgar Winter Band is best known for their monster instrumental track “Frankenstein,” which hit the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 in May 1973. The wild jam indeed raised the dead and helped pioneer the use of synthesizers in music.

But did you know that Edgar Winter was the first musician to ever wear a keyboard? Yes, in the early 1970s he invented the keyboard body strap, that allowed him to move around the stage as he played an electric synthesizer. The idea quickly caught on, and eventually led to the manufacture of the “keytar,” a synthesizer keyboard with an actual “neck” like a guitar, worn with a strap.

Both Edgar and Johnny were forced to take the special education program in school, because their albinism marked them as “different.” Edgar says he harbored no resentment, and actually had quite a few friends in school. “Then again, I wasn’t really popular,” he once said. Ah, who better to write an ode to Frankenstein than a high school misfit?

Okay now, turn your speakers up LOUD! This is the best-ever clip of Frankenstein, and features the great Rick Derringer. Edgar takes breaks from the keyboard to engage in some sax playing and “dualing drumming” with Chuck Ruff. I love the way he thrashes the keyboard, then brings its “heart” back to life!

Keyboards – The Hip Quotient

Ian McLagan: I Had Me a Real Good Time

‘White Frankenstein’ Edgar Winter: The First to Wear a Strap-on