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Topic: Who Played For John Prine in 1980? |
Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2014 6:26 pm |
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I saw this video and wondered who played this gig (1980). Is he playing a Sierra, maybe?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFD2wZaBciY
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Wakarusa 5e3 clone
1953 Stromberg-Carlson AU-35 |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2014 8:00 pm
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The late Leo LeBlanc. I can't see the steel in low-def, but I recall him with an Emmons and Excel (late 80s or 90s). Leo's son is a member here and there are some threads about him. He played with JP for years from the first album on into to the eighties. (Also with Jerry Jeff Walker.)
Speaking of sons, the lead guitarist is John Burns, Jethro's boy.
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
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Posted 13 Aug 2014 8:46 pm
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| I thought that was Leo... he also played an Endicott steel. |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2014 4:38 am
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Thanks for the info. I like his playing but had never heard of him till now
I'll go searching for those threads!
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Wakarusa 5e3 clone
1953 Stromberg-Carlson AU-35 |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Greg Milton
From:
Benalla, Australia
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Posted 14 Aug 2014 9:02 pm
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I love JP and enjoy listening to Leo's pedal steel style, which is silky smooth, highly original, and very busy - not much laying out for him!
For me the greatest steel playing with JP has to be Lloyd Green on his album with Mac Wiseman, 'Standard Songs for Average People'. Lloyd's playing on this is just sublime.
Of course, Buddy on the album 'In Spite of Ourselves' is pretty darn good as well (and which also features Dan Dugmore and Al Perkins). |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 19 Aug 2014 5:01 pm
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Joachim!
Wow, I really love the Marlin Greene song. I had not heard of him until now...thanks.
I like how the steel is a major sonic component, but is not "complex". I play this way sometimes, and really like what the steel can do to move the chord structure along with the melody.
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Wakarusa 5e3 clone
1953 Stromberg-Carlson AU-35 |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Aug 2014 5:11 pm
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| My late friend, Howie Epsiein, c0-produced Prine's "The Missing Years" cd/album. Howie and I opened, as a duo, for the Byrds at UWM, many, many, happier years ago. |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 19 Aug 2014 11:07 pm
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| John Billings wrote: |
| My late friend, Howie Epsiein, c0-produced Prine's "The Missing Years" cd/album. Howie and I opened, as a duo, for the Byrds at UWM, many, many, happier years ago. |
John, your Howie was Petty's bass player after Ron..
I saw TP in '83 in San Diego at the X-Fest sponsored by 91x. I won the tickets by naming all the members of the Heartbreakers.  So I saw Howie play.
Look at the acts on the poster that day. Safety pins and mohawks.
You opened for the Byrds? What was the name of the duo? But isn't that a surreal coincidence? Howie and yourself plays for McGuinn and then Howie joins McGuinn's alter ego TP & THB?
Fave Prine song:
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ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7
Last edited by Godfrey Arthur on 20 Aug 2014 2:19 am; edited 3 times in total |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 19 Aug 2014 11:52 pm Re: Who Played For John Prine in 1980?
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Love the steel licks.
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ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 12:15 am
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Great thread! Thank you.
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Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 3:56 am
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GA,
I don't recall if we even had a name. Howie played bass in my band, Methyl Ethyl and The Ketones for a short while. MOI style band in Milwaukee. Howie was just a fresh-faced 16/17 year old kid! Well-known actress Amy Madigan was Methyl Ethyl! The only song I remember from the Byrds gig was "Givin' Grease A Ride." Jim/Roger was interested in my Whyte Laydie 5-string!
JB
Last edited by John Billings on 20 Aug 2014 7:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 4:29 am
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| John Billings wrote: |
GA,
I don't recall if we even had a name. Howie played bass in my band, Methyl Ethyl and The Ketones for a short while. MOI style band in Milwaukee. Howie was just a fresh-faceed 16/17 year old kid! Well-known actress Amy Madigan was Methyl Ethyl! The only song I remember from the Byrds gig was "Givin' Grease A Ride." Jim/Roger was interested in my Whyte Laydie 5-string!
JB |
Dang JB, I remember hearing that name a long time ago.
What an interesting crisscrossed group of friends.
Meet The Press:
Seen JM many times.
Todd Galanter, Jessie Roe, Brian Perotti, Gary Grabcheck, John Billings, Mark Kapov, and Amy Madigan
Counting from Amy, I get lost. Is that you hiding (as usual) behind the frontline? Or ?
Amy Madigan, Mark Kapov, Jessie Roe, John Billings
Gotcha!
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7
Last edited by Godfrey Arthur on 20 Aug 2014 7:35 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 6:44 am
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_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 7:30 am
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Got me is right! I was playing pedal steel back then, but they kept getting stolen! When Zappa and I hung out for a few days, he was very interested in the steel, and bottleneck too! I played a very demented version of "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" on 5-string. He loved it! Said it was one of the craziest things he'd ever heard! Had a blast with him!
A few years after those pics, I had short hair, a cowboy hat, and a Shobud! But MEK was a great, and fun band! Sadly, our youngest member, bass player Todd, passed a few months ago from brain tumor.
I have a few great Zappa stories!
Thanks for finding that second pic! I was known onstage as Plastos Klutchem! |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 7:45 am
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| John Billings wrote: |
Got me is right! I was playing pedal steel back then, but they kept getting stolen! When Zappa and I hung out for a few days, he was very interested in the steel, and bottleneck too! I played a very demented version of "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" on 5-string. He loved it! Said it was one of the craziest things he'd ever heard! Had a blast with him!
A few years after those pics, I had short hair, a cowboy hat, and a Shobud! But MEK was a great, and fun band! Sadly, our youngest member, bass player Todd, passed a few months ago from brain tumor.
I have a few great Zappa stories!
Thanks for finding that second pic! I was known onstage as Plastos Klutchem! |
Very interesting JB. Hope you don't mind that I copied your avatar as an epilogue.  Most of the pics on you you're either hidden behind someone's arm or your back is turned. You sure have a knack. Or whomever took the photos was blinded by the light.
Dang, stolen? A steel in those days was the price of a new VW.
We are all heading in the same direction. Condolences on Todd.
I listened to almost all your clips. Very eclectic. Trying to figure out where you guys were heading. No wonder Zappa buzzed you.
I saw Zappa with Big Ruth Underwood.
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7
Last edited by Godfrey Arthur on 20 Aug 2014 6:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 7:52 am
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GA!
Mind? Abdo-lutely not! Wish you had more!That band was fun, the music was fun, Amy was a blast! The steel I had stolen was a Shobud Crossover Custom. They also got my original 1958 Flying V.
It's too bad the studio recordings were not available, as what you heard were the livish tapes, I assume? From Todd's site?
If you've found ANYTHING else, please let me know! Sent an email.
Best,
Plastos |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 9:59 am
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| John Billings wrote: |
GA!
Mind? Abdo-lutely not! Wish you had more!That band was fun, the music was fun, Amy was a blast! The steel I had stolen was a Shobud Crossover Custom. They also got my original 1958 Flying V.
It's too bad the studio recordings were not available, as what you heard were the livish tapes, I assume? From Todd's site?
If you've found ANYTHING else, please let me know! Sent an email.
Best,
Plastos |
Jessie put this u2b clip up. But no music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbxo3gi0IVU
Here's your V at the UWM ballroom. A Born On The 4th of July benefit. If you saw T. Cruise's performance in that flick, you'd know what I meant.
Was Howie with you then?
Methyl Ethyl and the KeTones
John Billings (playing the flying "V") and Mark Kapov on vocals.
There he is guys. Mr. Mugshot the Furry Freak Bro! 
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ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 10:14 am
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Ben was right:
Leo on an Emmons
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ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 10:28 am
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Godfrey,
I was playing that old V through a White Showman, also stolen. What a ROAR!
Howie really just tried out and maybe played a couple times. He was very young, and more into popular music. When we said things like, "It's three bars of 7/4, then one bar of 15/4, and then back to 5/4." I think he lost interest!
Plastos |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 5:29 pm
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| John Billings wrote: |
Godfrey,
I was playing that old V through a White Showman, also stolen. What a ROAR!
Howie really just tried out and maybe played a couple times. He was very young, and more into popular music. When we said things like, "It's three bars of 7/4, then one bar of 15/4, and then back to 5/4." I think he lost interest!
Plastos |
Wow JB you could've joined the Allman bros, Pink Floyd, Trucks band and be at home with the gear theft. What was up with that? You were being cased constantly it seems. They took the V so they didn't want to break up the set, took the Showman, in addition to your steels. 
Your cool experiences must've outweighed the gear loss. Can always get more gear.
I miss Howie. Although Ron Blair was with THB during their break and numerous starting hits, Howie added a bookend to Petty when Ron took a sabbatical. Yeah Howie was more into melody and straight meter. I don't think he would know what to do with "watch out where the huskies go, and don't you eat that yellow snow."
Howie Epstein, Benmont Tench, Tom Petty, Stan Lynch, Mike Campbell
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2014 11:53 am
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"the gear theft. What was up with that?"
We practiced in Todd's father's beauty supply warehouse. Bars on all the doors and windows, except,,,, on the tiny cupola roof vent, which had tiny ten inch windows. Some nice dad lowered his little kid through the vent using a rope. There were tiny, dusty tennis shoe prints on the PA cabs. I lost my V, my White Showman, and my Crossover Custom. Todd lost his old Precision Bass and his Ampeg amp head. Gary lost his old Gibby 345 TD, and two Tweed Twins. Lots of other small stuff. None ever recovered. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2014 12:18 pm
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| John Billings wrote: |
| Some nice dad lowered his little kid through the vent using a rope. |
Or else some junkie and his girlfriend. |
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