Rock and Roll Heaven
With Dicky Betts passing on Wednesday it got me thinking once again about the artists we have lost over the years and the band that they could put together.
Please do not reach for the worst Righteous Brothers’ song ever recorded, “Rock and Roll Heaven”. Seriously, with all the talent out there you would think someone would have written a better song. Something like Don McLean’s “American Pie”.
In any event, putting together a band from those who have passed is next to impossible. Who do you put on lead guitar for God’s sake? Duanne Allman? Jimi Hendrix? Robert Johnson? I mean the list is freaking endless.
The drummer? Keith Moon? Ginger Baker? John Bonham? Neil Peart? Impossible to choose.
Throw a little bass in there with: John Entwistle or Jack Bruce. How about Jaco Pastorius?
What about someone on the piano or organ? I would take Jerry Lee Lewis or maybe Leon Russel? Keith Emerson? Or Jon Lord?
You see, this band, unfortunately has too many possibilities but they will always live on in your memory and on your 8 track tapes. Cassette tapes as well.
I have mentioned the passing of Tom Petty as one of the most moving losses from Rock and Roll and I still can’t explain why. I know he was great, anyone who has his five record live album, The Live Anthology, can see that but I think what just got me is how much respect he had for other musicians work. Everyone was a peer and no one was a competitor. Dig into that Live compilation and you will see what I mean. He went way too early to join his new band in Heaven.
Losing David Crosby also struck another chord with me. He was a foundational member of what I like to call my entry into Rock and Roll. Crosby, Stills and Nash were one of the first American groups (even though Nash is a Brit, they are an American group) I loved. I remember sitting and listening with my friends to Four Way Street for hours.
Jeff Beck, another great guitarist that would have to play on the opening set. The guy was as smooth as glass on the guitar and never threw his playing to some exotic point. he stretched as well as anyone but never let it go too far. A lesson for every aspiring guitarist.
My greatest loss was when Keith Moon died. I was and always will be a huge Who fan and hearing that Moon had died unsettled me for a while. You listen to his playing on “Won’t get Fooled Again” or any song on Quadrophenia and you will see what the World is missing. Power, Fire and borderline destruction at any given moment. That was what made The Who so special.
Speaking of drummers, I would be a total loser if I didn’t bring up Charlie Watts. Watts was the exact opposite of Keith Moon or John Bonham. You never felt that the rythym in any song would ever go off the rails even though you had Jagger as the frontman. Watts always kept The Rolling Stones moving in the right direction.
I sometimes think of who I would want to be in my Rock and Roll band from Heaven and honestly, it’s impossible.
Do you have Prince play lead? Who is going to be my lead singer?
Jim Morrison? Freddy Mercury? I might want Janis Joplin to do a set. Hey, I would have Bon Scott to come on stage and scare the Hell out of everyone.
Random players that could come in, write a song, sing us a tune. Gordon Lightfoot or Melanie perhaps.
How about the Southern Rock boys come in for a few sets. Jeez, there is a lot to choose from for sure.
Dickey Betts on his red guitar. Charlie Daniels, Gary Rossington, Greg and Duane Allman, Toy Caldwell, Billy Powell, Ronnie Van Zandt… The list is endless.
Don’t get your britches in a bunch, I may have missed a few along the way but what a band I could put together. I would love to hear from people and see who they could add to this jam band.
Do not say Steve Lawrence.