Читать книгу Sonic Boom: The Impact of Led Zeppelin. Volume 1 - Break & Enter - Frank Reddon - Страница 22

Led Zeppelin takes the stage in early ’69. Note that John Paul Jones is using his 1961 Fender jazz bass. In another picture of the same performance, he’s playing a Rickenbacker.

Courtesy: Howard Mylett Collection, used with permission. Enzepplopedia Publishing, Inc.

Ed Cassidy, iconic percussionist for his band, Spirit, provided this interview in May 1998. Ed recalls having Led Zeppelin open for Spirit at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, December 26, 1968. This was Led Zeppelin’s first-ever performance on U.S. soil during the group’s First U.S. and Canadian Tour of 1968-69.

Cassidy also provides a lucid backdrop for his perspective of Led Zeppelin, brilliantly recalling the popular music scene and some of its performers in the 1960s.

Ed has been performing for over 55 years and is still going strong. He has played everything from jazz and rock’n’roll to classical music. He is an educator and a professional musician of the highest order who continues to contribute to popular music.

REDDON: Hello, Ed. Thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed.

CASSIDY: I’m happy to help you out if I’m able. What would you like to know?

REDDON:

Well, I’m very interested to hear any recollections you may have about Led Zeppelin’s debut performance in the United States. This brand-new group opened for your band, Spirit, at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, December 26, 1968. I’d love to hear whatever you can tell me.

CASSIDY: All right. That was a long time ago now but I’ll do my best!

REDDON: That’s fine, I’m anxious to hear whatever you have to say, Ed.

CASSIDY:

In the era of the 1960s, I found each group had its own sound and personalities that stood out. During that time, when you heard groups such as The Doors, Hour Glass [aka Allman Brothers Band], Led Zeppelin, Spirit, Vanilla Fudge, they all had distinctive personalities and sounds. I think The Beatles more or less set the stage for everybody else in the 1960s, creating and performing a genre of music that would be of lasting quality.

Other bands followed as pop music advanced. Ours, for one. Led Zeppelin, along with The Doors, Traffic, Hendrix and others set the stage for music that also had the quality of longevity, due to the tangible factors of distinctive personalities and sounds. There were also the British Invasion bands such as The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin. Each had its own blend of special musical magic.

Admittedly, much of these artists’ distinctiveness had to do with the fact that technological advances in musical equipment were being made during the mid to late 1960s. As well, rock’n’roll as a musical form still had a great deal to be discovered at this point. It was definitely an era of discovery - artistically, socially and technologically. All these factors worked together in some way and gave us many distinctive artists with the innovative, memorable music they created during the 1960s.

As for my recollections about Led Zeppelin’s music…Remember that I was in my forties when Zeppelin shared the bill with Spirit in 1968 in Denver. I fully appreciated the musicianship of the whole band but it wasn’t necessarily the type of music I preferred to listen to. Age does make a difference, you know!

We would all listen to each other when we were performing on the same bill. When Spirit played the Denver Auditorium back in 1968 with Led Zeppelin, I thought Led Zeppelin was a very good band right off the bat. Page immediately proved his value as a high quality musician when Led Zeppelin came onto the scene in 1968 and I saw this in Denver as I watched them perform.

I knew that he had been with The Yardbirds and was a very accomplished studio musician. I could identify with the studio musician thing because I’ve participated in an abundance of studio work over the years, even at that point in 1968. If you can make it in the studio, chances are you’re going to be good on stage. And he was, both in The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.

His work with The Yardbirds was spectacular, and here he was - about to start touring the States for the first time with his brand-new band. It was also interesting that they had no album to promote when they were in Denver in 1968, either. They were playing tracks from it but it hadn’t been released yet.

I also picked up on the fact that the other members of Led Zeppelin were competent in their own right. Plant’s vocals were drenched in a blues/rock’n’roll blend, with the bass playing of John Paul Jones demonstrating his expertise. Of course, I was interested in what Led Zeppelin’s drummer, John Bonham, was doing. I was very impressed. He was excellent for being such a young guy. It gets back to that personality factor. Some call it chemistry.

Zeppelin’s four members projected their own personality as they played. They were highly individual but, at the same time, they were able to contribute their individuality into a cohesive, group format. That’s something you can identify as a seasoned musician almost instantly and that’s what I picked up on when I first saw Zeppelin play. They had everything necessary to succeed in their group.

From what I remember, the Denver audience was very receptive to what Led Zeppelin and Spirit were doing that night. Zeppelin definitely had the raw materials to make it in the music business. All four members were strong improvisers. I could tell. And they would only improve as time went on.

REDDON:

Those are incredible insights. Ever since I found out I could interview you, I’ve wanted to ask you this. One of the numbers Led Zeppelin played on its First U.S. and Canadian Tour of 1968-69, was a Garnet Mimm’s number called As Long as I Have You. This song was a structure for one of Zeppelin’s earliest attempts at a medley. Sandwiched within this medley structure is a chunk of Spirit’s song Fresh Garbage. What did you think when you heard Zeppelin making reference to your music?

CASSIDY:

I was actually flattered. I think we all were. We didn’t view it as stealing our stuff or a rip-off of our material. It was interesting the way they put that medley together. As you know, Spirit’s lead guitarist, Randy California, was also my stepson. He greatly appreciated the guitar work of Jimmy Page. Randy’s untimely passing was not only a great loss for our family and friends but also for the music world. Randy was such a gifted guitarist in so many fields. I know Page was one of several exceptional talents whom Randy greatly admired and was influenced by. Randy was also hugely influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, as well as many others.

So to answer your question, we were flattered Led Zeppelin showed that our music – the main riff of Fresh Garbage - had influenced their music in that early medley of As Long as I Have You.

As well, by listening to each other play and by genuinely making an effort to understand the artistry and the music you’re listening to, you inevitably become a better musician yourself in the process. That’s what we used to do when we were billed with other bands. I think it’s safe to say that’s what most groups did in the 1960s.

It didn’t matter who went on first or second really; it was mainly about the music. I’m not saying listening intently to each other’s music didn’t go on in the 1970s and to this day, but the sense of community and mutual respect of the acts performing on the same bill back in the 1960s were so very strong.

REDDON:

I guess that puts a wrap on it, Ed. Thank you so much for your time. This has been a fascinating excursion for me. All the best with your ongoing career.

CASSIDY:

Thank you very much, Frank. If you think of anything else you want to ask me down the line, feel free to contact me. And I wish you every success with your project.