Rick Derringer on Pedal Steel

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 16 Jan 2005 2:13 am

Atomic Rooster, yep. wcih makes me thing if Van Der Graph Generator, and then Seatrain. Ah RIchard Green, great fiddler.

I still love the Roadwork album, RIck was killer on that.
Last year I started restoicking som of my fav 70-80s rock stuff on cd.
Johnny Winter Rick D., Duane, Edgar,
and not to be forgotten Loggins and Messina. One of my favs from that time.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 16 Jan 2005 3:08 am

Rick Mc D, i remember Atomic Rooster quite well since i worked for the Crazy World of Arthur Brown
now who was "the Atomic Rooster" ?
i know...
it was a bass player (hint)
tell me who i t was and you win a thumbpick
i was a roadie w: Johnny Winter when his brother Edgar joined the band.
Rick Derringer was'nt part of the show yet but he was in the picture
i left before he got up there, so i never got a chance to catch his action.
so who was that bass player ?
the original "Atomic Rooster"
he's Canadian (a real big hint)

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 16 Jan 2005 11:35 am

Oh, I don't know... Geddy Lee?

Eric Gearhart · Post by **Eric Gearhart** » 16 Jan 2005 1:05 pm

I was always under the impression that Vincent Crane used the bass pedals of his hammond B3 in Atomic Rooster. Was there a bassist in Crazy World? Arthur Brown/Vincent Crane/Drachen Thaekker/Carl Palmer. I'd have to guess "trick question" because they did use a bass player sometimes in the early eighties upon the reunion of Crane/Mcann/Hammond, but not on any of the 70-73 albums. But you gotta respect a Crazy World of Arthur Brown roadie! Was it your job to light up his flaming skullcap?

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 16 Jan 2005 2:16 pm

Well Carl Palmer was 2nd drummer, then Paul Hammond.

Nick Graham was the original bassist

John Du Cann replaced him, but it was Vincent crane who kicked pedals on the Hammond organ for bass most of the time.

Then it was Bill Smith for one track...Stand By Me

Later Ginger Baker passed through being replaced by original drummer Paul Hammond.

BIG JOHN McCOY playes some bass

David Gilmor guested on a few songs.

Vincent Crane also played bass
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 16 January 2005 at 02:44 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 16 Jan 2005 2:46 pm

Good one Eric

i see that you're on the ball

No, i did'nt light his flaming helmet but it was part of the gear that i took care of.
i assisted the lighting scene many times but my gig was the amps & PA
i also assisted this at 18:
scroll down to "British band is held" http://www.godofhellfire.co.uk/60s.htm
Yes, Arthur Brown did have a bass player
on stage & in the studio
Nick Graham
i did 3 tours w: CWAB and it seems as if Nick had been on all 3
i don't recall Vincent using bass pedals very much on them tours
i used to set the organ up
i remember when Carl Palmer(the third drummer)joined the band too
Jeff Cutler from Toronto was the second drummer

Soooo, the Atomic Rooster was Peter Hodgson
Peter played bass w: John Lee & the Checkmates out of Toronto back in the 60s later to be known as Rhinoceros
(the Elektra supergroup) http://www.rhinoceros-group.com/index.html
Peter H had had himself made a rooster suit that he used to wear out in the streets in LA
like Moondog in NYC
he called himself the Atomic Rooster
and thus the astonished Vincent Crane used that name for his band
btw: Vincent is no longer w: us
Athur B, recently won some €€€€ at the lottery & has'nt given sign of life since..

Second drummer Jeff Roland Cutler from John Lee & the Checkmates had been the drummer for Arthur Brown after Drachen Theaker left the band in the middle of a tour
That's how we knew Rhinocerous so well, since most of the band we're from JL & C
ask the hipsters from Ontario who they were
they'll tell ya'

Danny Weiss the guitar player from Rhino & author of "Apricot Brandy" was the first picker to turn me on to chicken pickin'
EDITED: his Dad use to play guitar w: Spade Cooley & Tex Williams

ps: i remember sittin' behind Johnny W's 6 Twins
2 were on SB & 4 were ON
i dug it when he'd whip out that 12 string Fender w: 6 strings and play some bad ass Texas slide

Gone but not forgotten...
[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 17 January 2005 at 06:34 AM.]

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 16 Jan 2005 3:08 pm

It's nice that so many of you remember the Road Work album by White Trash. I was at the Whisky a Go Go the night they recorded that and i can tell you it was one of the most exciting live gigs ever. Jeff Porcaro was sitting with me and raving about how great the drummer was (can't remember his name). Derringer was awesome.

Edgar Winter had been one of my favorites starting with his Entrance album which was way ahead of its time. I later got a chance to play backup for him at a concert in Las Vegas.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 16 Jan 2005 3:45 pm

Dig that Musicmaster bass and those amps. What are they?

I believe the drummer in question was named Bobby Caldwell.

I remember Rhinoceros very well, CB. I used to do Apricot Brandy w/ a band.

Friend of mine, Rick Latham, also played drums with Edgar Winter.

Cool.

So, was that you arrested in the Ft. Lauderdale fiasco, Crowbear?

You da man.[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 16 January 2005 at 06:40 PM.]

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 16 Jan 2005 4:11 pm

Willie Ornelas used to play drums for Edgar Winter back in Houston. But he said the best drummer he ever heard in that group was one night when he (Willie) was late for the gig. As he walked in from the parking lot he heard some great drumming and wondered why he had never heard anybody in Houston who could play like that. Of course it turned out to be Edgar playing drums.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 16 Jan 2005 4:46 pm

Sorry, Bobby Caldwell was the drummer with Johnny Winter AND (including Rick Derringer). I misread, and thought we were talking about Johnny.

You can understand my confusion

[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 16 January 2005 at 06:54 PM.]

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 16 Jan 2005 5:11 pm

But the fact remains, that Bobby Caldwell was/IS an incredible drummer.

He was the propelling force behind another sorely overlooked 70s band that could stand toe to toe with anybody of the day, Captain Beyond. Look no further than their debut/self titled LP to experience a full mesmerization eclipse.

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 16 Jan 2005 6:31 pm

Captain Beyond!

Whoa, now I AM getting dizzy...

------------------

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 16 Jan 2005 9:00 pm

You guys will enjoy this trip down memory lane- Here's the Blackfoot band that did those gigs with Edgar Winter, (L-R)- Charlie Hargrett on guitar, forum member Lenny Stadler on bass (check out the cool blonde Rick 4001, DD), Jackson Spires on drums, Ricky Medlocke (now w/ Skynyrd again) on guitar. After Lenny quit the band around '73 the other 3 guys picked up another bass player and finally got a record deal. They were on the verge of a deal with Atlantic when Lenny walked out (due to a life-altering experience with Christ), and that contract was given to Lynyrd Skynyrd. (Lenny had talked Ricky into quitting Skynyrd to form Blackfoot) It was a temporary setback, but Blackfoot went on to have some significant success... and Lenny's done well, too. Of course, Lenny's Dad, Leonard Stadler was the builder of Marlen steel guitars and a fine gentleman. Leonard was an enthusiastic supporter of Lenny's music and (I'm told) provided a lot of amps and gear for Blackfoot in the early stages.

Lenny has provided me with a copy of the original Blackfoot demos, and he was/is a killer bass player. The early edition of this band was driven by the Lenny and Jackson unit, and they were awesome together... to my ear, it was a much different band after Lenny left.[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 16 January 2005 at 09:11 PM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 17 Jan 2005 1:06 am

I had forgotten Captain Beyond, but not Blackfoot.
(check out the cool blonde Rick 4001, DD)
Yep, I had a blond one too around '76

Have no clue on the amps,
they seem a Spinal Tap kinda amp... one big black knob that's it!

Bob Smith · Post by **Bob Smith** » 17 Jan 2005 6:17 am

Cool picture Rick!! Man, those bands were so good bck then. That picture just wreeks with exitement and talent. Bob

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 17 Jan 2005 10:54 am

While reading this post last nite, the song "Frankenstein,"rang a bell, I found the article on it that I had read earlier that day.The following is an exerpt from that article. How accurate??I don't know but sounds good enough to be true.

BF

Though Edgar would only chart with two songs, they have since become classics. "Free Ride" is still a staple on classic rock stations around the world. And "Frankenstein," his only #1 hit, has taken on a life of its own. The crunchy instrumental is heard at any number of sporting events, and is often pulled out when a movie trailer wants to give the impression of 70s rock and roll.
• "Frankenstein" was almost an accident - it evolved from an impromptu studio jam session. When it was evident that they had a catchy song on their hands, the band went about .editing the long, rambling musical session. The song got its name from the extensive cutting and editing that was involved in trimming it down to an appropriate length for radio airplay.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 17 Jan 2005 2:26 pm

I would question that last part of the article about Frankenstien coming out of a jam session. You can hear parts of frankenstien on Edgar's very first record. I think he probably composed it fully over a period of time, adding new sections as time went on.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 17 Jan 2005 2:43 pm

As I heard it, there was a female engineer who was master splicer, and was freaking the band out by cutting sections of tape (picture several segments hanging from the wall), and re-ordering and edititng sections of the song.
A dismayed band member said "Sheesh, we should call this thing Frankensien" and the rest is history.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 17 Jan 2005 8:17 pm

I agree with Dan's last comment- man, that thing is arranged to the hilt. The part toward the end with the soprano sax and (is it a guitar? I haven't heard it in awhile) playing the little figure in thirds... that took some woodshedding to get that tight.

It may be a "Frankenstein," but it's also a masterpiece... a classic piece of rock music.[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 17 January 2005 at 08:18 PM.]

Thomas Bancroft · Post by **Thomas Bancroft** » 18 Jan 2005 12:57 pm

Kenny Aaronson of the Rick Derringer Band, Billy Squire Band, etc. plays steel guitar.
He was one of the other pedal steel students of my teacher in NYC in the early 90's

Tony Lehr · Post by **Tony Lehr** » 18 Jan 2005 5:21 pm

Lets see, Bobby Caldwell on drums, Randy Jo Hobbs on bass, and Johnny and Rick. That was my first concert I ever saw in Evansville Indiana in the early 70's. I was too young to really appreciate what I was hearing. Remember the Live Album Jonny Winter And? That still stands up today to anything I've heard.
Also the Edgar Winter White Trash Roadwork Double Album. Have you heard anything that great ever since? Me neither. How about the Tobbaco Road solo.
We actually had Edgar Winters drummer(Chuck Ruff, who was driving a cab,) set in with us at a little club in Reno. We did a Waylon number, Always been crazy. He was excellent.
O.K. what else, I think the drummer for White Trash , Bobby Rameriz was killed in a bar fight.
Finally, all you Stevie Ray Vaughn fans, listen to some Jonny Winters and you'll see where Stevie got some of his licks from. The only difference is Johnny WAS FINGERPICKING
P.S. Remember Hang on Sloopy by the Mcoys,and last I heard Johnny is fragile but still attempting to play.

Al Terhune · Post by **Al Terhune** » 18 Jan 2005 7:29 pm

I was in an NYC pop band in the mid 80's, and we did a little midwest tour, one stop being Union City, Ohio, home I believe, of Rick Derringer and the McCoys. We knew this going in, and learned Hang On Sloopy. The bass player happened to be there and said we were the "best punk band I've ever seen!"

Allen Peterson · Post by **Allen Peterson** » 19 Jan 2005 6:21 am

Found this on a google search for the McCoys and thought you guys might be interested in it:

Formed in Union City, Indiana, in 1962, this group was initially comprised of guitarist Rick Zehringer, his brother Randy on drums and bass player Dennis Kelly. Starting out as Rick And The Raiders, then The Rick Z Combo, the group later added organist Ronnie Brandon, becoming the McCoys soon after Randy Hobbs replaced the college-bound Dennis Kelly.

The quartet became a highly popular attraction throughout America's Midwest, and gained the attention of producers Feldman/Gottherer/Goldstein who brought them to Bert Berns' "Bang Records". The group's very first release was a simple, hard driving tune called "Hang On Sloopy", which shot to the top of the U.S. charts and reached the top 5 in the UK in the summer of 1965. For a follow-up, the band chose a similar arrangement for a tune called "Fever", a remake of Peggy Lee's Top Ten hit in 1958. A series of successive releases in a similar gutsy style fared less well and a cover of Ritchie Valens' "C'Mon Let's Go" was their only other Top 40 hit.

By 1969, the group had discarded its bubblegum image with the progressive album "Infinite McCoys", and became the house band at New York's popular Scene club. The club's owner, Steve Paul, later paired the group with an up and coming blues guitarist named Johnny Winter and billed them as "Johnny Winter And..." ("And" referring to "The McCoys") featured the Zehringer brothers and Randy Hobbs, with Rick handling the production. It was about this time that Rick changed his last name from Zehringer to Derringer.

In 1971, Rick was featured as lead vocalist on three albums, "Johnny Winter And", "Johnny Winter And - Live" and an L.P. by Johnny's brother Edgar Winter called "Edgar Winter's White Trash".

Eventually, Derringer joined Edgar's White Trash band full-time and produced the gold LP, "Roadwork". Derringer's solo album, "All American Boy" was released in 1973 with the now already popular "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo", this time as a single. Rick was writer/producer of Johnny Winter's "Still Alive and Well" album and player/producer of the hit album, "They Only Come Out At Night". The latter featured the No. 1, Grammy nominated monster hit, "Frankenstein" and "FreeRide".

In 1976, Rick created the Derringer Band and during the latter half of the seventies, released four albums, "Derringer" , "Sweet Evil", "If I Weren't So Romantic I'd Shoot You" and "Face To Face". In 1983, Rick returned to his solo career with the LP, "Good Dirty Fun."

Throughout the 70's and 80's Derringer appeared as a session musician on numerous albums with artists Alice Cooper, Richie Havens, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand and Kiss.

In the mid-80's, Derringer discovered Weird Al Yancovic, producing music for his Grammy-winning albums and videos. Derringer's productions of the Michael Jackson parodies, the No. 1 hit "Eat It," and "Who's Fat," have been among Yancovic's most successful recordings.

Rick was selected to be producer/writer/performer of the World Wrestling Federation LPs. Hulk Hogan's theme song, "I Am A Real American" was written and performed by Rick as a part of these projects.

By 1990, Derringer was once again sought after by Edgar Winter and performed for the LP, "Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer Live in Japan". In the late 1990's, many shows found Rick and Edgar on stage together and they joined for an all-star re-union with the White Trash Horns at 1999's Montreaux Jazz Festival. In 1999, Rick collaborated with Edgar as songwriter/guitarist on his "Winter Blues" CD.

The year 2001 saw Derringer venture back into rock and roll with former Vanilla Fudge members, Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert, producing a CD called "DBA - Derringer, Bogert and Appice", with vocals, writing and instrumentals shared by all three. Rick has followed closely on the heels of this project with a recording entitled 'Aiming For Heaven,' with help from his daughter Lory and son Marty.

Derringer was back on the road in 2002, recording a live show for future release.

David Phillips · Post by **David Phillips** » 20 Jan 2005 8:23 am

My friend Chris was at Rick Derringer's house in NYC in 1981 and was fortunate to take possession of his Sho~Bud Pro II from him.
It is the rack and barrel type and is a doubleneck which originally had 8 pedals and 4 knee levers. It is dark red maple laminate with a light green undercarriage. Chris still has the guitar.

Jim Hankins · Post by **Jim Hankins** » 20 Jan 2005 11:24 am

Allen`s summary of Ricks career, is good, but unless I missed it, ommits a string of 4 blues (really closer to Blues rock) albums that Rick put out in the 1990s, which represent him at his best...tons of lead work. Jim