Meltdown: Lockdown – Day 31
Lots to get to today…first, a music documentary I finally got around to watching last night. “Searching For Sugar Man” was everything I hoped it would be. Sixto Rodriguez is a Detroit musician who put out a couple album in the early 1970’s, to zero fanfare here in the states. That wasn’t the case in South Africa, but he didn’t know that. This came out in 2012 and I can finally check it off my list. If you’re a music fan and haven’t watched it yet, do it.
By the way, he was at the STP/Rival Sons show at Freedom Hill in September. Jeff Gutt was so excited he came over and told me. They actually brought him out on stage that night.
I had the pleasure of interviewing 3 Doors Down drummer, Greg Upchurch on my Talkin’ Rock podcast. He wrote, played all the instruments and recorded a song called Skin To Skin, about what we’re going through now. He also told me about playing for Puddle Of Mudd and Chris Cornell. He drummed for him between Chris’s time with Soundgarden and before Audioslave around the turn of the century. He told me about getting sober and what that turning point was, a Bill Murray meeting and, since he’s from Oklahoma, the Tiger King. Great interview…..listen here.
For today’s music challenge it’s cover songs. The first one that came to mind was Ugly Kid Joe’s version of “Cats In The Cradle”. I’ve always loved that one. Cover songs is the topic for today’s FourPlay At 4.
We’re honoring guitar players the entire month of May. In a couple week we’ll highlight Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield from Metallica. I thought I’d pass along the story of the first time I met James…..
It was Memorial Day weekend of 1994. Metallica was starting their tour just outside of Buffalo, N.Y., where I grew up. They’d been in town practicing all weekend. On the day of the show I was tasked with interviewing Lars around 4pm or so. I strapped on all this gear and headed backstage for the live, on-air interview. Our conversation was winding down and I asked Lars if he would play the final few beats of “Sad But True” on the drum set that was setup in the practice room we were in. He looked at me slightly perplexed, then shrugged his shoulders and said “Ok…”. As he wrapped up the final beat, all live on the air, I started to thank him for his time and such, when the door behind me opened up. In comes walking James m’f Hetfield. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what to say, so these words came out of my mouth….”Hey, dude…I have my Harley out in the parking lot if you want to take it for a ride”. Without skipping a beat, he responded “No, I’m drunk!”. LOL
I ended up hanging with the both of them for a few more minutes off the air. Great guys!
Here’s some classic shots with the guys…..including a picture with Kirk from the 1991 tour.
-Meltdown-