When I was 14, I was figuring out how to play the songs on Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens, Tapestry by Carole King, The James Gang Rides Again, and Black Sabbath I – all at the same time. It made sense/paid off when I got to record with Joan Baez and Roky Erickson within a 5 month period. I went from an angel on 12/25/81 to a devil in 5/82.
After recording with Joan Baez, the tune above, “Don’t Slander Me,” was my next recording session (LOL)! When I got to The Site [studio] in San Rafael to record “Don’t Slander Me”, the producer told me “I don’t want a bunch of ‘guitar riffs.’ I want you to come in cussing, screaming and spitting – I want slanderous guitar!” It was fun getting to rock out. Jack Casady [of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna] is on bass.
I had gotten the gig because, in May of ’82, I was at home experimenting with amp tone… I was getting a sound that was so cool that I needed a witness. I called a friend, Duane Aslaksen, who’d just joined a blues band that I was in. He was playing rhythm guitar and studying my blues style. I played my ‘power chords’ sound for him over the phone. Three days later he called me back and said “I’m producing an album for Roky Erickson and I’d like to use that sound that you played for me over the phone”. Record producer??? I’d been rather tough on him at rehearsals – had no idea he was a record producer! I’d earned his respect… I recorded ‘the sound’ for “Nothing In Return” (played 3 tracks). He had me come back and I played lead guitar and 2 solos on “Don’t Slander Me,” the title track of the album. We finished it in 2 takes, so fast that he offered me another song, “Crazy Crazy Mama,” where I played lead guitar and 3 solos. We finished that one in 2 takes as well.
A while before that, in 1981, I was invited to play in High Noon, a band that Mickey Hart [of the Grateful Dead] was putting together. Amongst other locations, High Noon played a gig in ‘the yard’ at San Quentin. Mickey took me under his wing in 1981 and ’82 and being around him was always inspiring. I learned a lot. He was big on holidays and often called me to play on major holidays.
Joan Baez came and fronted the band for a few songs at some of our local shows in the San Francisco Bay area. (She and Mickey were an item at the time.) In late ’81 Mickey produced an album for Joan, featuring the Dead and members of High Noon. On Christmas morning I got a phone call from Mickey, telling me to be at The Barn (his ranch/studio in Novato, Ca) at 11am to record with Joan. I played 2 electric guitar tracks on a song called “Marriott USA” (below).
