Quiet Greats

When we consider the period, we always think of the big bands; The Beatles, The Stones, Black Sabbath, Yes, and on and on. I'm sure there's no list that we could make that would be all inclusive. When I consider issues such as this, I think about how all people have a voice inside, and need to let it out. It is surely frustrating being a human and trying to express the right things to have any kind of minimal relationship with others. TMI? Yeah, I know. Voices in your head? Paranoia, fear, and anger? Well... we're human beings after all. It's all part of the package. It's the fight to get out of the weeds that counts. And most of us never get out of the cabbage patch. We end up throwing shit and crap at each other, attempting to hurt others to quell our own pain.

Anyway... this is a post about one of those bands that was short lived and really in the background. They opened for other big bands of the day. I saw them opening for Alice Cooper in San Diego; The same time as the previous post pictures were taken. The group's name was Captain Beyond! They were a group of musicians made up of other groups. But man! they rocked. I had never before, nor since heard a live band that was so together - on the dime and so clear. Everything was so tuned in it was incredible. I'll never forget that evening that me & my sweetheart and I had! Yes, we met the boys from Alice Cooper, but the concert rocked. I always remember the concert and listening to Captain Beyond more than meeting the Coop. Sorry Vince!

Their music had a syncopation to it, it changed beats and had great melodies. Lots of mean guitar work, a bottom you could not only feel, but hear. No mush here. Just a pure ride through the stars.

You can go to Wikipedia and get info about the members, but briefly - the singer was Rod Evans of early Deep Purple fame. His voice is likely very familiar to you if you're reading this blog. He sang the hits "Hush" and "River Deep, Mountain High" among others. A deep rich voice that doesn't scream at you or get overly shrill. Also in the band were Lee Dorman, Rhino Reinhardt, and Bobby Caldwell. You know Dorman, even though you may think you don't. He played that famous bass line in "In A Gada Da Vida"! Rhino was also a refugee from Iron Butterfly like Dorman and Bobby Caldwell played the kit for Johnny Winters (another great artist), back in the day. These experienced rockers were awesome! Tight and pounding!

Unfortunately, after a couple of albums they couldn't get out of the weed patch and split pretty much for good. A couple of concerts and a small reorganization, but as many, they went the way of the world. But we have a couple very good albums and their very first self titled album is still fresh after all these years.

So we'll go on trying to find ourselves in this world of crap. Good music often makes it easier. Thanx Cap'n!

Vince! Dead Babies?

It was May 13th, 1973. We had just got out of high school the year before... well my wife to be just got out of high school. I had quit HS and was playing rock n' roll! We were concert goers! The year before we had gone to see Alice Cooper at the San Diego Sports Arena. We were back and we followed the group to their hotel that night after the concert. The year before they played with Captain Beyond, one of the best concerts I ever went to. This year they played with Flo and Eddie, formerly of The Turtles fame.

Alice introduced his new show - guillotine and new boaconstricter. I think most people under state the effect that Alice Cooper had on the rock scene and rock music. After all, Rock n' Roll is half music and half show! Behind the silliness of his show, was some great musicianship. Alice is an incredibly talented musician. His melodies and songs are advanced as any in the field. The show was a blast! One tune after the next - better than the opera!

After the show we went to their hotel to do a little party-ing with the guys. It was awesome. They were all normal fellas and very cool. There was no pretension and no looking down their nose at us. They invited us in to Alice's room and we sat around and talked. What do you talk about? I don't even recall! I was so stoked at just being able to hang out with them. They were of course exhausted, but still we had a great time.

As for their music. I've kind of lost track over the years. But I still crank up the old stuff now and then. I still get a kick! from "Love It To Death", to "Killer", to "School's Out" to "Billion Dollar Babies", these are my favorite! I have to laugh even now when I think of Donovan singing on Billion Dollar Babies! What a hoot!But still great music! (That's my wife behind Michael Bruce!)

And if known for nothing else, Alice Cooper was the first group to wear dresses! When I first saw that first album with them all dressed up, I thought, "What? A bunch of faggots?" I have no idea what their gender preference is or was, and I really don't care. They blew apart all of the fears! And created greater fears for parents than any other group did. Who cared if Black Sabbath made your kids worship the devil, when Alice was getting them to wear dresses!!!! And not only dresses, but some of the scariest makeup ever. Boy George? Marilyn Manson? They're nobodies! The original was Alice Cooper! And unlike those two losers, his music was... IS awesome! Thanx Vince!