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GravityBoy
"He’s the fifth – and often overlooked – member of The Rolling Stones."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll stop right there,
I've already said too much.
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Yes, I play on both the new tunes. My organ part is a bit buried in the mix on “Doom and Gloom,” which is a drag for me, but if you listen closely, you’ll hear it.
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I’m more prominent on the other tune we recorded, “One More Shot.”
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We’ve had about two weeks’ rehearsal so far and have another couple of weeks before we get to production rehearsals.
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StrawberriesBlueberries
A recent interview with Chuck Leavell on http://localspins.com. Here the Stones related parts:
The Rolling Stones’ longtime keyboard player comments on the legendary band and the excitement of upcoming concerts in an exclusive Spins on Music interview.
"Lots of smiles, and everyone is in fantastic shape and looking forward to getting this in front of the fans."
He’s the fifth – and often overlooked – member of The Rolling Stones.
But as “the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band” rehearses in Paris for its first major concerts in more than five years, keyboard legend Chuck Leavell is in the thick of the reunion hubbub, helping draw up set lists for the band’s four much-ballyhooed shows in London and New Jersey.
The Rolling Stones made a big media splash this week when they performed a “surprise” concert at a tiny 700-capacity nightclub in northern Paris, wowing fans in the intimate setting with their 75-minute “warm-up” show, according to Reuters and other news agencies. Although tied up in rehearsals, Leavell emailed me to say that the “gig went great, as all the media is reporting.” (Another one of those media reports here.)
For an astonishing three decades, Leavell has been the Stones’ keyboard player, bolstering the iconic music of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood.
[...]
I recently interviewed Leavell while he was in Paris rehearsing for those upcoming shows with the Rolling Stones, following up on an earlier Q & A that I conducted with him prior to the canceled Mayer tour. Here are excerpts from those interviews:
Q: The Stones play four arena shows – Nov. 25 and 29 at London’s O2 Arena and Dec. 13 and 15 at Newark’s Prudential Center – as part of their long-anticipated 50th anniversary celebration. How excited are you to be part of this legendary live band again and what sort of preparations are involved?
A: It has been over five years now since we have played a show, so it is just great to be back together again running through all these wonderful tunes. We are in Paris rehearsing and it is going really well. Lots of smiles, and everyone is in fantastic shape and looking forward to getting this in front of the fans. We’ve had about two weeks’ rehearsal so far and have another couple of weeks before we get to production rehearsals.
Q: What are you hearing about the prospects for a full-fledged tour by the Stones?
A: No word on that at all for the moment. The focus is totally on these upcoming shows and no discussions of any further activity will take place until these are done. So we all have to wait and see.
Q: The impressive new Stones’ single, “Doom and Gloom,” will be included in a compilation with another new song. Were you part of the recording sessions?
A: Yes, I play on both the new tunes. My organ part is a bit buried in the mix on “Doom and Gloom,” which is a drag for me, but if you listen closely, you’ll hear it. I’m more prominent on the other tune we recorded, “One More Shot.” It has not been released yet, but will be on the compilation. Both were recorded in Paris the third week in August.
Q: You’ve been playing with the band for so many years. How do you describe your role and what makes being on stage with them such a treat?
A: Yeah, 30 years now. Hard to believe. My role has morphed through all those years and is now sort of unofficial or defacto musical director. I’ve kept meticulous notes through the years of all the rehearsals we’ve done, made charts of most all the songs, made note of all the tempos, have pretty much written the set lists for the last 18 years. I’ve been working on the draft set lists for the upcoming shows in the last few days, and we’ll start honing in on the presentation soon. For now, we’ve just been going through the “big list” and have touched on something like 60 to 70 songs. Of course, we’ll cull that down soon and get to a more reasonable number. But it is a really fun process to go through and we’ve all enjoyed it.
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gotdablouse
Thanks for posting, I never was a big fan of Chuck but seeing him interact up close with the band and especially Mick the other day at the Trabendo made me warm up to the guy, if he wasn't there the band probably wouldn't be touring...Quote
We’ve had about two weeks’ rehearsal so far and have another couple of weeks before we get to production rehearsals.
ok so does that mean they're about to move to London in a big shed where the stage has been set up? It seems they started rehearsing around the 8th so...
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StonesTod
chuck's #1 in my book...the others are just lucky to be in his band. no lie.
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gotdablouse
You guys can deride him all you like I'm convinced they wouldn't be playing anymore if they didn't have him to fall back on.
@StrawberriesBlueberries - October 1st sounds a bit early, and Chuck was interviewed after the Trabendo so October 8th sounds more likely (two weeks in rehearsals), but who knows. I've posted that quote in the rehearsals thread too.
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gotdablouse
@StrawberriesBlueberries - October 1st sounds a bit early, and Chuck was interviewed after the Trabendo so October 8th sounds more likely (two weeks in rehearsals), but who knows. I've posted that quote in the rehearsals thread too.
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DandelionPowderman
About musical direction:
"Keith is the musical director, as far as I'm concerned. He's the band master. - Chuck Leavell, 1994
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DoxaQuote
DandelionPowderman
About musical direction:
"Keith is the musical director, as far as I'm concerned. He's the band master. - Chuck Leavell, 1994
It is interesting to compare that quote from 18 years ago (by the way, VOODOO LOUNGE was the first tour by Chuck's set lists) into the recent one:
"My role has morphed through all those years and is now sort of unofficial or defacto musical director."
Things really have changed and "morphed"... or just more self-confidence?
- Doxa
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DandelionPowdermanQuote
gotdablouse
You guys can deride him all you like I'm convinced they wouldn't be playing anymore if they didn't have him to fall back on.
@StrawberriesBlueberries - October 1st sounds a bit early, and Chuck was interviewed after the Trabendo so October 8th sounds more likely (two weeks in rehearsals), but who knows. I've posted that quote in the rehearsals thread too.
Well...
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Mathijs
Let's get some things straight: Chuck is NOT a member of the Stones, and he is NOT a music legend.
Chuck is a mediocre tinkler with bad taste for clothing, and he has a beard.
Mathijs
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He’s the fifth – and often overlooked – member of The Rolling Stones.
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dandelion1967
Just imagine "She's a rainbow" with Bearded Guy, it will be amazing! That horrible sick piano player Nicky Hopkins just ruined it. We want more beards!!
BTW,Quote
He’s the fifth – and often overlooked – member of The Rolling Stones.
Brian Jones must be, as we say in Argentina, spinning in his grave!!
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DandelionPowdermanQuote
dandelion1967
Just imagine "She's a rainbow" with Bearded Guy, it will be amazing! That horrible sick piano player Nicky Hopkins just ruined it. We want more beards!!
BTW,Quote
He’s the fifth – and often overlooked – member of The Rolling Stones.
Brian Jones must be, as we say in Argentina, spinning in his grave!!
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Munichhilton
I guess it's time I announced I'm the 8th member of the Rolling Stones.
When do I get to start ruining their live sound?
Its not fair.