No one can replace Walter. Looks like only one guitarist on the stage (Jon Herrington).




Photos by soonerryan2000



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Edited 10 time(s). Last edit at 2017-10-16 19:29 by schillid.

Donald Fagen acknowledged Walter Becker's absence early in the show, "although he did so without much ado, adding that 'life goes on' a stoic acknowledgment ... "

Seeing them next Sunday...can't wait.

The Becker/Fagen songwriting partnership is still a mystery to me. I'd like to know who wrote what songs or contributed what lyrics, since they're so interesting. I know it was a surprise to learn that Ruby Tuesday was totally Keith's. (At least lyric wise). I'm sure Keith has contributed some lyrics that would also be surprising.

I still think a band should die with dignity and I'm firmly against the idea of bands like Steely Dan and the Eagles continuing in their current states. But if they're making people happy, I'm glad. There's nothing that makes me more right than anyone else that thinks differently.

The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Brian was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Mick T was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Stu was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Bill was gone ...

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schillid
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Brian was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Mick T was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Stu was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Bill was gone ...

Walter Becker and Donald Fagan, as well as Glenn Frey and Don Henley, are akin to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. I don't believe those bands should continue without either of those two members. But thats me. Again, I'm not gonna bog down the thread with that. Don't bring up Brian, Stu, Bill, those are all completely different and you know it. My opinion, you have yours, let's move on.

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24FPS
The Becker/Fagen songwriting partnership is still a mystery to me. I'd like to know who wrote what songs or contributed what lyrics, since they're so interesting.

Listen to Becker's 2 solo albums for musical clues...
More sarcastic, darker SD lyrics were likely Walter's contribution

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RollingFreak

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schillid
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Brian was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Mick T was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Stu was gone
The Rolling Stones didn't stop when Bill was gone ...

Walter Becker and Donald Fagan, as well as Glenn Frey and Don Henley, are akin to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. I don't believe those bands should continue without either of those two members. But thats me. Again, I'm not gonna bog down the thread with that. Don't bring up Brian, Stu, Bill, those are all completely different and you know it. My opinion, you have yours, let's move on.

Pink Floyd didn't stop when Syd Barret was gone.
Pink Floyd didn't stop when Roger Waters was gone.
Allman Brothers didn't stop when Duane Allman was gone.
AC/DC didn't stop when Bon Scott was gone.
AC/DC didn't stop when Brian Johnson was gone.
GunsNRoses didn't stop when nearly the entire band was gone.
Queen didn't stop when Freddie Mercury was gone.
Journey didn't stop when what's his name lead singer was gone.
All key members (and some of them leaders)...and the list goes on and on...................

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Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

Looks like a cool setlist! Nice that they play a Becker solo track.

(trying desperately to get back on track here after stupidly bringing up that opinion and knowing others wouldn't be able to resist derailing).

The only derailing was made when you brought in your opinion - just trying to show the other side of the coin.
If all of those bands called it quits after losing a key member, we'd be missing out on alot of great music.

Steely Dan lives on to make millions of people happy.

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Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

The question to continue is a little different with Steely Dan because they became a duo after their third studio album, and no longer had a static lineup with full-time members. Also important to remember they didn't tour at all from 1974-1993, including a significant portion of their initial run as an active entity. So, as much as I miss Walter, I'm glad Fagen is keeping the music alive for those who still want to hear it in person.

We all take that “the Stones end when either mick, keith or Charlie croak” thing as gospel but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone else say it beside Keith.

If Keith was gone Mick may just move Ronnie to the other side of the stage and put mick Taylor back in his old spot.it sounds inconceivable but it’s not impossible.its a tough question to ask but would the band sound better or worse?

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lem motlow
We all take that “the Stones end when either mick, keith or Charlie croak” thing as gospel but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone else say it beside Keith.

If Keith was gone Mick may just move Ronnie to the other side of the stage and put mick Taylor back in his old spot.it sounds inconceivable but it’s not impossible.its a tough question to ask but would the band sound better or worse?

I can't even fathom the Stones with Ronnie and Mick Taylor as the guitarists. I think they'd be a more consistent and showy band. I'd be too sad over Keith's absence to have anything more than a morbid curiosity in them though.

It’s unfathomable to us but I remember going to many many shows during the 90’s when half the stadium went to the restroom and the beer stands during Keith’s set.
The whole thing may play out in an eerie semblance to Guy Peeleart’s rock dreams.

Keith's set has become synonymous with "piss break" and "beer run" for many all the way up to last year at the *Vegas show I saw. He played an unusual three songs vs. two to cover for sick Mick, and many people were becoming restless after he sang a few lines from the first song Slipping Away. During Little T&A it looked like a mini exodus taking place, but by the time Happy started people started coming back in droves happy to be recognizing something familiar to them. That said, hard to imagine the Stones without Keith (and his "piss break/beer run" set), but anything's possible I suppose.

_____________________________________________________________
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

It would not sound like the Stones without ANY of their original guitarists.

Saw them the second night at the Winstar Casino, incredible show.

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker always assembled a top notch band for their recordings and tours and this one is no exception. When i saw them in 2015 (after missing them multiple times since they returned to the stage) I was so happy they included the guitar part for Reelin’ in the Years (their Alive in America Cd from the 90s had a guitarless version that was kind of a let down.)

Any happy that Steely Dan continues, such a unique and enjoyable band.

the shoot 'em dead, brainbell jangler!

Steely Dan is indeed not a true band, but an idea that keeps getting rejuvenated with new members playing familiar arrangements. Steely Dan is also a Heritage Act, just like the Stones are now. The difference is people aren't as burned out on Donald Fagen leading some crack musicians through their songbook. These acts aren't adding top flight new material to their acts. It's the hits, all the time.

From my own experience seeing Steely Dan last year at the Hollywood Bowl, they mix things up from time to time and add little things to the music, unlike the Stones who are calcified in their approach, never varying from what is expected. And I guess we demand that. That's why such a power house song like Get Off of My Cloud is derided when now it's played like a waltz in comparison.


Steely Dan also benefits from their music itself. It has a jazzier approach and appeals to the maturing taste of aging baby boomers like myself. And yes, the band was not overexposed in the concert marketplace, not exposed at all for many years. Like the Stones, the Steely Dan recording legacy has been done for some time. I was amazed by Walter Becker's guitar playing when I saw them recently. But he doesn't do vocals, and when I saw them in the 90s, Becker was playing bass. It's not a distinct sound, and can be played by the top flight musicians Donald Fagen can find.

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24FPS
Steely Dan is indeed not a true band, but an idea that keeps getting rejuvenated with new members playing familiar arrangements. Steely Dan is also a Heritage Act, just like the Stones are now. The difference is people aren't as burned out on Donald Fagen leading some crack musicians through their songbook. These acts aren't adding top flight new material to their acts. It's the hits, all the time.

From my own experience seeing Steely Dan last year at the Hollywood Bowl, they mix things up from time to time and add little things to the music, unlike the Stones who are calcified in their approach, never varying from what is expected. And I guess we demand that. That's why such a power house song like Get Off of My Cloud is derided when now it's played like a waltz in comparison.


Steely Dan also benefits from their music itself. It has a jazzier approach and appeals to the maturing taste of aging baby boomers like myself. And yes, the band was not overexposed in the concert marketplace, not exposed at all for many years. Like the Stones, the Steely Dan recording legacy has been done for some time. I was amazed by Walter Becker's guitar playing when I saw them recently. But he doesn't do vocals, and when I saw them in the 90s, Becker was playing bass. It's not a distinct sound, and can be played by the top flight musicians Donald Fagen can find.

That's a great assessment.

Steely Dan isn't a spectacle like the Stones...it's virtuoso, jazzy yacht rock that you can just sit and groove to with a beer in your hand. That's what I plan doing in a week.

Becker was essential to the Steely Dan creative process, but they haven't been about creating new music in a long time. He was a good, not great guitarist, but on their best material he was the bassist in the studio while the guitar parts were being handled by some of the best studio guitarists in the business.

It is sad that he is not there as part of the live presentation, but I have no problem with Fagen continuing as Steely Dan and keeping the spirit alive with some killer guitarists standing in for Walter.

Shea’s buffalo tomorrow for me

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black n blue
Shea’s buffalo tomorrow for me

I'll be there also.

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Hairball

Pink Floyd didn't stop when Syd Barret was gone.
Pink Floyd didn't stop when Roger Waters was gone. SHOULD HAVE
Allman Brothers didn't stop when Duane Allman was gone. SHOULD HAVE
AC/DC didn't stop when Bon Scott was gone.
AC/DC didn't stop when Brian Johnson was gone. DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE
GunsNRoses didn't stop when nearly the entire band was gone. DITTO
Queen didn't stop when Freddie Mercury was gone. DITTO
Journey didn't stop when what's his name lead singer was gone. DITTO
All key members (and some of them leaders)...and the list goes on and on...................

Rod

My car didn't stop when I took the brake pads off it either ....



ROCKMAN

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bitusa2012

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Hairball

Pink Floyd didn't stop when Syd Barret was gone.
Pink Floyd didn't stop when Roger Waters was gone. SHOULD HAVE
Allman Brothers didn't stop when Duane Allman was gone. SHOULD HAVE
AC/DC didn't stop when Bon Scott was gone.
AC/DC didn't stop when Brian Johnson was gone. DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE
GunsNRoses didn't stop when nearly the entire band was gone. DITTO
Queen didn't stop when Freddie Mercury was gone. DITTO
Journey didn't stop when what's his name lead singer was gone. DITTO
All key members (and some of them leaders)...and the list goes on and on...................

Haha...well yes I agree with most of the SHOULD HAVE's you inserted, the Allman Brothers being an exception as Brothers and Sisters was a great album imo, and they continued to tour successfully up to a few years ago. (although maybe they should have called it quits when Dicky Betts left lol).

But those were just examples I came up with of bands who have gone on with continual success after losing a member pleasing millions of fans - whether or not I like the results is beside the point.

_____________________________________________________________
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

<Pink Floyd didn't stop when Roger Waters was gone. SHOULD HAVE>

They did stop.

However, they (David?) couldn't resist the temptation of £££££££ when they were offered huuuuge stadium-gigs several years later.

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Hairball

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bitusa2012

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Hairball

Pink Floyd didn't stop when Syd Barret was gone.
Pink Floyd didn't stop when Roger Waters was gone. SHOULD HAVE
Allman Brothers didn't stop when Duane Allman was gone. SHOULD HAVE
AC/DC didn't stop when Bon Scott was gone.
AC/DC didn't stop when Brian Johnson was gone. DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE
GunsNRoses didn't stop when nearly the entire band was gone. DITTO
Queen didn't stop when Freddie Mercury was gone. DITTO
Journey didn't stop when what's his name lead singer was gone. DITTO
All key members (and some of them leaders)...and the list goes on and on...................

Haha...well yes I agree with most of the SHOULD HAVE's you inserted, the Allman Brothers being an exception as Brothers and Sisters was a great album imo, and they continued to tour successfully up to a few years ago. (although maybe they should have called it quits when Dicky Betts left lol).

But those were just examples I came up with of bands who have gone on with continual success after losing a member pleasing millions of fans - whether or not I like the results is beside the point.

I am assuming that neither of you saw an Allman Brothers show with the Derek and Warren lineup, they were still one of the best live bands going (imo).

Paul didn't stop playing Beatles after John and George were gone.

I saw them last night. They're playing essentially the same show as the last several years with the addition of a "New Frontier" and the Becker solo song. They have yet to alter the stage diagram so there's a big empty spot where Becker and his rig used to stand.