Tough one.

hi Baard

has your band planned the year ?
comin to ice..?

Nicky Hopkins by far better for the Stones

Jeez...has Billy even gotten a single vote thus far?

That's okay- I vote for Nicky Hopkins too! Nobody tickled the ivories with that kind of style like N. Hopkins...his CV speaks for itself.

Billy Preston was great for what he did, but he always struck me as being just a tad opportunist...sometimes the 75/76 tours came across as being like "The Billy Preston Show" (not just his two songs)...so did the George Harrison tour he did, for that matter. As far as the Stones go, I get the idea that Keith actually felt a little bit threatened by the guy, hence his dismissal. (I think the "Some Girls" LP would have sounded really tacky with Billy on keyboards...)

BTW...who do you think would win in a "Stu VS Leavell" poll???? Heh heh...

my vote is for Nicky. I liked Preston on the '73 European tour for the most part. But I think Brussels Affair would have been even better with Nicky Hopkins instead of Preston.


Did Nicky play any dates on the '73 European tour? I dont think he did but I seem to recall reading on some websites that he did and others say that he didn't.

he just played through australia

Quote
hbwriter
he just played through australia

that's what I think. I remember a website (RocksOff maybe? or Frayed perhaps? dunno) claiming that he played on the European tour too but I don't think it's correct.

Well, it's just my personal preference,
but I like Preston live and Hopkins in the studio.
Mind you, they're two totally differnt style players, as is Mac.
I always wondered why Hopkins wasn't on the Who's Quadrophenia
(keyboards there done by Pete and Chris Stainton),
as he was on Who's Next and The Who By Numbers,
the albums that bookend Quadrophenia.
It's a shame these two greatly talented keyboardists
are no longer here. Their playing is greatly missed in R&R these days.

The winner and still champion! Nicky was a wonderful player. He made many, many records great ones, and not just with the Stones.

Just heard a boot of Hopkins joining the Stones in Anaheim '78--I'd guess that was his last live set with them, right? (I know he played on some early 80's tattoo stuff)