‘Melanie’ Safka Exclusive: “My Mother Drove Me To Woodstock” (Part 1)

By Ray Shasho

(Part 1) of a (2 part) Exclusive Interview:

Melanie Safka (Melanie) was once hailed as the female Bob Dylan. Her awe-inspiring lyrical connotations were accompanied by her majestic voice and an acoustic guitar. She was a lone entity onstage but radiated a powerful force that became the voice and spirit to one of the most important generations the world will ever know.
When I asked Melanie how she developed her unique and sensational singing style she said …

“I went out to imitate Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf and got it wrong.”

 Melanie was born in Queens, New York to a Russian-Ukrainian Father and an Italian Mother. Her musical career began in Greenwich Village and eventfully landed her first recording contract with Columbia Records. She released several singles on the label but retained greater success after signing with Buddah Records.

Her debut album Born to Be (1968) was acclaimed for her independent music styles. It became clear that there was an exciting new singer on the block. In 1969, the single “Bobo’s Party” a track from her debut album reached #1 in France. Her second studio release Affectionately Melanie (1969) spawned the single “Beautiful People,” the song became a Top 10 hit in the Netherlands.

 Melanie’s songs began gaining momentum but she was still, for the most part, considered an unknown to the U.S. music scene until August 15th 1969. Melanie was invited to perform at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair held on a dairy farm in Brethel, New York. Her mother drove her to the event. She had been clueless to the size and significance of the concert until she witnessed Sly Stone walking around and Janis Joplin sipping Southern Comfort while being interviewed by reporters. After arriving at the hotel she was separated from her mother and rushed onto a helicopter. While descending towards the stage area, she was in total disbelief over the mass of people attending the three-day event. Melanie shared a tent with folk musician and composer Tim Hardin while she awaited her turn to perform at the most famous concert event in music history.

Several hours later, she was called upon to perform after Ravi Shankar’s set. Melanie was terrified … a lone woman performer with a guitar in front of a half a million people. Without a setlist to guide her, she opened with “Close to It All” followed by “Momma Momma,” “Beautiful People,” “Animal Crackers,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Tuning My Guitar,” and concluded with “Birthday of the Sun,” a song she chose simply because it was raining.
 
Before and during her performance, concert organizers had distributed candles throughout the crowd. The lit candles during her performance while it rained inspired her profound composition, “(Lay Down) Candles in The Rain” (1970 #6 Billboard Hot 100 singles chart). She also inspired the etiquette of raising candles and cigarette lighters at concerts while portraying an audience of fireflies.

After Woodstock, Melanie became the concert festival queen, performing at such outdoor events as The Isle of Wight, Strawberry fields Festival and Glastonbury Festival. She was also asked to perform on numerous Television programs including Dick Cavett, Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson.

“(Lay Dow) Candles in The Rain” was followed by “Peace Will Come (According to Plan)” (#32 Hit),” and her Rolling Stones cover, “Ruby Tuesday” (#52 Hit).
 
Melanie and husband/ producer Peter Schekeryk formed their own record label called Neighborhood Records in 1971.
Also in 1971, Melanie landed her biggest commercial hit entitled, “Brand New Key” (#1 Billboard Hot 100 singles chart). A song inspired after a stop at a McDonalds fast food restaurant.

Melanie also released “What Have They Done to My Song Ma’” which was also covered by The New Seekers and Ray Charles. The New Seekers also covered “Beautiful People” and “Nickel Song” composed by Melanie.

Melanie set a record for the first female performer to land three simultaneous Top 40 hits … “Brand New Key,” “Ring the Living Bell” and “Nickel Song.”

Melanie was awarded Billboard’s #1 Top Female Vocalist for 1972. She also became a UNISEF Ambassador that same year.

In 1973, Melanie spawned the hit “Bitter Bad” (#36 Billboard Hot 100 singles hit).

In 1989, she won an Emmy Award for writing the lyrics to “The First Time I Loved Forever” the theme song for the TV series 'Beauty and The Beast.'

Melanie’s songs have been covered by countless musicians over the years.

Her latest album is entitled … Ever Since You Never Heard of Me (2010)

She has sold more than 80- million records to date.

Melanie will be performing on November 22nd at 8:00 p.m. at the Carrollwood Cultural Center (Main Theatre) in Tampa, Florida. For tickets visit here or call 813-269-1310.

I had the incredible opportunity to interview Melanie Safka in a (Two-Part) exclusive interview.

Here’s ‘PART 1’ of my interview with singer, songwriter, musician, Woodstock and 70’s legend … MELANIE.
Ray Shasho: Hi Melanie thank you for being on the call today.
Melanie: “Hi Ray, it’s my pleasure.”
Ray Shasho: I noticed your cell phone number had a Pinellas County area code, but you live in Nashville?
Melanie: “That was my husband’s phone; he passed away a few years ago. We had a second home in Florida which doesn’t exist right now but I kept that phone number. We lived in Safety Harbor. It was like this little cove that no one knew about. Then they started building more houses so we moved out and travelled across the bridge and decided to live in this beautiful old house in downtown Clearwater. Then we decided to move from there to Nashville.”

“Probably the longest I’ve lived anywhere was on the west coast of Florida. It was really nice and I liked it a lot. The west coast of Florida seemed like an authentic place, but now it’s been developed liked everywhere else and not as wonderful as it once was.”
Ray Shasho: Your most recent album is entitled … Ever Since You Never Heard of Me (2010) and feature’s a track called, "I Tried to Die Young."Talk about that song?
Melanie: “I love irony and playing with words and “I Tried to Die Young” … yes, I was a very self -destructive person in my youth. Not in the ways of 60’s youth culture, I wasn’t a druggie and didn’t abuse myself in those ways. I did crazy things that could’ve been risky and I didn’t play the music business game very well. My husband would always cringe when I said certain things. He was the one that got me out there; I never would have done this. I would have been a potter in North Carolina. I was an introvert and hated being recognized or being seen, he pushed me out there. I love making the music and knew what it was that I had to do but all that in- between stuff wasn’t my thing.”
Ray Shasho: I’ve witnessed your musical influence and style in so many women artists over the years … Stevie Nicks is one good example.
Melanie: “Stevie Nicks, Cyndi Lauper …Joanna Newsom.” She set a whole other trend for that super breathy thing that engineers can’t get microphones far enough down somebody’s throat. I feel like I need to apologize for it … it just took over.”
Ray Shasho: Melanie, you’ve always had such a beautiful voice, incredibly attractive, and thousands of guys fell in love with you.
Melanie: “I was so shy and always felt ugly and never ever felt like I was pretty. I look at my photos now and say, what was I thinking? I felt fat, ugly and my nose wasn’t right and didn’t see anything that would attract anybody. I was married and my husband always told me that I was gorgeous but I thought that was just him.”
Ray Shasho: I must have been extremely naïve growing up because I never got the sexual innuendo implied by the press about your classic number one hit “Brand New Key.”
Melanie: “I never thought of it … it just came right from the top of my head. But I do often write beyond my intellect. I think art is not about how clever you can be. It has become valuable in the world of art … especially when you’re promoting. If you can articulate about what you’ve done, a lot of people can read that into what you’ve done and it makes what you’ve done that more valuable. I’ve never been a great articulator; I just do the music part.”

“Of course I can see it symbolically with the key, but I just thought of roller skating. I was fasting with a twenty seven day fast on water. I broke the fast and went back to my life living in New Jersey and we were going to a flea market around six in the morning. On the way back …and I had just broken the fast, from the flea market, we passed a McDonalds and the aroma hit me, and I had been a vegetarian before the fast. So we pulled into the McDonalds and I got the whole works … the burger, the shake and the fries … and no sooner after I finished that last bite of my burger …that song was in my head. The aroma brought back memories of roller skating and learning to ride a bike and the vision of my dad holding the back fender of the tire. And me saying to my dad …“You’re holding, you’re holding, you’re holding, right? Then I’d look back and he wasn’t holding and I’d fall. So that whole thing came back to me and came out in this song. So it was not a deliberate or intentional sexual innuendo.”
Ray Shasho: Did you think the song would become as popular as it did after you wrote it?
Melanie: “No. I did it as a little ditty. It was my husband the producer who was always looking for the hits. I was mortified when I saw what he was doing; he was going to make this record a hit. At first I became reactionary to that song because it was all anyone wanted to know about. They didn’t remember Melanie with the all black choir singing “Candles in the Wind,” they didn’t remember “Beautiful People” or anything else. It was all about “Brand New Key.” People kept saying …when are you going to come up with another one of those? I guess next time I go on another twenty seven day fast. I have eaten at McDonalds with hopes it would turn on but it never did. That unique combination just never happened again.”
Ray Shasho: I told Tom Rush in an interview I did with him and it also applies to you …there is nothing like watching a lone musician up onstage with a guitar, a song, and a story.
Melanie: “Oh God yea. Over the years every major label wanted to superimpose my voice on what they thought was the next commercial hit. Clive Davis said put down your guitar down and be the 80’s woman …and I didn’t take that job (All laughing). Melissa Manchester did, I always wondered about that, it was the strangest transformation. She was a singer and songwriter … earthy, sat down at the piano, sang and wrote songs, and all of a sudden she got this Clive Davis hit and it was like a Las Vegas type act. So I made some very expensive decisions in my life. It’s hard enough to get up night after night and do what you love, but to get up and do something that you didn’t love would be absolutely horrendous.”
Ray Shasho: Who were some of your early musical influences growing up?
Melanie: “Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee … Brenda Lee was a big influence in my teens and I loved her voice. I sang a couple of Brenda Lee songs that were real pop hits and then I discovered Edith Piaf. I loved Joan Baez but couldn’t have that pure little voice that she had, it was so beautiful, I tried but it just didn’t come out that way. I went out to imitate Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf and got it wrong …I guess that’s where my style came from.”
Ray Shasho: Melanie, what is your perception of performing at Woodstock?
Melanie: “It was many things … it was the experience that I shared with 500,000 people, or seemed like at least that many. I was pretty much an unknown person; I had one record “Beautiful People” that was being played on WNEW FM at most, it hadn’t hit college radio stations or underground stations in America. I had been played a bit by pirate stations in the Netherlands and John Peel in England. Other than that, most people didn’t know who Melanie was. I hadn’t been on television yet and never performed for more than 500 people before.”

“I was in England and had been asked to do a film score and been working in the studio right next door to where The Rolling Stones were. I had the London Symphony Orchestra in the studio with me and my husband was the producer and I was deciding whether I should go back and do this Woodstock thing. I had pictured …three days of peace, love, and music was going to be more like a picnic with kids, families, arts and crafts, and going shopping … I had no clue!”

“My mother drove me to Woodstock. We went to the wrong place and then finally found the hotel and I was all by myself with my mom. So we got to the hotel and there’s Sly Stone walking by. Then surrounded by media was Janet Joplin drinking Southern Comfort and all of a sudden, now I know this was something really big. That traffic wasn’t just an accident ahead it was something really-really big and I was going to have to sing in front of it.”

“We were told that we needed to go in a helicopter. I had never been in a helicopter before so I asked why can’t we just drive like everyone else. So we get into the helicopter and they stop my mother … they asked who is she and I said it’s my mother. They said no mothers, just the performers and mangers. I didn’t even have the smarts to say oh yea she’s my manager (All laughing). I said bye mom and we were separated.”

“So I went off in the helicopter and then began descending onto a field. I looked out the window and asked the pilot what is that? He said it was the people. Then he pointed to the stage and it looked like a football field. I thought … I’m going to die, get me out of here!”

“Once we landed I was led to a little tent. There was an upper echelon tent and then the miscellaneous people. I was put in a tiny tent with Tim Hardin who was way more known than I was. Richie Havens was onstage singing and I knew he was terrified because I think he was in his twentieth minute of “Freedom.” I started thinking …oh my God, how can I possibly do this? I wouldn’t be able to get up in front of all those people and not a possibility. They kept coming in between acts and saying …you’re next… you’re next! I developed this deep bronchial nervous cough and it just sounded like the demons were coming out of me. Joan Baez who was in the upper echelon tent heard me coughing and sent me tea. I thought Joan Baez … oh my God! She was my idol. Her sending me the tea was my Woodstock moment.”

“Hours and hours later … it started to rain and the other side was just beginning to light up with candles that Hog Farm was passing out. Right before I went on the announcer made kind of an inspirational message about the lighting of the candles and keeping the light alive. I really thought when it started to rain everybody was going to pack up and go home. I thought it was going to be my reprieve and I was going to be saved. Every ounce of me was praying that I didn’t have to do this. I thought … if there is a God, prove it, I have to get out of here! (All laughing) I was one girl with a guitar and an unknown one at that, and I’m going to be thrown on the stage! Right after Ravi Shankar and the announcement, I was called.”

"Woodstock was a life changing experience. I really sensed a connectedness with the people. I felt a positive wave and human power throwing into me and can never forget that. The people who will ever experience that … and I think Richie was one and really felt that too. There were so few that didn’t come away from Woodstock with a very cynical attitude. I didn’t have that. It wasn’t a career move for me, I was just one person and didn’t have a point of reference and didn’t have a manager out there saying you got to do this or that. I was just me and I went out onstage and didn’t even know what I was going to do. I had no recollection of what I did out there. I did one song that I had never sung in front of people in my whole life … it was called “Birthday of the Sun.” I never sing it anymore; I sung it at Woodstock because it was raining and I just wrote it. (Laughing) I didn’t have it out on a record; I wasn’t promoting anything and didn’t have any other agenda except that I had to get through to these people, whatever it is, it was my defining moment. I didn’t know if they were going to stone me or throw tomatoes. Or this might be it, my last moment on this earth. And I came away from that with this glow of warm, beautiful, human energy and I was probably the only straight person at Woodstock.”

“I had an out of body experience when I walked out on that stage. I left my body. I didn’t hear a thing; I wasn’t there and was hovering above my body and at some moment felt one with myself again. It was the extraordinary circumstance that I was put in."

Melanie will be performing on November 22nd at 8:00 p.m. at the Carrollwood Cultural Center (Main Theatre) in Tampa, Florida. For tickets visit here or call 813-269-1310.

Melanie Safka official website at www.melaniesafka.com
Melanie Safka on Facebook
Melanie Safka on Twitter
Melanie Safka on Myspace
Purchase Melanie’s latest release Ever Since You Never Heard of Me at amazon.com

Very special thanks to Beau Schekeryk and Kim Reilly of SeaSide Music Management

Contact Classic Rock Music Journalist Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Coming up NEXT… 'Melanie' Safka exclusive: “My mother drove me to Woodstock” (Part 2)

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Ted Nugent Interview: Our First American Rock and Roll President?

By Ray Shasho

Guitar slinger, singer and songwriter Ted Nugent is best known in rock and roll folklore as the ‘Motor City Madman’ and over the decades has magnanimously personified the title and reputation. Nugent has managed to circularize himself to the world in one way or another … from his rock and roll virtuosity, to his hunting craftsmanship, to his extreme patriotic views and passion. Ted says he’s even considering a presidential bid. Politically correctness is definitely not a part of Ted’s vocabulary, but maybe that’s not a bad thing, I’m pretty sure our forefathers weren’t either.

Ted Nugent will be performing at the ‘House of Blues Orlando’ with Laura Wilde on August 19th at 8:30p.m. For tickets visit here or call 407-934-2583. Nugent’s current lineup has longtime lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Derek St. Holmes, Dokken co-founder “Wild” Mick Brown on drums, and Greg Smith on bass and vocals.

 TED NUGENT has sold more than 40 –million albums and has performed at more than 6,400 concerts. His illustrious music career has spanned over five decades.


Born in Detroit, Michigan, Ted’s father was an Army staff sergeant and Nugent was raised in a stringent household. A self-taught musician, Nugent began playing the guitar at six years old. His first two bands were the ‘Royal High Boys’ and the ‘Lourds.’ After an impressive performance at the Michigan State Fair, the Lourds were asked to open for the Beau Brummels and the Supremes at Cobo Hall. Later that year while still in his teenage years, he moved to Palatine, Illinois, a residential suburb of Chicago.

Later that year Nugent fronted the group The Amboy Dukes.

The Amboy Dukes: After graduating high school, Nugent returned to Detroit where he recruited new members for The Amboy Dukes. The group signed with Mainstream Records and released their self-titled debut album The Amboy Dukes (1967). The bands second effort was entitled Journey to the Center of the Mind (1968) and scored commercially with the psychedelic title track reaching #16 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart.

The Amboy Dukes core lineup became … Ted Nugent (lead guitar and vocals), John Drake (vocals), Gary Hicks (guitar, vocals), Andy Solomon (organ, piano and vocals), Greg Arama (bass) and Dave Palmer (drums). Rhythm guitarist Steve Farmer wrote the lyrics to “Journey to the Center of the Mind” and is credited on many other tracks and studio recordings. Keyboardist Rick Lober and bassist Bill White were replaced after the debut album. In 1969, Rusty Day replaced John Drake on vocals.

Subsequent albums by The Amboy Dukes: Migration (1969), Marriage on the Rocks/Rock Bottom (1970), Survival of the Fittest Live (1971).
Subsequent albums by Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes: Call of the Wild (1973), Tooth Fang & Claw (1974).

TED NUGENT SOLO: In 1975, Ted Nugent signed a solo deal with Epic Records. Nugent had separated from the Amboy Dukes to pursue a solo career and scored immediately with the release of his debut album Ted Nugent. The album spawned the hit singles “Stranglehold” and “Hey Baby.” The lineup featured Ted Nugent on lead guitar and vocals, Derek St. Holmes on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Rob Grange on bass and Cliff Davies on drums.

Nugent transformed himself into a master showman onstage while creating the role of a caveman- rock and roll- superhero wearing a loincloth.

Nugent’s follow-up album was Free-for-All in 1976. Singer, songwriter and musician Meat loaf contributed on several tracks.
In 1977, Ted Nugent released his most successful album to date entitled Catch Scratch Fever. The double-platinum release generated the classic tracks … “Catch Scratch Fever” (#30 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles Hit), “Workin’Hard, Playin’ Hard” and “Out of Control.”

Ted Nugent became a rock concert phenomenon selling out arenas and stadiums.

In 1978, Ted Nugent released Double Live Gonzo! an incredible double- album featuring live performances. The LP reached triple platinum status. The album also featured original tracks “Yank Me, Crank Me” and “Gonzo” played live. Also in 1978, Nugent released the successful Weekend Warriors. It was the first album not to feature vocalist Derek St. Holmes.
The album was followed by State of Shock (1979) reaching the U.S. Top 20 and achieving gold status. Nugent’s sixth studio album Scream Dream (1980) featured the standard “Wango Tango.”

Subsequent Ted Nugent studio albums: Nugent (1982), Penetrator (1984), Little Miss Dangerous (1986), If You Can’t Lick ‘Em … Lick ‘Em (1988).

In 1989, Ted Nugent joined the group Damn Yankees with Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Michael Cartellone (Who would eventually join Lynyrd Skynyrd). The band released two successful studio albums … Damn Yankees (1990) and Don’t Tread (1992). Their single “High Enough” reached #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart.

Subsequent Ted Nugent studio albums: Spirit of the Wild (1995), Craveman (2002), Love Grenade (2007).

Ted Nugent has consistently remained in the limelight one way or another. Either with his outdoorsman Television show Spirit of the Wild or VH1 reality TV program Surviving Nugent, or raising controversy and being interviewed by the networks, or simply through his incredible musical talents. Nugent has a love him or hate him persona, and either way, you’ve got to admire his fortitude.

I had the rare pleasure of chatting with Ted about his upcoming show at the House of Blues in Orlando and some very hot topics…
Here’s my interview with legendary guitar hero, singer, songwriter, pro-gun, pro-freedom and pro-America advocate … (“The Nuge”) TED NUGENT.

Ted was performing in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan later that evening.
Ray Shasho: Ted, thank you for taking some time out of your busy schedule and spending it with me today.
Ted Nugent: “My pleasure Ray.”
Ray Shasho: You’ll be performing at the ‘House of Blues in Orlando’ on August 19th, what are some of the songs we can expect to hear from your setlist?
Ted Nugent: “That's always a loaded question, and only questions and guns are allowed to be loaded around me. We have so many killer songs it is always frustrating to choose a couple hours’ worth, but we do so gallantly every night anyway. Every song of mine makes a killer opener and or a killer encore. We just let ‘er rip and it always works out to everyone's total satisfaction. Afterall, what would life be like without “Gonzo,” “Just What The Dr. Ordered,” “Wango Tango,” “Turn It Up,” “Free For All,” “Stormtroopin’,” “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang,” “Live It Up,” “Queen Of The Forest,” “Fred Bear,” “Hey Baby,” “Cat Scratch Fever,” “Stranglehold,” “Great White Buffalo,” and so many more.”
Ray Shasho: One of my favorite You Tube videos is when you began incorporating “Journey to the Center of the Mind” into your setlist and also reunited with your old bandmates The Amboy Dukes. What’s the origin behind that psychedelic rock classic?
Ted Nugent: “I was certainly very fortunate to be surrounded by dedicated virtuosos far ahead of their time and much better musicians than myself from the very beginning. The Amboy Dukes' superior rhythm section of Dave Palmer on drums and Greg Arama on bass guitar was a very powerful musical force to reckon with when we jammed every day and created such musical masterpieces. Though I came up with some pretty inventive guitar maneuvers and songwriting, the full credit should go to my fellow bandmates for thinking way outside the box at the time. I am pleased to know that such dedicated creativity and effort had a positive impact on music lovers and musicians alike, and am very proud to have been lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time with those guys. God knows I truly love that music.”
Ray Shasho: “Stranglehold” has been featured in numerous motion pictures … the song is spellbinding. Talk about writing and recording that classic track? What came first the music or the lyrics?
Ted Nugent: “I am a very, very fortunate and blessed guitar player to always be surrounded by musical monsters, so my life has been a nonstop jam session. I crave the musical adventure of sonic creativity and am powerfully inspired everytime I grab a guitar. “Stranglehold” is a perfect example of a spontaneous groove and guitar pattern that had a life of its own from the very 1st note. A musical stream of conscience if you will, or even if you won't. All my songs instinctively erupted from my guitar and lyrical visions followed the spirit of the music, bot image wise and rhythmical cadence wise. It remains one of life's greatest joys to this day.”
Ray Shasho: Do you have any good road stories from back in the late 60’s or 70’s?
Ted Nugent: “Ray, being clean and sober my entire 65 years provides me the joy/curse of remembering everything! My happy memory cup runneth over I assure you. So many, so wonderful, so insane fun!! I am writing a book "Stranglehold" now that will be unleashed in 2015 full of these incredible experiences. Hang on tight.”
Ray Shasho: I’ve chatted with so many great Michiganian music artists like Peter Rivera, Mark Farner and Suzi Quatro to name just a few and I personally feel that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should have been located in Detroit. Michigan has done more for music than any other state in America. I live in the Bradenton/Sarasota area which has sort of become a safe haven for thousands of Michiganites. What happened to that once great and very important city called Detroit?
Ted Nugent: “Detroit, like much of America, must admit to the economic lie that non-productivity, the curse of Americans who have given up looking for work, and the official list of jobs Americans are not willing to do is social and spiritual suicide. Until America wakes up to that, or real leaders demand policy based on that, Detroit and America will continue their self-imposed kamikaze tailspin into hell. It's so simple, it's stupid, but not as stupid as the soulless people who are responsible for it. As far as Motor City music power goes, we are still the best of the best … Kid Rock, Eminem, Jack White and more. That black, soulful spirit lives on.”
Ray Shasho: Ted, what happened to the music industry? It’s almost like someone pulled the plug on all the legendary rock artists and are prohibiting them from showcasing anything new across mainstream airwaves.
Ted Nugent: “Nobody is going to invest a fortune into good orchard land, all the farming equipment necessary, the fertilizer, the seedlings, the nonstop Herculean work effort needed to grow apples, then bring them to the fruit stand for people to take home for free. Got that? Ripoff technology has murdered the creative spirit.”
Ray Shasho: Florida residents love their firearms … I’ve heard hundreds of people wait early in the morning each day at Walmart parking lots for the trucks to arrive so they can buy their ammo. Is there an ammo shortage and why?
Ted Nugent: “There is a dramatic shortage of ammunition available to ‘We the People’ while the most corrupt, criminal power abusing government runs amok hoarding nearly every bullet being produced. This is just another deceptive maneuver by a phony president doing everything he can to further infringe on our sacred 2nd Amendment rights, anybody who doesn't know this is on crack from Mars.”
Ray Shasho: Are you serious about running for President? The first Rock and Roll President … I think it’s about time. What would your political agenda be like during your campaign?
Ted Nugent: “I so wreak of logic and commonsense that it is obviously very refreshing in this world of otherwise soulless politically correct denial and dishonesty. God knows America would be the greatest again if she operated like the Nugent family. No takers, no whiners, no gangsters, no dopers, no drunks, no criminals, no bloodsuckers, no excuse makers, no crybabies, no punks, no Obama supporters. My entire team are dedicated to be the absolute best that we can be and as productive as humanly possible. Wouldn't that be great if all of America were like that.”
Ray Shasho: Ted, describe the infamous meeting between you and the Secret Service.
Ted Nugent: “The professionals of the Secret Service were compelled to investigate the media and government lies about what I said and did so with total professionalism, courtesy and respect. We had a nice conversation, I told them exactly what I said and they took notes, thanked me and shook my hand. I am under constant scrutiny by crazy, corrupt, power abusing politicians and media goons for the simple fact that I expose cockroaches on a daily basis in my media interviews, speaking engagements and writings. I am doing God's work so the devil and his gang can't stand me. The heroes of the secret service confirmed what they already knew to be true, that I am a wonderful human being doing everything right and legal. They really should be investigating their boss, and they know it.”
Ray Shasho: Ted, here’s a question that I ask everyone that I interview … If you had a “Field of Dreams” wish, like the movie, to play or collaborate with anyone from the past or present, who would that be?
Ted Nugent: “Believe me, I have lived The Dream to the maxx!! I played bass guitar for Bo Diddly and Chuck Berry, have jammed with and collaborated with the greatest musicians that ever lived, and continue to do so to this very day. Look around me; that is the ultimate “Field of Dreams.””
Ray Shasho: Anything special you’d like to promote?
Ted Nugent: “Our Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids children's charity is in its 25th year, and we are involved in pretty much every military charity out there to give thanks to the incredible hero warriors of the US Military and their families. Everyone who loves and cares about the real American Dream should join us at tednugent.com TalkBack for the ultimate team and plan to take back America. Freedom is not free, and we all have a lot of work ahead of us. And I perform the ultimate soundtrack to get the job done every day. We're not having any fun at all.”
Ray Shasho: Ted thank you so much for taking time to answer these questions, but more importantly for all the incredible music that you’ve given us and continue to bring. We’ll see you at the ‘House of Blues Orlando’ on August 19th.
Ted Nugent: “Thanks Ray.”

Ted Nugent will be performing at the House of Blues Orlando with Laura Wilde on August 19th at 8:30p.m. For tickets visit http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/orlando/ or call 407-934-2583.

Ted Nugent official website www.tednugent.com
Ted Nugent on Facebook
Ted Nugent on Twitter
Ted Nugent on Myspace
Ted Nugent on tour

Very special thanks to Linda Peterson

Coming up NEXT … Recent interviews with Melanie and Roy Rogers

Contact classic rock music journalist Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Purchase Ray’s very special memoir called ‘Check the Gs’ -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business … You’ll LIVE IT! Also available for download on NOOK or KINDLE edition for JUST .99 CENTS at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com - Please support Ray so he can continue to bring you quality classic rock music reporting. 

 ~~Pacific Book Review says Ray Shasho is a product of the second half of the 20th century, made in the USA from parts around the world, and within him is every trend in music, television, politics and culture contributing to his philosophical and comically analytical reflections collected in his fine book of memories. I found Check the Gs to be pure entertainment, fantastic fun and a catalyst to igniting so many memories of my own life, as I too am within a few years of Ray. So to all, I say if you have a bit of grey hair (or no hair), buy this book! It’s a great gift for your “over-the-hill” friends, or for their kids, if they are the history buffs of younger generations trying to figure out why we are the way we are.

© Copyright rayshasho.com. All Rights Reserved

Gary Wright Interview: The ‘Dream Weaver’ to Perform on ‘Sail Rock 2013’ Tour

By Ray Shasho

Gary Wright is a celestial keyboard virtuoso, idyllic songwriter, and vocalist with powerful soulful pipes. Wright is an innovator of the synthesizer and over the years has managed to condense his many synthesized melodies into a single keyboard strapped around his neck.

Although born and raised in Cresskill, New Jersey, Wright founded the British rock group Spooky Tooth in 1967. Wright would later become most recognized for his two solo hit singles “Dream Weaver” in 1975 and “Love Is Alive” in 1976.
 
Gary Wright will be joining the ‘Sail Rock 2013’ tour along with Christopher Cross, Orleans, Firefall, John Ford Coley, Robbie Dupree and Player beginning August 5th in West Allis, Wisconsin. Visit Pollstar.com for all the latest concert dates.
 
Gary Wright will also be performing a solo concert at the Largo Cultural Center on Friday October4th at 8p.m. To purchase tickets contact the Largo Cultural Center at www.largo.com or call the box office at 727-587-6793.

SPOOKY TOOTH: Gary Wright joined the band 'Art' in 1967. The ‘V.I.P.’S’ morphed into 'Art' after several lineup changes since its inception in 1963. The British R&B music ensemble had featured various distinguished musicians including Mike Harrison, Greg Ridley, Jimmy Henshaw, Keith Emerson, Luther Grosvenor, Walter Johnstone and Mike Kellie.

 
Keith Emerson (The Nice, ELP) left in 1967 when the name was changed to Art. The band eventually turned into Spooky Tooth with a lineup of Wright (organ, keyboards and vocals), Harrison (vocals, keyboards) Ridley (bassist), Grosvenor (guitar, vocals) and Kellie (drums).

In 1968, Spooky Tooth released their debut album entitled … It’s All About. The album featured covers by Janis Ian and Bob Dylan. Most of the other tracks were either written or co-written by Gary Wright.

The bands next release Spooky Two (1969) released on Island Records was hailed by critics as one of their finest recordings. The album featured many of the bands standards including “Evil Woman” and “Better by You, Better Than Me” a tune written by Wright and eventually covered by Judas Priest in 1978.

Spooky Tooth quickly became a highly sought concert attraction and a mainstay on progressive rock radio. The band shared the stage with such legendary music acts as Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones.
Bassist Greg Ridley left in 1969 to join Humble Pie, Andy Leigh replaced him.
 
Also in 1969, the group released Ceremony (Spooky Tooth and Pierre Henry album) a progressive collaboration with the French electronic composer.

Session musician: Wright left Spooky Tooth briefly to produce albums for Traffic and Rolling Stones producer Jimmy Miller and his production company. Gary Wright became an esteemed session musician and was asked to play on George Harrison’s triple- album set All Things Must Pass (1970).

Wright and Harrison began a long lasting friendship and musical collaboration that included Wright playing or sharing songwriting tasks on several of Harrison’s subsequent albums including … Living in the Material World (1973), Dark Horse (1974), Extra Texture (Read All About It)(1975), Thirty Three & 1/3(1976), George Harrison(1979), Cloud Nine (1987).

The Last Puff album (1970) primarily featured Mike Harrison while Wright focused on other projects. The release featured an incredible cover version of The Beatles, “I Am The Walrus.” Joe Cocker Grease Band members Henry McCullough, Chris Stainton and Alan Spenner were brought into the studio to work on the album.
In 1971, Gary Wright performed “Two Faced Man” with George Harrison on the Dick Cavett Show. He also played piano on Harry Nilsson’s #1 hit, a Badfinger cover tune entitled, “Without You.”

In 1972, Gary Wright and Mike Harrison reformed Spooky Tooth with a different lineup. The new lineup featured future Foreigner founder and guitarist Mick Jones.

Subsequent Spooky Tooth albums … (You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw (1973), Witness (1973), The Mirror (1974) and Cross Purpose (1999) (Reunion album without Wright, Greg Ridley returned).
Spooky Tooth disbanded in 1974.

Gary Wright and George Harrison visited India in 1974 as a guest of Ravi Shankar. Wright developed a longtime relationship with Shankar after the visit.

SOLO CAREER: Gary Wright released two critically-acclaimed solo albums on A&M Records … Extraction in 1971 and Footprint in 1972.

Wright signed a record deal with Warner Brothers Records in 1974 and achieved his biggest commercial success with the release of The Dream Weaver album (1975). The single “Dream Weaver” reached #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on the Cash Box charts. The album also spawned the hit “Love is Alive” (1976) reaching #2 on Billboard’s singles chart. The album peaked at #7 on Billboard’s Hot 100 albums chart.
The song “Dream Weaver” has been spotlighted on numerous television shows and motion pictures.
“Love is Alive” was covered by several legendary artists including … Chaka Khan, Joe Cocker and Richie Havens.
The Dream Weaver album featured guest musicians …guitarist Ronnie Montrose, drummers Jim Keltner and Andy Newmark, Hammond organist David Foster and Bobby Lyle on additional synthesizers.
In 1981, Gary Wright scored again commercially with “Really Wanna Know You” (#16 Billboard Singles Hit).

Gary Wright Solo albums … Extraction (1971), Footprint (1972), The Dream Weaver (1975), The Light of Smiles(1977), Touch and Gone (1978), Headin’Home (1979), The Right Place (1981), Who I Am (1988), First Signs of Life (1995), Human Love (1999), Waiting to Catch the Light (2008), The Light of a Million Suns (EP) (2008), Connected (2010).

In 2004, Wright, Harrison and Kellie reunited Spooky Tooth for several concerts in Germany. As a result of their triumphant return they released the Nomad Poets DVD in 2007.
The same lineup played a series of European dates in 2008.

Most recently: Gary Wright toured with Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band in 2008.
In 2010, Wright released his latest studio album entitled Connected and features guest artists … Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.
Gary Wright is currently writing his 'memoir' for the Penguin Group and should be available sometime near the end of 2014.
I had the great pleasure of chatting with Gary Wright recently about ‘Sail Rock 2013,’ Spooky Tooth, George Harrison, the music business, metaphysics and much-much more.

Here’s my interview with legendary singer, songwriter, keyboardist, music pioneer, Spooky Tooth founder, the original ‘Dream Weaver’ and soon to be published author … GARY WRIGHT.
Ray Shasho: How’s it going Gary, are you in California?
Gary Wright: “Very good Ray, no I’m looking at the ocean in Maui.”
Ray Shasho: Gary, we’ve actually got two different concerts to promote… first, the ‘Sail Rock 2013’ tour and then a solo show that you’ll be doing on October 4th at the Largo Cultural Center in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Gary Wright: “We’ve already done one ‘Sail Rock’ show in New York and then did a couple of shows without me because I’m on holiday now, but I’ll join them on the 5th of August in West Allis, Wisconsin just outside of Milwaukee.”
“I’ve always liked playing in Florida, so I’m also looking forward to performing in Tampa Bay.”
Ray Shasho: Your most recent album is entitled Connected. The album features Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter as guest artists. It’s an exceptional album. My favorite tracks are… “Satisfied” and “Can’t Find No Mercy” and your voice is superlative, much like it sounded in the 70’s.
Gary Wright: “I enjoyed making that album it was a lot of fun. “Can’t Find No Mercy” is my favorite track. My voice hasn’t changed really very much I still do all my songs when I perform live and still do them in the original keys. I’ve been blessed with that ability to retain that. Connected was a labor of love. I took my time doing it and trying to record it real simple, kind of like the way I recorded The Dream Weaver.”
“I have a new project that I’m working on right now … I’m writing a book and it’s coming out October of 2014. It’s my memoirs and my relationship with George Harrison and Ringo Starr and just basically my life story. The E-book version of the book, there will be new songs that will be on it, video sets, bonus material and all kinds of things that have never been released. It’s been a lot of fun; I’m about two thirds of the way through it. The Penguin Group is really excited about it and it’s been a fun experience.”
Ray Shasho: Gary, I’ve had several metaphysical conversations here of late with Mike Love (The Beach Boys), and Dave Davies (The Kinks). What sorts of techniques do you practice for spiritual awareness and physical and mental well being?
Gary Wright: “I’ve been meditating for thirty five years. I practice the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda which George Harrison introduced me to. What I found in Yogananda’s teachings was that they were amazingly advanced and really gave you the ability to reach a deeper state of consciousness. He just gives techniques, when you find the teachers or gurus from India, most of them tell you the rules of life to follow, the dos and the don’ts, and what you need to live a good life, but they don’t really show you the techniques to meditate deeply . So through the years I kept practicing it and do it regularly and it really has changed me dramatically. It’s a big part of my life.”
“Music is an extremely powerful force if used properly to uplift people. I believe music should be uplifting and not downgrading … it’s a very-very powerful tool.”
Ray Shasho: It used to be a powerful tool, not so sure about the stuff on mainstream radio though.
Gary Wright: “Unfortunately music devolved instead of evolved. The music business got into the hands of lawyers and accountants rather than the entrepreneurial creative people and that’s when the beginning of the end started. It’s all based on money instead of art and creativity.
Ray Shasho: Mainstream radio won’t promote anything new by legendary music artists … just the oldies. I’m always reviewing new music from the artists that I grew up with and they’re actually sounding better with age.
Gary Wright: “Most of them are turning to do just live performances and not releasing a lot of new material. Somebody told me the other day that Billy Joel wasn’t going to record any new albums, that he had no interest. Some people are saying … why make a new album if isn’t going to be heard. I have heard some new artists that are quite good but it’s just so hard for them, if they get one hit that’s great and very-very lucky if they get two. But it’s not a sustaining type of situation anymore, a career building industry like it used to be.”
Ray Shasho: Gary do you think there’s life out there beyond earth?
Gary Wright: “Oh yea, by the law of averages there has to be life elsewhere. The universe is so huge and I don’t think God would have created this whole big huge cosmos and just say there’s only going to be life on earth and that’s it. I believe in … and this is part of Indian philosophy as well, that there’s life in other solar systems, other planets, some more advanced, some not as advanced as we are, it’s all relative … all these things definitely exist. We’re all use to the paradigm that we’re oxygen breathing human beings, there might be life breathing ammonia gas or some other type of gas we don’t even know about. I don’t think God can be pinned down to any specific kind of thing, his ingenuity is incredibly great.”
Ray Shasho: How did you and George Harrison become really good friends?
Gary Wright: “I played on his album All Things Must Pass and we became friends. He invited me to play on future albums and played guitar and produced one of the tracks on my album Footprint. He also played slide guitar on another track. So we were good friends, he was my spiritual mentor.”
Ray Shasho: I watched the Martin Scorsese documentary on HBO entitled Living in the Material World (2011) which was an excellent film about the life of George Harrison. I was fascinated about a clip that revealed Harrison’s dissatisfaction with life as we know it on this planet and an eagerness to embark towards the afterlife.
Gary Wright: “He was referring to the astral world … that’s true. The astral world or heavenly realms are like a passage from earthy existence. This is a school that we’re in right now, learning to get rid of our flaws and all that, and go to the astral world which doesn’t have any disease or the vermin that we have in the world today …a universe made of light.”
“George did a lot of good for the planet with his music and was just a wonderful human being. I’m sure he’s being rewarded with some heavenly realms somewhere in the astral heavens.”
Ray Shasho: Two of my favorite Spooky Tooth albums were You Broke My Heart So … I Busted Your Jaw (1973) and Witness (1973) and I was very fortunate to see the band perform in concert that same year those albums were released.
Gary Wright: “Actually Eminem recorded “Self Seeking Man” and rewrote part of the lyrics to one of his songs entitled “Spend Some Time.” I wrote “Self Seeking Man” from the You Broke My Heart So … I Busted Your Jaw album and he changed the title.”
Ray Shasho: I watched a sort of recent Spooky Tooth reunion video on You Tube that featured classics like “Evil Woman” and “Waitin’ For The Wind.” You guys sounded incredible!
Gary Wright: “Thank you very much, probably from the Nomad Poets DVD in 2004. It was myself, Mike Harrison, Mike Kellie and some other musicians.”
Ray Shasho: Do you still talk with Mike Harrison?
Gary Wright: “I communicate with Mike Harrison and every now and then with Mike Kellie. We just had a song of ours sampled by Jay-Z and Kanye West from their last huge album.”
Ray Shasho: It’s obvious that you were influenced by rhythm and blues but added a cosmic element to many of your songs, who are some of the R&B artists that inspired you?
Gary Wright: “Ray Charles, James Brown especially, Bobby Blue Bland, Aretha Franklin and some of the earlier artists like Little Richard. Those were the main ones that initially inspired me.”
Ray Shasho: Gary, here’s a question that I ask everyone that I interview, If you had a “Field of Dreams” wish, like the movie, to play or collaborate with anyone from the past or present, who would that be?
Gary Wright: “Probably George Harrison, he was such a creative person and a great friend.”
Ray Shasho: Gary, thank you for being on the call today, but more importantly for all the great music you’ve given to us and continue to bring. We’ll see you on the ‘Sail Rock 2013’ tour and at your solo performance in Largo, Florida on October 4th.
Gary Wright: “Thanks so much Ray.”

The ‘Sail Rock 2013’ tour stars Christopher Cross, Orleans, Gary Wright, Firefall, John Ford Coley, Robbie Dupree and Player. Visit Pollstar.com for all the latest concert dates.

Gary Wright will also be performing a solo concert at the Largo Cultural Center on Friday October 4th at 8p.m. To purchase tickets contact the Largo Cultural Center at www.largo.com or call the box office at 727-587-6793.

Purchase Gary Wright's latest release Connected at amazon.com
Gary Wright official website at www.thedreamweaver.com
Gary Wright on Facebook
Gary Wright on Twitter
Gary Wright on Myspace

Very special thanks to Jeff Albright of The Albright Entertainment Group

Coming up NEXT … my recent interviews with Melanie and Roy Rogers

Contact classic rock music journalist Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Purchase Ray’s very special memoir called ‘Check the Gs’ -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business … You’ll LIVE IT! Also available for download on NOOK or KINDLE edition for JUST .99 CENTS at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com - Please support Ray so he can continue to bring you quality classic rock music reporting. 
 ~~Pacific Book Review says Ray Shasho is a product of the second half of the 20th century, made in the USA from parts around the world, and within him is every trend in music, television, politics and culture contributing to his philosophical and comically analytical reflections collected in his fine book of memories. I found Check the Gs to be pure entertainment, fantastic fun and a catalyst to igniting so many memories of my own life, as I too am within a few years of Ray. So to all, I say if you have a bit of grey hair (or no hair), buy this book! It’s a great gift for your “over-the-hill” friends, or for their kids, if they are the history buffs of younger generations trying to figure out why we are the way we are.

© Copyright rayshasho.com. All Rights Reserved