Alvin Lee Message & Discussion Board
Thanks for joining in the conversation!
Because he's Alvin!
Seriously, I think he just didn't love the set up - you know, doing only a couple of his own songs and then playing everyone else's whether he could get into them or not. Then again, he may well have just wanted to tour that much.
Uhhhh Toni, wasn't some guy named "Fark Narner" in Ringo's band? I think that alone is why Alvin would turn it down! On G.P., of course! Althought he'd have to learn all those near-impossible to play GFR songs
Not being a musician, I don't know if those GFR songs are near-impossible to play. I just know they sound like sh*t. 
I think the problem with the Ringo gig would be following whatever Alvin played - and you know there would be those screaming "I'm Going Home" with "Yellow Submarine" or "I get By With A Little Help From My Friends".
Don't get me wrong - I positively enjoyed Ringo's show when I saw him, he's a great showman and he's just plain fun - but I can't see how Alvin's sheer "force of nature" talent would fit Ringo's show.
I'd have like to have seen it, though.
By the way, GFR stuff isn't impossible to play. The question is whether you would WANT to paly it.
So not fair. All this ribbing of An American Band...
Hi Tony. I can never tell if you are serious or kidding. I know Toni seriously dislikes this band. I have never heard any of their music. Are they really that bad? I take it that the frontman is objectionable to some around here? Just curious.
Any one who could shed some light on this for me?
Toni, I can't stop laughing.
Actually, that is the beauty of Ringo. He puts on a very "nice" show and it's hard not to like him live. Yes, it's campy, but he's less a rocker (nor does he even try to be) than almost a throw back to vaudeville days. You can't help but smile and have a good time. He comes across as a great guy with zero ego.
But yes, it wouldn't be a good thing to have a musician of Alvin's intensity on the show and follow whatever tunes Alvin plays with Octopus's Gardens. Just too much of a shock in styles.
LOL!! Mega-MEGA-ha-ha-ha!! I've always called that style of soloing note selection "diddla-diddla". If you play it reasonably quickly, it sounds to non-guitarists like it's hard, when it isn't. "Even" Jimmy Page was known to indulge in it sometimes, seemingly as filler. One thing I've always loved about Alvin is his impeccably brilliant note selection. He doesn't play meaningless meanderings.
My dear friend Tony for the most part has excellent taste in music, Robin - I consider his affection for GFR an aberration, really, and I forgive him for it. But really, I don't want you to be ruined for rock and roll forever so please, please do NOT listen to them yourself!
Any one who could shed some light on this for me?
No worries, Toni. Thanks for the warning. I think I will be stuck on Alvin Lee for a long, long time to come before I will have any desire to listen to anyone else. I was just thinking this morning that I haven't heard any opera since finding Alvin. I was thinking of which one I wanted to play today while I cleaned my house and decided to play ... Live at Fillmore East. I have a feeling my neighbors up and down my street are getting sick of "Help Me" at full blast.
I got a free concert ticket back in the 70's.
It was Wet willie followed by Grand Funk.
Wet Willie were much better.
Peace,
DLM
| remember seeing GFR in 72 in Anahiam,Cal. they were very entertaining .