|
A few memories:
I helped build and did electronics for John McLaughlin back in the Mahavisnu days, you can hear those circuits on his 2nd and 3rd albums and the custom doubleneck on the lost trident sessions CD. I also built guitars and circuits for the late Frank Zappa, hear them on all his later 70's and 80's records.
I've built circuits and done custom keyboard and studio work for Stevie Wonder since 1979.
Once on tour with Stevie I "prepared" a room for Carlos Santana as he came by to play at Oakland colosium. He was still with Sri Chimnoy, the "guru" McLaughlin introduced him to. John by that time had dumped the guru as he found him with his wife, but I digress.
Carlos requested a room to pray and meditate before going on stage. So I prepared it for him. I had a rather large bag of Puna buds I just brought over from the Big Island (that's Hawaii for the geographically challanged). The entire crew was invited for a pre show smoke out, the rule was the air was shut off and the door remained closed. I'm sure Carlos got himself a good contact high as that smoke was thick!
On another tour with Steve the band was drinking a lot of beer onstage and some couldn't make it to the acoustic piano set when they could "relieve" themselves. They requested I place a bucket under the hydraulic stage so they could run down, take a quick pee and make it back before the song ended. So, as stage manager I had a "small circular metal trash can" added to the rider.
Since everyone used it, it became quite full by the end of the show. We had the gear cleared off first, then the stage was broken down and packed, then the light truss was lowered and packed away. All along everyone carefully avoided the bucket.
At the end of the night there was this single metal container filled with pee left there on the stage where I first placed it. I let the house staff deal with it as we were long gone to the next gig.
Oh, have you ever played a trick on a blind guy? I did, it was Steve himself. On one gig, we were getting a bit bored. I placed 2 Hohner marine band harps and 2 chromatics on the grand piano in a certain arranged order. One night I reversed the Ab and Bb harps. He reached to play that famous solo and it sounded like crap. A few sour notes and Steve was grasping for the other harp, but it was too late, solo over. He proceeded to toss the wrong harp over his shoulder and continued without missing a beat. Meanwhile, me and the crew were busting our sides laughing. Steve got back at me by booking me into a closet of a hotel room at the famous Boulderado Hotel in Boulder Colorado. I spent that night with my ass almost touching the floor and my feet sticking out over the end of this "childs" bed.
In numerous tours I met and hanged with some nice folks, Stan Getz, Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Buddy Miles, Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton, etc. When in LA I was able to do work for Peter Frampton, the Yes boys and others.
Lately I've done some nice designs like the Rhodes Pianos, all of these are highlights but I suspect the best is still yet to come. It's been a very good ride so far.
Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades
|