I think I remember a band (Pere Ubu, early 90s?) where only two or three members had been invited to play on the show, and were complaining about it somewhere.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 20 October 2021 03:09 (two years ago) link
Looking at the longest version of their appearance, in the intro Dave mentions that the band had to pay their own way to New York after both their label and NBC refused to. So if that's true, and Letterman's people where like, "Only three of you can be on the show, and Paul gets to sing harmony"...yeah, I'd be pissed too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7dhvuq0cEY
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 05:39 (two years ago) link
"Oh, one more thing: Anton gets to play congas AND regular drums!"
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 05:46 (two years ago) link
Here's an interesting one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRC2yPiqyU0
XTC's first performance _period_ in 7 years, doing "King For A Day" in the summer of '89, and needing the backing since there were only three guys in the band by then.
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 05:57 (two years ago) link
Pere Ubu’s label at the time (Fontana) refused to pay for their flights to play on Letterman because the album wasn’t selling. Someone — probably David Thomas — helpfully pointed out that $2500 was not a huge expense for a major label for a national US TV appearance that might help boost sales. Due to the publicity surrounding this, Jane’s Addiction, R.E.M., and others helped pay for Ubu’s travel. I was a huge Ubu fan at the time, but I missed the show. When I eventually saw it, I wondered why such a startlingly unique band would waste this opportunity by playing one of their dullest songs.The only band I know of that turned down a Letterman appearance because of the house band stipulation was the Replacements, but I assume there were others. And Anton Fig is one of the worst drummers in the history of sound.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 10:11 (two years ago) link
Yeah, what is the deal with that guy? I actually saw him play live once and it did not change my opinion.
― Double Chocula (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 13:22 (two years ago) link
The only band I know of that turned down a Letterman appearance because of the house band stipulation was the Replacements, but I assume there were others. And Anton Fig is one of the worst drummers in the history of sound.
I wasn't surprised to see his name pop up in the credits for Dylan's "Clean Cut Kid" on Empire Burlesque - it makes the complete suckage of that track all the more understandable - but he's also on Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual and I love that album. I guess he works with that album's production because in a way they wanted something like a drum machine without completely sounding like one.
FWIW, this is still one of my favorite 'Viewer Mail' moments.
Not Letterman's band, but re: the Replacements, when Westerberg returned to SNL, I liked how he made use of the show's horn section for "Can't Hardly Wait." It's one of the few times I've seen a musical guest benefit from the house band. (I still prefer the "Tim" version, but the horn arrangement on the Pleased to Meet Me version is actually pretty good in its own right.)
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 20 October 2021 15:32 (two years ago) link
I guess he works with that album's production because in a way they wanted something like a drum machine without completely sounding like one.
Fig is on a few records where his awfulness doesn't intrude, but he's also on no fewer than NINE Joe Bonamassa albums, which cancels out any positives in his discography.
I actually saw him play live once and it did not change my opinion.
I almost went to see Booker T and the MGs in 1991, but decided against it when I found out Fig was the drummer on that tour. I can't think of a worse possible choice for that band.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 15:49 (two years ago) link
Imagine Metallica on Letterman with Paul on keyboards and no Lars
― Gardyloominati (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 15:54 (two years ago) link
...or Lars in the back thrashing a triangle!
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 16:46 (two years ago) link
I would've liked to have seen the whole Grateful Dead or .38 Special on there. Three drummers!
― pplains, Wednesday, 20 October 2021 17:41 (two years ago) link
But but but...one of them would be Anton Fig.
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 20 October 2021 18:35 (two years ago) link
_I guess he works with that album's production because in a way they wanted something like a drum machine without completely sounding like one._Fig is on a few records where his awfulness doesn't intrude, but he's also on no fewer than NINE Joe Bonamassa albums, which cancels out any positives in his discography._I actually saw him play live once and it did not change my opinion._I almost went to see Booker T and the MGs in 1991, but decided against it when I found out Fig was the drummer on that tour. I can't think of a worse possible choice for that band.
― Double Chocula (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 21 October 2021 11:32 (two years ago) link
Named.Anyway, when I saw him in more recent times he was playing with a jazz-metal guitarist and actually taking solos. There are some things one shouldn’t hear.
― Double Chocula (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 21 October 2021 11:36 (two years ago) link
As good a thread as any to marvel at the very of its time guest band Paul put together for the 5th anniversary show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niVcUXN_8gs(starts at 8:05)
Freddie HubbardClarence ClemonsGrover Washington Jr.Peter FramptonAndy SummersFelix CavaliereHerbie Hancock
― city worker, Thursday, 21 October 2021 13:00 (two years ago) link
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians's appearances meant Morris was either not there or playing a tambourine instead of his drums. And I think Andy once just had his arms crossed the entire time.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 21 October 2021 14:19 (two years ago) link
I was curious about Fig, because I hate his playing and his sound but he seems to get a lot of work, and indeed, almost everything he played on (at least as listed on Wiki) is pretty shitty. But he was the principal drummer on "Erotica."
Now Anton Fier, he was pretty dope, but I think he's retired.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 21 October 2021 14:28 (two years ago) link
For a while he was working in a coffee shop/restaurant until it closed. Thought he most be the owner, but nope, just an employee.
― Double Chocula (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 21 October 2021 14:42 (two years ago) link
There's a little montage of musical guests starting at 1:17:30 here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdncPaRZZek
Some are during the Anton years, and some (thankfully) during the Steve Jordan years. I also remember Shaffer and Carole King playing a killer "Chest Fever" on the Radio City Wurlitzers, but it either got cut from this, or I imagined it.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 21 October 2021 15:01 (two years ago) link
oh wait, found it, it was from the 6th anniversary show (at 37:57):
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 21 October 2021 15:10 (two years ago) link
ugh shit sorry here it is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV1rZzc6ClI
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 21 October 2021 15:11 (two years ago) link
Forgot that both Steve Jordan AND Fig played on the Stones' Dirty Work! I like Jordan quite a bit so it's strange to see hear them doing more or less the same gigs. "How do we want the drumming? Because we've covered both sides of the spectrum with the two we've hired for this session!"
I love Anton Fier, it's sad that he stopped playing a while ago (at least a few years now). Maybe he had a good reason and doesn't miss it, but I feel that's unlikely.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 21 October 2021 15:14 (two years ago) link
I haven't been able to find a listing of which Dirty Work tracks Jordan or Fig play on, but my guess is that Jordan could be on just about any track -- he can sound uncannily like Watts -- and Fig is probably on "Winning Ugly," since it sounds nothing like Watts or Jordan. And because it's awful.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 21 October 2021 15:41 (two years ago) link
David Marchese gave "Winning Ugly" an apt description - it sounds exactly like the kind of thing you'd hear in an '80s Dan Aykroyd comedy. Play it over Trading Places or Spies Like Us, it'll probably match perfectly.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 21 October 2021 17:27 (two years ago) link
I do like this opening bit he did on Letterman with Ringo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5avrzeQ3ZsM
― birdistheword, Thursday, 21 October 2021 17:29 (two years ago) link
which Dirty Work tracks Jordan or Fig play on
The Rolling Stones database on timeisonourside.com suggests that Anton Fig is playing percussion on "Back to Zero", the album's Talking Heads pastiche, but that may be guesswork.
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 21 October 2021 22:58 (two years ago) link
Looking at that 10th anniversary montage and finding some performances worth investigating further
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mir_awnzhI
Black Crowes, except it's the Robinson Bros. and their other guitar dude circa 1990: "Jealous Again"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTut68r_Q-E
Bob Weir & Jerry Garcia sit in with the World's Most Dangerous Band and do "When I Paint My Masterpiece" in '87
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgAtnL5r-F0
Sinead O'Conner: "Mandinka" (this clip booed at the 10th Anniversary BTW)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PsnvLrK5cM
Van Morrison w/Georgie Fame sitting in for Paul!: "Whenever God Shines His Light" & "Have I Told You Lately?"
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 21 October 2021 23:49 (two years ago) link
Oh wow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxofd9whblw
The Breeders, except it's the Deals and Jim Macpherson is relegated to shaker and tympani(!): "So Sad About Us"
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 22 October 2021 00:13 (two years ago) link
Has Viva Shaf Vegas been mentioned yet? Don’t think so.
― Double Chocula (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 22 October 2021 00:13 (two years ago) link
Another WOW: Paul backing Kate Bush on "The Man With The Child In His Eyes" from SNL
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3krnke
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 23:00 (two years ago) link
Paul and co jamming with Joan Jett on Roadrunner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFJ7BFU3iKM
― that's not my post, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 23:12 (two years ago) link
Modern Lovers or Junior Walker?
― Sterl of the Quarter (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 23:23 (two years ago) link
1,2,3,4,5,6 Modern Lovers
― that's not my post, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 23:41 (two years ago) link
Late entry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xLZPCviDZ0
Alice In Chains (one of Staley's last TV performances): "Again/We Die Young" w/extra guitars & backing vox from the house band in early '96
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 27 December 2021 23:23 (two years ago) link
The guitarist guy really likes to make a meal of switching instrumentshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZgsHi7wA
― PaulTMA, Monday, 27 December 2021 23:31 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZgsHi7wAiI
that Kate performance must be her one and only such in the U.S. ever…
― veronica moser, Tuesday, 28 December 2021 00:53 (two years ago) link
...except for the performance of "Them Heavy People" on the same broadcast, which my brother saw at the time.
― Halfway there but for you, Tuesday, 28 December 2021 01:14 (two years ago) link
This performance by Dinosaur Jr. on Letterman from 1993 is so insane. As usual, Paul Schaffer and Co. sit in, but they’re throwing in bells, a wild sax solo, high harmony vox, and it is SO LOUD. They crush it; the Ed Sullivan Theater is fully melted🔥🔥https://t.co/5K0fjJhI1B— Ben Boyer (@sleezsisters) January 11, 2022
― Chappies banging dustbin lids together (President Keyes), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 00:52 (two years ago) link
David Sandborn holding his own in the tornado!
― ... (Eazy), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 01:03 (two years ago) link
OTM!
― The Door into Summerisle (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 02:01 (two years ago) link
Will is very focused on his prompter.
― The Door into Summerisle (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 02:02 (two years ago) link
Ben used to post here.
― i woke up alarmed (morrisp), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 02:17 (two years ago) link
schaffer's plugging his ears. lol what a prick.
― get shrunk by this funk. (Austin), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 02:52 (two years ago) link
I thought he was doing that to help him sing his harmony note.
― The Door into Summerisle (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 02:54 (two years ago) link
NOT VERY PROFESSIONAL IN THAT CASE, PAUL
that was genuinely out of control. i love it.
― get shrunk by this funk. (Austin), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 02:56 (two years ago) link
also: hey two drummers . . . but only has a kick drum???
this is my new favorite thing, btw.
― get shrunk by this funk. (Austin), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 02:57 (two years ago) link
*only ONE
that's not the Ed Sullivan Theater, that's NBC studios!
― Piven After Midnight (The Yellow Kid), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 03:10 (two years ago) link
I was going to do a post itt chroniclling Dino Jr. on Letterman, but got lazy & forgot.
Here's their debut that Dave references in his intro to that "Out There" clip: they perform "The Wagon" and Murph is limited to a couple floor toms and a tambourine. Will Lee is into it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm7flMpKK5Y
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 12 January 2022 06:15 (two years ago) link