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Here is What Leigh
Stephens had to tell us about Blue Cheer and The 1968 Miami Pop
Festival /asked by Jack Connell
1.
What concerts did you do before Miami Pop 1? (Leigh) Blue Cheer was touring
the U.S. at the time. We were concentrating on the east coast at that moment. We
were playing 300 days out of the year.
2.
How long had Summertime Blues Been Out ? Was that the beginning of the general
public getting to know you? (Leigh) The
song had been out for about 3 or 4 months. People just seemed to know who we
were.
I'm trying to establish a small Bio of Blue Cheer. Is there any Link I can have
access to get this Bio Info from?(Leigh) Blue
Cheer has a site I believe but you will have to google it. I don't know it off
hand.
3.
Do you get to do any other gigs with Jimi Hendrix ? Describe the experience of
being on the same bill as JEH. (Leigh) We
had played with Hendrix before in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium. While we
were playing Hendrix was filming us with his super 8 camera. Very
intimidating.
4.
Was Blue Cheer slated to Play the 2nd day which got rained out? (Leigh) I
don't think so or at least I don't remember.
5.
Did the band get the chance to do the jam at the Castaways Bar with Zappa, and
Jimi? (Leigh) I was too young to go into the bar so stayed in my room with
a friend.
6.
What was your Impression of The South Florida area, did they give you guys any
problems being LONG HAIRED FREAKS! I had my fair share of abuse in South Fla.
Back then. (Leigh) We
didn't have any problems in Florida. We did have problems in Ohio. We were
refused service in restaurants.
7.
I would like to get a idea of exactly what your role was with the band at the
time of the festival. (Leigh) I
was just the guitar guy and contributed to the song writing.
8. Did you get to play at Woodstock? Talk about any of the 69'Festival tour
(Buffalo tour)? (Leigh) I
was gone from the band before Woodstock and living in London. I don't remember a
Festival Tour.
9.
Blue Cheer was the most popular Rock band at Miami Pop Festival at that time,
you were better known than any other band except Chuck Berry. When you think
back what went through your mind when you saw Jimi Hendrix fly in on a chopper.
(Leigh) I
don't remember seeing him arrive. I knew he was there because Linda Eastman (who
had been on our tour bus for several weeks), showed up and I remember that she
was bleaching the ends of his hair blond before the gig at the
hotel.
10.
What was The crazy world of Arthur Brown like? (Leigh) They were
great and bizarre. I really liked them
11.
Were there any acts there that you were excited to see? (Leigh) Well yeah,
the Mothers, Hendrix, Arthur Brown
12.
You are quite a guitarist, I have heard you could be a studio guitarist. Whos
music did you like the most from the festival? (Leigh) Zappa, Hendrix,
Hooker, Berry. I like them all
13. How did your power sound come to
be, you were doing that before any one else. Was the that natural from the
Band's Chemistry, or a style brought in from the ear of one of
you? (Leigh) I remember one day talking to one of the managers and
going down and ordering 6 stacks of Marshalls. I don't know why I thought we
needed it but the wind from the speakers would blow your hair.
14. Did Blue Cheer ever have a Mission Statment or Major Plan in the beginning ? How did
it turn out? (Leigh) No plan, no mission
15.
What would you like to say to those that went to Miami Pop That read this.
(Leigh) I hope that somehow that day influenced you all somehow
possitively
16. Any thing you would like to talk about that I haven't touched
on? (Leigh) Yeah
it was so freakin hot that Jimmy Carl Black from the Mothers and a few others
rode the limos back and forth until we had to play because the air conditioning
at the Castaways did not work. Also I tried to talk to Hendrix's roadies because
my fuzz face melted in the heat and did not work. He of course did not have to
worry because he played later and it was cooler.
17. I would like to know what Leigh Stephens has been doing lately, and briefly for
the last 40 years. Are you still involved in the Blue Cheer? I know you
have been busy this gives you a chance to share what you are working
on or might want to bring light to . (Leigh) I
am just finishing up a collaborative cd with Tracey Adamis as producer and
arranger. Tracey is a gifted songwriter / singer / keyboardist. It is 10
original songs with great musicians. I provide all the guitar as well as
engineering the project. Should be out hopefully before the end of the year.
Check out my MySpace sight and or leighstephens.net for news about it's
release.
18.
Are you planning any tours in th US in the future? (Leigh) Hopefully
Tracey will be a big star and we tour the world. Other than that I should be at
the West Fest in Golden Gate Park October 25th for the 40th anniversary tribute
to Woodstock. I think I am playing with Greg Douglass (Steve Miller Band) and
Mario Cippolina ( Huey Lewis) and again with Melissa Olsen and Tracey
Adamis..
Look
For Soon to come audio interview with Dickie Peterson of Blue Cheer during
August 2009
Here is What
Eric Albronda ( Blue Cheer Original Drummer and Producer) has to share with us
about what happened around and during The 1968 Miami Pop Festival May 18th
1968:
1. What concerts did you do before Miami Pop 1?Eric Albronda :
MIAMI WAS ABOUT 3/4 THE WAY THROUGH BLUE CHEERS FIRST NATIONAL TOUR
WHICH LASTED A GRUELING NINE MONTHS ---
PREVIOUS TO THIS GIG WE HAD PLAYED THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM AND AVALON
BALLROOMS IN SAN FRANCISCO , GIGS IN PORTLAND AND SEATTLE AND LOS
ANGELES , DENVER , CHICAGO AND NEW YORK TWICE AD PITTSBURGH AND
DETROIT AND BOSTON AND ORLANDO AND MANY MIDWEST GIGS IN AND AROUND
CHICAGO AS OUR RECORD COMPANY WAS IN CHICAGO, MERCURY RECORDS
RELEASED ON THE PHILLIPS LABEL,
2. How long had Summertime Blues Been Out ? Eric Albronda:
SUMMERTIME BLUES HAD BEEN OUT SINCE FEBRUARY 1968, IT WAS RELEASED IN
THE WINTER , WOLFMAN JACK BROKE THE RECORD AS WELL AS TONY PIG ON SAN
FRANCISCO'S RADIO STATION KYA IN SAN FRANCISCO, TONY PLAYED DOCTOR
PLEASE , ONE OF THE HEAVIEST DOPE SONGS I KNOW OF FOR THE COMPLETE 12
PLUS MINUTES AT 5:00 PM IN THE AFTERNOON, THIS WAS A STRAIGHT TOP 40
STATION AND HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FIRED FOR DOING THIS BUT HE DID NOT
CARE AS HE WANTED TO GO TO WORK AT KMPX , A NEW FM FORMAT RADIO
STATION IN SAN-FRANCISCO WHICH LATER BECME THE PROTOTYPE OF FM MUSIC
STATIONS AT THE TIME.
3. Was that the beginning of the general public getting to know you?Eric
Albronda :
AT THE TIME OF BLUE CHEERS RELEASE OF SUMMERTIME BLUES THEY HAD ABOUT
50,000 ADVANCE ORDERS BECAUSE THEY HAD PLAYED LIVE EXTENSIVELY IN SAN
FRANCISCO, AND LOS ANGELES AND MOST OF THE WEST COAST , INCLUDING THE
OPENING OF THE DENVER DOG WITH JANIS JOPLIN AS AN ASIDE JANIS LIVED
WITH US IN NEVOTO CALIFORNIA FOR A SPELL AS SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH PAUL
WHALEY THE DRUMMER OF BLUE CHEER----
4. Do you get to do any other gigs with Jimi Hendrix ? Describe the
experience of being on the same bill as JEH.Eric Albronda :
WE HAD SEVERAL ENCOUNTERS WITH JIMI AND BAND ----FIRST WOULD HAVE
BEEN THE GIG AT THE SHRINE AUDITORIUM IN LOS ANGELES ON THE BILL WAS
ALSO THE ELECTRIC FLAG WITH MICHAEL BROOMFIELD ---OF PARTICULAR NOTE
WAS THAT JIMI AND NOEL AND MITCH CAME OUT OF THEIR DRESSING ROOM AND
SAT JUST OFF STAGE AND LISTENED TO THE ENTIRE BLUE CHEER SET AND WERE
VISIBLY MOVED AT THE PERFORMANCE ---I WAS STANDING NOT TWO FEET
BEHIND THEM THE ENTIRE TIME ---THE SECOND TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN WHILE
RECORDING AT THE RECORD PLANT IN NEW YORK WITH EDDY CRAMER AS
ENGINEER BOTH BANDS WERE RECORDING ALBUMS AT THE TIME AND EDDY WOULD
PLAY US THE HENDRIX TAPES JUST AS THEY WERE DONE SO WE HERD THE
ENTIRE AXIS , BOLD AS LOVE ALBUM BEFORE IT WAS MIXED AND RELEASED ----
ALSO WE WERE STAYING AT THE SAME HOTEL WHICH WAS THE LINCOLN SQUARE
MOTER INN IN NEW YORK CITY WE CROSSED PATHS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE
LOBBY OF THE HOTEL.
HENDRIX WAS NOT ONE TO SOCIALIZE MUCH, HOWEVER NOEL REDDING BECAME
FRIENDS ---THEN NATURALLY AT THE MIAMI POP FESTIVAL WE HUNG OUT WITH
ALL OF THE MUSICIANS FROM THE SHOW AND LINDA EASTMAN---ALSO IN LOVE
WITH PAUL WHALEY AT THE TIME AND WENT ON THE ROAD WITH US IN THE
MIDWEST IN OUR BUS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE WE SENT HER TO LOS
ANGELES INTO THE GRASP OF PAUL MCCARTNEY WHO HAD BEEN PURSUING HER AT
THE TIME.
5. Was Blue Cheer slated to Play the 2nd day which got
rained out?Eric Albronda :
YES WE
WERE SCHEDULED AND BY THE WAY THE PROMOTER REFUSED TO PAY ANY
OF THE BANDS IN A MOST RUDE MANNER , NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN BUT THE
SPECIFICS WILL BE LEFT
OUT FOR FEAR OF LEGAL ACTION
6. Did
the band get the chance to do the jam at the Castaways Bar with
Zappa, and Jimi?Eric Albronda :
WE WERE ALL THERE WHEN THAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE THE PROMOTER HAD
AN
ENTIRE WING OF THE CASTAWAYS BLOCKED OFF FROM THE PUBLIC ,
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE POLICE --A BIG ROOM WHERE WE ALL HUNG OUT AND
SOCIALIZED AND JAMMED -
I DO NOT RECALL BLUE CHEER ACTUALLY PLAYING IN A JAM BUT THAT IS NOT
SURPRISING AS MOST MUSICIANS WERE INTIMIDATED BY THEM AND NOT LIKELY
TO ASK THEM TO PLAY----
7. What was your Impression of The South Florida
area, did they
give you
guys any problems being LONG HAIRED
FREAKS!
Eric
Albronda:
AS I SAID WE WERE COMPLETELY ISOLATED FROM THE PUBLIC AND FELT SAFE
---THEY DID NOT WANT ANY INCIDENTS AS YOU DESCRIBED TAKING PLACE --I
DID MAKE A CAB EXCURSION OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF NO PLACE TO PROCURE
SOIME SMOKE WHICH WAS SOME OF THE BEST I EVER HAD-- COLUMBIAN GOLD ,
AND PANAMA RED ----NOEL REDDING CAME INTO MY HOTEL ROOM AND ASKE IF
HE COULD ROLL ONE AND I NATURALLY SAID YES ---HE PROCEEDED TO ROLL
THE ENTIRE LID IN ONE JOYNT AS ONLY THE ENGLISH COULD DO WITH ABOUT
10 PAPERS AND COMPLETE WITH A FILTER AT THE END ---JUST TOO FUNNY AND
OH SO GOOD .
8. I would like to get a idea of exactly what
your role was with the band at the time of the festival.
Eric
Albronda:
MY JOB WAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT ACTUALLY PLAYING
THE MUSIC --I WOULD JAM WITH THEM A LOT ON DRUMS AS THAT WAS MY
INSTRUMENT AND THEY SEEMED TO WELCOME THE CHANGE IN STYLE WHICH I
OFFERED ---
9. I would like to know what Eric Albronda has been doing lately, and briefly for the last 40 years.
Are you still involved in the Blue Cheer ?
Eric Albronda:
YES I AM STILL INVOLVED WITH BLUE CHEER AS TRY AS
I MIGHT SOMETIMES
IT IS NOW PART OF MY SOUL AND I WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF THE BAND ---
THEY NOW MOSTLY PLAY IN EUROPE AND AT FESTIVALS BUT I AM IN PHONE
CONTACT WITH DICKIE A LOT OF THE TIME ----THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO HELP
THEM PRODUCE SOME OF THEIR MUSIC HOWEVER THEY CANNOT PAY ME WHAT I
WOULD REQUIRE AND I ALSO HAVE A LIFE ----I WILL GO INTO THE RECORDING
STUDIO ON OCCASION ABOUT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS TO DO ONE PROJECT OR
ANOTHER AS CAN BE SEEN AT THE FOLLOWING :
http://www.bluecheer.us/archive/ericalbronda.htm
MY GOOD FRIEND GEORGE MICHALSKI WAS THE MUSIC DIRECTOR FOR THE NASH
BRIDGES TV SHOWS AS HE IS TIGHT FRIENDS WITH THE ACTOR DON JOHNSON
SO WE WOULD GO INTO THE STUDIO AND RECORD BITS AND PIECES FOR THE
SHOW --THAT WAS GREAT FUN----I ALSO HAVE A BUSINESS OF RETAIL
CLOTHING WHICH I IMPORT FROM INDONESIA, NEPAL, ECUADOR AND NEW
ZEALAND --MOSTLY I DO CRAFT FAIRS IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON----WEB
SITE FOR
BUSINESS:
http://www.vickibrennerent.com/
FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT OF THE TIME OF THE MIAMI POP FESTIVAL-
AS A CO FOUNDER OF THE BAND BLUE CHEER I ALWAYS FELT THAT THERE WAS A
TRUE MUSIC RENAISSANCE AT THE TIME AND MANY OF THE ESTABLISHED
BOUNDARIES IN MUSIC WERE BROKEN AND NEW AND EXCITING MUSIC CAME OUT
OF THAT ERA.
BLUE CHEER HAS BEEN DUBBED AS THE ORIGINATORS OF HEAVY METAL MUSIC
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY THE MIAMI POP FESTIVAL WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST EVENTS
EVER AND I FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT EVENT . RUBBING
ELBOWS WITH HENDRIX, ZAPPA , JOHN LEE HOOKER , LINDA EASTMAN ( NOT
ELBOWS IN HER CASE), AND THE REST WAS MOST ASSUREDLY THE MOST
EXCITING TIME OF MY MUSIC LIFE.
ERIC ALBRONDA
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