Fact #163580
When:
Short story:
Traffic, Blue Cheer and Iron Butterfly play the first of two nights at the Fillmore East, New York City, USA. A young Billy Joel, of local band The Hassles, visits Traffic in their hotel room.
Full article:
Steve Winwood : Billy didn't expect me to answer the door, and Billy was combing his hair when I suddenly appeared. It startled him, and he left the comb in his hair for the whole time he was in our room talking! I didn't have the heart to divulge this.
Billy Joel : Steve remained the perfect gentleman … and he was just content to talk music. He was amazed that The Hassles played Mr Fantasy in concert, and that we had also recorded Coloured Rain. He just sat there, looking sorta thrilled and sorta shocked. 'Steve, man,' I said, 'we love you over here. Honest! You just gotta spend more time in the USA!'
Steve's style has been an immense influence on any kid who ever sat down at a keyboard. But especially Steve - who was as good at piano as he was at organ, and always featured both instruments on record. For my generation, it was considered sorta wimpy to have taken keyboard lessons until the Spencer Davis Group caught fire, and Traffic just confirmed the idea of the guy at the keys being a leader.
(Musician, November 1988)
Dave Mason (Traffic) : When Traffic first came over to America and we played here at The Fillmore East, we asked specifically for The Staple Singers to open for us. Because that's who we listened to. Those were the people we listened to.
(Source : not known)
Tweet this Fact
Billy Joel : Steve remained the perfect gentleman … and he was just content to talk music. He was amazed that The Hassles played Mr Fantasy in concert, and that we had also recorded Coloured Rain. He just sat there, looking sorta thrilled and sorta shocked. 'Steve, man,' I said, 'we love you over here. Honest! You just gotta spend more time in the USA!'
Steve's style has been an immense influence on any kid who ever sat down at a keyboard. But especially Steve - who was as good at piano as he was at organ, and always featured both instruments on record. For my generation, it was considered sorta wimpy to have taken keyboard lessons until the Spencer Davis Group caught fire, and Traffic just confirmed the idea of the guy at the keys being a leader.
(Musician, November 1988)
Dave Mason (Traffic) : When Traffic first came over to America and we played here at The Fillmore East, we asked specifically for The Staple Singers to open for us. Because that's who we listened to. Those were the people we listened to.
(Source : not known)