Unheralded Sideman


There's a story from the first US tour of the original Jeff Beck Group that after a performance in Central Park's Wollman Skating Ring a PR type from the record label ran up to the group's vocalist, Rod Stewart, and said, "Great show Jeff, and your band has a really good guitarist too!" So much for the intelligence of PR reps, but there are occasions where I think the sidemen musicians are at least as interesting, if not more interesting, than the star performers. Some of my favorite sidemen are:

James Jamerson - bass, Motown house band
Jack Ashford - tambourine, Motown house band
Charlie Watts - drums, Rolling Stones
Jack Cassady - bass, Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna
Bruce Thomas - bass, EC & the Attraction

Anybody eles have their favorite sidemen?
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Showing 1 response by waltersalas

Sc53,
Are you thinking of Kenny Vaughan, who toured with Lucinda when Car Wheels on a Gravel Road came out? He's sort of a dorky Buddy Holly lookalike, but plays mean guitar. A lot of fun to watch, too, as he sometimes plays with his elbows thrust out like a lanky basketball player boxing out for a rebound.

As for sidemen, how about this "pick-up" band from The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions:

Eric Clapton
Steve Winwood
Bill Wyman
Charlie Watts

Not too shabby, as back-up bands go. Wolf sounds pretty good, too.