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'For me, just
shaking his hand – knowing all the great musicians whose hand he’d
shaken before – was mind-blowing. But so was John. Picture this
elegant man with a proper English accent, never without a tie, a
towering six-foot-seven. I was a huge fan and I was intimidated by
his offer. Rod Stewart wasn’t in demand
in those days; no one was interested. I immediately said 'yes'.
John had a knack for discovering talent. Ginger Baker,
Jeff
Beck and Brian Jones all worked with him early on.
Elton John played piano in one of his bands, other
Rolling Stones too. Charlie, Ron Wood, and
Keith.
In 1962, when The Rolling Stones were just getting started,
they opened for him in London. Eric Clapton has said
many times that John was one of the musicians that
inspired him to play the Blues. And for their
internationally televised special in 1964, The
Beatles invited John to perform his version of
'I Got My Mojo Working'. In those days the only music we fell in love with
was the Blues, and John was the first white guy
singing it, in his wonderful voice. It was the true
Blues and everyone looked up to him'.
-
Rod Stewart
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'I am very
glad I sat 15 feet from him in November before a packed
house, one of his last London performances before his
illness. With Dave Kelly on guitar and harp player
Butch
Coulter, he delivered, as he always has, and the hushed
fans lapped it up. At one point some heathens at the bar
spoiled the intimate listening pleasure…John stopped
and stood from the stool he was leaning on and with his
trademark hat now towering over us at around 7ft 2 he
bellowed...'Don't you know when culture is being thrust
upon you!' -
UK Bob WRFG/ Atlanta Ga
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