Ask 411 Music 05.01.08 Never Let Go

Posted by Blake Lauderback on 05.01.2008

This week's edition of Ask 411 Music tackles the rock references of Almost Famous, Madonna's hidden talents, Pearl Jam song meanings, crazy Syd, and another list that it guaranteed to get me hate mail. Come on in!



Greetings ladies and gents, and welcome to another week of the column chocked to the brim with useless knowledge, Ask 411 Music. Hope you all are having an excellent week thus far, and for those of you just clinging for dear life in hopes the weekend will be here soon, to quote one of my least favorite movies, "Never… let… go…"

Thank you to all of you that flooded my mailbox and comments section with thoughts on last week's edition. As I antici… pated, (Ha! Another movie reference.) people's feather's got ruffled when I listed my Top Seven Greatest Guitar Players last week. Before I delve into this week's edition, please allow me to address the most common concerns about the list.

Robert Johnson? I punched myself in the face at least ten times for leaving off Mr. Johnson. Everyone that lobbied for him was 100% correct, the legendary bluesman was a tremendous player and a massive influence on most of the other gentlemen that populate the list. He deserved at the very least a spot on the "Honorable Mention."

Dimebag Darrell? Let me start by saying that I live very near by Dimebag's hometown in Texas. I do respect him as a guitar player, because there is no denying that when it comes to pure speed, he was phenomenal. That said, while I do enjoy some of Pantera's stuff, speed metal ain't my bag, because there is so much more to music that just pure speed, at least, in my opinion. I am sure Dimebag appreciates the support (god rest his soul) but I don't think I committed a crime by not including him. Had I wanted to make an even longer "Honorable Mentions" list, he would have been a great candidate.

Frank Zappa? I won't trash Zappa by any means. He was a very skilled guitar player, even if he was an absolute freaking loon. Another candidate for "HM," but I feel completely justified leaving him behind the guys I ranked in the top 7.

Tom Morello? Maybe it is just me, but I am not the biggest Morello mark. Is he talented? Sure. But I don't think that he stands out from any of the other solid grunge/post grunge players. Had I included him, I would have felt obligated to throw in Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains and Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, and frankly, the "HM" was long enough already.

Slash? Eh, probably should have included him even though I am not one to buy in on him being the end all be all of guitar players. He is a very good guitar player; I won't deny him that.

Basically, you guys made a ton of great suggestions, and as I said, if I wanted for go on forever with the "Honorable Mentions," most of your suggestions would have made the cut. I am excited, however, that the topic lit a fire under your butts and got you all talking. That is the goal after all.

To those of you that pointed out that that Gun's and Roses debuted in 1987 and I referenced them being almost a decade old in 1992, I have a slight math lesson. 1992-1987= 5 years. If we were rounding, 5 rounds up, and 10 years = a decade. So there you go. I am correct! (Just kidding… I had it in my mind that GnR started in 1984 and not 1987. I accept full responsibility for misleading the masses.)

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Now, as my loyal readers may remember, last week I promised to let you guys in on a lot of the inside jokes and references to classic rock made in Almost Famous, the film that topped my Top Movies About Rock Music list a few weeks back. I do so hate to disappoint my readers, so here we go.

* All of the songs performed by the fictional band Stillwater were written by director Cameron Crowe and his wife… Nancy Wilson of Heart.

*Mike McCreedy of Pearl Jam recorded the guitar tracks for Stillwater.

*Russell Hammond's exclamation "I am a Golden God!" is a quote attributed to Robert Plant while he looked down on the Sunset Strip from his hotel balcony.

*Fairuza Balk's line "Does anybody remember laughter?" is another Plant quote. He often uttered that line during live performances of "Stairway to Heaven."

* In the opening scene you can spot a ticket stub from an Allman Brothers Band concert.

* There is a black and white photo of Stillwater shown that is an omage to The Allman Brothers' album cover for Live at the Fillmore East.

*The character Red Dog is named after one of the roadies for The Allman Brothers.

*When Penny is driving at one point in the film, there is a reflection on the windshield that appears to be the cover to Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.

*When he was 18 years old, Crowe wrote the liner notes for Frampton Comes Alive! by Peter Frampton. Frampton became a musical consultant for the film and taught Billy Crudup to play the guitar for the film.

*Russell Hammond is based on Glenn Frey of The Eagles.

*Crowe, who really was a correspondant for Rolling Stone Magazine at an early age, really did experience a situation similar to the near-plane crash depicted in the film. In real life, Crowe was on a plane with The Who.

*Jason Lee, who plays Jeff Bebe, the lead singer for Stillwater, based his character off of Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company fame.

*When the main character is pulled into a pre-show huddle with Stillwater, it is a reference to a real life occasion when Eddie Vedder pulled Cameron Crowe into a similar huddle before Lollapolooza.

*When William comes upon the obsessed Zeppelin fan in New York, the kid's shirt contains the lyrics to "The Rain Song" by, of course, Led Zeppelin.

*Peter Frampton makes a cameo as a crew member for the band Humble Pie, of which Frampton was actually a founding member.

*The scene where Stillwater is brought to New York City via a limo is a reference to a similar scene in The Song Remains the Same, the Led Zeppelin concert film.

*Lester Bands and Ben Fong Torres are not actually fictional characters, they are actually one-time writers for Rolling Stone Magazine.

Add in the Zeppelin shirt question we answered last week and all of the obvious name-dropping of bands like Black Sabbath, and you have a film overflowing with tributes to a bygone era of rock and roll music.

Alright Now… (Damn it, now I have a Free song stuck in my head!)

Class is in Session

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"She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand like a lizard on a window pane. / The man in the crowd with the multicolored mirrors on his hobnail boots. / Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy working overtime. / A soap impression of his wife, which he ate and donated to the National Trust. / I need a fix 'cause I'm going down, down to the bits that I left uptown. / I need a fix 'cause I'm going down. - Happiness is a Warm Gun

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Q: Whatsup man? I have enjoyed your answers on a couple of questions like the ones I am gonna ask. I just wanted to see what you knew about these Pearl Jam songs: Jeremy, Black, and Yellow Ledbedder. I am a huge Pearl Jam fan, but I am not entirely sure of the stories behind any of them. Anything you've got would be cool. Thanks. – Ronnie W.

A: Glad you have been enjoying yourself here at Ask 411 Music. Let me see what I can scrape up for you.

"Jeremy" is a truly tragic tale about Jeremy Delle, a sixteen year old high school student from Richardson, Texas that really did walk into his English class and take his own life in front of the entire class. It is thought that Jeremy Delle was pushed into such violence by the cruelty of his classmates. The song is written from the perspective of the other classmates and details not only the events, but also the remorse from the students that drove him to harm himself.

"At home, drawin' pictures of mountain tops with him on top, lemon yellow sun. Arms raised in a "V," the dead lay in pools of maroon below."

"Black" is a touching, sad song that is basically a tribute to a long lost lover. Eddie Vedder is crooning in agony over her loss.

"I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a sun In somebody else's sky, but why? Why, why can't it be, why can't it be mine?"

"Yellow Ledbetter" is a little harder to pin down. The song itself is "written" by Mike McCready, but in actuality, it is a reimaging of the song "Little Wing," written by Jimi Hendrix. The lyrics themselves are, for the most part, irrelevant. In fact, the lyrics are rarely, if ever, the same when the band performs the song live. There is a reference made to a telegram left on the porch that many believe is designed to depict the telegrams that the families of soldiers killed in action received during WWII. "Ledbetter" refers to Vedder's friend, Tim Ledbetter.

"Ah yeah, can you see them out on the porch? Yeah, but they don't wave. But I see them round the front way. Yeah. And I know, and I know. I don't want to stay. Make me cry..."

The first two songs, "Jeremy" and "Black" appear on Pearl Jam's debut album, Ten. "Yellow Ledbetter" appeared originally as a B-Side to "Jeremy."



Q: Hey! I have a question about Pink Floyd. My friend told me the other day that the reason Pink Floyd's first singer left was because they had him put in an asylum. Is that true? If so, what the hell happened?!? Is that where the song Shine on You Crazy Diamond came from? – Erin T.

A: Ah, a little Pink Floyd history lesson.

When the band started in the 1960's they were lumped in with many other psychedelic and space rock acts. With the release of their first major album in 1967, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Pink Floyd, which consisted of leader singer/guitar player Syd Barrett, bassist Roger Waters, drummer Nick Mason, and keyboardist Rick Wright.

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was heralded as a brilliant debut album, and is still considered to be a prime example of British Psychedilia. The band began to gain a great deal of steam, and they hit the road full time in support of the album. After some time out touring, the other band mates began to notice some peculiarities in Barrett's behavior that have since been attributed to both his unstable mental condition and his persistent use of LSD.

It became normal for Syd to stand in silence while the others played around him, or even just sustain one continuous chord throughout the entire show regardless of what song the others were playing. As time went on the other three realized that they could not continue on with things going the way they were, so they brought in David Gilmour to take over the guitar spot as well as some of the vocal duties. For a brief period of time, the five of them played together, or rather, Gilmour, Waters, Wright, and Mason played together while Barrett "watched" from stage.

Frustrated and heart broken, the band tried a new approach. They wanted very badly to keep including Barrett, so they decided to allow Syd to continue doing most of the writing while using Gilmour on stage. Syd's first attempt under the new system was a song entitled "Do You Get It, Yet?" and unfortunately, the band did not "get it." The song, which changed chord progressions and structure every time Syd played it, was impossible to complete, so the band decided to close the door on Syd's tenure with the band, and in April of 1968, Syd Barrett was officially "released" from the band.

Syd Barrett decided to go the solo route and released two albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett. Syd's condition continued to deteriorate and neither album brought him much success, so shortly after the release of his second album he became a recluse, dropping out of the public spotlight completely. He lived out his days in Cambridge until his passing on July 7th, 2006.

Pink Floyd more than endured the tragedy. In fact, they went on to become one of the most successful acts in rock with the remaining four members. With Barrett's song writing gone, Waters, Gilmour, and Wright each began writing separately to great success.

1975 saw the release of one of their most successful albums, Wish You Were Here, which was a combination narrative about and tribute to Syd Barrett.

These tracks are featured on the album, including the one (or nine) that you asked about.

- "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5)" (The song is supposedly a reference to the crazy, glazed over look that Syd Barrett began making towards the end of his time with the band)

- "Welcome to the Machine" (About the cold-hearted machine that is the industry)

- "Have a Cigar" (Another stab at the industry, this satirical look at life in a band shines a light on the seediness of the music scene.)

- "Wish You Were Here" (A truly moving song written for a friend that was regrettably left behind.)

- "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Parts 6-9)" (Further tribute to the long lost member.)

One of the most awkward moments I have ever seen is Billy Corgan's induction of Pink Floyd into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In his speech he makes a joke about Barrett's "commitment" to the band, taking a stab at the former member's condition. Not only did Pink Floyd not laugh, neither did anyone else.

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This week's list…(Insert mental drum roll here)

The Top 7 Most Overrated Guitar Players

DISCLAIMER: By including an artist on this list I am not condemning him or his work to musical hell. In fact, I actually really enjoy the work of several of these individuals. However, I feel that they are given entirely too much credit for their guitar playing abilities. I will also include the rankings of these players on Rolling Stones' "100 Greatest Guitar Players List," which served as both inspiration and irritant in regards to this topic

7.Jonny Buckland (Coldplay, Not Ranked) – I am not entirely sure that I understand the world's facination with Coldplay. (I had to try very hard not to start this entry off with "You know how I know your gay?") I am not saying that I dislike Coldplay, and infact, I really loved their debut album, Parachutes. My main gripe is that it is all starting to sound the same, which, I suppose I could handle if the band and the rest of the world didn't insist on calling everything that they do brilliantly inventive. Ultimately I believe that Chris Martin IS Coldplay and that the other three are basically stuck in a backing band role for him. That is why it comes as a shock to me that many people seem to think that Buckland deserves to be recognized as a top guitar player.

6. Jonny Greenwood / Ed O'Brien (Radiohead, 59&60) – I swear that it is not because I dislike British rock. (Although it seems as though I dislike people named Jonny.) Now, these guys are the perfect example of the above disclaimer. I like Radiohead and their music, but I am quite tired of people trying to convince me that Greenwood and O'Brien being in the same band is somehow equivalent to Hendrix and Page sharing the stage together. Again, solid musicians, but they are not nearly as good as everyone advertises.

5. Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac, 38) – This pick is pretty biased, I must admit. I flat out don't dig Fleetwood Mac. I have never been able to really put my finger on WHY I don't care for them, but I don't. I don't see the band as these incredible innovators the way others see them. That is why I can't buy into Peter Green as an elite guitar player.

4. Johnny Ramone (The Ramones, 16) – Another freakin' Johnny on the list, that makes it three out of seven Jonny or Johnnys on the list. This is one that I just don't understand at all. Were The Ramones instrumental in the creation of punk music? Yes. Did The Ramones make pop-friendly, humerous, quality music? Yes. Does that make Johnny Ramone a guitar god? Absolutely not, and I believe that he would be the first one to tell you that. The Ramones prided themselves on writing elementary songs based around incredibly basic chord structures. By all means, let us honor the man for his contributions, but gifted guitar work was not one of them.

3. Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, 17) – To me, he is this generations Johnny Ramone, which, to me, means that he deserves even less credit since he isn't even blazing a new trail like Johnny Ramone. Now, I do believe that Jack White is a more than capable guitar player. While I could complain that his songs are all centered on basic riffs, I will say that he makes something special out of those basic riffs. However, if one more college aged kid comes up and tries to convince me that Mr. White is better than Hendrix, Page, Vaughn, and Clapton combined, I may be forced to hit them in the face, and I will need all of you to testify on my behalf when I claim temporary insanity.

2. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana, 12) – In my eyes there is a massive difference between being a brilliant song writer and being an ingenious guitar player. Bob Dylan and John Lennon are two of histories most exceptional craftsmen when it comes to writing, but neither of them is given credit for their skill on the guitar, and honestly, I agree. Cobain falls into this same category. From a guitar standpoint, every other band in the grunge movement outclassed Nirvana. Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden… everybody had more talent on the axe. I am still on board with considering Cobain to be an outstanding musician and an innovator of rock music, but anyone that sees him as a top guitar player is seeing him through rose-colored glasses. And no, it is not disrespectful to his legacy to say that.

1. The Edge (U2, 24) – The real gift possessed by The Edge, other than a cool freakin' name, is the gift of guitar effects. Guitar effects are meant to supplement the user's ability to play. The Edge relies entirely on said effects to achieve his sound. If you eliminated the man's use of delay you would most likely be surprised at the simplicity of his riffs. I like U2, and for that matter, I do like The Edge, but a guitar virtuoso? I think I will have to pass.

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Forgotten Classic

I am certain that the above list has managed to offend one or two of you, so I decided to use this space to diffuse the tension by allowing everyone to let off some steam. To do so, I nominate Master of Puppets by Metallica. This album, while it only has eight tracks, is loaded with metal classics. The album starts of ever-so-gently with a beautiful acoustic guitar track on the song "Battery" before kicking things into high gear. Next up is one of the most recognizable metal riffs from the title track "Master of Puppets." Add in even more hard rocking greatness with tracks like "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" and "Damage, Inc." and you have a definitive classic on your hands.

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Q: Hi, this is the first time ive read your work, ive got a question for the column. i heard that madonna picked up drums and guitar, who taught her and when did she learn it? Thnx – Jay

A: Madonna moved to New York in 1977 in order to make her name as a dancer after dropping out of the University of Michigan, where she had received a dance scholarship. Upon getting to New York, she worked at a Dunkin' Donuts and scraped to get by as she auditioned for dancing troops.

She got a gig dancing on the world tour of French disco sensation Patrick Hernandez, and it was there that she began to date musician Dan Gilroy. Together, they started a rock band in New York called The Breakfast Club, in which Madonna spent time playing both guitar and drums, and of course, sang.

1980 brought a new band with former boyfriend and drummer Stephen Bray. Together, the two began putting together dance songs on demo tapes. It was these tapes that were discovered by a local DJ, Mark Kamins. Before long, Madonna was off and running to become one of the biggest acts in pop history.

As far as when she learned to play, it obviously would have been in the late 70's. Some sources claim that Gilroy taught her how to play the instruments; while others claim that she had known how to play them since picking them up in high school.

Sorry I couldn't be more help in finding specifics, but I think it is at least gratifying to know that Madonna has some musical ability, even if it isn't much. That's a hell of a lot more than we can say for most of the pop princesses.



Q: I love the stuff about the kid's shirt from Almost Famous. I have always understood the front side, but never the back. I am just kind of getting into Led Zeppelin though. I do actually have a question about those guys though.

I have been looking for a particular Led Zeppelin song and I am having a very difficult time finding it on any of their albums. I have no idea what the actual name of the song is, but I can try to describe it to you. It is very piano driven, which I know is odd for those guys. In the middle of the bridge there is weird breakdown with lots of latin percussion and weird rhythms. I hear it pop up on the radio every now and then, and I love it, but I never catch the name or the album. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if it is even Led Zeppelin at all. Could it be a Robert Plant solo song?

Anyway, thanks for your time. – Randy M.

A: Always glad to help a fellow fan of the Led. I am fairly sure that I know what song you have been searching for. It is in reality one of my favorites! The song in question is "Fool in the Rain" off of Led Zeppelin's final album, 1979's In Through the Out Door. The album drastically differs from the rest of Zep's catalogue. The band deviates slightly from their usual straightforward blues/hard rock sound, and on this album every track is it's own entity.

There are tracks that are heavily influenced by southern rock and country like "South Bound Saurez" and "Hot Dog," tracks laden with synth like "In the Evening," and the latin influenced jam that you are searching for, "Fool in the Rain."

It seems like a very odd way for Led Zeppelin to go out since it seems as if everything is designed to try something new just for the sake of trying something new. Then again, it was never intended to be their last effort together. Drummer John Bonham passed away at the very beginning of the tour for this record. Led Zeppelin, for the most part, has stayed away from the stage ever since.



Just like the guy at the end of the bar that is starting to drool a little, it is time to cut this one off.

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This week's drop of band name knowledge is…

Papa Roach - This California based band broke on to the scene in a big way at the turn of the century with 2000's Infest, which I believe to be their best release. Their name, while it brings up disgusting connotations, is actually quite nice. The band takes it's name from lead singer Jacoby Shaddix's grandfather, Mr. Howard William Roatch, whom everyone called Papa Roach. Kind of warm and fuzzy for a band who's breakout single was all about suicide right?

See you all back here next week… and send me some freaking questions.

Class Dismissed.