Bloodrock interview 6/28/71 - mp3
Published June 04, 2004
American Burn, the Bloodrock biography, is very pleased to announce the online release of Bob Ketchum's KWHN-AM / KMAG-FM (Fort Smith, Arkansas) interview with Bloodrock.
Recorded June 28, 1971, this interview - with all six original members - captures the band on the road following their legendary 52-date tour with Grand Funk Railroad.
This free-wheeling, and revealing, conversation documents Bloodrock's quest for artistic self-actualization at the moment of their fateful split from producer Terry Knight.
However superior as an album, 1971's Bloodrock 3 failed to produce a hit song (like 'DOA' from the previous LP Bloodrock 2) and sales, although high, fell short of expectations. Capitol, at the band's urging, issued their pensive version of the Soft Machine piano ballad 'A Certain Kind' as a follow-up to 'DOA' - a bold attempt to branch out from their heavy reputation. When the 45 stiffed, Capitol quickly issued 'Jessica' as a single; when that failed to chart, the pressure was on.
Below, a few excerpts from the interview:
Jim Rutledge: The third album, to us, is the best piece of work that we've done and I don't think the public - not the music freaks, but the general public that buys albums - has appreciated it as much as the second. The second album, to us, is a good album and all that, but - it's not on the same par.
Bob Ketchum: Why was 'A Certain Kind' picked - culled - from the LP?
Nick Taylor: It was a complete change for us, this type of song - and we all liked it very much, as well as our producer. 'A Certain Kind' never seemed to get off the ground, so 'Jessica' has been released as a single.
Bob Ketchum: Obviously, your best song, though, is 'DOA'... You all do some really good background vocals to be a heavy group - I hate to use the word heavy, but that's what it is basically, right?
Nick Taylor [dryly]: Basically.
Ketchum: 'Basically.' What else would it be? Definitely not folk.
Nick Taylor: No, I don't really - it's just Bloodrock.
Jim Rutledge: You could take 'A Certain Kind' and say that would have been done by a rock n' roll group.
Stevie Hill: Yeah.
Jim Rutledge [later]: Our show that will be together starting in September will have acoustic and piano type of stuff.
Stevie Hill: A lot of it has to do with what a group of people are ready to accept. The last time we played a show in Fort Worth, we did a pretty much different show and the people weren't really... y'know, they want to hear us as a super loud, hard rock band at the moment - and most people do - so when they're ready for us we'll be ready for that part of it.
Lee Pickens: When they get to know us a little better and realize what we're about - we're not just hard and heavy...
(Bob Ketchum then plays 'DOA.')
Visit American Burn to download all four sections of this 30-minute interview on mp3. It will be posted for the next 30 days.
- Bloodrock interview 6/28/71 - mp3
- Published: June 04, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Writer: DAyTripper
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Comments on this articleComments
I was in the Army in Germany with a musician named Thomas Pope, he was affiliated with the group Boodrock. Bloodrock came out with an ablbum while Thomas Pope and I were in Germany. I lost contact whith him after ge went back to the States and I don't know if he continued playing with Bloodrock. If anyone knows of the3 where abouts of Thomas Pope I would really like to get in contact with him.
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BLOODROCK LIVE ONSTAGE
12 Mar 05 - 8PM
ONE TIME MORE TIME, ONE SHOW ONLY
A Classic Bloodrock Reunion
Jim Rutledge - Steve Hill - Ed Grundy - Lee Pickens - Nick Taylor
The event is a benefit for Steve Hill
www.BLOODROCK.net
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On the same night , on the same stage
THE JOHN NITZINGER BAND
a reunion with Bugs Henderson and Linda Waring
Special guests ? The possibilities are endless ...
www.NITZINGER.com
Amongst many credits , a few standouts are Carl Palmers PM band and Alice Cooper Special Forces Tours
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THE FOREVER FABULOUS CHICKENHAWKS
With an all star line up , sure to blow your mind
: from a review of one of their latest releases :
The Forever Fabulous Chickenhawks Showband & All-Star Revue features a staggering lineup of Texas and Louisiana musicians, including the White Trash Horn Section (made famous by their stint with Edgar Winter's White Trash), saxophone player Blue Lou Marini, of the original Blues Brothers Band, and guitarist "Cadillac" Jack Calmes. Between them, the Chickenhawk members have 10 Grammys, 14 Gold or Platinum albums, and possess a combined cumulative musical experience of over 250 years on the bandstand!
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A JAM SESSION OF SPECIAL GUESTS BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT
There is no way to tell who might show up simply for the jam session
I know that Rocky Athas and Richard Bowden are confirmed.
Hey, it's Texas, you never what or who might show up, Texans love to strut their stuff especially when it comes to guitars and music, unconfirmed rumors of others are buzzing the streets. This going to a great, on stage, show of talent.
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There will be an auction of instruments and memorabilia to assist the benefit, performers will be available for autographs and photographs.
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Who could possibly take on the honorable task of MC for the show ?
It should come as no surprise, none other than the legendary
JON DILLON
from the classic ZOO FM Station
that once rocked the heads, hearts and souls of North Texas
Where ? , Where else .....
12 MARCH 2005 -SAT - 8 PM
RIDGLEA THEATER , a venue as classic as the performances it hosts
6025 CAMP BOWIE BLVD
Fort Worth, Texas USA
RIDGLEA THEATER LINK
tickets are available at frontgatetickets.com
We've received confirmations from fans travelling from the east and west coasts as well as the north and south borders of the country.
benefit_reunion@bloodrock.net
emails and messages to band members are forwarded directly to the band members
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Our event is purely a benefit function.
All benefit functions such as promotions, artists, performers, memorabilia , articles for auction, even the venue are donated rather than compensated .... if Eric and this highly recognized group of music critics will permit ... we would appreciate a bit of space to assist in spreading the word. We will at least be adding a link to blogcritics.org as a suggested site to visit for appreciators of classic rock. Hopefully that has some worth in trade for a wee bit of blogcritics real estate :o)
Thankyou
Clif Daniel, for BLOODROCK & NITZINGER