Devils & Blue Dresses: My Wild Ride as a Rock and Roll Legend

Rivieras and I took care of them before we ever had a hit.
    George Clinton: Where would Stevie Wonder or Prince or Sly and the Family Stone be without George Clinton? Probably the same place I’d be without James Brown or Little Richard or Hank Williams. Everybody in this select group influences somebody else and on and on.
    The Coasters: They influenced me before I knew I was being influenced. Today you have many choices of Coasters. Pick well. “Poison Ivy,” and then “Searching,” were the first songs of theirs I heard. The problem today is that many of the original members either sold or gave away rights to cousins, relatives, or strangers who paid them. All of them are good at what they do, but it’s like looking at The Temptations, none of the original members are there anymore.
    Albert Collins: Chicago. Blues club. Sweat and singing guitars.
    The Comets: I was barely a teenager when “Rock Around the Clock” came out, but I did perform on a show with The Comets on an oldies package on the East Coast at a huge Indian Casino. They blew me away. Their eighty-three year old drummer did a ten-minute drum solo. And then I got to ride to the airport with them the next day. It was wild, hearing their conversations about health problems and social security.
    Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen: When Barry Kramer took over Mitch Ryder these guys were at their peak. Interesting approach to musical entertainment with very talented musicians.
    The Contours: Pure Detroit Motown soul. I always loved “Shake Sherry Shake” but “Do You Love Me” is still my favorite. We did quite a few gigs with them over the years. Strictly professional.
    Alice Cooper: I met Alice, or Vince, when he had his farm in Michigan. He wasn’t from Michigan, but at this time in the history of music Detroit was a hot place to be. His manager thought it would be cool, so Alice moved there to be more visible. His farm was a very utilitarian place with no animals. It had running water and several vacant fields of weeds close to the expressway. He used the farm for rehearsing, and really, everything about him was about music. I actually played guitar for a rehearsal of “Under My Wheels.” What a thrill.
    Marshall Crenshaw: A hidden jewel.
    The Crickets: Almost like The Comets with no Bill Haley, The Crickets were without Buddy Holly, but they were wonderful. It was a show in Deadwood, South Dakota, and also on the show was Bobby Vee. Bobby had hired me and I was mystified to find out that Bob Dylan had worked for him way back when.
    Crosby, Stills and Nash: I did two different arena shows with them in the early days. What amazingly different harmonies. Not as compelling as The Beach Boys but none the less groundbreaking for white voices.
    The Crystals: I love them. I mean, here we are some forty years later and they all look like they are in their twenties and thirties.
    Ron Dante: What I find interesting about Ron Dante is his close ties to Bob Crewe in Los Angeles.
    Bobby Darin: He was making records before I made my first recording at the age of sixteen. One day in Detroit he was the guest of some mutual friends and we had a chance to walk along the shores of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe and chat about show business. What a career he had.
    Spencer Davis: My favorite Englishman. A hard worker, biligual, a teacher, and a musician. Every time I play in Germany I bump into his posters. We’ve done many shows together and he always pleases the audience. I also thank him for Stevie Winwood.
    Bobby Day: California. Nice make up. Better than Little Richard’s.
    Delaney and Bonnie: Kimberly and I had a chance to meet with them in their hotel room back in the day and they were great hosts. I wonder how Bonnie likes my recording of “Ain’t Nobody White Can Sing the Blues”?
    The Del-Vikings: Recently, I finally had the chance to perform on the same stage with some of the men who had created one of my all time favorite records.
    Rick Derringer: What a talented guitar player. I’ve done many shows with Rick and he puts everything he has into his performance. I was very disappointed to discover that he had been sleeping with Sarah Smithers after we had broken up.
    Willy DeVille: The classic “I will stay on the edge whether I like it or not” logic. So much talent, so little time.
    Neil Diamond: I got to meet Neil in a California recording studio. My favorite story about him takes place in Germany. When my road manager, Neil