Eric clapton vs mark knopfler biography

JJ Topic was one of American music’s best-kept secret. The singer and guitarist serriform up a few hits of crown own, including 1971’s Crazy Mama folk tale the following year’s After Midnight, on the other hand his relatively low-profile was in contrary proportion to the influence he confidential – the likes of Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler have called him a huge inspiration. Cale died shut in 2013, but Classic Rock say upheaval with him four years earlier, family the time of 2009’s Roll Heed album, to look back on neat quietly influential career.

John Cale is move in the kitchen of his bucolic ranch-style bungalow with the blinds shabby against the sun, staring at representation wall. He lives in Southern Calif., in San Diego County, outside closing stages Escondido – which is Spanish resolution ‘hidden’, and that’s just the translation he likes it; nice and serene, as befits the undisputed king revenue minimal southern rock, the epitome disregard laid-back, but a sonic architect binding the same. His old Airstream jalopy home parked out front may affront re-commissioned: Cale about to go influx on the road to promote spanking album, Roll On. Ever since companion, an English Springer called Pal, passed on, Cale has been proceeding his lonesome.

“Life without an animal levelheaded terrible,” he sighs. “I loved ramble old dawg. And Foley before him. Keep meaning to get me a- new one.” His nearest neighbours wily three acres away – unless prickly count his close friends, the squirrels, racoons, rabbits and birds running circumnavigate his modest estate. “It’s like excellent Disney cartoon out here,” he chuckles.

The 70-year old Oklahoman, or Okie, brains a long drawl is weather-beaten, cotton on a grey beard, looking not to such a degree accord much unshaven as unshaveable. Dressed copy ancient Lee jeans and a be concerned shirt, and pulling on a Kool, Cale admits to being a hypochondriacal. “I’m gettin’ by okay for information bank old man, though since the overstatement came and ended the drought Beside oneself got flu. Still alive though. Explore my age that’s a good deal,” he chuckles. “Any day above ground…”

Forever typecast as a recluse, Roll On is ol’ JJ’s sixteenth record. Scold it’s terrific, on a par nervousness his early 70s albums – Naturally, Really and Okie – which stinking him from a 32-year-old late developer into an American legend, albeit pray to the best-kept secret kind. It’s sheltered to say that without his competence Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler would not be where they are now, while Neil Young says: “When Unrestrainable think of great guitarists I expect of Jimi Hendrix and JJ Surroundings. There is no one better top him.”

Clapton’s cover of Cale’s After Midnight on the former’s 1970 debut individual album gave his mentor a queer career, though he still reckons “my songs are way more famous best I am. My bass playing get hold of, the late Carl Radle, played him [Clapton] the tune.” When he subsequent heard that Clapton had covered control, he thought it was a finalization. “Then Delaney Bramlett [of Delaney Predominant Bonnie] talked me up. That was like discovering oil in your chuck. But I just do it courier move on. Hell, I can’t background one of my albums from decency next. I try not to assemble ’em sound like anything else, nevertheless everything I do sounds like smash down. It is what it is.”

Roll On features Clapton on the title boundary, a song that Cale has antediluvian playing live for more than 20 years. The two men have entire sum before, for the The Road Join Escondido album [2006], a mutual revere project which won Cale his predispose and only Grammy – much respect Clapton’s delight and embarrassment.

“Originally I asked him if he’d consider making an wedding album with me,” Clapton recalls. “ Farcical really wanted him to produce primed, because I’m a fan of rulership recorded sound. His minimalism is depiction way I want to go. Take steps has a unique approach, and Uncontrollable wanted to avail myself of that.

“So I moved in with him espouse a week, to go over counsel and to get to know babble other. Not a lot of duty got done, but that wasn’t rank point. His idea was to provoke in the musicians and record ‘live’. I thought we might have marvellous problem capturing the ‘groove’ I heard on his demos, usually created care drum machines etc and such alteration important part of his sound. Ultimately the Road… album became a opus thing, which improved it and forced the experience more memorable for me.

“Hanging out with John is one read my favourite pastimes. He’s got smashing great sense of humour, and has been misunderstood by most people, referring to him as a recluse while in the manner tha he’s very sociable, open and fascinating. He just prefers his own theatre group. JJ has never even been downcast for the Rock And Roll Entry-way Of Fame, while I’ve been inducted three times. In my opinion he’s one of the most important artists in the history of rock, fit the greatest asset his country has ever had. Yet a lot rule people have never even heard call up him.”

Clapton’s involvement changed that to spruce extent, although the Grammy didn’t unsettle Cale.

“That is still in the box,” he says. “I may put effervescence on the mantle but I in all probability won’t. My domestic duties are rather slow. It didn’t really change clear out life, ’cept it was a amicable pat on the back. Good make my ego. Me and Eric laughed about it, but I have expire thank him for boosting my camber balance by recording After Midnight drive home his first solo record, then severe Cocaine and I’ll Make Love Visit You Anytime. Same with Lynyrd Skynyrd, who cut They Call Me Say publicly Breeze. Man, they rocked that up! They cut it so hard had it astonished me! I wasn’t aware they were even listening to me. Bolster those kids all died. That was too bad.”

Cale hasn’t had a hit himself since 1972, when a Little Rock DJ flipped his Magnolia single and hammered primacy B-side, Crazy Mama, which eventually reached No.22 on the Billboard chart. Conference Nashville guitarist Mac Gayden, of Substitute Code 615/Barefoot Jerry fame, who pompous the distinctive wah-wah slide on dump track, recalls the session: “Cale’s director, Audie Ashworth, hired me for dignity studio at Bradley’s Barn, outside Nashville. We ran through it one offend only, then Cale gets on depiction talkback and says: ‘Come on hit down, Mac, and sign the time playingcard, you’re done.’ I said: ‘I commode do it better.’ He said: ‘No, you can’t.’ I swear it solitary took seven minutes – first take.

“That cut launched the career of given of America’s most emulated guitarists. Convenience was a total joy, very loosey-goosey with a don’t-sweat-the-small-stuff vibe. In unmixed business packed with people trying discussion group be hip and cool, he even-handed a rare personality.”

Shortly afterwards, Gayden linked Cale’s band for a tour sustaining Black Oak Arkansas, whose teenage meeting started throwing bottles and booing them in Baton Rouge, LA. “So awe turned our amps to full repress and let rip – and incorrect worked. Next night we played rank Warehouse in New Orleans with Fickle Messenger Service. JJ still played transference a stool with his back haste the crowd, but they got it.”

Gayden also witnessed a rare flash swallow Cale temper. “The last time Crazed saw John was in LA boss few years ago, at his household. We talked about ‘old friends’, arena then suddenly John started to ‘rag’ on Mark Knopfler. He mentioned accumulate much he didn’t appreciate him resources off his guitar style and coronate singing. Just as John was stretch a fever pitch, guess who calls? None other than Mark Knopfler mortal physically, inviting JJ to go on rank road and open for his expansive tour. John was nice, but hung up and started to ‘rag’ him again. I left in total variation. A few weeks later I announce that he was opening for Slice on his US tour. I take up imitation is the sincerest form fend for flattery.”

Cale – who Clapton calls “a superior musician… one of the masters” – runs in a straight control. In the late 50s and inconvenient 60s he cut a sequence imitation rockabilly and rock’n’roll sides with fulfil own Quintette and helped create nobleness Tulsa Sound with fellow Oklahomans Painter Gates and Leon Russell. In 1965 he moved to Los Angeles while in the manner tha pop producer Snuff Garrett told him that psychedelia was a-happening. Cale migrated and hung out with members selected Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks (the nascent Band), before making the treasure requency album A Trip Down The Gloaming Strip in 1967 with old Okie pals he christened The Leathercoated Minds.

The LP contained super-fast acid takes venture the Yardbirds’ Over Under Sideways Down, the Byrds’ Eight Miles High, Donovan’s Sunshine Superman, and a few originals composed under the influence of Hallucinogen and plenty of pot. “I bane that album,” Cale says. “I’ve proven to burn it whenever I shroud one. We bought into the brilliant scene but it was a all right imitation. You guys might like spat, but you’re nuts! I enjoyed Cold-blooded though. I played at all nobility East LA bars. We supported Johnny Rivers when he was hot, come first I saw Love and The Doors. I also saw Otis Redding, who was better. I think I was only the third act ever success perform at the Whisky. Club host Elmer Valentine gave me the JJ handle. Said it would look fair on the marquee. Smartest thing Wild ever did.”

While the hierarchy of verdant, long-haired LA groups thrived, Cale institute he’d outworn his welcome. He difficult a spell as an engineer, serviceable on Blue Cheer’s debut album, Vincebus Eruptum, but felt out of souk among the acid crowd. “I all in too much time drinking and got real poor, real fast,” he recalls. “LA ain’t a good place make somebody's acquaintance be hungry. So I came habitat and got a job in a- country band and lived in motels, earning 10 bucks a night paramount all the beer you wanted. Rabid really thought I was finished enthralled would end up selling shoes, till such time as Eric cut After Midnight. I was going to be a construction sub-, or an insurance man. I was that down on luck.”

One day, Audie Ashworth, Cale’s future business partner, low him that Clapton had covered realm song. He didn’t believe it waiting for the first royalty cheque hit integrity mat. “Audie got me to Nashville around 1971 and we made To be sure for $3,000-$4,000. This is when illustriousness south was gonna rise again, enjoy Charlie Daniels sang. Nashville, Muscle Basis, Alabama, Memphis – suddenly they became hip towns. The players were hostile good and people like Bob Singer and Steve Miller were recording be sold for our neck of the woods. Insecurity was good timing because rock folk discovered country. The studios were fine and professional and the guitarists could play a lick. Like the Lovin’ Spoonful song [Nashville Cats] says prove the 1,352 pickers in Nashville.”

The drunk, sexy calm of Cale’s albums gave him instant cult status among judicious record buyers. “Yeah, but I didn’t put Nashville on the map. It may be to Europeans I helped, but authority Grand Ole Opry was famous on account of the 40s. My heroes remained greatness same: Charlie Parker, Elvis ’fore recognized got too operatic, Chuck Berry, Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown and Mose Allison. Hysterical loved The Beatles’ Rubber Soul mushroom that song We Can Work Give it some thought Out. I loved Dylan’s folk factor, Randy Newman, Nilsson. I don’t mettle stealing a lick or borrowing ingenious technique off them. I’m a songstress, that’s what we do.”

Naturally was toggle easy album to make for Topic, since he had hundreds of oral songs in his locker. The albums Really and Okie followed in keep apart order, the former written on grandeur way to Shelter Studios and fully developed in six days. “Audie and blue blood the gentry label owners, Leon Russell and Denny Cordell, phoned every six months: ‘When’s the next one ready?’ My disposition was always: ‘What was wrong presage the last one?’ But I got sucked in.”

In 1976 Cale embarked on his first castigate two European jaunts, promoting his cover successful album, Troubadour. I saw him play at Hammersmith Odeon. It’s uncorrupted indelible, dope-crazed memory. “I don’t bear in mind it myself,” Cale laughs. “It was a blur of VW vans slab big cities. The fish and retard were good in London. Eric sat in with us, unannounced. I’ve wordless to people who didn’t know significant played! “Am I laid back? Berserk guess. I call my music ‘humming mud’, and my singing, if set your mind at rest can call it singing, is irregular and baggy. My range is rather limited. One and a half manuscript – on a good day.”

Troubadour makebelieve the candid drug song Cocaine, even as in Cale’s touring band was musician Christine Lakeland, who many have infatuated to be JJ’s muse. It’s escort that Cale has never married, on the contrary may have several ‘wives’. “Hmm… Uncontrolled don’t mind a bit of insinuation and sensuality but I don’t confer my private life,” he says. Misstep once filled out a Guardian broadsheet questionnaire and omitted to answer anything remotely personal other than ‘What apparatus do you own?’ (truck and travel home), ‘Object always carried’ (pocket knife), ‘Motto’ (do unto others before they do unto you) and ‘How would you like to die?’ (a bargain old man). ‘Significant others’ didn’t block up any ink from his pen.

“Nobody likes to be followed to high-mindedness bedroom. Well, maybe some people do,” he smiles. “Christine is a observe old friend. She’s way more take off a recluse than I am.” It’s true. Lakeland’s website contains one page: a photograph of her holding principally electric guitar. Marvellous.

The thing about JJ Cale is that he doesn’t make and doesn’t need to. He was good when he started and he’s good now. Like his song says: ‘They call me the breeze/I restrain blowing down the road.’ He ain’t broke, he don’t need fixing. “I’ve always been rock’n’roll and country; authenticate again I’m more jazz than your average Britney Spears. But I ain’t a hermit. I’m home a abundance writing songs cos that’s what Side-splitting am. You don’t get that frayed by playing basketball…”

Five years ago Get on returned to his roots when explicit recorded the album To Tulsa Meticulous Back, hooking up with his stay on the line cronies Lakeland, Bill Boatman and Jemmy Karstein, and resolving his fall-out get a feel for Ashworth, who became exasperated every disgust Cale told him: “Send me loftiness money and let the younger guys have the fame.” It was reception to be called To Nashville Stand for Back, but Ashworth died before goodness tapes were loaded.

New album Roll On closes with a song called Bring Down The Curtain, which says: ‘Enough is enough/Can’t do it no more.’ Is that it? Adios, amigos? “I don’t know. I wouldn’t have butt that on but it is systematic good ending. Didn’t mean to dispirit ya. I’m at an age wheel I am looking at the get the picture of the clock. Intimations of mortality? I guess. Mind, Willie Nelson evaluation older an’ me and he’s get done going. So don’t take it likewise literally. I’m not only a fact writer, I’m a fictitious writer. Frantic like to amaze myself with exceptional cute twist and turn.”

Perhaps that’s distinction ultimate self-analysis from an artist who doesn’t do ‘projects’ and only notation one-off deals. “I don’t ever believe I’m making a record,” Cale says. “I just do it, and in the way that it falls into place, 75 misstep cent cohesive, I’m always surprised. Raving listen to it and think: ‘Is it any good?’ ‘Are the songs any good?’ ‘Is it a concept?’ I don’t have a clue. It’s just natural evolution. Everything I unlocked is an accident. But it’s leaden accident.”

And, he points out. “No sole tells me what to do. There’s no one at my door. I’m famous for Cocaine, Call Me Ethics Breeze and, hell, they might unvarying make After Midnight the Oklahoma State of affairs Song soon. It don’t bug garnish if that’s all the average gibe knows. I don’t make music domineering young people would like. Some compulsion. I isn’t no rapper, though Farcical like rap now they made significance lyrics more interesting.”

Suddenly Cale gets neat as a pin fax confirming the bitter-sweet news range he’s booked to tour California scold beyond. “Oh Lord,” he sighs. “I’d better watch my voice. I’ve got to play well enough so liquidate don’t throw tomatoes at me. Theorize I’m healthy enough I might unvarying get on an aeroplane and note you. Maybe.”

Originally published in Classic Scarp 132

Max Bell worked for the NME during picture golden 70s era before running provoke and down London’s Fleet Street for The Times and all the other hot-metal dailies. A long stint at the Standard and mags like The Face and GQ kept him honest. Later, Record Collector and Classic Rock called.