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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9876 Posts |
 Posted - 03/09/2008 : 20:44:39
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Hi all,
I've been having some conversations with Michael & hope to have more. As an admirer of Love and with huge respect for Michael's drumming (being a drummer myself), I've asked Michael some things about Love & he has kindly consented to allow me to post various facts & tidbits concerning his time with Love.
So from time to time, I will be adding new (& interesting, to me & hopefully to you all) answers to the many questions I have about Michael and his music. If any of you have questions, I'd be happy to inquire, if I can.
Scott (lk)  All my best to the great folks here at Torben's site.
(and thanks to Jim H. in the UK, for sending me 'round Michael's way via email)
____________________________________________________________
Now I see that in my vision
That my eyes are seeing twice
Once for every expectation & once for what I realize.........G.C.
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Edited by - lemonade kid on 03/09/2008 23:38:28 |
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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9876 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2008 : 21:11:54
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First on my list was "what is Michael up to"? He and Randy Holden (as stated recently) had been jamming last year and a new set of recordings are available at Randy's page: guitargod. Anyone heard it?
Most interesting, to me, was why Michael won't ever listen to any of his Love recordings. We've all read it, but why?
Michael stated that the initial recordings of Da capo & Forever Changes were of poor quality & simply not well engineered or produced. To make matters worse, efforts to re-master the original recordings have met with only limited success. The reason?....Michael relates, were "little things", like. all the drums & the bass were put on the same track. That creates all kinds of problems that can never be fixed.
Michael does relate that he is so grateful to have played in a group with musicians and songwriters the caliber of the guys of Love & an honor to have participated in the making of Da Capo & FC. "Bryan & Arthur are two of the most imaginative & creative writers to have come down the pike." "Johnny Echols & Kenny Forssi...one has to be born with a little something extra to get that good. You can't really learn to play that good" (same for you, Michael!)
Michael still does a lot of playing with his son, Brent (an excellent guitar player who digs groups of the 80's). Michael says."I can still play hard, loud, fast and furious." He's always looking for new opportunities to play drums, anytime, anywhere.
____________________________________________________________
Now I see that in my vision
That my eyes are seeing twice
Once for every expectation & once for what I realize.........G.C.
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Edited by - lemonade kid on 03/09/2008 21:26:07 |
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ruxprncd
Fifth Love
305 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 14:23:23
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| Good stuff, kid! Look forward to hearing more. Michael's a great drummer, and Pegasus Carousel is a terrific read. |
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rocker
Old Love
USA
3606 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 14:44:26
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| lk..This is very good. It's great that after all these years you're in touch. Perhaps Michael can give more insights on the making of the albums and well especially Forever Changes. And I'm just wondering if Michael had intimations that when he was working on the record did he have any idea how "special" it was going to be even rivalling Pepper after all these years? |
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Allan
Old Love
USA
560 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 16:32:30
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I have been corresponding with Michael for several years now. Our up front agreement was that our communications were to be between just the two of us. We have both always honored that agreement.
There are many things Michael and I have spoken about. Much of course about LOVE and the members and lifestyles back in the day. I find Michael to be an honest and intelligent person and have never doubted or questioned anything he has ever had to say to me.
I'm sure he will tell you some 'fascinating' things as well.
I lived on Wonderland in Laurel Canyon in '70 shortly after the break-up of the original band and found that Michael and Kenny lived virtually around the corner from me albeit 2 years apart. It was a magical place even in '70.
Allan |
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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9876 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 18:32:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Allan
I have been corresponding with Michael for several years now. Our up front agreement was that our communications were to be between just the two of us. We have both always honored that agreement.
There are many things Michael and I have spoken about. Much of course about LOVE and the members and lifestyles back in the day. I find Michael to be an honest and intelligent person and have never doubted or questioned anything he has ever had to say to me.
I'm sure he will tell you some 'fascinating' things as well.
I lived on Wonderland in Laurel Canyon in '70 shortly after the break-up of the original band and found that Michael and Kenny lived virtually around the corner from me albeit 2 years apart. It was a magical place even in '70.
Allan
Hey, Alan....
Yes, Michael is very forthright & a great guy, and I'm thankful that he graciously is allowing me to share our communications on Torben's messageboard. His insights are quite good and for me, I think a drummer has that especially objective point of view due to the fact that many times he is sitting back watching/absorbing as the other bandmates work out the guitar & vocals of a new song.
Again my understanding is to share these special communications with you guys here....and that it is strictly limited to things that Michael chooses to relate to me.......nothing personal
lk
____________________________________________________________
Now I see that in my vision
That my eyes are seeing twice
Once for every expectation & once for what I realize.........G.C.
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Edited by - lemonade kid on 04/09/2008 21:41:47 |
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caryne
Old Love
United Kingdom
1520 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 19:28:33
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| Um, forgive me for stating the obvious but anything 'shared' with the users on this site is being shared with the world. This is not a private site, anyone can read it, so, whatever information you share with us here about anyone is shared with everyone. |
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Allan
Old Love
USA
560 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 20:43:47
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Well said Caryne (and good to see you also  ). That is why my communications with Michael have been
private. Anything written here is open game to the world.
lemonade-while we all understand your enthusiasm, there are many, many things Michael and I have spoken about some of which are quite private. I'm sure you'll use your best judgment-Michael is a private individual and lots of things spoken about are better left unsaid.
Allan |
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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9876 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 21:19:09
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quote:
Originally posted by lemonade kid
[quote]Originally posted by caryne
Um, forgive me for stating the obvious but anything 'shared' with the users on this site is being shared with the world. This is not a private site, anyone can read it, so, whatever information you share with us here about anyone is shared with everyone.
Right, caryne & alan, definitely the obvious ...just letting you all know that I'm only asking and sharing anything that Michael wouldn't mind "out" there & OK's.... I'm sure Michael won't share anything HE wouldn't want out "there", NOR would I think of sharing it, since he felt that it would be great if I opened a new subject with his answers to our questions. It's probably all been printed or said somewhere, at least what he is willing to divulge to me, but to have it all right here, for us, is kinda nice & very kind of Michael. Silly of me to say something like this is "meant for Love board members only". It's meant for anyone interested in Love. 
Your communications with Michael are obviously much more personal than anything I wish to ask Michael about, Alan.
Rest assured that the up-front agreement between Michael & myself was to ask him...right up front....if it would be OK to share some of this, & not until he kindly assented, would I share anything. I hope I can occasionally share some info that you guys might like to know.
My enthusiasm doesn't cloud my judgement.......been around the block too many times for that.
____________________________________________________________
Now I see that in my vision
That my eyes are seeing twice
Once for every expectation & once for what I realize.........G.C.
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Edited by - lemonade kid on 04/09/2008 21:43:00 |
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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9876 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 18:24:00
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Michael's answer, for us here, to my next question was lengthy....here is the answer to
"How did Michael hook up with Arthur & Love?" (I'm thinking, any of you that have read
his book know this already?, but for those if us that didn't have the pleasure, Michael
has kindly provided this answer......excerpted from his email) Michael says it's taking
longer than anticipated to answer the questions, so he's sending attachments as he can.
"...one night in early '66, Bryan & Arthur dropped in on a guest set The Sons Of Adam were
playing at Bido Lito's. They liked my drumming style and asked me to join Love on the spot.
Problem was, Sons of Adam were at their peak with playing to packed houses, a cameo in
"The Slender Thread" & contracts with shows at Fillmore, Winterland & Avalon, so I said
no thanks.
But...after that Arthur started ocassionally hanging out at our pad & showing us new
material he was writing. Then the two groups started playing together on the same bill
quite a bit.
In retrospect, that's when I became more familiar with their tunes & really first started
to reconsider joining up. The diversity of their material was way beyond anything I had
heard from any contemporary rock group, except maybe the Beatles & defied
category except to say it was alternately hard core acid/folk rock, and then (Bryan's
"Softly To Me") sophisticated jazz.
On stage & on record, Arthur & Bryan's writing counterbalanced & complimented each
other perfectly. And the words to their songs........"Signed D.C"...."I pierced my skin again,
Lord", words like daggers. His lightning bolt delivery on "My Flash On You."..."Don't try
to force your smug old drug my way, 'cause baby I've cleansed my soul, and that's where
it's gonna stay!" he preaches. That was good stuff, man. If that song doesn't get you
pumped up, then you have both feet in the graveyard. Arthur's firepower was
offset brilliantly by Bryan's eloquence "I could love you more and more each day
for a million years" he softly sang. Johnny's great jazz riffs....unparalleled.
So, I began to realize that, based on his compositions alone, Arthur was special. And
on stage?...forget about it. None better.....then or now, before and since, he was the
best. His talent was gargantuan. Arthur came to earth with powers far beyond
mortal men.........seriously, I hear the word "genius" around a lot when the subject is
Arthur. Don't know if it means anything, but I only heard "gravity" referred to as
"gravitation" two times in my life. Once by Arthur when he wrote "...a mulatto soul so
rare, intercepted by gravitation...", and once by Albert Einstein in a paper he
wrote about...gravitation, I think it was.
Anyway, after the group released "7 & 7 Is", I went ahead and called Arthur, because I
had heard he was going to "break new ground" on Da Capo and finally, for sure and
most certainly, I wanted to be a part of it. I believe the expression is, "better late
than never"?"
MSW
( I think he had an inkling about the greatness yet to come with FC, rocker)
...thanks again, jim.
____________________________________________________________
Now I see that in my vision
That my eyes are seeing twice
Once for every expectation & once for what I realize.........G.C.
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Edited by - lemonade kid on 09/09/2008 20:58:29 |
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TJSAbass
Fourth Love
USA
139 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2008 : 05:44:54
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| I have a question. Maybe this is already known, but I have been wondering if any of the songs on Forever Changes were ever part of the live set of the original band? Would Michael care to comment on this? |
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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9876 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2008 : 05:50:55
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quote:
Originally posted by TJSAbass
I have a question. Maybe this is already known, but I have been wondering if any of the songs on Forever Changes were ever part of the live set of the original band? Would Michael care to comment on this?
I'll see, TJ......I'm thinking that was on my list of questions, if not, good question.
____________________________________________________________
Now I see that in my vision
That my eyes are seeing twice
Once for every expectation & once for what I realize.........G.C.
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John9
Old Love
United Kingdom
2154 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2008 : 08:59:58
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The answer to this question is an emphatic Yes. Torben's Love archive contains the following piece from the LA Times referring to a gig in June 1968 - just before the demise of the original band:
http://love.torbenskott.dk/archive/archive13.asp
The same superb archive also has a 1969 article from Rolling Stone suggesting that the later line-up was far more professional in its approach to live performances. I think that there is a strong parallel with The Byrds in this. With them, the later group was less innovative and creative - but was also virtually faultless as a live act:
http://love.torbenskott.dk/archive/archive3.asp
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Edited by - John9 on 10/09/2008 09:18:35 |
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rocker
Old Love
USA
3606 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2008 : 15:23:17
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MSW: "Arthur's firepower was offset by Bryan's eloquence"...
With that line I can see that Michael (frankly I feel funny talking about him here in the third person!) sure knew the talent he was getting himself in with. In my opinion, FC isn't as "fiery" as say Da Capo and I think that had a lot to do with Bryan's effect on Arthur's songwriting. And if the band was a diamond on FC it shone man... |
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kdion11
Old Love
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 21:00:55
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[quote]Originally posted by John9
The same superb archive also has a 1969 article from Rolling Stone suggesting that the later line-up was far more professional in its approach to live performances. I think that there is a strong parallel with The Byrds in this. With them, the later group was less innovative and creative - but was also virtually faultless as a live act:
http://love.torbenskott.dk/archive/archive3.asp
KD: Hey John - I beg to differ, and until a live tape of the original
line up shows up we'll never know. As far as the live disc of the 1970 UK Tour by the new line up as presented on the latest Blue Thumb release goes, those guys seem far from "faultless" - sloppy and out of tune if you ask me. Not one of those songs was superior to the original studio versions -
Free the originals ! |
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John9
Old Love
United Kingdom
2154 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2008 : 21:40:33
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Hi Kideon
I concede that there are imperfections in the Live in England 1970 recording - although to my ears they are more to do with the way in which Arthur Lee's voice was recorded or mixed. The distortion on August and Nothing is a particular disappointment to me. In fairness, the Rolling Stone piece from June 1969 was presumably referring to the Jay Donnellan edition of Love rather than the later Gary Rowles lineup. And the guy writing the Cash Box article does seem to have had some experience of the original group in concert. But I agree ..we'll never know for certain unless something really remarkable happens. |
Edited by - John9 on 11/09/2008 21:46:20 |
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LoVE...with M. Stuart-Ware's kind permission....
