10 Who was the lead guitarist for Steely Dan? I remember after finishing that, sitting there and being enveloped in the moment. Nothing that I can recall although on this album I did a version of The Rose and I loved the voice of the pedal steel. At the risk of sounding slightly disingenuous and maybe, you know, I dont mean to sound snarky but for the most part I think this solo project is as close to that as Ive been able to get, because number one, as a studio musician, youre doing it, the guys looking at the clock, so you use your skills and they expect you to play your best and you do. And from Wikipedia, Some things I didn't know. Jeff Skunk Baxter was born on the 13th of December, 1948. While Skunk didn't use many Found inside Page Baxter, however, was not someone to sit still when he saw an opportunity. . Were all McMillans, subclan of the McMillan clan, and my Great-Great, I think, grandfather, Charles K. Baxter, came over and immediately, you know, they were signing people up when they literally got off the boat in New York. My Old School is a song that I used to sing live when I was in Steely Dan, so every time we would play it wed get a little more energy and it was kind of like a snowball rolling downhill till finally it became, live, a pretty hard-driving tune. What a brilliant man. Etched in my memory forever! the Amazon Associates Program via amazon.com. Speaking of which, Bodhisattva: notwithstanding Steely Dan's often indiscernible subject matter, the title does actually mean something. For my taste, other than classical players, I expect them to stand unless they're old and decrepit. So when we met and played together, afterwards he said, Listen, can you help me with something. Skunk is the worlds greatest. To want to play guitar (laughs). . The Doobie Brothers were one of the most popular bands in America when Michael McDonald joined their ranks in 1975. Best-known for his work with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's versatility and highly developed technique as a soloist made him a hugely in-demand session guitarist from the '70s Read Full Biography. George Bush Sr called me Skunk. In what genre of music do you see the most creative guitar innovations happening right now? I usually don't even try guitars in music stores because of having to sit most of the time. Weve heard about how tough it could be in the studio with Walter and Donald. With Buzzy Linhart A 1972 album entitled "Buzzy" produced by Todd Rundgren and that also included lead guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of Steely Dan fame..while customizing guitars at Valley Sound in LA, Jeff met Buzzy Linhart, a singer from New York who was in town to record an album, and joined his group."That was one of the best rock and roll bands I ever played with," he says. What was happening in the sixties is that the Vietnam War did not have the imprimatur in the minds of a young generation in the same way it did in WWII. I certainly understood the dynamic and sometimes the focus might have been a little excessive but thats the nature of people that are creative. I was never a big fan of doing a solo album right after you leave a successful band. Baxter certainly explores his guitar neck, conjuring up shades of Celtic, Blues, R&B, Jazz, rock, and soul rhythms. Why was Jeff Baxter fired from Steely Dan? Ha ha the picture of him with his feet up on the recording console will always stay on my mind. Tom Johnston Jeff Baxter/Age. So it all came together around the time I was eleven/twelve years old. So I did get the feeling, and again thats fine. I never want to stand in anybodys way creatively. Baxter dropped out of college in Boston in 1969 to join a short-lived psychedelic-rock band. So I think there was something to that. So Im very appreciative to my mom. He sits- if you've heard his political rants- becuase he doesn't have a leg to stand on. Probably Humberto Cisneros and Johnny Ortega, who were the guitar players in that Mexican rock & roll band that I was telling you about, Los Hooligans. Jeff Baxter Recognized For Preventing Scams In The Online Community. Also when he was with the doobies he often wore headphones to get a better mix which the monitors wouldnt give him at the time. It may not display this or other websites correctly. It was amazing. When you think of some of the most well-respected musicians in the business, its a good bet that Jeff Baxter, better known as Skunk, ranks very high on that list. Actually Skunk is not a senator, he is some type of military expert, and I mean really important. My grandfather hated Jimi Hendrixs version of The Star-Spangled Banner. He thought it was unpatriotic. I do, I sing that and I do background vocals, obviously. Not only is she an incredible musician and incredible artist but she is an angel. In this latest Behind the Curtain entry, Steve Rosen recounts an unexpectedly serious chat with Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, then of the Doobie Brothers, all about survival. Besides wanting to sit and listen to him play guitar, hes a guy Id love to just sit and talk to .. actually Id do the listening and Id let him do the talking! At the end when we were sort of improvising on the chord changes that we added to the arrangement, when I finished playing it, I guess it was surreal because there were certainly tears on my steel as I did it to honor my father. Baxter (born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s and Spirit in the 1980s. Jeff Skunk Baxter's age is 74. Around the Civil War. Baxter started out aiming for a career in journalism but always had an interest in music while working at a music shop in Manhattan, he met up-and-coming guitar legend Jimi Hendrix and during part of 1966 was the bassist for Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. Guitarist who performed in the Platinum-selling bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers. So I understand Jacks desire to be able to find that voice. But I just thought that Gene got caught up in that whole whos who in the zoo; you know, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, all of these bands that were mixing and matching. Much more comfortable once you do so on both. Mostly nonfiction because of my day job. When I could finally stand I it was like starting over. He states that he sits because he feels more comfortable that way and he finds he plays better sitting . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". He played the Star Spangled Banner because he WAS a patriot. See, my whole family is from Scotland so its a tribute, I guess, to my heritage and if youre going to do it, you want to have the pipes. Then I remember in Mexico City we had just finished playing golf and I was waiting for him in the clubhouse and this guy came out of the locker room and he walked over and I said, Dad, is that you? He said, Yeah, I just decided to shave my mustache off. He was forty years old and he looked like he was about thirty. And Jonny Lang, the same thing. After playing for Steely Dan, McDonald was asked by fellow Steely Dan band member Jeff "Skunk" Baxter to temporarily join the Doobie Brothers, who were looking to complete their tour after Tom Johnston left to deal with his health issues. Did it change the physical way or the mental way? Dolly Parton. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter has announced his first-ever solo album, Speed of Heat, out on June 18 via BMG/Renew Records. Tell us about your relationship with Jazz? They were a very, very well-known band. Michael Hossack of the Doobie Brothers performs in California. Otherwise, why do it? Was it easy to work with them in the studio? Nice interview. No stranger to the GRAMMY stage, Stevie Wonder is the only artist in GRAMMY history to win five or more awards on three separate nights. So why the hesitation to be more out front singing? If you want to understand a little bit more about Wes Montgomery, get out the sheet music and you play it. His career and GRAMMY history were celebrated on the television special Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life An All-Star GRAMMY Salute in 2015. Now, despite being a home only player, I stand 90% of the time. So they came up with call signs. He was the guitarist for two big rock 'n' roll bands -- Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. Jeff Skunk Baxter talks Doobies Steely Dan . When youre composing or noodling around, do you ever hear words filtering in and out? He has also shared the first track off. He states that he sits because he feels more comfortable that way and he finds he plays better sitting. Informative interview. I talked to Mike McDonald and he said hed love to do it, and Jonny Lang and of course Clint Black, who Ive known for a million years, and Rick Livingstone. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Whitney Walker Champions Gratifying Gothic Folk-rock Sounds on A Dog Staring Into a Mirror on the Floor (ALBUM REVIEW). Half instrumental and half with vocals, the album is perfect for repeated play. JavaScript is disabled. Jeffrey Baxter, Actor: Blues Brothers 2000. 40 Years Later: Revisiting The Ramones Return To Form Classic Subterranean Jungle, Shame Kick It Hard, Fast & Gnarly On Invigorating Food For Worms (ALBUM REVIEW), Miss Grit Throws Away Convention & Stuns With Innovative Follow The Cyborg (ALBUM REVIEW). As to why he sits, I don't know, he sat when I saw him with The Doobies. Its funny, Ill be on the phone talking to some of my colleagues at the Pentagon and maybe a couple of friends are around me and I have to answer the phone, and Ill say, Okay, I need you to get ahold of Balls, I need you to get ahold of Bam Bam and I need them to call me tonight on this project. And theyll look at me and say, What are you talking about? (laughs). I was eleven and playing in a surf band with Abraham Laboriel and sitting in sometimes with Los Hooligans, which was a very well-known Mexican rock & roll band. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Spirit was one of my favorite bands for a while and "12 Dreams I have a DVD of Spirit that is pretty much unwatchable. After leaving the band, Baxter moved on to play for the Doobie Brothers. Also when he was with the doobies he often wore headphones to get "a better mix" which the monitors wouldnt give him at the time. So I cant think of a specific genre but I can see by the plethora of articles in guitar magazines the fact that people are starting to write music out so that other musicians can learn from the playing of different players. Required fields are marked *. For me it was, I dont know, a very good, exciting, wonderful, joyful chapter. We actually taught together at the Guitar Institute Of Technology. He pulled up a mic that still worked and proceeded to give us all a lecture and demo on Rhythm Guitar and its function in any piece of music. What a nutty setup. Standing all the way for me. Reviving this thread after being stunned after watching this video. You skunk! When your guitar is above your hips, it doesn't move around a whole loteven though you can rock and sway to your hearts content. You have Jonny Lang on the new album. Jeff Beck is certainly one of the most respected names in rock guitar. WTF is going on with this thing? Why Jeff "Skunk" Baxter left Steely Dan & The Doobie Brothers - Interview#SteelyDan #DoobieBrothers #JeffSkunkBaxterCheck out Jeff's new album on his website. Well, I rarely obsess about anything. Some years into it, I started to listen to more of my dads record collection. How did he do these day jobs and tour with these great bands and do all the incredible session work. Thanks to Jeff (Skunk) for the incredible insight. Pillar said the bones in his nose take weeks to fully heal , which is why he'll wear a protective mask on the field when he does eventually return to play. Its a wee town near the Firth of Forth. I returned to the guitar after a 3 decade hiatus. Read More > Jeff Baxter not only strips down the 19th-century business model to show the outdated flaws such as the rigid, hierarchal and policy-driven roles for workers and management, he also shows how new technologies, practices and new ways of thinking are reaping . It's another must-have if you're a. Robert Fripp from King Crimson also sat down a lot. What is Doobie real name? And at the end when you have the drums that go out, that was from the Black Watch, the Scottish Guards, and Ladies From Hell is the term that was given to the Scotsmen during WWI. I think those people were frightened that somebody would shake the foundation of democracy in the United States and I can understand that. I've never seen it but would like to. How many pools does the W South Beach have? They said, No thanks! (laughs) Were not having any of that! So they gave them the nickname Ladies From Hell, I guess, because of the kilts and the way they looked. After that, he moved to California and become one of the original six members of Steely Dan, which he left in 1974 to join the Doobie Brothers, which he left in 1979. Why do they call Jeff Baxter skunk? Where would you say your journey from the music industry into the defense world first began? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Im telling you, when I first went to Scotland, my dad said, When you look out the window of the airplane, youre going to see a green in the land thats going to shake your DNA. And I said, yeah sure. Why does Jeff Baxter sit while playing? More recently, he has worked as a defense consultant and chairs a Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? I did the whole first verse just the steel cause I wanted to showcase the beauty of the voice of the instrument. I was actually out playing with the Doobie Brothers at the Knebworth Music Festival in England. It's comfortable and you can. Jo Jo Gunne, another underated band. But if it says: Jack, who grew up in a very, very poor family on the other side of the tracks, had very little education and had no real opportunity, met this young girl named Jill, who grew up on the other side of the tracks and she was from a well-to-do family. Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack died at his home in Dubois, Wyoming yesterday at the age of 65. The Big Ticket MasterClass is just one of several other online webinars and classes you can take to teach you the tactics you need to land the . Jimi Hendrix was in the 101st Airborne and Jimi and I were friends. Check out his military exploits here: Can't say for surebut come on, Skunk + Doobie Bros.? Just my own expectations/aesthetic. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Late night noodling accounts for the 10% couch time. It may be you can get close enough that no one can perceive any imperfections but I would say, yeah, this project is as close as Ive ever come to being satisfied with everything. Its laborious, its difficult and extremely rewarding. HE is playing guitar; he is the Bon Jovi leader guitaist. Yes, there were some difficult times but so what. And there will always be something that you would have liked to do better. I didnt care about the money, it was just a joy to be able to play music with somebody like that. Luckily, I got a chance to play and work with him. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter has had the kind of music career that most kids jamming in their parents' garages could only dream of. Pretzel Logic is the third studio album by American rock band Steely Dan, released on February 20, 1974, by ABC Records.It was written by principal band members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, and recorded at The Village Recorder in West Los Angeles with producer Gary Katz.It was the final album to feature the full quintet lineup of Becker, Fagen, Denny Dias, Jim Hodder, and Jeff "Skunk . Ive been doing that for years. He states that he sits because he feels more comfortable that way and he finds he plays better sitting. Im a guitar player, a steel player, an acoustic player and thats what I do best. [1] You must log in or register to reply here. I have always played/practiced the way I gig. I put the uniform on, made the ride and it was an incredible experience. But what I found to be most enjoyable with this project was there was no time limit. Why does Jeff Baxter sit while playing? According to multiple credible sources, "The Agency Master Academy's products and services are not scams.". Yes, from Dunfermline. But yeah, that happens. Also when he was with the doobies he often wore headphones to get "a better mix" which the monitors wouldnt give him at the time. Along with the collection of records that he had, besides me listening as a piano player to everything that Pinetop Smith and Albert Ammons ever did, trying to learn to play that style of piano, he had a really great collection of Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and all these wonderful Jazz musicians and the players on those records were people like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson, just incredible musicians. Thats where the title came from and it definitely is an ode to my heritage. Baxter is a self-taught missiles expert who heads to the Pentagon several times a year to get briefed on Son of Star Wars, the defense plan backed by President Bush. Any lower and it makes it harder to play. Frontman Tom Johnston had just departed due to medical issues and they wanted someone to contribute to the harmonies and add keyboards into the mix. Related Helpful tips Who were the original members of the Doobie Brothers? I was reading it out loud, so my dad said, Oh, so you can read now. And of course Im a little snot right, and go, Yeah, yeah, I can read. So he went into the library, pulled out a copy of the first volume of Churchills memoirs from WWII called The Gathering Storm, dropped it in my lap and said, Read that. It took me about two years to get through it but not only did Winston Churchill become a hero for me but immediately it was like transcribing a Wes Montgomery solo after youve played a three chord rock & roll song. He states that he sits because he feels more comfortable that way and he finds he plays better sitting. If you really want to be a great guitar player, you need to go out and buy a copy of Ted Greenes Chord Chemistry 1 and if you can work your way through that then you should buy book two. It is just where the guitar is comfortable to me standing up. Also when he was with the doobies he often wore headphones to get "a better mix" which the monitors wouldnt give him at the time. Jeffrey Allen "Skunk" Baxter is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s and Spirit in the 1980s. We couldn't date when exactly Jeff got this guitar, so if you know anything more about that, please post it in the comments. I think they were the first rock stars, if you want to call it, that I ever met. Jacks a great guy, a really fine human being, and I understand totally what hes trying to do, especially as a bass player, because the voice of bass was pretty much the same in terms of electric bass with the introduction of the Fender bass back in the day. Baxter dropped out of college in Boston in to join a short-lived psychedelic-rock band. " 'You skunk! Jeff Garlin who walked away from his starring role on " The Goldbergs ," after an HR investigation into his on-set behavior joked about being in trouble at the ABC sitcom at a recent standup. Gosh, its hard to say. Now of course its gone from one tone to John Entwistle, who was an orchestra in terms of his bass playing. Has there been a solo that you did where playing it for the first time, you felt it was surreal or magical or it took you to another world? They want to read and since musical notes are another form of vocabulary, they want to read the insights that other musicians have. He hasnt been out there a lot lately. 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In Boston in 1969 to join a short-lived psychedelic-rock band does n't have a leg to stand in way... 'Re old and decrepit they gave them the nickname Ladies from Hell, I guess, because of Doobie! We actually taught together at the age of 65 mental way no time.. Harder to play music with somebody like that Found inside Page Baxter, however, why does jeff baxter sit when he plays not someone sit. The title came from and it was an orchestra in terms of his bass playing he like! Beck is certainly one of the instrument exploits here: Ca n't say for surebut on.