Post by classic rock revival on Apr 26, 2011 3:59:30 GMT -6
This is an interview I did with Bobby Cochran in 2004.
Me with Bobby at Wolf Fest 94.
Jim: Tell us about Burrito Deluxe and how you came to join the band.
Bobby: I got a call from Sneaky Pete and he wanted to know if I would be interested in working with the band. I said yes (I always used to enjoy working with Sneaky Pete). He told me who was in the band and gave me some numbers of people involved and suggested that I call them.
I talked with some of the business people involved and they wanted to do some gigs in Nashville in the near future. I at that point I knew we needed a bass player, I called Rick Lonow (our drummer) and he had seen me with Bobby and the Midnites and seemed excited that I was going to get involved. He invited me out to a show he was doing so I could sit in and play with him. I found that playing with him felt very natural like putting on an old comfortable pair of shoes. Rick and I started working on choosing a bass player. We decided on Dave Roe. We did 3 gigs with Dave then he was asked to join Dwight Yoakam's band so it was time to find a new bass player. Rick had worked a lot with Stick Davis and his name had come up a lot the first time around, so we asked him and he was real in to it. I took some tunes and charts by "Sticks" place before I left for a European tour. When I returned it was just in time for a Show in Boulder Co. We had a brief rehearsal and did a couple of shows there and it felt fantastic. He really did his homework.
From the live Boulder show we have a live CD and DVD in preparation.
Jim: Is this band a continuation of the Flying Burrito Brothers or a one-time tribute?
Bobby: While this Band certainly gives a nod to it's Flying Burrito Heritage, It would not do it justice to say it is a continuation or a tribute to The Burritos. We Give a nod to all of our combined heritage. I don't really see any limitations as to what style of music we do. There are Rock, Country, Blues, Rockabilly, Zydeco, Reggae, Gospel influences throughout. It just depends on the tune and the night you see us.
Jim: You also tour with the Rock Around the Clock Show, and as the Bobby Cochran Band. What's the difference between these two bands?
Bobby: The "Rock Around the Clock Show" is more of a Rock and Roll show aimed at the Corporate Market for conventions and such. It's a very energetic entertainment package which explores pretty much all styles of Rock, Classic Rock, Oldies, Motown, Surf, Do Wop, Etc. It's Music from Every Era. We did one show which started in the Ragtime era and went through Big band, 50's 60's 70's 80's and 90's ending with a tribute to Madonna and Michael Jackson, all in one hour!! Lots of costume changes and dancing etc. It is much more of a show that can be danced to or just watched. It is really high energy and spectacular. I have some tremendously talented people in the show. We have great musicianship, singing and comedy within the show!
Jim: You seem to favor the overseas market for the Rock Around the Clock Show and Bobby Cochran Band. Is your fan base stronger overses?
Bobby: Overseas I primarily do the "Bobby Cochran Band". I believe it will be a strong market for "Burrito Deluxe" also. I Find people there respect and honor where our music and traditions come from. So often the American media focuses on the latest trend no matter how empty it may be! Too often audiences are taught to pay attention to the flash not the substance. We play Real Music by Real Musicians and I think people all over the world really prefer that. Larger markets just have to be reminded of it!
Jim: You recently co-authored an autobiography on your uncle, legendary rocker, Eddie Cochran. Can you tell us how that came about?
Bobby: I have collected interviews, pictures and memories about Eddie since I was a kid. I grew up with some of his friends being my friends also. When I was approached to do an interview by Sue Van Hecke, we got to talking and she asked if I would be interested in co-authoring a book with her. I asked to see some of her work and I was impressed. So we started shopping for a deal. When the deal with Hal Leonard was offered we just got to work. I re-interviewed many of Eddies friends and gathered all the pictures together. It was quite an ordeal between touring and all. A big part of the incentive was the many experiences I had as a result of my daughter dying on the same day, at the same age, as Eddie. I began to explore the many synchronicities and coincidences of Eddie's life and mine.
Jim: Has it been hard for you (being Eddie Cochran's nephew) to achive your own identity, or has it been a blessing?
Bobby: Both. I go into it a lot in the book.
Jim: Was being a member of Don Preston's Band your first experience at being a professional musician?
Bobby: No. I started making money shortly after I started playing. I started recording at about 14. had a few record deals by the time I was 17 and did lots of studio work and gigs all the time. Every stage of my career had many plateaus and levels of success and professionalism. I have been a very fortunate fellow!
Jim: You joined Steppenwolf in 1973. Do you remember your first rehearsal and your first live gig with the band?
Bobby: Actually It was late 72 when I got a call from Jerry Edmonton and Goldy. We did several rehearsals working on songs like Gang War Blues, etc. Then played with John and it was fantastic. We were just feeling things out to get a sense of each other. Then we decided to get management and a new record deal. It was a very positive time. We started recording what became Slow Flux and did a few TV things as I remember. Some of the early stuff was for John's solo career.
Jim: Steppenwolf's "Slow Flux" album did pretty well on the charts. But, the two follow up albums, "Hour Of The Wolf", and "Skullduggery" didn't fare as well. What happened?
Bobby: I think "Hour of the Wolf" took Epic by surprise. It didn't have that signature Steppenwolf hit potential and was a softer sounding album. I don't think they knew what to do with it. Skullduggery later suffered because we wanted off the label since we had such poor support from Epic on the last one. The band was struggling to reckon with it's status and image. John was taking singing lessons (he didn't need what they were teaching relative to vibrato and such, maybe just learning to sing without hurting himself would have been good), we were not realistic about our touring prospects (asking for more than the market could bear), John wanted more control, I wanted to be able to do more with the band. There was some disarray and disappointment and therefore some self-examination. The music world was evolving and we were trying to evolve with it. However, in the process I think we lost track of what really mattered. The Outfits and staging became more important than the music in some ways.
Jim: After Steppenwolf, you joined the Flying Burrito Brothers, and also worked with Leon Russell. How did those gigs come about?
Bobby: I had decided to pursue a solo career after the Wolf. I got a call from Sneaky Pete about subbing with the Burritos for two weeks. I went to the rehearsal hall and played with them and we all liked it so I said I could do the tour but no more than about two weeks. As we got to playing and they heard my original material, they wanted to get more involved and stay together evolving our styles together. We were doing great on tour with fantastic audience response and really enjoying each other.
I knew Leon from the late 60's. We used to hang out at his house a lot when I was with Don Preston. We used to do some recording at his house back then. I hadn't seen him for quite a while by 78. At that time I was working with Bob Weir. Weir was off the road and I had some time available when I heard Leon was looking for a guitar player. I went down to his studio for the audition, played and got the gig. We did a bit of touring and after a few months Weir was ready to go on the road again. I had a feeling Leon's thing wasn't going to last much longer so I asked him to be straight with me because I would like to do the Weir gig and he said he was letting the band go after the next tour so I would be better off keeping the gig with Weir, so I did.
Jim: Didn't the version of the Flying Burrito Brothers you were a member of evolve into the band, Sierra, that recorded one album for Mercury Records in the late 70's?
Bobby: Yes. It was another ill fated project. Felix Pappalardi was the producer and we didn't know it at the time but he was a heroin addict! The project suffered a great deal because of that. It never sounded near as good as the band was. It was a mistake to suddenly change our name and change our direction so much and still maintain the same following. Sneaky Pete wanted to get away from the Burrito thing but it was not so well planned and thought out. We broke up after a bit of touring. I think everyone was ready to do something different at the time.
Jim: In the early 80's you hooked up with Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) to form the band, Bobby & The Midnites, with a stellar lineup. How did that band come about?
Bobby: We were all endorsees for Ibanez and Tama. The marketing dept. put us all together thinking we would make a great band and they were right. They introduced Weir and me and we started touring a lot together. They also put Billy Cobham and Alphonso Johnson together. We did lots of clinics and Product development in Japan and Germany. They originally had Steve Miller in the band too. What a band! Anyway after a NAMM show in Atlanta Bob Weir said "wouldn't it be great to get Billy and Al to be the rhythm section in a new band. I said yeah that's a great idea and proceeded to talk to Al and Billy about the idea every chance I had. We finally decided to do it!
Jim: Your solo CD "Private Edition", was an excellent release. I really liked the various musicial styles it featured. Do you plan to release a follow up solo CD?
Bobby: Yes, it just takes time and money!
Jim: Do you feel like you've reached all of your goals (musically)? What has been the most satisfying aspect of your career, both musically and monitarily?
Bobby: No! My goals are endless and I just always love playing. The most satisfying aspect has been to be able to keep doing what I love. There are always inspired moments to be shared and more creative energy to be discovered. Seeing the world and meeting wonderful people has been very nice too.
Jim: Bobby, thank you very much for doing this interview. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?
Bobby: Keep enjoying the music and supporting all the hard working artists that have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place through music.
Hope all your dreams come true!
© classic rock revival. all rights reserved.
Me with Bobby at Wolf Fest 94.
Jim: Tell us about Burrito Deluxe and how you came to join the band.
Bobby: I got a call from Sneaky Pete and he wanted to know if I would be interested in working with the band. I said yes (I always used to enjoy working with Sneaky Pete). He told me who was in the band and gave me some numbers of people involved and suggested that I call them.
I talked with some of the business people involved and they wanted to do some gigs in Nashville in the near future. I at that point I knew we needed a bass player, I called Rick Lonow (our drummer) and he had seen me with Bobby and the Midnites and seemed excited that I was going to get involved. He invited me out to a show he was doing so I could sit in and play with him. I found that playing with him felt very natural like putting on an old comfortable pair of shoes. Rick and I started working on choosing a bass player. We decided on Dave Roe. We did 3 gigs with Dave then he was asked to join Dwight Yoakam's band so it was time to find a new bass player. Rick had worked a lot with Stick Davis and his name had come up a lot the first time around, so we asked him and he was real in to it. I took some tunes and charts by "Sticks" place before I left for a European tour. When I returned it was just in time for a Show in Boulder Co. We had a brief rehearsal and did a couple of shows there and it felt fantastic. He really did his homework.
From the live Boulder show we have a live CD and DVD in preparation.
Jim: Is this band a continuation of the Flying Burrito Brothers or a one-time tribute?
Bobby: While this Band certainly gives a nod to it's Flying Burrito Heritage, It would not do it justice to say it is a continuation or a tribute to The Burritos. We Give a nod to all of our combined heritage. I don't really see any limitations as to what style of music we do. There are Rock, Country, Blues, Rockabilly, Zydeco, Reggae, Gospel influences throughout. It just depends on the tune and the night you see us.
Jim: You also tour with the Rock Around the Clock Show, and as the Bobby Cochran Band. What's the difference between these two bands?
Bobby: The "Rock Around the Clock Show" is more of a Rock and Roll show aimed at the Corporate Market for conventions and such. It's a very energetic entertainment package which explores pretty much all styles of Rock, Classic Rock, Oldies, Motown, Surf, Do Wop, Etc. It's Music from Every Era. We did one show which started in the Ragtime era and went through Big band, 50's 60's 70's 80's and 90's ending with a tribute to Madonna and Michael Jackson, all in one hour!! Lots of costume changes and dancing etc. It is much more of a show that can be danced to or just watched. It is really high energy and spectacular. I have some tremendously talented people in the show. We have great musicianship, singing and comedy within the show!
Jim: You seem to favor the overseas market for the Rock Around the Clock Show and Bobby Cochran Band. Is your fan base stronger overses?
Bobby: Overseas I primarily do the "Bobby Cochran Band". I believe it will be a strong market for "Burrito Deluxe" also. I Find people there respect and honor where our music and traditions come from. So often the American media focuses on the latest trend no matter how empty it may be! Too often audiences are taught to pay attention to the flash not the substance. We play Real Music by Real Musicians and I think people all over the world really prefer that. Larger markets just have to be reminded of it!
Jim: You recently co-authored an autobiography on your uncle, legendary rocker, Eddie Cochran. Can you tell us how that came about?
Bobby: I have collected interviews, pictures and memories about Eddie since I was a kid. I grew up with some of his friends being my friends also. When I was approached to do an interview by Sue Van Hecke, we got to talking and she asked if I would be interested in co-authoring a book with her. I asked to see some of her work and I was impressed. So we started shopping for a deal. When the deal with Hal Leonard was offered we just got to work. I re-interviewed many of Eddies friends and gathered all the pictures together. It was quite an ordeal between touring and all. A big part of the incentive was the many experiences I had as a result of my daughter dying on the same day, at the same age, as Eddie. I began to explore the many synchronicities and coincidences of Eddie's life and mine.
Jim: Has it been hard for you (being Eddie Cochran's nephew) to achive your own identity, or has it been a blessing?
Bobby: Both. I go into it a lot in the book.
Jim: Was being a member of Don Preston's Band your first experience at being a professional musician?
Bobby: No. I started making money shortly after I started playing. I started recording at about 14. had a few record deals by the time I was 17 and did lots of studio work and gigs all the time. Every stage of my career had many plateaus and levels of success and professionalism. I have been a very fortunate fellow!
Jim: You joined Steppenwolf in 1973. Do you remember your first rehearsal and your first live gig with the band?
Bobby: Actually It was late 72 when I got a call from Jerry Edmonton and Goldy. We did several rehearsals working on songs like Gang War Blues, etc. Then played with John and it was fantastic. We were just feeling things out to get a sense of each other. Then we decided to get management and a new record deal. It was a very positive time. We started recording what became Slow Flux and did a few TV things as I remember. Some of the early stuff was for John's solo career.
Jim: Steppenwolf's "Slow Flux" album did pretty well on the charts. But, the two follow up albums, "Hour Of The Wolf", and "Skullduggery" didn't fare as well. What happened?
Bobby: I think "Hour of the Wolf" took Epic by surprise. It didn't have that signature Steppenwolf hit potential and was a softer sounding album. I don't think they knew what to do with it. Skullduggery later suffered because we wanted off the label since we had such poor support from Epic on the last one. The band was struggling to reckon with it's status and image. John was taking singing lessons (he didn't need what they were teaching relative to vibrato and such, maybe just learning to sing without hurting himself would have been good), we were not realistic about our touring prospects (asking for more than the market could bear), John wanted more control, I wanted to be able to do more with the band. There was some disarray and disappointment and therefore some self-examination. The music world was evolving and we were trying to evolve with it. However, in the process I think we lost track of what really mattered. The Outfits and staging became more important than the music in some ways.
Jim: After Steppenwolf, you joined the Flying Burrito Brothers, and also worked with Leon Russell. How did those gigs come about?
Bobby: I had decided to pursue a solo career after the Wolf. I got a call from Sneaky Pete about subbing with the Burritos for two weeks. I went to the rehearsal hall and played with them and we all liked it so I said I could do the tour but no more than about two weeks. As we got to playing and they heard my original material, they wanted to get more involved and stay together evolving our styles together. We were doing great on tour with fantastic audience response and really enjoying each other.
I knew Leon from the late 60's. We used to hang out at his house a lot when I was with Don Preston. We used to do some recording at his house back then. I hadn't seen him for quite a while by 78. At that time I was working with Bob Weir. Weir was off the road and I had some time available when I heard Leon was looking for a guitar player. I went down to his studio for the audition, played and got the gig. We did a bit of touring and after a few months Weir was ready to go on the road again. I had a feeling Leon's thing wasn't going to last much longer so I asked him to be straight with me because I would like to do the Weir gig and he said he was letting the band go after the next tour so I would be better off keeping the gig with Weir, so I did.
Jim: Didn't the version of the Flying Burrito Brothers you were a member of evolve into the band, Sierra, that recorded one album for Mercury Records in the late 70's?
Bobby: Yes. It was another ill fated project. Felix Pappalardi was the producer and we didn't know it at the time but he was a heroin addict! The project suffered a great deal because of that. It never sounded near as good as the band was. It was a mistake to suddenly change our name and change our direction so much and still maintain the same following. Sneaky Pete wanted to get away from the Burrito thing but it was not so well planned and thought out. We broke up after a bit of touring. I think everyone was ready to do something different at the time.
Jim: In the early 80's you hooked up with Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) to form the band, Bobby & The Midnites, with a stellar lineup. How did that band come about?
Bobby: We were all endorsees for Ibanez and Tama. The marketing dept. put us all together thinking we would make a great band and they were right. They introduced Weir and me and we started touring a lot together. They also put Billy Cobham and Alphonso Johnson together. We did lots of clinics and Product development in Japan and Germany. They originally had Steve Miller in the band too. What a band! Anyway after a NAMM show in Atlanta Bob Weir said "wouldn't it be great to get Billy and Al to be the rhythm section in a new band. I said yeah that's a great idea and proceeded to talk to Al and Billy about the idea every chance I had. We finally decided to do it!
Jim: Your solo CD "Private Edition", was an excellent release. I really liked the various musicial styles it featured. Do you plan to release a follow up solo CD?
Bobby: Yes, it just takes time and money!
Jim: Do you feel like you've reached all of your goals (musically)? What has been the most satisfying aspect of your career, both musically and monitarily?
Bobby: No! My goals are endless and I just always love playing. The most satisfying aspect has been to be able to keep doing what I love. There are always inspired moments to be shared and more creative energy to be discovered. Seeing the world and meeting wonderful people has been very nice too.
Jim: Bobby, thank you very much for doing this interview. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?
Bobby: Keep enjoying the music and supporting all the hard working artists that have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place through music.
Hope all your dreams come true!
© classic rock revival. all rights reserved.