Hello there, welcome to A Peverett Phile Christmas 7. How are you? Wishing you a happy whatever doesn't offend you. Whether you're offended by me saying Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, take comfort in knowing I don't really mean either. You know, no one sends Christmas cards anymore. If I sent Christmas cards, you'd totally be on my list. Sending paperless Christmas cards is a great way to feel better about the murdered tree in your living room. I have to apologize, I tend to be grumpy during holiday season and every other time of the year. Alright, let's start off with my favorite Christmas story of the year. When Nicki Adams was forced to admit to her daughter Belle that Santa Claus isn't real, the 10 year old was heartbroken. Outraged at her parents' betrayal, she slipped a shockingly rude note under their door to express her wrath. But instead of being hurt, Nicki found herself laughing uncontrollably. The note was so funny, she had to post it to Facebook. And like all funny kids' notes, it's now circulating around the globe as fast as Santa's sleigh. When you read it, you'll understand why.
Ouch. Like most kids born in 2005, she's not great at spelling, but she has mastered the scornful use of emojis and hashtags. Her parents had better get her a lot of great toys this Christmas to comfort her. Because if she's this angsty as a 10 year old, they'll need to bank up a lot of good will before she becomes a teenager. Another little girl thought she saw Santa Claus at a West Virginia Walmart, and the Kris Kringle look-alike adorably played along. A large man with a big white beard should know better than to wear a red shirt in public in December, but he made up for his accidental Santa Claus cosplay by taking on the part. When the adorable little girl asked, "Santa?" he replied, "Santa? I've been called a lot worse." Instead of crushing her dreams, he put on a one-man improv show for her, and made her Christmas. This guy is even better than Santa... he actually exists. Dr. Laura Pinto is a digital technology professor who has begun warning everyone that the Elf on the Shelf is preparing kids to be comfortable with police state surveillance. Merry Christmas! The Elf on the Shelf has become a widely popular tradition in recent years. It's based on a 2005 book, in which elves are described as scouts that watch over people's homes and report any suppressive or subversive activity back to the North Pole. Wow. When you read it in one simple statement, it actually sounds exactly like a police state. Pinto co-authored a paper in which the Orwellian Christmas tradition is described as: "...a capillary form of power that normalizes the voluntary surrender of privacy, teaching young people to blindly accept panoptic surveillance." Pinto is not holed up in a basement bunker preparing for the end of freedom as we know it. She's a professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. She also does not think that the Elf on the Shelf will ever be mentioned in any WikiLeaks or government cables that were released by Edward Snowden. "I don’t think the elf is a conspiracy and I realize we’re talking about a toy. It sounds humorous, but we argue that if a kid is okay with this bureaucratic elf spying on them in their home, it normalizes the idea of surveillance and in the future restrictions on our privacy might be more easily accepted." Most kids and families that use the elf truly enjoy the game and tradition. But Pinto notes that since the publication of the paper, several parents have reached out to her with stories of kids being terrified by the idea of an elf constantly watching over them. Her larger point is that as digital communications continue to dominate our daily lives and personal information, the Elf on the Shelf might make children too accepting of actual surveillance in the future. She also feels kids would be accustomed to the idea of modifying their behavior for fear that they might be watched at any moment. So, are kids being prepped for a future police state? Or will they grow up and tease their parents for such a weird game? Probably the latter. But until then, just to be safe, put that Elf on the Shelf in a lead box and trust no one. Parents accidentally dressed their son in an obscene Christmas sweater for his school's ugly sweater day. Oops! It was an honest mistake, one that they missed until their son's Kindergarten teacher pointed it out. On the plus side, this sweater finally reveals where Santa relieves himself on his trip around the world. He can't do it off the sled while traveling at supersonic speeds, and he wouldn't want to impose by using the bathroom of a house he's visiting. The sweater explains it all...
It's just like those car window decals of Calvin taking a wiz. Watch out for that yellow snow, everybody. But it could be worse. At least Santa Claus wasn't coming to town. Yesterday I mentioned Whore in a Drawer which is kinda like Elf on a Shelf. Well, I didn't know the Elf and the Whore met until I saw this pic...
Hmmmm. That's a funny way to drink tea. I'm confused... haha. So, in Japan somewhere at a department store they posted these signs... this is 100% true.
I don't think they know what fuckin' means. Or maybe they do. So, it's Christmas as you know in a few days and I was thinking, there's some people out there that don't know what Christmas is all about. Let me break it down for you...
Do you get it now? Do you like Nativity scenes? I have to show you this one which I think is the most original Nativity scene I have ever seen.
That's so clever. I love Christmas and from Thanksgiving until Christmas Day I listen to my Christmas iPod in my car which has over 750 Christmas songs on it. There's one album I don't have which I need to get is this one...
What a great title. Actually, I don't even thought if that is a Christmas album. I do have this one though...
Yes, that is 100% real as well. Oh great, I just found out there's even a newer version of Elf on a Shelf...
I wonder if he is gonna meet Whore in a Drawer as well. One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to drive around and look at Christmas displays. I love Christmas lights! This one has to be one of my favorites ever!
Do you get it? It's so bloody clever. Alright, so, I am sure you will be going to a Christmas party wearing an ugly sweater this week. How about this one?
Her legs must be frostbitten. Ha. Okay, and now from he home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is...
Top Phive Phascinating Phacts About Rockefeller Center's Christmas Tree
5. Untangling its lights leads to an average of three Rockefeller Center worker suicides each year.
4. Those aren't presents festively scattered around its bottom... they're Kid's Meal boxes filled with hobo feces.
3. It takes all year to find the rare, perfect tree that is large, beautiful, strong and old enough to be killed so it can be gawked at by tourists for a month.
2. This year's grand marshal of the lighting ceremony will be Pizza Rat.
And the number one fascinating phact about Rockefeller Center's Christmas tree is...
1. New York City sanitation workers are still sweeping up the damn pine needles from the center's first tree, in 1933.
Oh, boy. If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. Haha. Alright, so, as you know I live in Florida and there's some strange things that happen in Florida that don't happen nowhere else. So, here's a Christmas Florida story under a pheature I call...
The idea for the pic came from 21 year old Natalie, who has a lot of followers on Instagram, and certainly knows how to frame a good themed photo. Natalie told BuzzFeed that their dad was indeed very chill about the whole thing and pretty much shuffled wherever they told him. If he is a pimp, he's an undemanding one. "My mom agreed immediately... My dad never actually agreed or disagreed. He’s a great sport. All of our immediate friends understand our humor so they think it’s hilarious... Not one person who knows us in real life has ‘hated’. Everyone who is ‘hating’ is seeking offense in an obvious joke." Well, everyone in that photo is an adult and agreed to participate in a weird family sex joke, so it seems okay. Except maybe for the dad? Someone should check on him. Meanwhile, here's what the Yoshidas have to say to the haters...
Okay, it's Monday and time to talk football with my good friend Jeff.
Me: Hey, Jeff, welcome to the annual Christmas entry! How are you?
Jeff: I've been sick for a few weeks, but I am starting to get better. How have you been?
Me: Hanging in there. So, what are your plans for Christmas? I have no idea what I'm doing apart from working.
Jeff: Spending Christmas with my family as usual. I'm working Christmas Eve but the flower shop I work at now is closed on Christmas day.
Me: Okay, before we talk football let's talk about the most important topic of the week... Star Wars! Did you see it? What did you think?
Jeff: Of course I saw it! I saw it on Saturday afternoon the first chance I got. I loved it. It was great! I think the franchise is in good hands with J.J. Abrams. There were a few things I didn't enjoy, minor things really. And of course there are questions left to be answered. We shall see.
Me: I, of course, loved it. Let's talk football, but yeah, there's a few questions I have with the movie. So, the Giants won last week but lost yesterday! Any other NFL news this week?
Jeff: The biggest news of the week is the playoffs are shaping up. A few teams have officially been eliminated now. No serious injuries to report so that's always good. At least the Giants won last week. This week, they almost pulled off a great comeback against Carolina, but Cam Newton lead the undefeated Panthers to another win. Odell Beckham Jr. got into several fights on the field, including a cheap shot. There are people saying he might get suspended for next week.
Me: I hope not. So, how did we do in our last picks? I'm still winning, right?
Jeff: I went 2-0 last week with a Steelers win. You matched me by also going 2-0. But the difference is the Steelers won, coming from behind to beat Denver while the Giants lost. You are no longer still winning, it's now tied.
Me: Ugh! You said we need to make up the two weeks we didn't pick, and I mentioned last week that we should get double the points for if our teams win. Whatcha think?
Jeff: That works for me, the last three weeks we will earn two points for every Steelers or Giants win. Because of that, I earned two points this week with the Pittsburgh win. We each have 34 points. Your record is better than mine, but the Steelers have a better record than the Giants do. If it ends in a tie, the tie breaker will be overall record which you have now.
Me: Let's pick for next week. I say Eagles by 4 on Saturdays game and Patriots who I cannot stand by 4. What do you pick?
Jeff: New England is a funny team. You either love them or you hate them. No one ever tolerates them. And I agree. I hate them too for a few different reasons. My picks are Kansas City by 7 and Colts by 3.
Me: Okay, have a great Christmas! I will see you back here next Monday, the last entry of the year!
Jeff: Merry Christmas to you and your family, Jason. And Merry Christmas to the readers of the Phile!
X-Mas
Ugh. Fine. Christmas. Jesus Christ, lighten up.
The 42nd book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is...
It makes a good Christmas present. Anyway, Hod will be the guest on the Phile next Sunday.
This is so cool! Today's pheatured guest is he drummer and one of the founding members of one of my favorite bands ever... Foghat. This year their album "Fool For the City" and the song "Slow Ride" both had their 40th anniversary. It is a great honor to have him here finally. Please welcome to the Phile, my good friend... Roger Earl!
Me: Rog!!!! Welcome to the Phile at last. How are you?
Roger: Good! No, great!
Me: I have been wanting to interview you for such a long time. Anyway, I have to start and ask you about my dad. When did you first meet him, do you remember, Rog?
Roger: Yes, first time I met your dad I auditioned for the drum seat in Savoy Brown at a place called The Nag’s Head. It’s a pub in southwest London and I didn’t get the job the first time. They thought that maybe my friend Dave Hutchins and I were like a rhythm section duo. He was a bass player. Then about a month or so later, Harry Simmonds, Savoy Brown’s manager and Kim’s brother, called me up and asked if would I be interested in auditioning again. I said yes, so the second time round I got the job and that was when I really met Dave. I also learned that it was because of Dave that I got the job… well it was also probably because I played alright but the drummer from the first audition didn’t work out. He couldn’t play a shuffle and Dave said, “What about that guy with the look, he could play?” And so I guess to some degree I have to thank your dad for getting the gig. That’s what happened.
Me: I interviewed Kim years ago and asked him about when you, dad and Tony Stevens left Savoy. He said he was unhappy with how things turned out at the time. So, whose idea was it to leave Savoy Brown? Was it dad's?
Roger: There was a meeting when we were playing in San Francisco with Harry and Kim Simmonds and Kim fired Tony Stevens. He said, “You’re not in the band any more." Dave and I had been enjoying our time in Savoy and the band was very, very popular and they had a new record deal. I think we we’re getting about 100 dollars a week. We weren’t getting paid very well. We hadn’t been paid for any of the albums except the last one, I think we did 5 albums and it just seemed like time for a change. After we left the meeting your Dad and I went to my hotel room to talk about it. Your dad had an acoustic guitar and that’s the first time I heard “Fools Hall of Fame." And we talked about what we wanted to do musically and about being in Savoy Brown. We were both ready for a change, as was Kim. After we left Savoy Brown started having hit records. Hahaha. So the next morning we had a breakfast meeting with Harry and your dad and I explained to him that we were going to leave the band but we would stay for as long as Kim needed us. Harry freaked out and then informed us that we would never work again. And true to his word, after we started Foghat he stopped us from working in England and Europe. He told the agencies and promoters that they wouldn’t get Savoy Brown or Chicken Shack (which he also managed) if they booked Foghat. I’ve remained good friends with Kim over the years. Kim gave me my shot. So, I owe him. Kim is a great guitar player and I consider him a good friend.
Me: When was the last time you saw Kim Simmonds, Roger?
Roger: Kim was playing with his band Savoy Brown at the Iridium in New York City a couple of years ago. I had been asked to induct Kim into the N.Y. Blues Hall of Fame. Now you can imagine the lead guitar player and founding member of Savoy Brown getting a little nervous about the drummer talking about him. Haha. On the ride in I made a few notes and I think it went down rather well. It was a great night! That was the last time I saw Kim and we hung out backstage. I also got up and played a few songs with him from his new album. Kim is a great guitar player. Maybe we will try and talk him into coming and playing on a couple of songs on our new album.
Me: Alright, so, before Foghat was named Foghat the band was almost gonna be called Brandy Wine. That's not the best name, is it? When you first heard the name Foghat what did you think?
Roger: Yeah, Brandy Wine... BLEH. I'm now throwing up again. Haha. Actually there were a number of different names going around and we had already finished the artwork for the first album. I remember driving into London with Dave and Rod and I think it was pretty much that day we decided to call it Foghat. This is a known story but I’ll tell it, Dave made up the name when he was playing a Scrabble game with his brother John when they were in the early teens. The name stuck! We weren’t really sure what it meant but the name stuck! And over the years it has been very, very good to me.
Me: Did you have any names you wanted to call the band that were shot down?
Roger: Let me think… I can’t remember now at the moment but Foghat’s taken over, hasn’t it? That’s it.
Me: My son Logan asked me recently about you auditioning for Jimi Hendrix. He asked me if that was true and I said yes. When was that audition, Rog, and how was it? Did you have to learn a bunch of songs for it?
Roger: Jimi Hendrix hadn’t formed a band yet and he was auditioning at the time. I had been in a band when I was 17 or 18 that Chas Chandler was putting together but never really went anywhere Now Chas was the bass player for the Animals and he was also Jimi’s manager. Chas called me up when I was working as a commercial artist and playing weekends with a band called The Tramps, and asked if I would I be interested in auditioning for Jimi Hendrix. Now there was all this buzz in the papers about this musician Jimi Hendrix. Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend were all raving about him. Like I said I still had a day job at the time. So, I went to this club called Birdland off Piccadilly Circus in London and it was raining as usual. It was lunchtime around 12 - 1 o’clock. In fact Colin, my brother, and a friend of his came along to help me set up my drums. I borrowed my father’s car that day and put my drums in it. So we’re standing out in the rain and Jimi walked up to me outside the club and started telling me about some songs he’d written the night before. He didn’t know me from anybody. He was just real friendly and real cool. I didn’t get the job I came in fourth or fifth. But considering the kind of talent that was there auditioning I think if I came in fourth or fifth I did well. The audition was good, in fact Jimi was very generous with his time. I think I played 35- 40 minutes. When he first started playing… I didn’t have a fucking clue... haha. I had never heard any music like this. Then a few minutes into it he started playing a few other songs. He did a Chuck Berry song, a slow blues one and I think he did l “Like a Rolling Stone." Anyway, I didn’t get the job, Mitch Mitchell did and he did a really great job with it. Yeah, Jimi was special. Later on when he did have his band together, I did get up and jam with him a couple of times in a club in New York and in L.A. I played a song or two with him. It was really sad when we lost Jimi. He was really special.
Me: Alright, let's talk about "Slow Ride" which is celebrating it's 40 years this year. Can you believe it's been that long?
Roger: NO. Hahaha. Time flies when you’re having fun.
Me: My dad once told me the song wasn't supposed to be on the album and was written as a joke. What do you remember about it?
Roger: I remember what happened. Rod and I owned a house out on Long Island in Shoreham. We had the basement sound proofed. Tony Stevens had, once again, been fired and I invited Nick Jameson, our long time producer and friend, to join the band. I had lived up in Woodstock, N.Y. as did Nick. He was an engineer at Bearsville Studios at the time and we become friends. Anyway, Nick joined the band and we were down in the basement jamming and I started playing the tom tom, as Nick told me to do, and then we just started playing. And then Dave said, “I’ve got some words that might fit!” and that was it.
Me: How did that song get to be so popular and Foghat's best known song, Rog?
Roger: Because I was great. hahahaha. No, actually we recorded the song in Sharon, Vermont at Suntreader Studios. Nick and I had been up there mixing. Really I just brought in tea and biscuits and Nick did the mixing. Haha. We finished mixing “Slow Ride” and another song called “Save Your Loving For Me” for “Fool for the City” and then we drove back down to Bearsville. We got stopped on the way by the Vermont police. Nick and I were both stoned out of our brains and we rolled down the window to let the smoke out... but that’s another story! Haha! I don’t who they were looking for but they stopped everybody. They said, “take it easy” since I had come over the hill doing 70 mph in a stationwagon filled with drums and bass guitars. Anyway, that’s yet another story. So we get to Bearsville and we played it for Paul Fishkin.
Me: Originally it wasn't supposed to be a single, right?
Roger: “Slow Ride” was nearly eight minutes long. Paul said, “No, you can’t have a single that’s eight minutes long” and Nick and I both said to him, “Fuck off. This is our new single” and he said "But you can’t have an eight minute single” to which we both said, “ FUCK OFF. This is our new single." Most of the time, other than “I Just Want To Make LoveTo You” Foghat didn’t pick singles, that was left up to the record company. This was the first time that I recall that we insisted that this be a single. So, Paul Fishkin, who was the CEO of Bearsville Records, said, “Well, we’ll have to chop it down.” and Nick and I both said, “Fuck off and leave it as it is!” Eventually it was edited down to four minutes and the B-side was “Save Your Loving For Me” which was the other song Nick and I had mixed. Nick was the one mixing, like I said. He was the resident genius. I was just there making tea and biscuits. Haha.
Me: I have a pic here of the single...
Me: "Slow Ride" of course is on the "Fool for the City" album. That album apart from the "Live" album is Foghat's biggest album. Was it a fun album to make, Rog?
Roger: Of course it was fun! I always had fun. Isn’t fun the best thing to have? It was really enjoyable. It was the first time, since our first album, that we actually had plenty of time in the studio. Other times we were going into the studio after being bon the road every two or three days. So this time we actually took a couple of months off to record. The studio was on top of a mountain in Sharon, Vermont so there weren’t a lot of distractions of than this store where we could buy Chateau Lafitte Rothschild wines. It was exciting. It was a time when everyone in the band was playing really well. Nick, was playing bass but he was one of those people who could play ANY instrument really really well. I hate people like that! Hahaha. Other than the first album it was the most enjoyable to make. I think we made a lot of great stuff on that record.
Me: It's also the album with just you on the front cover. So, whose idea was it for you to fish out of a man hole in New York City? Was it a spur of the moment thing?
Roger: We had probably been drinking one night and but I think it was probably Nick Jameson’s idea since he knew I had a penchant for fishing. I used to have a saying, “Water, it’s a beautiful thing. We’d be nothing without it!” which was actually quite profound. So, I’m going to give Nick Jameson credit for that. I’m not sure, we may have to talk to Nick about it, but I’m giving him credit.
Me: So, I have to ask, do you have a favorite Foghat album or song?
Roger: When it comes to a favorite album I am pretty proud of just about everything we did but I think the first album with producer Dave Edmunds was a favorite. That was the time when we first got our deal with Bearsville Records and we had a chance to really do something. It did take quite a longtime but Dave Edmonds was absolutely fantastic to work with. What he brought to the record was just incredible. He’s ability to mix and what he added to the songs. So that was probably my favorite.
Me: As we know the band broke up in '84 and us Peverett's moved back to England. Nine years later the original line-up was back together and in 1994 the album "Return of the Boogie Men" came out. Sadly that was the last full length studio album my dad was on. Anyway, in the 80s if anybody would of told you that the original line-up would be playing together again and recording, what did you think?
Roger: It was something that I had always wanted. The truth is, at the time, Dave didn’t tell me he was moving to England. It kind of came as a surprise to me. It was my wife Debra, at the time, said to me, “Did you know Dave and Linda are moving back to England?” and I said, "No, Dave never told me." A couple of weeks after we came off the road I got a call from our manager Tony Outeda and we were going to have a meeting at Dave’s house to discuss what we were going to do. Dave was moving back to England with the family and I had a warehouse full of Foghat items with which I assumed we weren’t doing anything with anymore. Dave never actually told me he was going back to England, I found out via my wife, at the time. Which was interesting but Dave didn’t talk a lot.
Me: When you all got back together to rehearse how did you feel? I bet it was weird.
Roger: No, not weird at all. I always loved working and performing with Dave. He was the heart and soul of what the band had become. He had fantastic and tremendous knowledge of all things musical and I really enjoyed it. Working with Dave again, I was really excited.
Me: When Foghat's studio album "Last Train Home" came out I interviewed Bryan Bassett who is in Foghat and was one of dad's best friends... I asked him how did he find out and hear my dad passed away? I'll ask you the same question, how did you find out and hear?
Roger: We were on the road during our last tour. And Dave had been off the road for a while to fight kidney cancer. I remember Dave calling me up one day and said, “Well, I can walk down to the gym. I don’t go in but I can walk down and I can keep an apple down.” So then he said he’d like to go out and play again. I was really happy about that. We went out for a couple of months or so when Dave go the call that his wife Linda was ill. So we cancelled the tour, and unfortunately Dave died 3 months later. I believe he died of pneumonia. It was a really tough time. Lucy, your sister, called me up early one morning and said that your dad had passed. It was a really really hard time for all of us.
Me: When you guys went back on the road in 1999 for the Millennium Tour did you have an idea that was gonna be the last tour with dad?
Roger: No, I expected us to “Roll til’ we’re old and rock til’ we drop!”
Me: How was he on that tour? He was really sick then.
Roger: I didn’t realize that Dave was sick, as far as I understood it, they had taken one of his kidneys out and he had gone through chemo and radiation and other than being skinny he was okay. After a week or so of practice and playing Dave had incredible energy. I think any time he got on stage he was energized! Dave singing and playing was fantastic. One of the things I remember from that tour was Dave and I would sit up front of the bus after each show and Dave was resident DJ. He would play whatever we wanted to hear and have some wine and cheese and tell stories about when were talking about when we were growing up and all the bands we went to see. We would go to see the same shows, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and even though we didn’t know each other than we were at the same shows. I would be like 17, 18 and Dave was a couple years older. That part was really enjoyable. I think we got closer on that tour than we’d ever been.
Me: I have a great pic from that last tour I have to show...
Me: Let's talk about some happy stuff... Foghat Cellars. I am not a wine drinker but I know you are and dad was. How did this whole Foghat wine business come about?
Roger: Jason! Wine is good for you! So, in 2007 Foghat was playing the Midstate California Fair in Paso Robles. Two sold out shows. A winemaker by the name of Steve Rasmussen came to see us. He was a Foghat fan and a very well-respected winemaker from Tally Vineyards, and his partner had never seen us. His partner actually suggested that Foghat would make a great name for a wine because the fog in Central Coast of California rolls in from the sea and drenches the grapes. So he sent our manager Linda an email saying would we be interested in making a Foghat wine. We both started giggling mercilessly. We had actually been talking about this a couple of weeks before when Sammy Hagar sold his Cabo Wabo Tequila empire. LOL. Since we are wine drinkers we were kidding around that we should have a wine brand. So, Linda and I thought about it and decided to check it out. We then went out to the west coast to meet Steve Rasmussen and we started talking. He took us around to several wineries and introduced us to the wine business. We actually got very involved from the beginning, from going out and picking the grapes (with the professionals of course) to learning about sorting, destemming, punching down the grapes, and helping with the process all the way to the barrels to the bottling. Our first wine was a 2005 Cabernet Saubvignon from Paso Robles, CA. That was the start of a beautiful friendship and the FOGHAT CELLARS brand!
Me: Where can fans who drink wine get a bottle, Roger?
Foghat: You can actually buy our wines online at foghatcellars.com. We ship to over 35 states with more to come. We also have distribution in New York, California and Michigan right now, and Florida and Maine will be coming on board soon. There are some retail stores and restaurants in those states carry the brand! All of this info can be found on our website. It is a slow ride to build a wine brand, but we are having fun with it.
Me: It's mostly red wine, am I right?
Roger: Actually we have both red’s and white’s. We currently have 2007 & 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010 Pinot Noir, and an award winning 2010 Chardonnay! We were awarded the Bronze medal in our category at the 2014 Orange County Wine Fair. We were up against over 2300 wines. There are some new varietals in the pipeline as well so stay tuned.
Me: You heard about the "Slow Ride" beer from Belgium, right?
Roger: Yeah, but it’s not from Belgium but it’s Belgium beer. There are two companies in the states that are making a Slow Ride beer. They are in litigation with each other. We did a show down south last year, and they had the beer backstage and gave us the contact person at the company. Then Linda and I saw the beer in a store in Tennessee. Linda contacted them and asked if they were interested in doing some kind of promotion, which they were. But apparently the two companies are fighting and we won’t get in the middle of that one!. We just want to drink the beer and have a good time and were willing to help promote it.
Me: The band is currently working on a new album called "Under the Influence." That's a great name as I love puns. What can you tell us about the album?
Roger: We are recording most of it down in Florida, at Boogie Motel South. We have a number of guests on the album. One of them being Scott Holt who is a great blues guitar player and singer. He played with Buddy Guy for 10 years and tours with his own band. A great guy! We’ve co-written several songs together. Also, Tom Hambridge who is a Grammy winning producer/writer/drummer who has produced and/or written for Buddy Guy, BB King, George Thorogood, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Susan Tedeschi, Billy Ray Cyrus and many many more. We’re doing a couple of Tom Hambridge songs and have co- written a couple with Tom as well. The release date is June 21th, 2016. A number of the songs are done already and there are a few other guests but those are a secret.
Me: There's a pledge drive going on where fans can donate money and get some cool prizes, right?How did this come about and what are some of the prizes they could bid on? I guess they are not prizes... haha. Anyway, what's the site for the pledge? I will push it here on the Phile.
Roger: Well, that is something that Linda and I thought very carefully about. We realized that it is really not about ‘crowd funding’ but about letting people pre-order the record and be part of the experience. If you ‘pledge’ as little as $10 for the digital download, you get an ‘Access Pass’ which gives you behind the scenes info on what we are doing during the recording and who the special guests are. It is a cool way to get our fans involved in what we are doing. And, yes, there are also some cool experiences that we have for the fans in addition to pre-ordering the CD. With any of the ‘experiences’ you also get a copy of the CD and a download. There is everything from a private guitar lesson with Bryan, golfing with Charlie, a home cooked meal with Roger or even getting onstage and playing guitar or drums with the band! Pretty exciting stuff, Jason. You can check out our campaign at pledgemusic.com/foghat.
Me: There's also gonna be a newly recorded version of "Slow Ride" with some guests... do you have anybody lined up yet?
Roger: Yes, we have a lot of people lined up but I’m not tell you who because it’s a secret! But, one of the ‘experiences’ that we are offering on the pledge music campaign, is for people to be part of the "Slow Ride" chorus on the new recording! That should be fun!
Me: Oh, I know what I have to ask, you played on a Phile Alum's first album... Chris Jagger who is Mick's brother. I never knew this when I interviewed Chris. Did you know him prior, Rog?
Roger: Yes, It was when we were looking for a record deal back in 1971-72. The Beatles publicist, Derek Taylor, was working for Warner Brothers in London at the time, and he got a hold of some demos we were making and he really really liked the band and wanted to help us. So, Derek was helping us find some work and the Rolling Stones office was in the same building as Warner Bros, I believe. Someone said to Derek that Chris was looking for a drummer to play on his record and I got suggested. Mick Jagger had a house, and I use that term lightly, he had a very big house just south of me near Marlborough. That’s how I met Chris. We would go down and play and record, it was a lot of fun actually. I got paid in gin and sausages. For some reason there was just gin everywhere and they would have these fantastic sausages delivered each day and there were piles of sausage in the fridge so I would take a bottle of gin and sausages home every day as payment. I really enjoyed it. Chris was a very talented lad, although I think he was sort of standing in the shadow of his brother…well, it was his brothers house! It was a lot of fun. Chris is still doing very well. I did get paid by the way. I got 200 pounds in cash and as many sausages and bottles of gin as I could carry.
Me: Okay, I know you are very busy so I will let you go. Go ahead and mention Foghat's website and anything else you wanna.
Roger: Well, Jason, what I would like to add is a big thank you to you as Dave’s son. You have always been such a fan of your dad’s and of Foghat’s music. It hasn’t been easy for you, and we know it. After all both Linda and I have known you most of your life. You are a good guy and a good friend and we know your dad would think it is very cool that you are doing this Peverett Phile thing and how you keep your dad’s legacy alive. We are there with you! Thanks, Jason. And yes, please visit our website at foghat.net for current tour info, music, merch and stuff. Also check out our pledge campaign for our new record "Under The Influence" at pledgemusic.com/foghat. And if you want to try some wine please visit foghatcellars.com.
Me: Rog, thanks for being here at last, and please come back when the album comes out next year. See ya soon, Rog!
Roger: Thanks for having me, Jason, see ya next time!
That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to my guests Jeff Trelewicz and of course Roger Earl. The Phile will be back next Sunday with jazz great and author Hod O'Brien. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Have a safe and merry Christmas!
Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker
1 comment:
Outstanding interview Jason. Keep up the great work. The Phile is the only blog I read on a regular basis these days. This one isn't boring. It's funny and informative. Thanks
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