It's strange, but of all that early crop of rock'n'rollers, Jerry Lee is the one I would have thought we'd lose first - he seems to have survived almost everyone!

Has anyone seen him lately?

quote:

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...Jerry Lee is the one I would have thought we'd lose first - he seems to have survived almost everyone!

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Perhaps due to the liberal ingestion of preservatives?

Yours truly,
Tay Joslin
Newbern, Tennessee
U.S.A.

I was touring with David Allan Coe in '88, and Jerry Lee was on the same show. He was somewhat unpredictable - dreadfully uncoordinated one night, and brilliant the next. I know that could have been the bourbon, but he drank that all the time, so something else was responsible, I guess.

He had a 21-year old drummer (Danny something) who was terrified of Lewis! Physically intimidated, I mean. Danny would spend time with us just trying to relax, and I doubt he stayed in the gig long after that.

I suppose it would be charitable to call JLL a 'character', but there seemd to be something sinister at work within him.

I found David Allan Coe 'unpredictable' - musically, anyway - but, to the best of my knowledge he wasn't armed when he went on stage. I suppose that means we were marginally safer than Jerry Lee's guys....

I've always thought Lewis had an amazing talent, though.

My experience of DAC was limited to a two-week tour, so I can't say much.

He came across to work for London impresario, Mervyn Conn (he used to produce the Wembley Country Festival) in '87, but Mervyn had provided musicians of doubtful calibre! Coe sacked the band in the middle of a song and continued on his own! Next time, he told Mervyn, I want decent players.

Whether he got them or not in 1988 is not for me to say, 'cause I was one of them, but I think we were a marked improvement - he seemd to like us, anyway.

He borrowed a guitar once he reached London, but steadfastly refused to tune it - if we wanted it to sound tolerable, we'd have to do it ourselves. He brought an African-American gentleman as his music director, and he gleefully confessed that he only hired the guy to cause controversy at some of the 'redneck' venues that he played. This 'MD' (named Kriss Famous!) could barely play, and certainly didn't really know Coe's material - it was an odd tactic!

I can't say he ever was physically violent, but we found him a bigoted and unpleasant man.

The tour was made bearable for me by the presence of Newgrass Revival (with Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, John Cowan and Pat Flynn) as well as Emmylou Harris with Frank Reckard and Steve Fishell in her band. Jerry Lee Lewis was the icing on the cake - when he was good, he was great!

It was an unforgettable experience, but I feel that we drew the 'short straw' being saddled with Mr Coe. I know we had everyone's sympathy!