Sir Nels Cline is back in town, recovering and recharging for future outroads into the musical envelope. When we informed him that one of his heroes Ike Turner, died yesterday at age 76, he felt inspired enough to offer these brief words of remembrance to a fellow guitar whiz:
"Ike Turner. He's gone. He was a madman to be sure. Everybody knows that he was a gangster, a wife beater, a gun-toting druggie, etc. blah blah. But if you ever heard the man really PLAY, then at least you know about something beautiful. And yes, MAD. His playing/producing in the 1950s with The Kings of Rhythm is what I am talking about. His maniacal wang bar tritones were so wild, so frenetic, and for me, so influential. The only parallel around this time that I can find is Otis Rush on "Double Trouble", his Cobra Records period. Ike took that Strat and strangled it, even during the most soulful, neo-Doo-Wop ballad. Post-prison, post-Tina, Ike was apparently making a bit of a comeback. I am now going to have to join the ranks of the post-mortem carrion pickers and find these recordings. But Ike, you may have rocked and socked in the 60s and 70s, but what you did in the 50s positively slayed me. Rest in peace." - N 12/12/07
Oh yes, and Nels also wanted us to post this tribute to another inspiration -- of an entirely different stripe:
"Today, December 13th, is Kristen McMenamy's birthday. Happy Birthday with love and respect - you have reigned supreme as my fashion beauty queen for nigh on 20 years!"
