Difference between revisions of "Lowell George"
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[[Lowell George]] (April, 13th, 1945 - June, 29th, 1979) was an American rock singer and guitarist, best known as a member of Little Feat. | [[Lowell George]] (April, 13th, 1945 - June, 29th, 1979) was an American rock singer and guitarist, best known as a member of Little Feat. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
| − | [[Lowell George]] first encountered [[Frank Zappa]], as youngsters, when they appeared on the Al Jarvis Talent Show on KLAC-TV - [[Lowell George|George]] performing on harmonica in a duo with his brother and [[ | + | [[Lowell George]] first encountered [[Biography|Frank Zappa]], as youngsters, when they appeared on the Al Jarvis Talent Show on KLAC-TV - [[Lowell George|George]] performing on harmonica in a duo with his brother and [[Biography|Zappa]] giving a puppet performance. Neither won. |
| − | In the mid 1960's [[Lowell George|George]] joined [ | + | In the mid 1960's [[Lowell George|George]] joined [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1185480-The-Factory-7 The Factory] along with school friend [https://www.discogs.com/artist/861593-Martin-Kibbee Martin Kibbee]. They made some [[Lightning-Rod Man|demos]] with [[Biography|Zappa]] but never achieved much successs. While the other members of [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1185480-The-Factory-7 The Factory] evolved into [[Fraternity Of Man]]. [[Lowell George|George]] joined [[Wikipedia:The Standells|The Standells]] as lead vocalist. [[Wikipedia:The Standells|The Standells]] had enjoyed some success during 1966 and 1967; appearing in, and providing the theme song for the film [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062203/ Riot on Sunset Strip], but by now were waning and [[Lowell George|George]] only stayed with them for a couple of months. |
He then joined up with [[Fraternity Of Man]], who now had [[Elliot Ingber]] on guitar, and contributed to their second album produced by [[Tom Wilson]]. | He then joined up with [[Fraternity Of Man]], who now had [[Elliot Ingber]] on guitar, and contributed to their second album produced by [[Tom Wilson]]. | ||
| − | [[Lowell George|George]] was hired by [[ | + | [[Lowell George|George]] was hired by [[Biography|Zappa]] to replace [[Ray Collins]]. |
[[Lowell George]] provided guitar and/or vocal for: | [[Lowell George]] provided guitar and/or vocal for: | ||
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| − | From an interview in the March 1975 issue of Zigzag - [[Lowell George]]:<blockquote> ''"I got into [[The Mothers]] to replace [[Ray Collins|Ray]] - an impossible job, because no-one can replace [[Ray Collins|Ray]]. He's a singer par excellence and has a sense of humour that I couldn't hope to get near. He did amazing things, very very funny things. Well I wound up playing more guitar than singing. I was initially hired to be the singer because I guess Frank thought I could sing, but I really ended up playing more guitar than singing. We wound up doing a lot more instrumental stuff. I appeared on a couple of albums although I didn't get credited for the albums I appeared on, I got credited on other albums, because at that period everything was sort of in a state of flux that those moments were never chronicled. No-one ever scribed who did what and when. I sang on [[WPLJ]] [a song not (from 'Weasels') but on [[Burnt Weeny Sandwich]]], and I played on [[Hot Rats]], and I sang something else. I wasn't on [[Uncle Meat]] although my photograph was. Very strange things occurred at that period. I'm also on the [[The History And Collected Improvisations Of The Mothers Of Invention|12-album set]] that Frank planned to release. I think I have half a side. I do a border guard routine. I'm a [[German Lunch|German border guard]] interviewing people as they cross the border. And I think I play one long relatively lame guitar solo, almost half a side. One of these days Frank will put that thing out - the Xmas album – that was when it was supposed to be for awhile. But nobody will take it. Nobody wants a 12-album set. It'll probably cost 30 bucks or something, and not many people will want to spend 30 bucks on a 12-album set of the history of [[The Mothers Of Invention]]. What he might do is make it a limited edition."''</blockquote> | + | From an interview in the March 1975 issue of Zigzag - [[Lowell George]]:<blockquote> ''"I got into [[The Mothers]] to replace [[Ray Collins|Ray]] - an impossible job, because no-one can replace [[Ray Collins|Ray]]. He's a singer par excellence and has a sense of humour that I couldn't hope to get near. He did amazing things, very very funny things. Well I wound up playing more guitar than singing. I was initially hired to be the singer because I guess Frank thought I could sing, but I really ended up playing more guitar than singing. We wound up doing a lot more instrumental stuff. I appeared on a couple of albums although I didn't get credited for the albums I appeared on, I got credited on other albums, because at that period everything was sort of in a state of flux that those moments were never chronicled. No-one ever scribed who did what and when. I sang on [[WPLJ]] [a song not (from 'Weasels') but on [[Burnt Weeny Sandwich]]], and I played on [[Hot Rats]], and I sang something else. I wasn't on [[Uncle Meat]] although my photograph was. Very strange things occurred at that period. I'm also on the [[The History And Collected Improvisations Of The Mothers Of Invention|12-album set]] that Frank planned to release. I think I have half a side. I do a border guard routine. I'm a [[German Lunch|German border guard]] interviewing people as they cross the border. And I think I play one long relatively lame guitar solo, almost half a side. One of these days Frank will put that thing out - the Xmas album – that was when it was supposed to be for awhile. But nobody will take it. Nobody wants a 12-album set. It'll probably cost 30 bucks or something, and not many people will want to spend 30 bucks on a 12-album set of the history of [[The Mothers|The Mothers Of Invention]]. What he might do is make it a limited edition."''</blockquote> |
| − | After leaving [[The Mothers]] he formed [[Little Feat]] with [[Roy Estrada]]. [[Lowell George|George]] a fan of [[Neon Park]]'s work since ''[[Weasels Ripped My Flesh]]'' had him create the covers for | + | After leaving [[The Mothers]] he formed [[Wikipedia:Little Feat|Little Feat]] with [[Roy Estrada]]. [[Lowell George|George]] a fan of [[Neon Park]]'s work since ''[[Weasels Ripped My Flesh]]'' had him create the covers for Little Feat's albums. |
==Zappa about Lowell George== | ==Zappa about Lowell George== | ||
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* [[Wikipedia:Lowell George]] | * [[Wikipedia:Lowell George]] | ||
| − | [[Category:Bandmembers|George | + | [[Category:Bandmembers|George]] |
| − | [[Category:Rock Artists|George | + | [[Category:Rock Artists|George]] |
| − | [[Category:Singers|George | + | [[Category:Singers|George]] |
| − | [[Category:Harmonica players|George | + | [[Category:Harmonica players|George]] |
| − | [[Category:Guitarists|George | + | [[Category:Guitarists|George]] |
Latest revision as of 09:23, 17 October 2021
Lowell George (April, 13th, 1945 - June, 29th, 1979) was an American rock singer and guitarist, best known as a member of Little Feat.
Biography
Lowell George first encountered Frank Zappa, as youngsters, when they appeared on the Al Jarvis Talent Show on KLAC-TV - George performing on harmonica in a duo with his brother and Zappa giving a puppet performance. Neither won.
In the mid 1960's George joined The Factory along with school friend Martin Kibbee. They made some demos with Zappa but never achieved much successs. While the other members of The Factory evolved into Fraternity Of Man. George joined The Standells as lead vocalist. The Standells had enjoyed some success during 1966 and 1967; appearing in, and providing the theme song for the film Riot on Sunset Strip, but by now were waning and George only stayed with them for a couple of months.
He then joined up with Fraternity Of Man, who now had Elliot Ingber on guitar, and contributed to their second album produced by Tom Wilson.
George was hired by Zappa to replace Ray Collins.
Lowell George provided guitar and/or vocal for:
Hot Rats (uncredited)
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 5
He can be seen in the movie Uncle Meat (The Film).
From an interview in the March 1975 issue of Zigzag - Lowell George:
"I got into The Mothers to replace Ray - an impossible job, because no-one can replace Ray. He's a singer par excellence and has a sense of humour that I couldn't hope to get near. He did amazing things, very very funny things. Well I wound up playing more guitar than singing. I was initially hired to be the singer because I guess Frank thought I could sing, but I really ended up playing more guitar than singing. We wound up doing a lot more instrumental stuff. I appeared on a couple of albums although I didn't get credited for the albums I appeared on, I got credited on other albums, because at that period everything was sort of in a state of flux that those moments were never chronicled. No-one ever scribed who did what and when. I sang on WPLJ [a song not (from 'Weasels') but on Burnt Weeny Sandwich], and I played on Hot Rats, and I sang something else. I wasn't on Uncle Meat although my photograph was. Very strange things occurred at that period. I'm also on the 12-album set that Frank planned to release. I think I have half a side. I do a border guard routine. I'm a German border guard interviewing people as they cross the border. And I think I play one long relatively lame guitar solo, almost half a side. One of these days Frank will put that thing out - the Xmas album – that was when it was supposed to be for awhile. But nobody will take it. Nobody wants a 12-album set. It'll probably cost 30 bucks or something, and not many people will want to spend 30 bucks on a 12-album set of the history of The Mothers Of Invention. What he might do is make it a limited edition."
After leaving The Mothers he formed Little Feat with Roy Estrada. George a fan of Neon Park's work since Weasels Ripped My Flesh had him create the covers for Little Feat's albums.
Zappa about Lowell George
"There's another guy who shouldn't use drugs." - Zappa in The Frank Zappa Interview Picture Disk, pt.2.
"Lowell was a great friend of mine and one of the most talented people to ever grace the music industry. We became friends when Lowell joined the band. I was responsible for forming Little Feat. I introduced him to all the guys and I arranged his first record deal with Warner Bros. History was made." - Zappa in Zappa vs. The Mothers Of Prevention.
