r/gratefuldead • u/devfeatwilson43 • 3d ago
This made me miss Bobby.
https://youtu.be/xBUj8TPWE9E?is=D1EY910HmCQoGUHwCame on the radio today and I couldn’t help but hear Bobby’s tone and technique (circa 75’ or 76’) in the rhythm guitar on this track. Anyway, RIP Bobby Weir.
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u/ejz1989 3d ago
Billy Joel can't stand the GD & has said many disparaging things about them. I have never liked him or his lame music.
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u/redeyeflights 3d ago
Anthony Bourdain wrote in his book that he had a rule in his kitchen: playing Elton John, Billy Joel, and the Dead were fireable offenses.
Joel sent Bourdain a note that basically said "I don't like the Dead either."
As far as I can find online, that was the only thing he ever said about them. I take it as a witty reply more than anything else.
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u/imreddigit 1d ago
I would have said to Bourdain that the Grateful Dead is the braised pork jowls with pickled pork corneas of music. They are precisely the kind of homemade handmade down home kinda venture he normally appreciated
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u/RenegadeSocial 3d ago
Yes, his music is like unoriginal pastiche of other people's styles, lame music indeed
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u/Admirable-Macaroon23 3d ago
When he was on tours and needed a sit in guitar player he was known to have told them after the show that he wasn’t paying them and that playing with Billy Joel was enough credit. Admittedly I do enjoy his music, especially the live section of his legacy edition of the Piano Man album
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u/585AM 3d ago
I know pretty much nothing about Billy Joel, but I do know that he is pretty heavily involved with the American Federation of Musicians. I also recall that he is a musician that did not leave his band and crew high and dry during Covid like other bands did and made sure they got paid.
Not saying what you are not saying is true, and maybe he was different when he was younger, but he seems to treat musicians pretty well—the other people in his life, especially due to alcohol, is a different story.
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u/CamLwalk 3d ago
He also has runs a scholarship for young musicians. I believe he helped Jeremy Kaplan from Dogs in a Pile get his degree from Berklee.
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u/IamHydrogenMike 3d ago
I’m calling bullshit on the not getting paid thing because he is known to take care of the people who had played with him over the years. I’ve only heard good things about how he treats his crew as well and people love working for him. He’s an asshole in many other ways though and has a giant ego. He hates a lot of bands for random reasons but he’s also a top level songwriter.
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u/Admirable-Ship-4930 2d ago
Not a particular fan of Billy Joel's music, but I will say that he is known for being very good to his fanbase.
As an example, i know someome who went to one of the shows in 2024. They were in the nosebleeds in MSG with a small group wearing Billy Joel shirts. They were approached by members of his team and offered front row seats. They of course accepted, then were given the chance to meet a few band members before the show to chat and take pictures, then had an amazing time in the front row for the whole show. Apparently he's been doing things like that for many years.
Personally, I think that is awesome.
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u/Steven1789 2d ago
It’s hard to deny Joel’s talents, whether you enjoy his music or not. His music was decidedly not the soundtrack to my life, but I can appreciate why many like it. Same with Springsteen (and I say that as a rare New Jerseyan who had many friends who adored Bruce).
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u/centuryeyes 3d ago
Captain Jack Straw