SteveR
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« on: August 22, 2005, 10:13 AM » |
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Did anyone else watch Woodstock the Movie on VH1 Classic this weekend?
I was BLOWN AWAY by Santana and what looked like the little kid behind the drumkit. A SMOKING open-solo during Soul Sacrifice. It looked like he was playing on a beat up, natural finish, 4-piece little Sonar kit with 1 crash and 1 ride. The heads were so beat up there was no coating left on any of them.
Did a little research and discovered the drummer was Michael Shrieve and that he was only 19 years old for that show! The youngest performer to play at Woodstock.
I couldn't believe how fluid and expressive his playing was while at the same time, still being very technical and precise. That was one of those performances that make you sit there for 5 minutes afterwards with your jaw on the floor.
Just had to get that off my chest...
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jameswalker
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« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2005, 10:37 AM » |
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Did a little research and discovered the drummer was Michael Shrieve and that he was only 19 years old for that show! The youngest performer to play at Woodstock.
I couldn't believe how fluid and expressive his playing was while at the same time, still being very technical and precise. That was one of those performances that make you sit there for 5 minutes afterwards with your jaw on the floor.
Just had to get that off my chest...
Steve, there are a lot of us old-timers here at the Cafe, reading your post and nodding - that performance was a classic. Glad to hear you've been introduced to Mr. Shrieve's wonderful work!  |
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Joe
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« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2005, 10:39 AM » |
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What amazed me was how stupidly fast he executed the triplets around the middle of the solo. Also, it was his fluid use of traditional grip that inspired me to learn to play that way. I will see him now and again on a special, and in the recent past (but not anymore  ), the odd appearance on the PBS-edited episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show. That's a very nice fulcrum in the left hand. |
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I'm not a particularly slow player, yet I don't play fast. I play half-fast.
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mudlark
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« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2005, 11:36 AM » |
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Well, <pause>, I was there and got to experience it live and in person!
I will admit though, at the time, Santana was not a well known band at all. But, even being an unknown band, they blew me and the whole audience away as they were really the first "heavy" band that made the stage. (The night before was Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Melanie, we arrived when Ravi Shankar was on stage). Preceding Santana was John Sebastian, so Santana was the first band that was really high energy.
I could write a book on what a truly amazing experience it was for me to turn 16 the weekend of the festival. It truly was a life-changing experience.
I've seen the movie many, many times, in the theatre when it was first released, on VHS, and now on DVD. It's really weird to watch the movie, having been there, the memories are almost overwhelming. Plus it's VERY weird to know that, in that sea of faces, is a 16-year-old version of me.
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Joe
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« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2005, 11:47 AM » |
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Well, <pause>, I was there and got to experience it live and in person!.
... Has anyone ever been in the predicament of having so many questions to ask that you cannot think of a single one? |
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I'm not a particularly slow player, yet I don't play fast. I play half-fast.
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smoggrocks
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« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2005, 12:14 PM » |
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it seems mudlark has been at the epicenter of every major music event of the late 20th century.
i would love to know more about the total experience, muddy!
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The most wasted day of all is that on which you have not laughed.
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mudlark
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« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2005, 12:22 PM » |
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...
Has anyone ever been in the predicament of having so many questions to ask that you cannot think of a single one?
I'm in the same sort of predicament of having so much to tell and not knowing where to begin! |
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SteveR
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« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2005, 12:42 PM » |
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Wow, mudlark. Great stuff. I'm not really a 'flower power' type person but it must have been incredible to actually be present at such an historic day, both politically and musically.
You know, the fact that Santana was an unknown band at the time (I didn't realize that) even makes their electric performance that much more special. Watching them 'convert' all those people was amazing because judging by the crowd's reaction after they finished, it was a real coming-out performance for them.
Seriously, I'm going to go buy some live Santana CD's tonight after work.
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moosetication
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« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2005, 02:34 PM » |
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I could write a book on what a truly amazing experience it was for me to turn 16 the weekend of the festival. And the thing that's stopping you is...? |
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After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Aldous Huxley
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smoggrocks
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« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2005, 02:49 PM » |
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i know, man! been waiting all day for the big reply.
c'mon mudlark! you know you're dying to tell all.
and maybe you even have a picture or two from the stellar event??
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The most wasted day of all is that on which you have not laughed.
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Drumodad
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« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2005, 06:29 PM » |
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Wasnt Michael only 17 at the time? Thats the age I heard.
I hope Mudlark stayed away from the brown Acid!
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We`ll hold today to ransom `till our quartz clock stop until yesterday Got Drums? Got Cowbell? Shirts , hats,original art and more at www.Cafepress.com/Drumodad |
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Shoeless
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« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2005, 07:01 PM » |
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Remember the "Brush with Greatness" thread?
I mentioned I found out about a guy lives in my small town that played at Woodstock and I was urging him to join the Cafe to speak of his weekend. He responded to me with an e-mail.
His name is Greg "Duke" Dewey and he played with country Joe and the Fish.
Here is what he had to say:
dear steve,
I tried to register as a member and write something, but after i had put my "username" in it refused to admit that ihad a username, and woujldnt let me write anything .....so i will just tell you a few things about woodstock... All of us, (the bands) came the first night so that we could watch eachother play, because it was a unique weekend for us to have that oppertunity...you kno how it is, every one is touring around the world at the same time, and you don't really see eachother unless you play on the same bill as eachother, which happens often, but even then, most musicians are so shy and "shut -down' every where accept on the stage that we can hardly talk to each other, so , you know, I play a gig with the Joe Cocker Band, and Winwoods band "TRAFFIC" (they were opening for us in those days), well, we would meet each other in the hall on our way to and from the stage and shyly say "hey man" and that was about it ... that was as much as we could handle as far as "talking". But at Woodstock, we all came the first night, we were all in the same motel 20 miles from the festivle site, and it was so crowded that we COULDNT get out there to see eachother play! they were heleocoptering in three bands at a time, and bringing three out... so we were all stuk in the motel, stuk with eachother, we had to DEAL with each other... I probubly never would have become a friend of Keith Moon had it not been for Woodstock, I would have met him, but I wouldnt have had four days to sit in a bar with him and Marty Balin and lots of other dudes I wouldnt have met either and become friends with...the truth is, about this particular drum solo in which you have been speaking... you know, I played one too, but it was in the rain...it was written up in the "ROLLONG STONES WHO IS WHO IN ROCK AND ROLL" because I played this solo in the rain, but , it wasnt in the movie....Bill Grahm wasn't my manager at that moment...I personally think that there were many inspired solos by drummers at that concert, I personally have never before, nor since felt more compelled to play for an audience.... I was 21 then...I knew that it was unlikely that I would ever play for an audience as big as this again in my entire life, (at the time I thought it might be possible, he he, but, unlikely). I certainly have alot of stories about that particular weekend, and yet, it was only a weekend in a five month tour for us, in which I made two Other movies, and I didn't even know that Woodstock would be a Movie...To this day, that weekend has a habit of eclipsing my entire carreer, it is the only Record that I have made that anyone will admitt is Gold, and it cost me $67.00 to get it from the record company, it has my name on it, it has the wrong record lable on it , oddly it says "SANTANNA" " STAGE ANNOUCEMENT" "TEN YEARS AFTER".... after awhile I just got tired of trying to explain that I was actually in a different band called Country Joe and The Fish, it was too wierd, then they figured i stole the thing, and I probubly wasn't Gregory L. Dewey either... so I just told them I played either in One of those bands if they pushed the questions, it was eisier, consequentlelly if they had known any better, they would have said, "hey man! You're not Michalel Shrieve!!).
take it easy man,
"Duke" Gregory L. Dewey
Thanks, Greg
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Now let's go out there and melt some faces!
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mudlark
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« Reply #12 on: August 23, 2005, 04:43 AM » |
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And the thing that's stopping you is...?
Well, Id say that I havent had the time, but, er, it has been 36 years! i know, man! been waiting all day for the big reply.
c'mon mudlark! you know you're dying to tell all.
and maybe you even have a picture or two from the stellar event??
Yeah, I am dying to tell all. The problem is, it will take me a bit to properly get it down on "paper". Your last statement is a real hard one to swallow for me, I brought binoculars but no camera. We had no idea it was going to be what it wound up being. Actually, I have photos from the year after when I visited the site on the one year anniversary. I had relatives who lived near there and we made the trip. Mike Lang and Artie Kornfeld were there (the two main promoters of the festival) along with maybe a couple hundred people. I still want to go back one day and see the field one more time. Ill put something together with pics and such and put it on my website, if there is any real interest. Actually, Ill do it anyway and give the Drummer Café credit for making get off my butt and finally write down my recollections. Of course, I will start a new thread in Miscellaneous.  |
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smoggrocks
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« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2005, 07:22 AM » |
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Yeah, I am dying to tell all. Ill put something together with pics and such and put it on my website, if there is any real interest... Of course, I will start a new thread in Miscellaneous... Your last statement is a real hard one to swallow for me, I brought binoculars but no camera. We had no idea it was going to be what it wound up being. (text inversions and bolding my doing) yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! i'm psyched you'll give us a recounting. i trust your read on events because you are so of that era. the last thing you said, that i bolded, is to me, what makes woodstock so amazing. it really was a "happening." when i did the '04 event, it was hardly that. totally unspontaneous, hugely commercial, very expensive (though worth it, dollar-for-dollar), relatively comfortable, and not at all revolutionary. though there was more racial diversity, which i liked. but more petty fights and brazen drunkenness. that all you people were able to congregate peacably when you went really suggests the zeitgeist back then. i'm forever in awe of it. really looking forward to your story! |
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moosetication
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« Reply #14 on: August 23, 2005, 08:12 AM » |
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i trust your read on events because you are so of that era. Paul, I think smoggy just called you "old" ... |
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After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Aldous Huxley
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smoggrocks
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« Reply #15 on: August 23, 2005, 10:01 AM » |
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Paul, I think smoggy just called you "old" ... gotcha, moosie! [cue the cane-round-the-neck emoticon]. i ain't calling him old at all -- muddy is REAL. and in many ways, more young at heart than many of us! 'cept fer that beard, of course!  |
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The most wasted day of all is that on which you have not laughed.
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JazZzmen
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« Reply #16 on: August 23, 2005, 11:24 AM » |
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Drumodad yeah he was 17
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SteveR
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« Reply #17 on: August 23, 2005, 01:08 PM » |
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Drumodad yeah he was 17
Actually, Drummerworld says he was 19. Still, he was the youngest performer at Woodstock. |
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smoggrocks
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« Reply #18 on: August 23, 2005, 01:16 PM » |
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yah, i saw another site that also stated 19.
as an aside, though -- how 'bout carlos's playing? personally, i'm amazed the devadeepster even got through that gig, he looked so wasted. but i still thought his playing was very inspired. i loved how the performance build, and then came together at the end in a giant wooosh of inspiration. shrieve totally nailed it.
must be nice being able to really drive the bus like that!
sorry, man. can't stop blabbing about this. i really, really dig that movie!
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The most wasted day of all is that on which you have not laughed.
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KevinD
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« Reply #19 on: August 23, 2005, 01:44 PM » |
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Not to throw the thread into controversy but when I was younger I remember reading he was 16 at Woodstock. He certainly looked young, good performance at any age.
I will admit that I'm sort of surprised that he never went on to become an "uber drummer" that is mentioned in the same breath with those other late 60s, early 70s drummers like Bruford, Appice, Ginger Baker and the like.
I'm speaking mostly of notoriety and ubiquity, not really technique.
I know he's done some stuff with HSAS and I believe I saw him play with a band called "Novo Combo" once, but given his prodigious debut I would have thought we would have heard more from him over the years on a national or worldwide scale.
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