(10-8-12) MACKAY DAY...A
happy B-Day to STOOGE saxslinger STEVE MACKAY( 9/25/'49). The STOOGES' reputation
for simple, "LOUIE,LOUIE" inspired Rock fails to take into account
the various strands of musical influences that created the STOOGES' sound.
Besides the obvious garage and English Invasion elements, the band was also
heavily into HARRY PARTCH, an avant-gardist who made music featuring his own
home made instruments ( see blooge "DIRT" 8/30/12 ). One shouldn't
forget IGGY's Chicago sojourn ( see Blooge Archive "GOING TO CHICAGO"
3/30/12 ). Then there's the fact that the group's first LP was produced by the
VU's JOHN CALE, who before the VELVETS had worked with Aaron Copland, JohnCage, and La Monte Young's "Theater of Eternal Music".
The "Free
Jazz" of the early/mid '60's was also a big part of the original STOOGES'
sonic palette. JOHN COLTRANE'S "A Love Supreme" was particularly
important. IGGY listed the LP as one of his three favorites ( stay tuned to
future blooges for the other two). When Steve Mackay's 'Trane influenced sax
blowing enters on side two of "FUN HOUSE" the band's music rises to a
whole new level of intensity. And when I saw the RON ASHETON version of the
group, Steve's sax playing added a '50's, honkin' R&B element that brought the music full circle back around to the very beginnings of
ROCK N'ROLL. At that moment for me the band's music seemed to take in the whole
history of ROCK N' ROLL and represent everything vital, fun, and life-affirming
about it. That's not bad for something so 'simple'. Thanks for being a big part
of it, Steve. Keep blowin'!
P.S. Like IGGY,
Steve was an employee of Discount Records ( see Blooge Archive "HOW MUCH
IS THAT IGGY IN THE WINDOW" 4/17/12 ).
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