Infamy grows for 'Helter Skelter'

Paul McCartney won a Grammy award this year
for his vocals on a live version of "Helter Skelter,"
originally recorded by the Beatles in 1968.

By STEVE SEYMOUR

"Helter Skelter" has had its ups and downs over the years.

Last week, Paul McCartney won a Grammy award for the song he originally recorded with the Beatles back in 1968. McCartney picked-up the statuette for best solo rock vocal performance for a new version of the song contained on his "Good Evening New York City" CD.

Recorded on Sept. 9, 1968, "Helter Skelter" originally appeared on the double-LP commonly known as the "White Album." Reissued as part of "The Beatles Stereo Box Set," the recording garnered another Grammy this year for best historical album.

Beyond the current accolades, "Helter Skelter" may be most known for being hijacked by convicted murderer Charles Manson four decades ago.

The notorious criminal and his "family" took "clues" from the song in plotting the August, 1969 Tate/LaBianca murders which they thought would incite a race war in the United States.

Of course Manson's interpretation of "Helter Skelter," which refers to a amusement park ride, was completely insane.

With Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Vincent Bugliosi heading the prosecution, Manson's murder trial began on July 24, 1970.

As a college student studying journalism, I thought it was an absolute injustice that a Beatles song was implicated in Manson's horrific crime.

Consequently, I wrote an article seeking to vindicate the British group's recording.

Headlined "Beatle Lennon Defends 'Helter Skelter,'" the story was published in the Friday, Nov. 6, 1970 edition of the Bay Beacon student newspaper.

One of their hardest rocking numbers, "Helter Skelter" was entirely composed by McCartney, although John Lennon was also credited as songwriter.

At that time, many assumed the Lennon-McCartney composing credit meant that Lennon was responsible for the lyrics while McCartney composed the music.

When I wrote my story, Lennon was being subpoenaed to appear as a defense witness at the trial.

Lennon told the Associated Press: "I'm a peace-loving man. If I were a praying man, I'd pray to be delivered from people like Charles Manson who claim to know better than I do what my songs are supposed to mean."

Reporter Donald White also quoted Lennon as saying, "Why didn't Manson listen to our song 'Revolution?' 'Revolution' clearly states my position on violence. 'When you talk about destruction, you can count me out!'"

Lennon didn't testify at the trial which ended on Jan. 25, 1971. Manson was found guilty of first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

He was sentenced to death on March 29, 1971, although his punishment was later commuted to life behind bars. Manson remains incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison in California.

Lennon, meanwhile, moved to New York City on Sept. 3, 1971, never to return to Britain.

The Manson case returned to prominence when Bugliosi's book about the shocking murders became a best-seller. The book was made into a two-part television drama which ran on April 1 & 2, 1976.

Following the broadcast, Capitol Records issued a 45 rpm single which paired "Helter Skelter" with "Got to Get You Into My Life." Neither had been released as single before.

At the last minute record company executives flipped the single, making "Got to Get You Into My Life" the A side. The record charted at No. 7 in the summer of 1976.

Although they broke up six years earlier, the Beatles were enjoying a revival in mid-1976 thanks to a successful album, single and tour by McCartney and his group Wings.

Lennon, on the other hand, was taking some time off to raise his son Sean, but that period was shattered by another madman when the ex-Beatle was assassinated outside his apartment on Dec. 8, 1980.

"Helter Skelter" reappeared on Oct. 29, 1996 when a previously unreleased version, taped on July 18, 1968 was included in the "Anthology 3" set.

Three extended takes of the song were recorded that day, including one lasting 27 minutes and 11 seconds. These takes were actually rehearsals featuring McCartney (lead guitar and vocals), Lennon (bass), Harrison(rhythm guitar) and Starr (drums).

At the end of one take Starr yelled "I've got blisters on my fingers," a comment which marked the stereo version from the "White Album.

The "Anthology" version was edited down to less than five minutes in length, still retaining all its power.

Since the release of the alternative take in 1996, "Helter Skelter" has resurfaced several times.

McCartney included the number on his setlist when he performed at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Oct. 23, 2005.

My wife Sue and I (and the rest of the audience) weren't expecting to hear "Helter Skelter" so we were quite surprised when McCartney delivered an incredible version of the tune, sandwiched between "Yesterday" and "Get Back" during the first of two encores.

Months later, McCartney performed the song at the Grammy Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2006. "Helter Skelter" was also featured during McCartney's marquee performance on the David Letterman Show in 2009.

Now firmly in his repertoire, McCartney played "Helter Skelter" during an opening show at Citi Field before 109,397 fans over three nights in 2009. The Beatles played a record-breaking gig at the same venue on Aug. 15, 1965 when it was known as Shea Stadium.

McCartney's band for the historic shows consisted of Paul "Wix" Wickens, Rusty Anderson, Abe Laboriel Jr. and Brian Ray.

"When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride," McCartney intoned.

Released on his "Good Evening New York City" live album, McCartney's performance earned the attention of Grammy voters.

Certainly, "Helter Skelter" has had its ups and downs over the years.

The abhorrent Manson stole "Helter Skelter" from the Beatles, but McCartney has taken his song back, with a Grammy award to go along with it.
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Cochran had U. P. pen pal

Rock star Eddie Cochran corresonded with a
fan from the Upper Peninsula early in his career.

By STEVE SEYMOUR

Rock 'n' roll pioneer Eddie Cochran, famous for "Summertime Blues," corresponded with an Upper Peninsula fan early in his career.

Cochran exchanged letters with Sue M. Hill who lived at 1830 Wilkinson Ave. in Marquette.

The rock 'n' roll singer and guitarist was enjoying his first hit, "Sittin' in the Balcony," at the time. Cochran was just 18 years old and his pen pal probably also a teenager when the two mailed each other.

Hill's letter, written in pencil on lined stationery, was part of a cache of Cochran ephemera from a lien sale recently sold at auction.

The surviving letter Hill sent-- carrying a three-cent stamp-- was post-marked May 11, 1957. The envelope was addressed simply to Eddie Cochran in care of Liberty Records, Hollywood, Calif.

Cochran was newly signed to Liberty Records, founded in 1955 by Simon Waronker. Liberty boasted songstress Julie London, but Cochran was the label's biggest early rock 'n' roll artist.

Although Liberty and Cochran were new to the record business, both realized fans were fundamental to success."I am very much interested in all my fans," Cochran stated.

Consequently, the rocker told fans he was looking for school photos or snapshots of themselves to be included in a scrapbook he was keeping.

"I was very pleased with the letter you sent me. Enclosed is the picture you asked for," Cochran's young U. P. fan wrote. "I think it's a very good idea to keep a scrapbook of all your fans," she added.

Wanting to keep the correspondence going, the Marquette resident also asked Cochran to send her his biography.

Cochran was born in Albert Lea, Minn. on Oct. 2, 1938, as Edward Ray Cochran. His parents had moved north from Oklahoma. In the early 1950s, his family moved to Bell Gardens, Cal. where Cochran began playing guitar and doing session work.

He met producer Jerry Capehart and soon after they began composing songs together.

Cochran's first national exposure came in late 1956 when he made a cameo appearance in the motion picture "The Girl Can't Help It," starring Jayne Mansfield and Edmund O'Brien.

In his scene, the two stars watch as Cochran performs "Twenty Flight Rock" on television. (Paul McCartney played this song for John Lennon in 1957, earning an invitation to join the Quarrymen, later to become the Beatles.)

Cochran's second film debuted on March 10, 1957. In "Untamed Youth" he played "Cotton Picker" for Mamie van Doren.

Sue Hill was enthused about Cochran's budding Hollywood career. "When the movie that you are in comes here, I'll be sure to go see it," she wrote to Cochran.

"Sittin' In the Balcony," Cochran's breakthrough single, entered the national charts on March 23, 1957.

Although Cochran wrote many songs, his first hit was composed by J. D. Loudermilk, then known as Johnny Dee. Loudermilk's own version of the song was released about the same time, but stalled at No. 38.

After spending 13 weeks on the chart, Cochran's take dropped off on June 22, 1957, peaking at No. 18. While Cochran topped Loudermilk with his own song, Loudermilk proved himself later by writing "Tobacco Road," "Indian Reservation" and "Waterloo."

During June, Cochran played his hit during stops in Philadelphia, Newark and Chicago.

Letter-writer Sue Hill was certainly partial to Cochran's version of "Sittin' in the Balcony."

She added a P. S. to her note: "Are you still on that "Dark Lonely Street?" The postscript referred to the flip side of Cochran's first hit, proving the U. P. teenager was more than a casual fan.

Cochran continued to correspond with fans during the next few years although the task became more difficult because he was often on the road.

During the summer of 1957, Cochran toured St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Washington D. C., Boston and Chicago.

His album, "Singin' to My Baby" was also released, but "One Kiss" and "Drive In Show" received little notice as a follow-up singles.

Fans were treated to an article and pictures in the October issue of "Dig" magazine, while "Song Hits" featured one of Cochran's songs.

Cochran toured Australia with fellow rockabilly artist Gene Vincent and Little Richard, becoming the first American rock 'n' roll stars to perform extensively in that country. Fans recognized Vincent for "Be-Bop-A-Lula," while Little Richard made a name for himself with "Long Tall Sally" and "Jenny, Jenny."

Back home, Cochran made a series of one-night stands in the U. S. and Canada, including dates in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.

"I just made a new record called 'Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie.' It will be played on American Bandstand in a few days," Cochran wrote to Kaye Crouch of Lexington, Kentucky." Despite the exposure, the song barely cracked the Top 100 singles in the spring of 1958.

Cochran's next single, co-written with Capehart, would bring him rock 'n' roll immortality. "Summertime Blues" reached No. 8 and spent four months on the hit parade, becoming the perfect summer hit during 1958.

"C'mon Everybody," released that November, became another Top 40 entry.

In the spring of 1959, "Teenage Heaven," which adapted the melody to "Home on the Range," charted for just one week. The song was featured in "Go, Johnny, Go," Cochran's third movie.

For his next single, Cochran recorded "Somethin' Else," composed by his girlfriend Sharon Sheeley, who also wrote "Poor Little Fool" for Ricky Nelson. Cochran's track topped out at No. 58.

In January, 1960 Cochran traveled to London for another tour with Gene Vincent. While Cochran and Vincent enjoyed modest success in America, British teenagers were wild for the pair. Their 1960 tour was stunningly successful.

Sheeley, now his fiancee, flew to Britain to see a few shows and accompany Cochran back to California for a recording session set for April 17.

After a show in Bristol, Cochran, Sheeley and Vincent rented a taxi to Heathrow Airport for the flight home. Tragically, the car crashed. Vincent and Sheeley survived, but Cochran died the following day. He was 21 years old.

Cochran's fans were devastated. Some re-read their letters from Cochran, sadly reflecting that he often closed with the words "Don't forget me."

"Three Steps to Heaven," which Cochran taped during his final recording session, topped the British charts after his death.

The song did not chart in the U. S.
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Blues shows aid local charities

Iowa's Avey Brothers will headline a Blues
for a Cause charity show at the Terrace Bay Inn
on March 12.

By STEVE SEYMOUR

A series of blues concerts over the last five years raised more than $25,000 for local charities, a tally shows.

Organized by Escanaba resident and blues enthusiast Wendy Pepin, the 13 shows have been held under the banners Paws for the Blues and Blues for a Cause.

The shows debuted in 2006 with a tribute show in memory of Jim "Smiley" Lewis, a well-known local guitarist, singer and songwriter who died a year earlier at age 57.

Hundreds of people, including dozens of musicians, attended that event headlined by the Lark Brothers and "Big Al" Ek, who had worked with Lewis in the Shuffleaires.

One fan likened the show to a class reunion "with all the people you like." Besides live music, the event featured the release of Smiley's 1991 album "No Explanation Necessary" on compact disc.

Building on that success, a second Paws for the Blues show was held the following year, again featuring Smiley's musician friends. The ten-hour marathon show was headlined by Ek, who flew in from Las Vegas for the occasion.

After skipping a year, a third Paws for the Blues event was on Nov. 7, 2009. The tribute show ended with Steve "Doc" Yankee and the Lark Brothers performing a powerful version of "Bad Dream Blues," a track from Smiley's "Rebel Without Pause" CD, then just issued.

Proceeds from all three shows aided the Delta County Animal Society.

The most-recent concert in the series, an appearance by Milwaukee's Robert Allen Jr. Band in January, raised nearly $2,400 for the spay/neuter/pet adoption program at the Delta County Animal Shelter.

Other concerts benefited Northwoods Air Lifeline, Carefree Dental Clinic, U. P. Diabetes Outreach Network, Delta County Cancer Alliance, Delta County Search & Rescue, Perspectives Adult Day Care and local food pantries.

Rev. Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys have been featured at four of the concerts, including one at Hereford & Hops Steakhouse & Brew Pub in downtown Escanaba.

Most of the concerts have been headlined by regional acts, but two have featured big names in blues music.

Nationally-known blues band the Nighthawks performed a show in 2009 and returned in 2010.

Veteran bluesman John Hammond, meanwhile, gave a memorable acoustic concert last winter.

Hammond has had a wide fan-base since 1962 when his self-titled debut album appeared on Vanguard Records.

In the follow decades, Hammond has issued more than three-dozen studio albums, including "Rough & Tough," released in 2009.

Playing acoustic guitar and harmonica at his local show, Hammond performed blues classics and original material, earning a standing ovation at the end of the evening.

Founded in 1972, the Nighthawks have been hard-working road warriors for nearly four decades.

Although they've played thousands of gigs they ventured from Washington, D. C. to the Upper Peninsula for the first time in 2009.

Harmonica player and lead vocalist Mark Wenner remains from the original line-up which also featured guitarist Jimmy Thackery before he left to go solo.

The first Nighthawks show included long-time drummer Pete Ragusa who retired months later to be replaced by Mark Stutso.

Chicago area blues acts Joe Moss and Bill Lupkin also staged shows during 2010.

A veteran of the Windy City blues scene, Moss earned his chops as a sideman with many of the metropolitan area's best blues bands, including Buddy Scott's Rib Tips.

During his gig at the Terrace, Moss showed his considerable prowess on lead guitar, backed by a three-piece band. They tore through songs by B. B. King and Freddie King along with a number of original tunes.

Moss is the older brother of Nick Moss, who fronts the Flip Tops, another band gaining recognition nationally.

Harmonica player Lupkin also backed some of Chicago's blues greats, including Jimmy Rogers, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.

During his U. P. engagement, Lupkin told the audience about his encounters with many of the genre's top stars and played songs to illustrate his stories.

While all 13 blues shows have drawn enthusiastic crowds, the most-popular has probably been Rev. Raven.

The Milwaukee bluesman headlined a pair of shows in 2008 and two more in 2010. For the the first of those concerts, Raven included harmonica-master "Madison Slim," also known as Mark Koenig in his band.

The most recent appearances had Raven sharing the spotlight with saxophone player "Big Al" Groth. Raven's crack rhythm section is comprised of P. T. Petersen (bass) and Bobby Lee Sellers (drums).

Raven's concert last November was also billed as a CD release party for the new "Shake Your Boogie" album.

According to his biography, Raven was born and raised in Chicago and started playing the blues after seeing Freddie King perform in 1971. After spending 15 years in the Navy, Raven began a full-time blues career in 1990 and has been pleasing fans ever since.

Raven's reputation in the central Upper Peninsula seems to grow with each successive show.

Two more Blues for a Cause shows are already scheduled this spring.

Iowa-based Avey Brothers will bring their show to the Terrace on Saturday, March 12.

A trio based in the Davenport area, the Avey Brothers were finalists at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

The band is comprised of Chris Avey (vocals, lead guitar), Mark Avey (bass) and Bryan West (drums).

The Aveys have recorded two full-length CDs, "Devil in My Bed" and "Preacherman."

Proceeds from the concert will aid the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency "Walk for Warmth" program.

Rev. Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys will return for another show on Friday, April 22.

With the upcoming events area music fans have two more opportunities to enjoy an evening of blues while supporting local charities.

You might say it's a win-win situation.
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Led Zeppelin still resonates

The surviving members of Led Zeppelin have
had a few reunion shows over the years, but a tour
never materialized, much to the dismay of fans.

By STEVE SEYMOUR

When Alice Cooper suggested to Robert Plant the other day that he should reform Led Zeppelin, it reminded me what an impact that band has had over the years.

Cooper was critical of Plant because he walked away from a reunion with old bandmates Jimmy Plant and John Paul Jones, who were ready to tour as Led Zeppelin.

Millions of fans are disappointed with Plant's stance, including me.

I've liked Led Zeppelin since I first heard "Good Times Bad Times" on the radio back in 1969.

Since they were cheap, I bought 45 rpm singles in those days but that song convinced me to indulge in the group's self-titled debut LP.

And, what an album it was, filled with a striking combination of hard rock, blues and psychedelia.

Even more mind-blowing was the band's next single, "Whole Lotta Love," which amazingly became a No. 4 hit in early 1970 and still seems profoundly unusual coming out of radio speakers.

The song quickly became one of my favorites from the "Led Zeppelin II" album which I played often on my inexpensive portable stereo. Later, I heard the record with new ears when a college friend played it on his $1,500 high-end Bose stereo system.

By the end of 1970, the band released another 45 called "Immigrant Song" paired with "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do," a rare track not found on "Led Zeppelin III."

The band continued to release landmark LPs like "Symbols" and "Houses of the Holy" while touring throughout the 1970s.

I never did see them live.

On Sept. 25, 1980, the Chicago Tribune ran a full-page ad offering exclusive mail-order tickets for the first Led Zeppelin tour of North America since 1977.

Shows were scheduled at Chicago Stadium, 1800 West Madison St., for Nov. 10, 12, 13 and 15. The price for a box seat was $15.

Tragically, drummer John Bonham died on the very day the newspaper advertisement appeared.

Sponsored by S&L Entertainment in association with Concerts West, the planned concerts were never held.

Later, I picked up a ticket for the Nov. 12 concert as a souvenir.

The group decided in Dec. 1980 that they couldn't carry on without Bonham. Page and Plant formed the Honeydrippers in 1984, but it wasn't Led Zeppelin.

The iconic British quartet stirred again on July 13, 1985.

Having decided to launch a retail shop in downtown Escanaba, my wife Sue and I were busy that Saturday preparing for the opening of the Record Rack in a tiny storefront at 805 Ludington St.

We were listening to Live Aid on the radio as we worked.

Rumors swirled about a Led Zeppelin reunion, but we refused to believe it until it actually happened. Finally, Plant, Page and Jones delivered a short set from JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. They played "Rock and Roll," "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway to Heaven" with drummers Phil Collins and Tony Thompson doing their best to replace Bonham. The show was less than stellar.

In 1986, I got another Led Zeppelin fix when I read "Hammer of the Gods" by Stephen Davis. The unauthorized tome about the band's exploits on the road has been heavily criticized, but is a very entertaining way to pass a few hours. If parts aren't accurate, those segments probably represented what fans thought about the band anyway.

As a long-time fan of Led Zeppelin, I've acquired a few collectable items over the years.

In 1993, Atlantic Records issued "Complete Studio Recordings," comprising all nine Led Zeppelin studio albums, including the double-disc "Physical Graffiti." Digitally remastered, the set included four hard-to-find tracks, "Baby Come On Home," "Travelling Riverside Blues," "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" and "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do."

Several years later I purchased a limited edition print of the cover image for "Led Zeppelin I" which depicts the Hindenburg airship disaster.

My unnumbered print, with an image size measuring 19.5 by 19.5 inches, was one of 9,800 printed. It carries the signature of artist George Hardie.

It's said Hardie worked for hours printing dots on top of a tracing paper copy of the famous photograph to create the final image.

Hardie also worked on the covers for Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here."

Manufactured by Musicom International Inc., the company also produced poster-sized limited edition lithographs of album covers by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Doors and the Who.

In 1995 I bought a limited edition 24kt. gold-plated record for Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" 45. It's #239 of 2,500 and also features a miniature cover of "Led Zeppelin II."

Distributed by Winterland Productions, the piece measures 12 by 16 inches in size.

Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, focusing new attention on the group.

They performed another reunion show on Dec. 10, 2007. With Jason Bonham substituting for his father, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin played at the O2 Arena in London. A one-off benefit concert in the memory of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, the concert was widely praised.

Although 20 million fans requested tickets online, no tour followed.

Enjoying his solo career, Plant wanted no part of a Led Zeppelin reunion tour, no matter how lucrative such a project might be.

If millions of fans and millions of dollars won't sway Plant, it's unlikely Alice Cooper's protestations will lead to a Led Zeppelin tour.

Plant, however, isn't forgetting his old band entirely.

During his current solo tour, Plant sings five selections from the Led Zeppelin songbook: "Tangerine," "Houses of the Holy," "Gallows Pole," "Ramble On" and "Rock and Roll," proving he isn't totally adverse to performing songs which made him a mega-star.

I doubt if adding my name to a list which includes Alice Cooper and 20 million other fans will make any difference, but how about a Led Zeppelin reunion tour, Mr. Plant? I'd go, I promise.
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