Nigel Olsson : Drums
 |
Nigel Olsson started his professionel
career in the band Plastic Penny, which many thought would get a promising
career, but did'nt quite make it as big. For a short while after Nigel played
in the band Spencer Davis Group, where he for the first time played with
Dee Murray ( Bass player ) After a tour in the USA with Spencer, he played
a few times with band whom would later become Uriah Heep. He later started
jamming with Dee Murray and Elton John.
Nigel contacted his manager at that time and told him that Elton's music
whas that kind of music he wished to play, but his manager told him that
with Uriah Heep the money would better and faster coming.
Nigel's first number he recorded with Elton was " Lady What's tomorrow
" from the first EJ album " Empty Sky ". From 1970 until
1975 was Nigel a part of Elton's live band. In the studio he first fell
in from the Honky Chateau album from 1972.
The stories says that Gus Dudgeon didn't thought that he was ready to play
in a studio and that he also was used to use his own speciel musicians.
One thing is for sure, Nigel has given Elton's music strength just like
the Bass player Dee Murray and the Guitarist Davey Johnstone have done.
Nigel has told the fan magazine " East End Lights " that he loved
being a little behind the beat in the music, which does that he got that
" Leaned back " and calm style. Nigel had always prefered playing
the ballads, he never fancied the hard Rock'n'roll numbers but off course
he thinks that they are nessecary at concerts.
From '75 till '80 Nigel was involved with names like Billy Joel and Rod
Stewart. And together with Dee Murray he got to be a very aknowledged rythm
section. In 1980 he was brought back in the studio with Elton by the producer
at that time, Clive Franks. Clive Franks could'nt work out the number "
Little Jeannie " with any of the session drummers. He therefore took
the liberty to ask Nigel ( there at that time was in France where the recordings
took place ) to do the drums part. And again you can hear the " right"
feeling on this particular number. But there was still a couple of records
to be released before Nigel was back in his seat with Elton.
Though it was just to be " Too Low For Zero " and " Breaking
Hearts " he should play on before he was again fired. Except from a
few spots as a backing vocalist for EJ he first returned in 2001 for the
Madison Square Garden. He got invited along by EJ's band director, Davey
Johnstone to create the same " old " spirit, the result surprised
everybody happily.
On Elton's latest album " Songs From The West Coast " Nigel is
playing about half the tracks which suits the record very well. He's now
the first drummer in the band again, and hopefully will be for many years
to come.
To capcher Nigel's influence in Elton's music you should listen to these
items : 11- 17- 70, " Can I Put You On " from the album "
Friends, " Don't let the sun go down on me " from Caribou and
" Curtains " & " Someone saved my life tonight "
from Captain fantastic and the brown dirt cowboy. |
Ray Cooper : Percussionist
 |
The world's greatest tambourine
player in rock music, Ray Cooper was born in Hertfordshire, England in 1947.
Ray Cooper has worked on and off
through the years with Elton John. That means that he's not one of the guys
who's been with him " all the way ", even though has he offered
the most memorable and remembered impressions in Elton's concerts.
But why is it that your connect
Ray with brilliant work on stage? Maybe because of the words drama, charisma
and madness come to mind when you see the legendary concert from Russia,
1979. It was a concert where Elton was accompanied by Ray only. You wouldn't
call this an " ordinary " nice and easy " solo concert ".
It was a concert full of intense rock'n' roll even thought there's no guitar
or bass, you don't miss anything. Those two people on stage are a whole
band.
People are surprised what this
man can do with " simple " instruments, but his personaliy shines
through. Because of his wild eyes, granny glasses and black clothes he'd
been given nicknames like " The graveyard digger "
When he takes his audience in his
hands, in his own manic way with his drums, tambourines and other rhythm
instruments, you know that he is a very special musician.
Since R. C's musical start in the
early 1960'ies, has he worked with many famous artists: Eric Clapton, The
Who, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Paul McCartney for example. Some of his
earlier work included the band " Blue Mink " and Carly Simon.
Later he worked on the Rolling Stones record " It's Only Rock'n'Roll
" ( 1974 ) |
Davey Johnstone :
Lead Guitar & Band director
 |
Davey Johnstone was born
in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1951.
In 1970 he gained a reputation
for working with Rick Wakeman and the group Magna Carta, which Gus Dudgeon
( Elton John's producer ) among others, had been working with. Gus was very
impressed by Davey's many talents. In fact Davey plays anything with strings
on it !
Rick and Davey contributed in 1971
for Elton's album " Madman Across The Water ". Davey wouldn't
have gotten the opportunity to work with Elton if it hadn't been for a solo
guitarist called Chapman. Chapman had been offered the job on " Madman
Across The Water " but thought it was a very down experience and he
turned it down. Therefore Gus turned to Davey J.
Later Elton asked Davey if he was
interested in joining the band. After months of rehearsals Davey was on
stage ( 1972 ) side by side with Nigel Olsson ( Drums ) and Dee Murray (
Bass ).
D. J. was in the late eighties
picked as Elton's bandleader. The bandleader is the one responsible for
hiring new band members and helps Elton choosing numbers which will be put
in concert set lists, etc.
While the " big band split
up " was coming , everybody was happy and unaware. In the end everybody
got fired but Davey Johnstone. A change was about to take place, a shocking
" surprise", especially to Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson. Davey
was gone from the band from the late seventies to the early eighties, but
that was due mainly Davey's personal projects. He came back in 1982 and
stayed.
One can argue that Davey is not
replaceable. A multi-talented musician, Davey's influence within the band
was bigger than the other band members. Davey co- wrote EJ songs like "
Snow Queen ", " Cage The Songbird " and " I guess That's
Why They Call It The Blues ".
Besides the EJ band, Davey Johnstone
has done a lot of solo projects. In 1973 EJ invited him to release a album
by Rocket Records ( EJ's record company ). This ended up with the album
"Smiling Faces ".
He has worked with artists like
Alice Cooper & Meat Loaf ( Bat Out Of Hell ). In 1991 he formed a band
called Warpipes, with other EJ alumni.
Davey Johnstone : I have worked
with a lot of big names, but nobody can touch Elton in my mind - he is the
most consistent and the best performer i have ever worked with " |
Dee Murray : Bass
 |
Dee started his musical career
in the band THE MIRAGE. It wouldn't take long before one of the great musicians
in '68, SPENCER DAVIS, became interested in Dee´s talents. It was
in this SPENCER DAVIS line-up that Dee began his collaboration with Nigel
Olsson, who was the drummer at this time.
SPENCER DAVIS went on a US tour,
before the group broke up in late '68. Dee continued to make a lot of studio
recording sessions for other artists and this lead him to some sessions
with EJ in early 1969.
In late 1970, EJ was forced by
his record company to perform with a band for a promotional tour in the
USA. EJ often used the band HOOKFOOT, but as they were busy doing a lot
of concerts on their own, EJ then hired Dee on bass and Nigel Olsson on
drums. Soon everybody would recognize Dee´s distinctive bass playing.
On the album 11-17-70 you can hear that his bass parts fill out the role
of a rhythm guitar (in fact there was no rhythm guitar on the record). Yet
the album never sounds thin, even though it´s only a basic trio at
work here.
Apart from a few tracks on the
albums, Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across The Water, Dee was not used
in the studio sessions. He became a full member of the band starting with
the album Honky Chateau . Dee gave EJ´s music distinctive bass lines
that are still known today in such songs as Rocket Man, Salvation and The
Bitch Is Back.
Dee was fired after the EJ album
Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy. No one knew why. He achieved
sucess as a popular session musician, playing with Billy Joel, Rod Stewart,
Joan Armatrading etc.
In 1980 he was asked to be a member
of EJ´s new tour band, and he agreed gladly. Again he played with
his old friend Nigel. He played with EJ until the end of 1984 when he was
once again fired. He was very hurt by the firing, his old friend Nigel Olsson
explained in several interviews.
From here the downfall started.
Dee played with various country bands in the Nashville area. In 1992 he
died from a stroke. He had also been suffering from skin cancer, which he
was diagnosed 8 years before.
In late 1992 EJ held a memorial
concert for Dee Murray . As EJ said, "I have never known how much I
missed him, now that he´s gone!".
EJ´s current bass player,
Bob Birch, explained that he was fascinated by Dee´s bass playing,
and it should be reproduced very accurately, because it gives EJ´s
music strength.
Long live Dee Murray, wherever
he is! |
Charlie Morgan : Drums
 |
Charlie Morgan was invited to join
EJ's band for a live aid concert in 1985. He stayed throughout '86 and then
left the band. He returned in 1992.
There are differing opinions about
how he fit into the EJ band. He's acknowledged as a great drummer but whether
his style suited Eltons music is a matter of taste.
Either way, there's no doubt that
he is a good, experienced and steady drummer. Some musicians just have Elton's
music in their bones -- like Nigel Olsson ( drummer ). But you can say that
Nigel has also had the better odds with him, because of his early days in
the band. |
Bob Birch : Bass
 |
Bob Birch's first appearance in
the Elton John band was in 1992, playing bass. In the Eighties, he'd played
in several bands with Guy Babylon ( keyboard ). In 1991 he started playing
with Davey Johnstone ( Elton's band director ) in a group called Warpipes.
Through that connection he became a part of the EJ tour from 1992 - 1995.
He also worked on the 1994 album " Made In England ".
During the tour of 1995, Bob was
hit by a car and was unable to finish the tour. Bob returned to work with
Elton in 1996.
|
Caleb
Quaye : Guitar
 |
Caleb Quaye was one of the
first musicans in EJ's solo career. Caleb produced most of Elton's early
material, including the single" Lady Samantha" and other recordings
in Dick James' low-budget studio. He worked there as a producer and guitarist.
He introduced EJ to the band Hookfoot,
where he was guitar player and commenced working on EJ's first album, "
Empty Sky ". The album was not produced by Caleb, but he was in charge
of the band and his influence is unmistakable.
Along EJ's early albums, he worked
with his own band Hookfoot, whose members Roger Pope / Drums, Ian Duck /
Harmonica- Vocal and Dave Glover / bass, were used as session musicans on
EJ albums like Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection, Friends, and Madman across
the Water. Hookfoot was featured on three more rocking tracks. The songs
that Paul Buckmaster had arranged were played by session musicians.
Caleb had a close relationship
with Elton in the start, but that stopped at the time the EJ line-up with
Davey - Dee and Nigel were launched. Caleb continued to work with Hookfoot,
which reached a moderate success but ended up in '74 where the band split
up. In '74 the Kiki Dee band were formed, which included Caleb and his old
partner Roger Pope.
In 1975 he was again back in the
EJ band, together with Roger Pope. Working with Davey, who was a bit of
a technical wizard with his guitar, Caleb's role was to add a more rock
and bluesy feeling. Especially on the EJ album, " Rock of the Westies
", you can hear his playing with Davey, which could have evolved to
something really great, if given time. EJ's album " Blue Moves "
from 1976 was the last time Caleb played with Elton. In an interview with
the fan magazine " East End Lights " Caleb explained that this
was the tightest and best band he had ever been playing with. Though the
subsequent firing of the band came as a shock for all members.
After the break with Elton John
in '76-'77, he played briefly with Hall & Oates (also with Roger Pope),
but later got into drugs and his career was waylaid. In 1980 he became religious
and joined a Christian sect which helped him overcome his drug problem.
Beside a short argument with Elton, which nevertherless resulted in a donation
in $5000 dollars to his church
from Elton himself, he had no real contact with EJ.
Rumors circulated in the late Nineties
that Hookfoot would reunite, but without Dave Glover on bass. A letter from
Caleb to EJ indicates that they again are in touch on a friendly basis.
There is no doubt that Caleb would
be an asset in the EJ band, especially concerning his work with Davey Johnstone. |
Roger Pope : Drums
 |
Before Roger P. started playing
with Elton he played drums in bands like Soul Agent in the mid 60'ies, when
Rod Stewart was the lead singer. He met Caleb Qaye and Dave Glover and together
with Ian Duck they created the band Hookfoot, which also worked as a session
band for Elton on his early records like Empty Sky.
Roger Pope influenced many recording
decisions in some of EJ's first singles, like Lady Samantha, It's Me That
You Need and Rock'n'roll Madonna.
After Nigel Olsson got hired as
a drummer, Roger Pope continued in Hookfoot. They released four albums and
a Greatest Hits record before the band split up in 1974. Thereafter Roger
started playing drums for the new Kiki Dee band which split up in 1975.
In the spring of 1975, the Elton
John band was expanded and improved. Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson were now
out of the band and Roger became the new drummer. He stayed in the band
until 1976 where Elton took a break from touring. If you compare Roger to
Nigel, their sounds and playing style are very different. His style is evident
on the Blue Moves album. After the EJ period, Roger played with bands like
Hall & Oates, China, Cliff Richard and so on.
Latest news is that Roger is sick
and suffers from a lung disorder which prevents him from playing out. He
was invited to Elton's M.S.G concert and was given one of the best seats.
At the concert he met Nigel Olsson who is once again part of the EJ band.
Nigel once said in an interview : " I always felt there was a friendly
contest between me and Roger. I thought if i wasn't good enough Roger would
step in and take my place. " |
John Jorgensen : Guitar
 |
A joy is to see John Jorgensen
on stage with Davey Johnstone. There's no doubt about that John enjoys what
he does. And those two together gives a little extra.
John Jorgensen is not only a recognized
musician within Elton Johns band, he's been a very succesful guitarist in
bands like Desert Rose and Hellecasters. He's a not a typical guitarist
but a supreme one of the kind, especially in the world of country and bluegrass
he has set his mark. He has won the award for " Best Guitarist "
from the Acadamy Of Country Music not once but THREE times !!
In 1990 he left The Desert Rose
band to pursue a solo caree. But he took two detours. The first one came
after a one night performance with the guitarists Will Ray and Jerry Donahue,
who recruited him to be in the Hellecasters, a group which lasted for 10
years. Also called the Three tenors of Guitars, their trio album was nominated
for a Grammy for best guitar album of the year and best country album. (
1993 )
The second detour was a phone call
from Elton who wanted him to join the EJ band on world tour for 18 months.
Elton needed a guitarist who also could deliver background vocals. John
agreed and the 18 months became 6 years.
After 6 years with Elton he thought
it was about time to move on with his solo career. In 1999 he released his
first solo album " Emotional Savant "
Elton John : John Jorgenson's guitar
work is "brilliant, fucking brilliant!" |
Guy Babylon : Keyboard
 |
Guy Babylon started working with
the Elton John band in 1988 and has since then done all of EJ's world tours.
He has also played on several albums, starting with " Sleeping With
The Past"
He and Davey Johnstone were the
founders of " Warpipes " |
James Newton- Howard :
Keyboard
 |
James was raised in Los Angeles,
and studyied classical piano. He started off in a band called Mama Lion,
before he finished his studies at The University of Southern Carolina. As
his reputation grew, he was a top session player. He met the other members
of his future group, Toto, in the studio sessions he played on.
James' break through came as he
worked on a session on Ringo Starr's album "Goodnight Vienna."
Elton John appeared on this album and he noticed James' talent as a keyboard
player. In 1975 ( where Elton was forming a new band ) he invited James
to play with him. The first album James played on was " Rock Of The
Westies ".
Elton and James' worked very well
together. On the album " Blue Moves " ( 1976 ) is the number "
One Horse Town " a very nice product of what they could do. "
Tonight " also has a lot of James' arrangements. They actually discussed
making an instrumental album together - and composed four numbers, but the
project died. The promise of their work together is demonstrated on the
album " The Fox " with the instrumental number " Carla /
Etude "
Because of Elton's break from 1976,
James first returned to the band in 1980 for a tour and new albums. In the
meantime he had worked with Eric Carmen and Kiki Dee, among others.
Besides having worked with numerous
of artists he has composed lots of soundtracks : Waterworld, Three men and
a little baby, Junior, French Kiss and so on. He was nominated for Academy
Awards for his movie scores for The Fugitive and The Prince Of Tides.
Elton and James are still friends
.. |
| Various musicians : |
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