Holy Tune-O-Matic, Batman!!!!! I shot this tape.....Had a great time with Rick and we had a few beers and sandwiches after the show at Primanti Brothers! I'm so glad this tape still exists.....Looks great too! (If I must say so myself!)
GULP! That '59 Les Paul that he said was worth "a lot" at "Six or seven thousand" is worth over half a million bucks now! I sure hope Rick kept that one!
I was working backstage at a show where Cheap Trick was one of the headliners... got to meet and chat with his guitar tech, and he actually let me strap on the 5 neck Hamer, that thing weighed a ton! I got my picture taken, and the wife commented that, that was the biggest smile she had ever seen on me! Then, was backstage during their set, and got to meet Rick... the coolest guy in Rock! He sure uses the "F-bomb" alot! : )
That was indeed Heart doing their soundcheck in the backround. I shot this footage and did not recognize Nancy Wilson when Rick gave me the backstage tour....She didn't have all her hair weaved in yet!
Cheap Trick one of my most favorite bands since I first saw them in 1977 opening for KISS in Seattle. If I heard correctly Rick said that he had three 1960 Gibson Les Pauls. One 1959 Gibson Les Paul. Three 1958 Korina wood Gibson explorers. I am a guitar collector myself and I was amazed to see that he was actually touring with those guitars. Does anybody realize how much money was sitting in that room in collectible guitars? Gibson showed Rick Nielsen's collection several years ago on youtube. It was epic! I would say his collection is in the top five world best guitar collections. I think he still has all of those guitars in the video, plus many more stored in his massive vault. I would love to see his collection of Hamer Explorer standards. The 70s models were the best Hamer ever made. Rick Nielsen - Definitely one of the all-time great rock guitarists.
Wow! What a great collection! I have a book by John Entwistle called Bass Culture...which showcases his extensive guitar & bass collection that Rick Nielsen photographed and put together posthumously...it's a guitar lover's dream looking at all the pictures! I have 5 guitars myself and will probably add some more!
When Rick mentioned the twelve string bass he didn't mention Tom. Interesting since Tom came up with the idea but during this time Jon Brandt was playing bass. Tom had left the band at this time and wouldn't return until 1988 on the Lap of Luxury Album! Been together ever since and you can tell, their sound is so much fuller when he played than when he didn't. Not trying to be critical of (Rick) who played some bass during Tom's absence or Jon and Pete's playing. But Tom's the man on the twelve!
Can't reply to old comments, but yeah. The guitar he has them remove is the 'Miller Music' Hamer. My guess is either the news show didn't want to show it or Miller wasn't a sponsor for that particular show.
@dylancollver Now a days a 1960 Les Paul goes for 120 to 250 thousand dollars... Holy crap wish I was old enough to by one in 1985. I bet those stay at his home today.
'59 Les Paul and a '58 Explorer!?! Wow.... I doubt he takes those on the road anymore, those are worth so much now and the chance of theft would be constant.
He definitely plays them both (when he brings them on tour, which is often). I met Rick once and asked him that question. His answer was "They're made to played, why wouldn't you play them?"
Last that I've seen he still takes the Les Paul out but he stopped touring with the '58 Explorer, insurance was killing him. He likes his guitars but he doesn't like throwing money out of the window, understandably.
I played his 59 les paul in Nashville at Gruhn Guitars in Nashville. George had to get it out of safe. This was in the 1990s 45,000. I would not even get out of the chair so scared I might break something that sacred. I have a 73 I bought new and my 76
It's funny how he tells the interviewer how impractical the five neck guitar is and how he "won't do that again". I believe he has three different five necks made besides the original since this program first aired.
@MetallicBill Well I am just giving my own opinion on those instruments. I know Rick and a few other guitarists such as Jimmy Page are able to use multiple neck guitars for musical and visual purposes. On Rick's main five neck for example, the top neck is a twelve string and the bottom neck is a fretless so I could see that being useful musically.
Great Stuff!! What's the guitar that's "not supposed to be here" @ 5:30? In the split second we see it, I want to guess it's the 'Miller High Life' one. Probably Rick didn' want to give them a free ad?
This interview is not from 1984, more like either 1985 or 1986 as a crew member is wearing a "Standing On the Edge" T-shirt, which wasn't released until '85. Great stuff though.
Ahah, you see Rick's outfit from '85 and think "looking good but ...maybe a little too patchy and flashy" but then at the end you get to "enjoy" how awful journalist is dressed and realize it is the '80s and he was really at the top of the game compared with others. LOL
What were you doing in 85? I was listening to rock, partying, having fun, and oh yeah, my parents bought me an early 1970's Les Paul DeLuxe for christmas from the local music store and I still have it and bang on it regularly, $550.00 with Gibson hardshell case, The world is garbage now compared to the freedom of the 70's-80's and half of the 90's and it's only getting worse.
@MetallicBill Well virtually any double neck guitar is a bit awkward, never mind a triple or a five neck. I have played a few doubles including a BC Rich and after five minutes the novelty wears off for me.
And those Korina Flying V's and Explorers are worth $100,000.00 (plus) today. The Les Pauls....around $50,000.00 - $75,000.00 : ) He could never play another note of music and live off the guitar collection.....well, maybe : )
I didn't know Rick was a coke head back in the day. In my opinion, the early to mid-eighties was a low ebb for the band. They had a stretch of some real stinker albums. Luckily, they worked through it and will be remembered for all the awesome stuff.
I was joking, of course. I have an old guitar player magazine where Rick said ( paraphrasing ) he wouldn't play Kramers only to annoy Edward Van Halen who used them at that time-haha. Love Rick ( and Edward ).
5:00 I believe the faded looking 59' behind the first Les Paul there is the one Rick sold to John Squire of the Stone Roses several years after this interview. Either way, a sweet guitar
Uhmmm, great thought, but those albums were great. Very creative, awesome writing, great playing and especially the singing. Reevaluate and you'll see...
Here‘s how I interpreted things: The 1st Les Paul he showed was a '60. Rick says, "Some of these are worth 6-7000 bucks". His demeanor indicates he meant similar Les Pauls. He then says, "I got 3 of these in here", again meaning 3 similar Les Pauls. He shows the other 2 at 4:50. At 4:54 he indicates that the THIRD one is a '59. I was referring to that guitar. Also, back in '85 when this interview was done, there wasn’t such a huge gap between the values of a ‘59 and ‘60 ‘burst as there is now.
The 1958-59 korina Explorer is one of the most valuable production-model guitars on the market, ranked at #4 on the 2011 Top 25 published by Vintage Guitar, worth between $250,000 and $310,000. Only 22 were produced, 19 in 1958 and 3 in 1959.
My dad played in a band with Rick’s neighbor in 1986 & he gave me a whole box of Cheap Trick picks. I played my first show in Feb ‘86 & used cheap trick picks while playing. It was awesome.
@beeroosterm Hey, a few of us kind of knew what was going on back then but the economy was as bad as it is now! I had a few I wish I could have kept. I paid $600 for a 1962 Strat in 1979. My father was furious. 'That money goes to your education'. That WAS my education!
