David Lindley was a gigging musician long before David Gilmour recorded. He was so diverse! He ran the band for the Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt album, Trio. He played the electric fiddle for the Youngbloods' Darkness Darkness. He has done everything with everyone! And his heart was so pure. Friends of mine knew him well in different areas of his life. He wasn't like anyone else and he never sold out. He was never a partier. Linda Ronstadt loved him so much that she told her label that she wouldn't record for them anymore unless they let her produce an album by him. Like all of his albums, it didn't sell, but it is outstanding: Very Greasy. I met him once. He was just as sweet as could be. Funny funny funny man.
I've spent a lot of time studying Gilmour over the years, and have shamelessly copied a lot of his licks, riffs and bends. LOL I'll be 71 in a couple weeks, Gilmour is 76. The first "Floyd' album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" was released in 1967, and Gilmour was 20 years old. David Lindley was 78, 2 years older than Gilmour, and would have been 22 at that first release. What a great time that must have been. So many great songs being written, and so many great players. Peace --gary
The guys who stayed clean were special. Not an easy thing to do. I'd just been listening to live JB and DL the past few days. I'm glad I was in the zone at the right time
David didn't emulate anybody, he was a true original. He bought and played cheap department store guitars because of the different sound he got from them. He was one of those rare people who are capable of original thought. The world suffered a huge loss when he passed. RIP David.
I started following Him after I was introduced to Jackson Browne in 72 or 73. The music that those two made is MAGICAL! I spent the whole day when I heard that David had passed,like you, listening to Everyman and Late for The Sky with Guitar in hand. I shed some tears that day. David was my inspiration to start playing. I spent many days trying to sound like him. Back in those days all we had was vinyl. It seemed impossible to ever get in tune with them. But I gave it all I got. Jackson’s music has a way of taking you to a different place and with a new perspective on this life. I’m 70 now and this music is still as Fresh as it was back then. My wife understands how sad this made me because of the passion I have about music. My first wife didn’t. That’s why I love this one so much. She will allow me to spend all day playing and listening to music. Thank You David . RIP. YOU ARE ALREADY MISSED!
I think David's playing defined Jackson Brown's unique sound. I am a huge JB fan and David's playing always dovetails with Jackson's lyrics to set the mood of each piece. He will be missed.
One of our true loves is gone. My favorite Dave story is this: The first time I met him at one of his post-show “meet and greets”, I excitedly gushed that his playing on the title track “Late for the Sky” was probably the best thing I’d ever heard and that Martin Scorsese must have thought the same by using it in a key scene in Taxi Driver. Dave proceeded to generously share minute details of how he got such an amazing tone. He then tells me that he and his wife Joan went to see Taxi Driver at their neighborhood theatre when it was released. When the scene with his solo came on he was floored because he had no idea that it was going to be in the movie! RIP Dave☮️❤️
Here are the links to the videos I talked about. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-txL3Z4JlFeo.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9wF7zc_YK6A.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LNmIbSre7Tw.html
Wow! Just listened to that Running on Empty clip. Incredible. Just as you describe, a beautiful thing. I'm sitting alone in my office and I applauded and cheered when it was over.
What Version? I like the 1990 Ry Cooter version with a Lap steel in the older style with Resonator and modern added acoustic pickup, at the end he says broke a string again playing the song.
Otis, here's something you might not know about David Lindley -- what he wore when he wasn't wearing outrageous polyester and wild shoes. T-shirt, jeans with the cuffs rolled up, and likely Blundstone pull-on boots. First time I saw him play was the Running on Empty tour in Vancouver in the mid 70s. Browne and the band were pretty awesome but it was Lindley and his lapsteels that really blew me away. Still one of the loudest shows I've ever seen. My balance was off on the way out of Pacific Coliseum. If you'd told me I'd meet him 40 years later, I would've said, "You're really high, aren't you?" But he played our town, Penticton, BC, several times in the last decade and last time around, spent some time with him. I asked him at the back door of the venue if he'd ever played a Duesenberg with benders. Next thing I knew, I was visiting him the next afternoon in the venue's guest accomodation suite and he played my Duesenberg Pomona, a 58 National, and my Fender Deluxe Reverb. He signed the mother-of-toilet seat National for me after an anecdote about why Ry Cooder never signed stuff anymore -- because it kept popping up on eBay for sale. So I assured him the National would now be a family heirloom and NEVER show up on eBay. The most memorable thing that stuck with me was him saying how Cooder was always a student -- even when in the middle of playing on stage. When I phoned Dave to arrange our meeting, he was drinking coffee at 9 or so in the morning and practicing oud for a few more hours. Always a student. Can't think of a finer musical experience in my own life. Thanks, Dave.
Hey Otis, I saw David LIndley and El Rayo X many times in Santa Cruz in my college days. Colorful Polyester and and awesomely tight yet soulful band that was unique and loved by the dancing crowd. Women especially loved his music and so did we all. I was at Reggae on the River for that show. I cant really compare him to anybody else. Inspired, funny, and one of a kind. Thanks David!!!
I saw him with Jackson in 73'. The piano came undone and David took over with a fiddle solo that lasted for about 20 min till the piano got fixed. They didn't miss a beat as David held the audience in the palm of his hand till the band resumed.
His playing with Jackson Browne had a huge impact on me as a player. As a listener, I would buy any album that had his name on it. He played with so many great musicians, but I also loved his solo records. I will miss him. Thank you Otis and stay safe.
Thanks for honoring David Lindley here. Like others, I’m sure, Lindley was fundamental to my musical development. As a young teenager learning slide guitar, when I first heard Redneck Friend I knew I had found a deep source. It was just a lap steel plugged into a tweed deluxe at that point, but man did it sound amazing! When I heard the opening of Late For the Sky I was moved in a way no solo has ever moved me. It’s so pure, a perfect reflection of Jackson’s lyrics. There was so much mystery in his playing, no matter who he was with. I saw at least 20 times over the years, with Jackson Browne at least 5 times, with El Rayo several more, and acoustic with Hani Nasar or Wally Ingraham many more. He was totally approachable, always hung around to talk and generously share musical ideas and tips. I’d encourage anyone interested to read all the interviews floating around right now; he was an open fount of musical knowledge and history like no one else, except maybe his close friend Ry Cooder. He knew no boundaries when it came to music. You can hear saz, bouzouki, oud, and flamenco moves in his guitar playing. He was a musical world unto himself. I feel tremendous gratitude to have discovered his music.
In my early days of internet access, I looked to see if David L. had a website. I was surprised to see that he did and he had his email up there for all to see. I was trying hard to understand his style of lap slide so like the fool I am I emailed him to ask about tunings and other things. He responded right away and was so helpful and friendly . I could tell he was a great human being. After all that great music that he gave the world, I now see there are fund raisers to pay his medical bills. Rest in peace.
I have a vintage Weissenborn that I bought in the late 90's, because of listening to him. When I showed it to him, he looked it all over, and says in his Rastaman accent "Oh no Mon!" And showed me the bridge was pulling up ever so slightly, he said it needed immediate attention, it could pull up and possibly take a chunk of the top with it. You know what he did? He gave me his Fed Ex account number so I could ship it on his dime, them, he arranged for a Lithuanian luthier Jurgis in San Diego to fix it, again on his dime. "Tax deductible Mon". That's how he was, so nice and humble you almost forgot he was one of the most badass musicians that has ever lived. He will be sorely missed and never replaced.
Those two Kaleidoscope LPs, Side Trips and Beacon From Mars are spectacular 60's psychedelia. Lindley was masterful at everything from early on it seems.
I have all of his solo albums, and saw him play with Ry Cooder in Newport, RI but it's mostly the Jackson Browne stuff I remember. Saw them multiple times together. Once it was just the two of them onstage, David on violin, playing Song For Adam and time absolutely stood still. What an immense talent.
I'm nobody, but I emailed David Lindley about 12 years ago after I discovered 'Late for the Sky'. To my surprise he replied to me, saying that he always replied to people with my name! He told me he used a Tele with a humbucker. He credited Jackson with having edited multiple longer segments of soloing to make the final solo. He said he was surprised how well it had come together under Jackson's editing. I was thrilled with these details. Maybe none of it is a secret, but to me it felt like it was. What a beautiful player!
@@johnmitrikas7303 Googled his email and found it to my surprise on his personal website. Never expected a response. What a beautiful guitar solo from a wonderful player.
Lovely tribute ❤️! Loosing these artists is so heartbreaking, inevitable I know. But still, for me it's another loss of our youth. And Jackson Browne will be forever a very huge presence in my life. So much so I find myself trying to prepare my 2 grown children that come the time it's going to be very hard for me. This news has been hard, lost my husband in 2020 and I seem to be even more vulnerable. RIP David 🙏.
Otis, thanks for paying Tribute to my Favorite Musician, David played the things that made me want to dance, i Am Not a Dancer, He is Responsible for me wanting to play Lap Steel Guitar, I bought a 1950's Supro Lap Steel from a Pawn Shop for $100 Bucks, way back when, i studied David's playing, and after a year, i could get his sound down, He Is My Hero, I played his parts on Running On Empty yesterday, And Cried my eyes out afterwards, May David R.I.P. , I love him, Cousin Figel
I've got Mercury Blues on 12 inch 45. I'll need to put it on. Ben Harper's Grandfather had the Folk Instrument Store in, I think Ontario, California. I used to go by there when I lived in Southern California in the 80s to early 90s' I even had a T Shirt. David Lindley was a regular customer and found many of his eclectic string instruments there. Ben Harper worked there when he didn't tour. I didn't know that at the time. I may have talked to him and not even known it. I also think of Ben talking about his David Lindley friendship and influence from those times. If it wasn't for David Lindley, I wouldn't have seen Ben Harper wail on those acoustic Weisenborn hawaiian Steel guitars with a pickup blasting through a cool amp like Hendrix. I got to see Ben do that opening for Smashing Pumpkins and Blues Traveller back around 99. David Lindley was one of the greatest utility players of all time.
I saw El Rayo X open for Joe Walsh in the early 1980's . Joe and his band played a fine set but David and his band blew him off the stage that night. To be fair I can't think of anyone who could have followed Davd Lindley that night. It's another goodbye to another good friend.
So sad to hear of David Lindley's passing. He was such a fine musician, and a wonderful entertainer as well. His mastery of just about every stringed instrument was mind-boggling. He was probably one of the only musicians who could play reggae on a bouzouki and not only sound good, but make you want to get up and dance as well. His records and shows with El Rayo-X were a rocking good time, and his concerts with Ry Cooder were a roots music tour de force. Thank you for the music and the good vibes, Mr. Lindley!
i got to know david when i was a deejay on local public radio station doing an african show. david collaborated with henry kaiser and paul hostetter on a series of albums called “world out of time” , music of madagascar. i was at so many house concerts with david, henry, paul and amazing musicians from madagascar. david was a true world musician..his instrument collection was phenomenal, as cool as his collection of polyester suits was! he had the best sense of humor too…always made me laugh. we will miss you on this planet, david.
Jackson Brown, Linda Ronstadt, David Lindley, and friends opened for the Eagles at the New Year's Eve Millennium Concert at Staples Arena on December 31, 1999. Never has there been such a great collection of songs in one venue.
he was the reason i moved to california circa ’78........total LEGEND... dont forget the crosby/nash years/albums......totally sets the mood......hate to see him go darnit
Last time I saw MrDave in a band at that Reggae on the River in Legget CA on the Elk River, along with many other greats. He is always a standout. 🙏David.
Don't forget Lindley's work on "El Rayo-X" and with Flaco Jimenez. I think David's greatest gift to me personally, was making it O.K. for me to play Cheap Guitars! R.I.P. 🎸❤🎸
Thanks so much for your words and praise of David Lindley. I, like you it seems, came across his brilliance from watching and listening to his work with Jackson Brown. Their video playing "Call it a Loan" is outstanding and shows David's talent on a Bouzouki or Octave Mandolin that's amazing. Unfortunately, for me, I really didn't hear much of his solo stuff and lead vocals until friends replied to my FB post about his passing. I downloaded some El-Rayo-X and quickly bought a "Very Greasy" CD. A friend who interviewed him and Jackson remarked that when he was with them, David played all the time. One time after passing David's dressing room and heard him still playing, Jackson Brown said to my friend "That's David. If you want to be like him, you have to play- all. the. time." Thanks again for this. I've been in & out of the "rabbit hole" of his work for about a day now and just in awe of his talent on instruments and voice. Safe Travels!
Thank you for the news. I hadn't heard about David Lindley's passing. It is a sad day for me and I just want to send love and hugs to all family and friends. He will never be forgotten!!!
David and John Hammond played together on Spirit of the Century, an album by The Blind Boys of Alabama, in about 1995. Epic playing, epic album. Songs ranged from oldtime classics to tunes penned by Tom Waits, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, and others.
I used to play air guitar with my Dad when I was 4 listening to "Running on Empty." Wonderfully great times!! Probably led to my later interest in guitar. My Dad and I spoke at length about Lindley the other night. Great musician all around. Rest in peace, Mr. Lindley.🙏
what blows me away in these Jackson Brown videos, is David Lindley's whole world extends no further than the lapsteel he is playing. He is unaware of the rest of the band smiling grooving and tearing it up! He is sailing past Jupiter, to galaxies beyond! Yeah, I'm a grown ass man crying too!
I saw David Lindley solo twice at the Wheeler Arts Community theater. He was a tremendous entertainer, a witty songwriter, and a great human who would spend time talking to folks and selling some CDs after the show. It really didn't get any better than that, although I love all the other bands he was in. Thanks, Otis. I still remember you playing at Half Price Books in Greenwood after my performance. Glad you are touring the world! Salute!!
Jim Gordon on drums in the ‘78 Doctor My Eyes video. I saw Jackson on the ‘78 tour with that same lineup and is one of my favorite concert memories of all time.
Two musicians come to mind who played on Jackson Browne's albums before he got hooked uo with David Lindley for a touring band. Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Jesse Ed Davis both played solo parts on several of Jackson's big hits which Lindley copied and embellished in live performances. I was surprised to learn that myself because I saw Jackson Browne pretty early (1973?) and I am pretty sure that he already had David Lindley with him playing solos on "Doctor My Eyes," "Ready or Not," etc...
David was the first person I recall playing clawhammer/frailing banjo on an album called “Anthology of the Banjo”. He plays a cut entitled “Johnson Boys” which, 40 some odd years later is to me, the definitive version of this old time fiddle tune,
Thanks, Otis. One of the first concerts I ever went was in 1969/and featured Kaleidoscope opening for Taj Mahal. I was blown away by this wild looking dude playing what I later learned was a Bouzouki. His work with Jackson was great. The live album they did together “Love Is Strange” is one of my personal favorites. Check out “For Taking The Trouble,” - beautiful cut.
Howdy my Friend, So sad! First time i saw David was with Jackson Brown on I think the Hold out tour on my sister's birthday August 5 1980. She had just started working for Bill Graham as the receptionist. I had just turned 16. She would eventually become the ticket manager, in fact, my whole family would eventually work for Bill in some capacity, usher, stage work etc. over the years, my mother was pretty hip and attended a lot of shows even getting to shoot The Who from the photo pit at a day on the green in 82 and Bill was always so kind to her, making sure to sit for a moment and say hi. What a time for me as a young music lover. Setting up stage for Santana and Devo when i was still in high school! But I digress, back to 1980. I had just seen the movie the Shining, and as David sat there with his instrument in his lap head tilted to the side, long hair hanging was that he reminded me of Jack Nicolson, must have been some good pot! Next my sister was working the box office at The Dunsmuir house and gardens, a beautiful place that occasionally hosted events. It was 1987, an acoustic show with John Hiatt and David. what a beautiful day! And the last time was at the Greek theater in 2010, again with Jackson Brown. a friend's brother and Randy Tutan a famous poster artist did the poster for it and my friend gave me a copy of the poster. In the 80's Randy drew my sister's Wedding invitation like a cool old Fillmore 60's rock poster! All of these events, and so many more turned me into the music lover that I am today, and I'm sure lead me to you, and your RU-vid and Patreon Channel!! I feel like you are one of my friends, and you helped me through the pandemic, and just the day to day! On Saturdays I've got my coffee, and other days a smile thanks to you! I'm a people person and a terrible speller, and an equally bad Typer, but I had to finally painstakingly take the time to tell you how much you have touched my life. I just bought my daughter the spike tote bag, and received a handwritten note from Amy, nice touch! I sure hope that you get this! So, you know how you make people feel with your Soulshine! By the way, the reggae on the river is on the south fork of the Ell river off Hwy 101 in the beautiful California redwoods and both my sister and brother worked those shows in the past as well as the Kate Wolf festivals. Enough about me, and back to David Lindley. I have three words, Cat food Sandwiches!! What a funny kooky cat, and he will be dearly missed! Say hi to Amy when you get back! Again whether you like it or not, your are family!! Much love! Terence
So sad, he was such a talent and also pretty damn funny. Watch his performance of Werewolves of London on the show Night Music, from the late 1980’s, and you’ll see. Loved El Rayo X too.
The first time I heard of David was on the radio in England back in the late 80's ( I'd heard him before on the Jackson Brown stuff but I didn't know of him then, as I was was just a kid) It was 'Tiki torches at Twilight' .. It was an unorthodox song , but I used to put it on so many mix tapes .. Then in my 20's I started to really appreciate his back catalogue . What a loss . Thanks for letting us know Otis
Thanks for the tribute to David Lindley. I first heard he'd died from a Steve Martin tweet. Martin said Lindley had been his "idol" since he'd seen him play banjo with the Mad Mountain Ramblers at Disneyland in the early 60s.
Love David Lindley, the prince of the paisley/polyester shirt. He was a great friend of my old buddy Toulouse Engelhardt, the self proclaimed Segovia of surf, and I broke bread with him a couple of times when hanging out at Toulouse’s place. A wonderfully engaging conversationalist on many topics. He was brilliant and compassionate. Oh, and a pretty damn good musician too.
Jackson Browne is my favorite singer but my favorite JB LPS are with David on them. 2 trivia things about Beloved David. He loved vintage Polyester shirts. He wore them and collected them. Second He and Linda Ronstadt were cousins.
I saw El Rayo-X at Keystone Palo Alto on 8/29/81. Fantastic musician. On guitar, I couldn't help but notice how he used his pinky finger as a string mute. I'd never seen anyone do that before! On steel, just perfect! Also, as band leader, he had everybody on the same page. No small feat, that.
The stuff he did with Ry... I think he was responsible for the whole concept of the Coodercaster. From what I read (maybe from Ry?) he gave Ry both the Supro lap steel and the Teisco gold foil pickups... He wrote history. Check out his Bon Temps Rouler [1989], played solo on an old Weissenborn guitar. It's pure magic.
didn't know a great deal about his career but loved when he teamed up with Ry Cooder ... jealous guy , mercury blues etc... Rest In Peace I hope you are doing ur thing way up in the sky we'll miss you ....
Lindley was the finest sideman ever! He’s one of the few of my most revered musicians that I never got to meet via my festival/promotion biz. Too quirky for a solo career, he found his place as the “Laurel Canyon Sideman”. Most of my fav music would not be my fav without him. God bless David Lindley Peace
Sad news, Otis. Just now hearing it. Lindley is another one of those guys that everyone has heard without knowing it: he played with so many legends. I’m also a big Jackson Browne fan and first heard Lindley through him, but I’m just as big a fan of his work with Warren Zevon: so many great songs. Anyone who hasn’t heard “Play It All Night Long” should check it out, that’s Lindley on pedal steel. A master musician, God only knows how many instruments he could play. He didn’t care about the limelight, he just wanted to play. The real deal. Thoughts and prayers to those who loved him. Thanks, Otis. Safe travels.
thank you for you thoughtful reflection. so many amazing people have posted about the magic of mr dave. i made a pointnof catching him every time possible. deep playful heart joy was mr dave. i saw one post saying at a benefit full of stars the listener heard a single perfect violin note all by itself that moved their whole body. they looked up and it was dave's. a real modern sufi mystic on an electric oud.
As a young man Jackson Browne was my favorite. Saw him live in 1978 and of course it was great and still the best concert I’ve ever seen . It seemed Lindley made Running on Empty even better with that mind blowing solo and guitar work. Noticing musicians like David and Leland Sklar played on many of Jackson’s albums and concerts it was not until later in life did I learn they were also session musicians and masters of their craft. I realize now Jackson had the best on his recordings and concerts. My idols as a youth are slowly passing away and I do feel a sense of sadness. Glen Campbell and Jerry Lee hit me hard at first but I now know I saw and listened to brilliance and sadness has been replaced with a feeling of privilege. Life was tough at times but I always knew I could go to my safe place and anything negative would be forgotten, if only for awhile, when I went to my stereo room. Kinda get that experience when watching RU-vid videos today that takes me back to 1972 or 3 etc. if only for a few minutes. When my hero’s pass away I ask myself would my life have been better or worse if they never existed. Puts things in perspective and snaps me out of it every time. Yet again Otis, thanks for rekindling long forgotten memories. I smile and reminisce every time. Decades ago Michael Eisner became CEO of Disney and he was a huge Jackson Brownie fan. Disney sponsored a special on TV that featured Browne and besides singing he explained the background of how he wrote many of his famous songs. It was only Jackson on piano and one other musician and that was David Lindley. Eisner took over in 1984 so that special must have been aired in the mid to late 80’s. When I discovered the head of a major corporation also loved Jackson I felt like the secret had been exposed. But his and Lindleys talent were far from a secret. I wonder how many of your followers saw that same special.
Lovely tribute Otis, I went down the rabbit hole too. So many amazing tunes…I will never forget hearing Lindley, outside, overlooking Monterey Bay. When he sang Werewolves in London, everyone started to howl as the moon rose over the water. Folks were spread out in the dark all over the hillside, encircling us with individual howls. Lindley even commented on the truly organic chorus! Magical experience at what used to be called Spring Fling at UCSC. Thanks for the music David, what a ride. Long live loud shirts and vintage shoes!!!
Sad news. He will be always that nice guy making a high pitch voice in The load out/Stay. Of course a great guitar and Steel guitar player, but mainly a great musician. He'll keep singing and playing in our hearts.
Always appreciate that you do these Otis. Words seem to fail me when it comes to losing a musician like David Lindley. He was one of a kind. His groups Kaleidescope and later El Rayo X taught me that a group could be eccentric or play in any kind of style and still sound completely authentic. Everything he plays on it seems to me that he elevated the music. He could rock, do soul, doo wop, old-time fiddle,you name it, he could play it vibrantly and full of fire and emotion.
Glad I got to see and hear him live one night in Avila Beach. I spent many years trying to play slide guitar but David Lindley was a virtuoso and I looked at him with awe.
Saw David Lindley in Austin in the early 90s and still think about that show, and wonder why more people don't know about him. Taste, style, presence and chops for days. Remembering that he played strange stringed instruments I'd never seen anybody use -- oud or bouzouki or zither or something. Maybe all of them! Wild. RIP.
Did you see him at Liberty Lunch? Saw him there a few times back then. Floored me every time. Yeah, he had that off the wall assortment of instruments that you thought might not be safe strung up with electricity, but… he got a great sound from them.
'Look so Good' a great slide tune he wrote, mesmerized me, had to learn it. Saw him in Bloomington with El-Rayo Ex and that is one of my favorite concerts ever! He played several solo gigs in Indy as well.
So glad I saw him last in 2018, here in San Diego , at a small church setting where I sat ten feet away from him and could watch & hear his mastery of instruments.
Mercury Blues;his collaboration with Ry Cooder;Warren Zevon the Indifference of Heaven Lindley kills it and his 2 man band doing reggae style music with original songs
Simply the best. Listen to the stuff with Hani Nasser and Wally Ingram. Different and amazing on both counts. Or the Ry Cooder David Lindley family live from the Vienna Opera House. We’ve lost a genius. I was fortunate enough to see him live at The Neighborhood Theater in Charlotte NC, with Wally Ingram. Unbelievable. Amazing performance. And he and Jackson were always wonderful El Reyo X! RIP
I saw David Lindley both with Jackson Browne and with El Rayo X. He would play at the old Zephyr club in Salt Lake City. He often would joke that whenever he came through Salt Lake, he would shop at Deseret Industries(a Mormon church thrift store), because they had the worlds best collection of polyester clothes. He was just a great musician and a very nice person.
Reggae on the River was a festival in Nor Cal for many years. Was lucky to see DL in the early 80s a bunch of times around Santa Cruz. He was an incredible live performer and player. Deep roots in so many great and different sounds. RIP DL.
Man.. I did not hear this til just now. I saw him with Jackson Browne several times.. first on no nukes show near Savannah River Site. We saw Billy Strings last night and, I know he’s covered it before,but he opened second half with a great cover of “Running on Empty” with an incredible solo. I was with my sons and an old friend and we talked later about how important that album was for us of a certain age. His work will always be remembered..
I've been a Lindley fan since Running On Empty and knew that he was a stellar multi-instrumentalist, but when I saw him live, I was blown away by his band’s on-stage energy. I then went back and discovered his previous band Kaleidoscope and knew that he was already an incredible musician in the late 1960s. The music universe has indeed lost another giant.
Otis That was a beautiful testimonial when I first heard David it was like most people on the Solo to running on empty. It’s one of those perfect solos a signature solo, once you hear it, you can’t imagine it being played any other way. My wife and some of my other friends were big Jackson Browne fans and my wife played me. I live concert with Jackson and David and it was awesome. I asked my self, where has this guy been all my life ? Steve Miller’s reworking of mercury blues is so unique but when I heard David’s it was really raw and really cool and authentic. Thank God, his music, lives on and recording him videos. The algorithm Directed me to you, Otis, and I’m glad it did. I’m a subscriber now.
Lindley's haunting melodic slide work with Brown is really good stuff...(Lindleys vocals on) "(won't you) Stay"...thanks Otis. - Running on Empty, Saturate Before Using, The Pretender - agree, beautiful and great guitar work.
In words of the cover of All Tore Down by Johnny Winter,,,' 'Somebody tell the world to stop, or just slow down" We lost Wayne Shorter and Gary Rossington in the same week. Blind sided by David Lindley. Rest In Peace, y'all :(
As a young guitarist, I remember trying to copy or figure out what the Fu** David Lindley was doing. He was an original in a world of imitators. Everyone wanted to be Eddie Van Halen, I wanted to be Bernie Leadon, Carl Perkins, Don Rich, and David Lindley!
Thank you Otis for the nice tribute to Mr. Dave. I saw him many times with El Rayo X when he had Smitty on keyboards and Ras Baboo on percussions. They put on some really energetic shows. I saw him many times and would always stand right in front. He may have thought I was stalking him? Ras Baboo suddenly was no longer touring with him & I would ask David before every concert "Where's Baboo?"....and he would reply as only he could "Nobody Knows!" Good Times!
I saw him play solo a few times and once or twice with Wally Ingram. He played a bunch of exotic instruments like the oud, bouzouki, banjo and lap steel. He would mix a Chinese folk song with an American old time song and explain how they were really about the same topic. He also had a tune he would introduce with a story about how he was in a music shop in the Middle East and he picked up an oud and thought to himself "what would John Lee Hooker play on this thing", then proceeded to play a cool bluesy number that had a bunch of middle eastern flavor to it. We lost a treasure. I am sorry to learn I won't get to see him play again.
Your story nailed the essence of David Lindley. I so loved his work with Wally Ingram and also Hani Nasser. He introduced me to bouzouki. He will be greatly missed.
Saw him with Crosby, Stills, Nash back about 76. Amazing talent. I remember there were 24 guitars sitting on that stage. One favorite - Load Out\Stay. Thanks Otis, safe travels.
Lindley studied with obscure string instrument artists in far reaching places on the globe. He was super deep in his understanding of various folk styles and instruments. If it had strings, he could play it.
Very sad Lindley & Michael Rhodes passed away with in a couple days of each other . Very sad , I love both there playing & I loved watching them especially watching Rhodes on stage how he held that bass down & like it ran through him . Both great musicians!! Another loss here on earth.
Thank you, Otis. I don't know any insider stories about David. I just know he could pretty play the strings off of anything he touched and had a great sense of humor. I also know that his loss is a hole in the universe that won't ever be filled. Godspeed, David.
He was one of my favorite guitarists ever. I'd been listening to him since Running On Empty, including seeing him live with El-Rayo-X in the 80s at Storyville in New Orleans. The whole band were incredible and professional, even though they were having silly fun. We were right in front of Lindley, at a table that butted up against the stage. My wife kept snapping pictures right in his face with a flash, and he'd blink and squint, but he never complained. Lindley broke an E string during a solo, and nodded to Smitty Smith, who instantly went into an impromptu organ solo. He changed his string on stage, tuned it, and they swapped roles without missing a beat. For all the humor in his music, he was a consummate pro. It's been a bad year for guitarists so far. RIP, Mr. Lindley and Mr. Beck. Dammit.
