Showing posts with label Eddie Vedder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eddie Vedder. Show all posts
2017-05-16
Watch U2 Perform With Eddie Vedder, Mumford & Sons in Seattle
This Just In From Seattle Music History!!!
Watch U2 Perform With Eddie Vedder, Mumford & Sons in Seattle
Band performs "Mothers of the Disappeared" on Joshua Tree 2017 tour
U2's Joshua Tree 2017 Tour continued to deliver surprises as the band was joined by Eddie Vedder and Mumford & Sons on "Mothers of the Disappeared."
By Daniel Kreps
16 hours ago
U2's Joshua Tree 2017 Tour continued to deliver surprises Sunday night in Seattle as the band was joined by Eddie Vedder and Mumford & Sons on "Mothers of the Disappeared.
RELATED
U2 Resurrect 'The Joshua Tree,' Preview New Album at U.S. Tour Opener
Surprise guest Eddie Vedder joined the band as they celebrated landmark 1987 LP in Seattle
Following the first verse on The Joshua Tree closing track, Bono asked the Centurylink Field crowd, "Where's Eddie Vedder? Spirit of Seattle, spirit of Chicago, spirit of America. Where's Eddie?" The Pearl Jam singer emerged to take lead vocals on "Mothers of the Disappeared." Bono brought out Mumford & Sons, U2's opening act, to provide harmony to the track's closing coda.
The Seattle show featured both new and old cuts. U2 performed their new Songs of Experience track, "The Little Things That Give You Away" as well as deeps cuts like "Trip Through Your Wires" and "Exit," for the first time in nearly 30 years. And, best of all, they performed Joshua Tree's "Red Hill Mining Town" for the first time ever onstage. The band's trek in celebration of their 1987 album continues Wednesday in Santa Clara, California.
U2's The Edge explains why now it is the perfect time to have a 'Joshua Tree' tour. Watch here.
2014-06-13
3 Men FREED FROM 2 LIFE SENTENCES & 1 DEATH SENTENCE! An Interview With Seattle's Own Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder Who Fought & Raised Money For Years On Their Behalf! Q&A: Eddie Vedder on West Memphis Three, New Pearl Jam Music 'It was tantamount to seeing a child born,' Vedder says of imprisoned Arkansas trio's release...
This Just In From Seattle Music History! ------>>> Q&A: Eddie Vedder on West Memphis Three, New Pearl Jam Music 'It was tantamount to seeing a child born,' Vedder says of imprisoned Arkansas trio's release... "The tour is going great, but it could fall apart any minute," Eddie Vedder said with a laugh, checking in from his bus in Texas in November. But at that moment he had something else on his mind: the case of the West Memphis Three. For a decade and a half, Vedder worked tirelessly with a team to free Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley who, as teenagers, were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of three eight-year-old Arkansas boy scouts (Echols was sentenced to death). The 18-year nightmare – plus their release in August 2011 – is chronicled in the new film West of Memphis, directed by Amy Berg and produced by Peter Jackson, which presents new evidence suggesting the trio's innocence."I'm grateful that I can live in a country and feel at least like there is some hope," Vedder says. "If Damien would have been executed that would have been something I can't even imagine."
You were there the day Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were released from prison. What was that like?
It was tantamount to seeing a child born, but instead of nine months, it took 18 years for them. [Laughs] I think I was involved for about 15 years. The dramatic last couple weeks were probably some of the most gut-wrenching times of my life, so I can only imagine what it was like for them. But the fact that it happened and the way that it happened really just showed that if you've got the guts and the staying power, great things can happen. I learned so much about the judicial process by being involved and saw so many of the things that are wrong with the system that seem like they could be fixed. I also got quite an education on the prison system and how prisons are corporatized and privately owned.
It was tantamount to seeing a child born, but instead of nine months, it took 18 years for them. [Laughs] I think I was involved for about 15 years. The dramatic last couple weeks were probably some of the most gut-wrenching times of my life, so I can only imagine what it was like for them. But the fact that it happened and the way that it happened really just showed that if you've got the guts and the staying power, great things can happen. I learned so much about the judicial process by being involved and saw so many of the things that are wrong with the system that seem like they could be fixed. I also got quite an education on the prison system and how prisons are corporatized and privately owned.
Having seen the footage of when they were first brought from the courthouse to the jail, seeing the angry crowd looking almost like an outtake of the Frankenstein movie, screaming for these three young men's heads, and to be there that day and to walk out that back door and see an even bigger crowd reacting with utter joy all those years later – outside of having kids, it was the most powerful moment in my life.
You've said before it took years to educate yourself on the case. Did you always believe Damien, Jason and Jessie were innocent?
To be honest, there came a point when we had raised a bunch of money on their behalf around 2000 or 2001. [Pearl Jam] weren't working that year, but we still needed funds for private investigators and DNA testing. I had to start calling and asking people that I had helped, and see if they could help us out with this cost. That's when I went and talked to Damien. I just had to ask him straight up, face to face. The answer he gave me and the unflinching trust that I could see from human to human – that was when I truly, truly believed. Of course, I had wished and believed and done all the research but I just didn't know. Especially when I fooled some other people into it, people that trusted me. I needed to know. There's a big difference, actually, between believing something and knowing something. I asked him face to face. And I was completely satisfied.
To be honest, there came a point when we had raised a bunch of money on their behalf around 2000 or 2001. [Pearl Jam] weren't working that year, but we still needed funds for private investigators and DNA testing. I had to start calling and asking people that I had helped, and see if they could help us out with this cost. That's when I went and talked to Damien. I just had to ask him straight up, face to face. The answer he gave me and the unflinching trust that I could see from human to human – that was when I truly, truly believed. Of course, I had wished and believed and done all the research but I just didn't know. Especially when I fooled some other people into it, people that trusted me. I needed to know. There's a big difference, actually, between believing something and knowing something. I asked him face to face. And I was completely satisfied.
What did he say?
He just said, "No." But the way he said it, I'm sure he followed up with a sentence but that was all – it was just, you know – you can tell. You can tell.
He just said, "No." But the way he said it, I'm sure he followed up with a sentence but that was all – it was just, you know – you can tell. You can tell.
Damien has said he's surprised at how many people are interested in it, because he feels that it's no different from dozens and dozens of other cases over the years. Why did the West Memphis Three case resonate with you?
Like most people, and, of all the supporters, I think probably 90 percent of them, their involvement came out of seeing the first Paradise Lost film. And it makes complete sense that there's musicians involved, because we weren't the cool kids growing up and some of us kind of had the experience of being under the lion's paw and having adults who should know better and being an adolescent who knew that these adults were kind of fucked up. They had the power to oppress not just your being, but your dreams or your sense of what's right. And, you know, I think that was something that immediately resonated with this thing of, you know, these adults throwing these kids under the bus when they should know better.
Like most people, and, of all the supporters, I think probably 90 percent of them, their involvement came out of seeing the first Paradise Lost film. And it makes complete sense that there's musicians involved, because we weren't the cool kids growing up and some of us kind of had the experience of being under the lion's paw and having adults who should know better and being an adolescent who knew that these adults were kind of fucked up. They had the power to oppress not just your being, but your dreams or your sense of what's right. And, you know, I think that was something that immediately resonated with this thing of, you know, these adults throwing these kids under the bus when they should know better.
There are a lot of characters like that in this case.
Gary Gitchell, for one. Once they ask him, 'On a scale of one to 10, how sure are you that these guys are the guys?' And I can't remember if he says 11 or 15. That was the moment where he crossed the line and he was going to have to do whatever he had to do to make sure he was right. And, even if that meant sacrificing three lives of young men, doubling the tragedy. I was naive and thought that once I got involved and once we started organizing, we'd go about this practically. I think some of them hadn't even seen an attorney for a year. Outside of letters from supporters and all that, nothing was really getting done.
Gary Gitchell, for one. Once they ask him, 'On a scale of one to 10, how sure are you that these guys are the guys?' And I can't remember if he says 11 or 15. That was the moment where he crossed the line and he was going to have to do whatever he had to do to make sure he was right. And, even if that meant sacrificing three lives of young men, doubling the tragedy. I was naive and thought that once I got involved and once we started organizing, we'd go about this practically. I think some of them hadn't even seen an attorney for a year. Outside of letters from supporters and all that, nothing was really getting done.
Lorri was already involved at that point and so we started having these meetings and flying in attorneys and having these very kind of intense boardroom talks about, you know, practical procedures, and what's the best way to go about this and how much money is needed. The worst part about this whole process is that it goes so fucking incredibly slow. It's like watching paint dry – that's what you wish would happen. The way the appeals process works: you submit the appeal and then they don't decide on the appeal for another three months, then they decide if they'll even look at the appeal and then it takes another three to six months before they tell you what they're gonna decide on that appeal and that might be just to open up another 50 pieces of DNA. And then you have to have both sides agree on a DNA testing lab. That takes another few months.
Lorri and I have had marathon conversations, and they weren't few and far between. And we'd always discuss the case and then we'd talk about relationships and then we'd talk about life and, at the end, we'd really always go back to, what's it gonna be like when he comes out? They were kind of almost hysterical conversations, because, you know, relationships are hard, anyways. Jason and Damien are truly remarkable people. That's why I just feel so fortunate not to have just gotten involved.
Damien has mentioned regular brutal prison beatings from guards. It's amazing that can still happen in our country today.
Yeah. I'm afraid I wasn't shocked by that, maybe just because I'd be in contact throughout the years and I think he downplays it in the book, to be brutally honest with you. I think he's not telling you 90 percent of how bad it got. Jason, too. It shows the power of the human spirit and how it can somehow maintain itself in the worst possible scenario. It's just incredible.
Yeah. I'm afraid I wasn't shocked by that, maybe just because I'd be in contact throughout the years and I think he downplays it in the book, to be brutally honest with you. I think he's not telling you 90 percent of how bad it got. Jason, too. It shows the power of the human spirit and how it can somehow maintain itself in the worst possible scenario. It's just incredible.
A major turning point came a few years ago when Natalie Maines made some public statements about DNA evidence linking Terry Hobbs to the murders. He sued her and lost, but it forced him to speak to authorities on the record.
Oh, yeah, Natalie came in and blew open the case. There was more evidence that came out of it and you were able to get the evidence from the women that saw Hobbs yelling at his son at dinnertime when they were on the way to church or something. You know, it's bizarre to think that so many people had information that they didn't come forward with for almost two decades. Fifteen years gone.
Oh, yeah, Natalie came in and blew open the case. There was more evidence that came out of it and you were able to get the evidence from the women that saw Hobbs yelling at his son at dinnertime when they were on the way to church or something. You know, it's bizarre to think that so many people had information that they didn't come forward with for almost two decades. Fifteen years gone.
There are other famous rock musicians – but that you put yourself out there for this is pretty incredible.
It wasn't anything spectacular at all. I mean, I'm grateful that I can live in a country and feel at least like there is some hope, you know. If this wouldn't have turned out this way, or if, God forbid, Damien would have been executed, that would have been something I can't even imagine. It would have been really hard to raise your kids in a country you just felt like something so tragic could happen and that justice wouldn't be served, especially when you were able to raise the money. In the initial case I think they each had maybe $2,300 each to fight in Damien's case, the death penalty case, and then two life sentences, and then the amount of funds it took goes into the millions.
It wasn't anything spectacular at all. I mean, I'm grateful that I can live in a country and feel at least like there is some hope, you know. If this wouldn't have turned out this way, or if, God forbid, Damien would have been executed, that would have been something I can't even imagine. It would have been really hard to raise your kids in a country you just felt like something so tragic could happen and that justice wouldn't be served, especially when you were able to raise the money. In the initial case I think they each had maybe $2,300 each to fight in Damien's case, the death penalty case, and then two life sentences, and then the amount of funds it took goes into the millions.
Do you remember your first meeting with Damien?
Once you've visited Damien, you know, you realize that he's in there every, every day. The first time, we were on tour and I think I spent the rest of the tour – three weeks to a month just, outside of playing the shows – I would just huddle in my room, in the smallest part of the room, trying to live like he was, just to keep my sense of urgency about it. I didn't want to forget. So I kind of huddled in my room, in tribute, you know? Maybe two years later, I made it back to see him and that time was different. There was some progress on the case at the time or something that made it feel like it was reverse. Like, you have to go out and live in his name and in his honor and do everything, live each day like it's your last because you have this opportunity that he doesn't at this point.
Once you've visited Damien, you know, you realize that he's in there every, every day. The first time, we were on tour and I think I spent the rest of the tour – three weeks to a month just, outside of playing the shows – I would just huddle in my room, in the smallest part of the room, trying to live like he was, just to keep my sense of urgency about it. I didn't want to forget. So I kind of huddled in my room, in tribute, you know? Maybe two years later, I made it back to see him and that time was different. There was some progress on the case at the time or something that made it feel like it was reverse. Like, you have to go out and live in his name and in his honor and do everything, live each day like it's your last because you have this opportunity that he doesn't at this point.
Jessie Misskelley's forced confession was a huge miscarriage of justice.
Well, if you kind of look into it at all, there's all these misnomers about aspects of this case. One of them is the forced or false confession. In fact, one of the attorneys – and I should know his name by heart . . . shit! – but he wrote a book called, I believe, False Confessions. It probably documents at least 50 cases of this happening. And you see how it can happen to parents admitting that they killed their kids and they didn't do it. I mean, it happens. It happens, and people don't understand how it could happen. But when you see how it could happen to, like, a parent, and they're telling the parents, "We saw your van. We have pictures of it at the AM/PM getting gas at four in the morning, so that means that you got gas and then dumped your daughter's body by the side of the river." Saying they have those pictures, and then I say, "Yeah." And then after 14 hours, he's signing a piece of paper saying that he did it, because he's like "I guess – did I?" And the fact is they didn't have pictures of his van at the thing. I mean that's kind of criminal right there, that they're putting people in this position. I think in that case the guy got out, but it took him five years. I'm giving you long-winded answers. I'm sorry. But you know, there are like hundreds of these cases of forced, false confessions, and they could be businessmen, they could be grown adults that are stand-up members of their community. It's happened to them. And then you see it, a textbook version of it happening to Jessie, who's mentally underqualified to be in this situation, and they're twisting and turning him around, and I believe the interrogation lasted more than 10 hours, maybe up to 12 or 14.
Well, if you kind of look into it at all, there's all these misnomers about aspects of this case. One of them is the forced or false confession. In fact, one of the attorneys – and I should know his name by heart . . . shit! – but he wrote a book called, I believe, False Confessions. It probably documents at least 50 cases of this happening. And you see how it can happen to parents admitting that they killed their kids and they didn't do it. I mean, it happens. It happens, and people don't understand how it could happen. But when you see how it could happen to, like, a parent, and they're telling the parents, "We saw your van. We have pictures of it at the AM/PM getting gas at four in the morning, so that means that you got gas and then dumped your daughter's body by the side of the river." Saying they have those pictures, and then I say, "Yeah." And then after 14 hours, he's signing a piece of paper saying that he did it, because he's like "I guess – did I?" And the fact is they didn't have pictures of his van at the thing. I mean that's kind of criminal right there, that they're putting people in this position. I think in that case the guy got out, but it took him five years. I'm giving you long-winded answers. I'm sorry. But you know, there are like hundreds of these cases of forced, false confessions, and they could be businessmen, they could be grown adults that are stand-up members of their community. It's happened to them. And then you see it, a textbook version of it happening to Jessie, who's mentally underqualified to be in this situation, and they're twisting and turning him around, and I believe the interrogation lasted more than 10 hours, maybe up to 12 or 14.
I know we have to wrap up – thanks for your time on this. Pearl Jam is working on new music, right?
Um, maybe halfway there. We're taking our time. I was talking to Jeff [Ament] today, we were texting, he's got his group up there. He's heading to the West Coast, I'm heading east. And we're out here like, you know, like Johnny Appleseed. He's covering part of the country. I'm doing the other. And at some point we'll join forces again for sure, but the band is as healthy as ever and I'm sure it's good to get a little break from each other, but it's nice to – we'll be ready to go when we're ready to go.
Um, maybe halfway there. We're taking our time. I was talking to Jeff [Ament] today, we were texting, he's got his group up there. He's heading to the West Coast, I'm heading east. And we're out here like, you know, like Johnny Appleseed. He's covering part of the country. I'm doing the other. And at some point we'll join forces again for sure, but the band is as healthy as ever and I'm sure it's good to get a little break from each other, but it's nice to – we'll be ready to go when we're ready to go.
Any idea what you want it to sound like?
It just comes out. It sounds like it sounds like. We really work together as a unit these days. It's really the compilation of all the parts. It's not like one guy trying to tell everybody, "These are my songs. This is what it should sound like." We've figured out after all these years that if everybody just puts their stamp on it, then it sounds how we want it to. Then it sounds new, 'cause everyone is growing, you know. Everyone is growing after all these years.
It just comes out. It sounds like it sounds like. We really work together as a unit these days. It's really the compilation of all the parts. It's not like one guy trying to tell everybody, "These are my songs. This is what it should sound like." We've figured out after all these years that if everybody just puts their stamp on it, then it sounds how we want it to. Then it sounds new, 'cause everyone is growing, you know. Everyone is growing after all these years.
How are you feeling after the election?
I'm feeling great. Feeling great. That's a whole other conversation. But yeah, feeling great.
I'm feeling great. Feeling great. That's a whole other conversation. But yeah, feeling great.
Are you going to make another solo record?
Oh shit, I gotta go, man!
Oh shit, I gotta go, man!
Thank you, Eddie. I'll talk to you soon, brother.
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-eddie-vedder-on-west-memphis-three-new-pearl-jam-music-20130102#ixzz34VO0KMYZ
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2014-06-10
Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell ‘Surprised’ Nirvana Were Inducted Into Rock Hall Before Pearl Jam Read More: Alice In Chains' Cantrell on Rock Hall
Alice In Chains News
This Just In From Seattle Music History!!!
Earlier this year, Nirvana entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, making them the first “grunge band” from the Seattle scene to be inducted. As Alice in Chains prepare to play a show in Cleveland next week, where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located, guitarist Jerry Cantrell spoke with Cleveland.com about Nirvana’s induction and more.
Read More: Alice In Chains' Cantrell on Rock Hall, Nirvana + Pearl Jam | http://loudwire.com/alice-in-chains-jerry-cantrell-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/?trackback=tsmclip
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This Just In From Seattle Music History!!!
“It’s well-deserved,” says Cantrell. “I loved those guys.’’ But the singer-guitarist adds, “I was surprised to see them go in before Pearl Jam. They went in for ‘Bleach,’ which wasn’t a big record till ‘Nevermind’ became a big record.”
However, Cantrell is a bit mistaken in his sentiments. A band becomes eligible 25 years after its first significant recording, and while it’s true that their 1988 single ‘Love Buzz’ and 1989 debut album ‘Bleach’ helped Nirvana become eligible, an act is inducted based on their whole body of work, not just the recording that made them eligible.
Cantrell concedes it would be nice to Alice in Chains be inducted, but, “If even one of our group [of Seattle bands] was considered and inducted, it says a lot for them and, associatively, about our whole city.”
AIC are in the midst of a tour supporting last year’s ‘The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here.’ This leg wraps up May 24 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The band has also added some August dates, which kick off Aug. 8 in Penticton, British Columbia.
Before those August shows, Cantrell will appear at this year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Las Vegas. He’ll be there along with Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo and Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins. The camp runs July 31-Aug. 3 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, with a live performance by campers and counselors at the House of Blues to wrap up the festivities.
Read More: Alice In Chains' Cantrell on Rock Hall, Nirvana + Pearl Jam | http://loudwire.com/alice-in-chains-jerry-cantrell-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/?trackback=tsmclip
2014-04-23
A look into the history of Bob Dylan's Song "ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER" & Bobs reaction to Seattle's Own Jimi Hendrix's Version: In the booklet accompanying his Biograph album, Dylan said: "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way...cont'd
This Just In From Seattle Music History!!! Dylan has described his reaction to hearing Hendrix's version: "It overwhelmed me, really. He had such talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn't think of finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using. I took license with the song from his version, actually, and continue to do it to this day."[25] In the booklet accompanying his Biograph album, Dylan said: "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way... Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."
Hendrix's recording of the song appears at number 47 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,[26] and in 2000, British magazine Total Guitar named it top of the list of the greatest cover versions of all time.[27]
The Jimi Hendrix Experience[edit]
| "All Along the Watchtower" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
European single cover
| ||||
| Single by The Jimi Hendrix Experience | ||||
| from the album Electric Ladyland | ||||
| B-side | US "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" UK "Long Hot Summer Night" EU+JP "Can You See Me" | |||
| Released | September 21, 1968 (US) October 18, 1968 (UK) October 1968 (EU+JP) | |||
| Recorded | January 1968 Olympic Studios, London; June–August 1968 Record Plant Studios, NYC | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock, hard rock, blues rock | |||
| Length | 4:00 | |||
| Label | Reprise, Track, Polydor | |||
| Writer(s) | Bob Dylan | |||
| Producer(s) | Jimi Hendrix | |||
| The Jimi Hendrix Experience singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Jimi Hendrix Experience began to record their cover version of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" on January 21, 1968, at Olympic Studios in London.[18]According to engineer Andy Johns, Jimi Hendrix had been given a tape of Dylan’s recording by publicist Michael Goldstein, who worked for Dylan’s manager Albert Grossman. "(Hendrix) came in with these Dylan tapes and we all heard them for the first time in the studio”, recalled Johns.[19] According to Hendrix’s regular engineer Eddie Kramer, the guitarist cut a large number of takes on the first day, shouting chord changes at Dave Mason who had appeared at the session and played guitar. Halfway through the session, bass player Noel Redding became dissatisfied with the proceedings and left. Mason then took over on bass. According to Kramer, the final bass part was played by Hendrix himself.[19] Hendrix's friend, and Rolling Stones multi-instrumentalist,Brian Jones played the various percussion instruments on the track. Jones originally recorded a piano part that was later mixed out in place of the percussion instruments. Kramer and Chas Chandler mixed the first version of "All Along The Watchtower" on January 26, but Hendrix was quickly dissatisfied with the result and went on re-recording and overdubbing guitar parts during June, July, and August at the Record Plant studio in New York.[20]Engineer Tony Bongiovi has described Hendrix becoming increasingly dissatisfied as the song progressed, overdubbing more and more guitar parts, moving the master tape from a four-track to a twelve-track to a sixteen-track machine. Bongiovi recalled, "Recording these new ideas meant he would have to erase something. In the weeks prior to the mixing, we had already recorded a number of overdubs, wiping track after track. [Hendrix] kept saying, ‘I think I hear it a little bit differently.’”[21] The finished version was released on the album Electric Ladyland in September 1968. The single reached number five in the British charts,[22] and number 20 on the Billboard chart, Hendrix's only top 20 entry there.[23] The song also had the #5 spot on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.[24]
Dylan has described his reaction to hearing Hendrix's version: "It overwhelmed me, really. He had such talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn't think of finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using. I took license with the song from his version, actually, and continue to do it to this day."[25] In the booklet accompanying his Biograph album, Dylan said: "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way... Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."
Hendrix's recording of the song appears at number 47 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,[26] and in 2000, British magazine Total Guitar named it top of the list of the greatest cover versions of all time.[27]
Other notable recordings[edit]
 | This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. (January 2014) |
Dave Matthews Band[edit]
Dave Matthews Band has played the song since the band's inception in the early 1990s.[28] Their rendition maintains Dylan's three chord structure and key signature but differs in style. Dave Matthews typically begins the song slowly with just bass, vocals and acoustic guitar. The band members come in after the line "the hour is getting late", picking up the tempo and intensity. The band's members then take extended solos, culminating with the line, "No reason to get excited." "Watchtower", as it is referred to by the band's fans, is a concert staple, often performed as either a closer or encore. In all, they have covered the song live more than 600 times, including solo performances by Matthews,[28] and it has appeared on six of their officially released live albums, though the band has never released a studio version.
In addition, the band has had numerous musicians guest with them while playing Watchtower including Carlos Santana,Neil Young, Warren Haynes from Gov't Mule and The Allman Brothers Band, Trey Anastasio from Phish, Zac Brown, Bela Fleck, Robert Randolph, Marcus Mumford and Gary Clark Jr.
Dave Mason[edit]
Dave Mason also covered "All Along the Watchtower".[29] As noted above, Mason also played on Jimi Hendrix's widely known version, playing the 12 string acoustic guitar on the track.
U2[edit]
Irish rock band U2 first played a cover of "All Along the Watchtower" during their Boy Tour in 1981.[30] Years later, during the Joshua Tree Tour in 1987,[31] the cover was played for a second time, in San Francisco, California, with an additional verse added by Bono. This performance was later included as a scene in U2's 1988 rockumentary film, Rattle and Hum, and also appeared on the album of the same name. The performance was impromptu, with the band learning the chords and lyrics within minutes of taking the stage, and as a result, there were problems in editing the soundtrack. The song made its way into 47 live shows during the band's 1989 Lovetown Tour.[32]
Neil Young[edit]
Neil Young performed a live version with Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, which appeared on his album Road Rock Vol. 1: Friends & Relatives. He has also performed the song with Dave Matthews Band and with Booker T. and the M.G.'s at the Dylan 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden. The recording of the Dylan tribute was issued in 1993 on The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration album. In 2004, he performed a version with Bruce Springsteen.
Grateful Dead[edit]
The Grateful Dead performed the song 124 times,[33] first on June 20, 1987.
Bryan Ferry[edit]
Bryan Ferry recorded this song as a demo with Robin Trower in the mid-1990s. He completed the track during sessions in August 2006 for his Dylan tribute album Dylanesque released March 2007.
Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam[edit]
After performing the song live four times from 2004–2006 with Pearl Jam, lead singer Eddie Vedder was asked to record "All Along the Watchtower" with The Million Dollar Bashers for the soundtrack of the Dylan biopic I'm Not There. Named for Dylan's song "Million Dollar Bash", the group was formed by guitarist Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth. Its other members included Steve Shelley on drums; Television's Tom Verlaine, Wilco's Nels Cline, and Smokey Hormel on guitars; John Medeski of Medeski Martin & Wood on keyboards; and Dylan's bassist Tony Garnier.
In 2008, the song was played three times during Pearl Jam's US East Coast Summer Tour, including the Bonnaroo Music Festival. In 2009, the band was joined by Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones to perform the song at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London, England.[34]
Bear McCreary/Battlestar Galactica[edit]
Television composer Bear McCreary arranged a distinctive version of "All Along the Watchtower" for use in the final scene of the Battlestar Galactica season three finale "Crossroads, Part II", featuring his younger brother Brendan on vocals. A version with all the lyrics was included on the season 3 soundtrack. The lyrics had been written into the screenplay byRonald D. Moore.[35] The song became a thematic motif as well as a critical plot element of the show, with lyrics frequently referenced in dialog and several versions of the melody playing out throughout the show's final season. The series' last episode played out to the Jimi Hendrix version of the song.
Steve Hackett Band[edit]
Steve Hackett played a powerful live version of the song during a show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire[36] with John Wetton on lead vocals (2010). Then he created a studio version of the song (also with John Wetton on vocals) for the new remastered edition of the Tokyo Tapes live album (2013). All Along the Watchtower's studio version involved: Steve Hacketton guitars and percussion, John Wetton on vocals, Roger King on keyboards, Lee Pomeroy on Bass and Garry O'Toole on drums. The initial live version include the same band except Nick Beggs on bass instead of Lee Pomeroy and Amanda Lehmann in a 2nd guitar part.
Others[edit]
The song has been covered by many other artists,[37] including:
- Brewer and Shipley[38]
- Chris de Burgh[39]
- Eric Clapton [40]
- The Dream Syndicate[41]
- Richie Havens[42]
- Jeff Healey[43]
- Michael Hedges[44]
- Indigo Girls [45]
- Van Morrison[46]
- Supertramp[47]
- The Persuasions[48]
- June Tabor[49]
- T.S.O.L.[50]
- Klopjag[51]
- Turtle Island String Quartet[52]
- Paul Weller[53]
- Bobby Womack[54]
- XTC[55
- Envy on the Coast[56]
- Francis Cabrel, in a French translation titled "D'en haut de la tour du guet", on his album "Viser le ciel", 2012[57]
Cultural references[edit]
The song as originally recorded by Dylan was used in the 1999 film American Beauty and in the Crossroads season three finale of the TV series Battlestar Galactica. Hendrix's version was featured in the movies Withnail and I, Rush, Land of the Lost (without Hendrix's vocals), Private Parts, Forrest Gump, A Bronx Tale, Blue Chips, Vegas Vacation, Tupac: Resurrection, the 2001 remake of Brian's Song and Watchmen (among others) and also in television shows such as The Simpsons, in episodes "Mother Simpson" and "My Mother the Carjacker".
The song is one of seven Dylan songs of which its lyrics were reset for soprano and piano (or orchestra) by John Coriglianofor his song cycle Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan.[58]
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