Meetings with remarkable people

Following the huge success of the Joe Bonamassa concert that I set up and helped to promote in December 2009, I slowly persuaded the same local promoter to bring Gov't Mule to Israel. They arrived on June 8, 2010, rested one night, and the next day I arranged for Warren Haynes to be interviewed at Radio 88fm in Tel Aviv. I brought along my 1931 National resonator (metal body) guitar, in the hope that Warren might play something live on the radio, which he did!

In the evening, I arranged for the band and their support team to hang out and have dinner at Mike's Place Pub, a popular local pub located on the beachfront that is a strong supporter of live music and especially Blues. After having a nice full meal and some beer, the band decided to treat us to a quick short set of their music, which we also managed to broadcast live over the internet! 

On the next night, the Gov't Mule concert took place in the Tel Aviv port - Friday, June 10, 2010, to a crowd of at least 650 fans, including a few dedicated fans who flew in from England just for the show!!! 

The success of bringing Gov't Mule to Israel was part of a  grandiose dream I had since 2005 of bringing The Allman Brothers Band to Israel. Unfortunately, by the time 2010 came around, the ABB were getting ready to retire (they disbanded in 2014), and they didn't want to travel outside the continental USA...

Friend and phenomenal guitarist and songwriter with a sharp wit. I met Peter sometime around 1977; he was  appearing regularly in the Back Room of the Pizza Patio restaurant on  Bloor St. west of Avenue Rd. in downtown Toronto.

Peter  was a wonderful guitarist and a very witty songwriter as well as a gentle soul, and a very nice guy who was easy to befriend. 

Aside  from a teaching me few choice guitar licks, Peter also taught me how to  play Backgammon, and we would play a game or two in between his sets on stage.

 I learned to play a few of his songs back then, and I sometimes play them to this this day...

Peter also worked part time at the Millwheel guitar shop (off of Yonge St. above Dundas), and we would sit and jam when there was a slow  day at the store...

Peter moved from Toronto around 1980 to St. Louis, and I moved to Israel, so we lost contact  with each other... until one fateful day in the mid 2000's when I received an email from him and we rekindled our friendship, staying in  touch through email, "snail mail" letters, and Facebook. 

Peter  introduced me to one of his musical buddies from his early years in Calgary -  Bill Hills, who is a wonderful Blues harmonica player and singer.

I was aware of Peter's lung cancer in his last years, but thought that it was under control or even in remission, but apparently the cancer and years of heavy smoking damaged his lungs so much that he succumbed to severe emphysema. 

David Bromberg is a phenomenal performer with virtuoso level skills on the guitar, as well as few other instruments. I heard him playing live a few times at folk festivals in the Toronto area, and at the El Mocambo club in downtown Toronto. One time, after a show at the El Mocambo, I went to talk with David, shake his hand, and tell him how much I loved his performance, and that I have been inspired to learn more guitar technique from his playing. My friend Karla happened to be with me that evening - Karla was an amateur singer who was in my most recent music trio singing Blues and old time Jazz tunes at college. She was a real "looker", and I could see David giving her the eye too. At that moment, Jeff Bridges, who was in town working on a movie, came up and hugged David, who apparently was an old friend, and they invited me and Karla to come up to their hotel room for a late night drink. I thanked them for the invitation, but decided to head home. Karla apparently was a bit awe struck in meeting both these gents, and went with them to the hotel... The next day, she phoned me to say it was the most boring night she had ever experienced, having expected something more magical with two celebrities, who apparently just sat up all night talking and drinking, and kind of ignoring her... not all musicians or actors are wild and crazy animals it seems!