Today, June 17, is the birthday of Chris Spedding, an MVP amongst British guitar players. He’s played on many sessions, in a few bands, made his own records, and toured with famous front men and on his own. He’s also an avatar of style.
The photo above was taken at the Whisky A GoGo and these other guitar legends, Jim Cregan (member of Steve Harley’s Cockney Rebel, and Rod Stewart’s post-Faces line-up on tour and in studio for several years) and the late James Honeyman-Scott (The Pretenders) turned up and came backstage to say hello.
I think the first time I saw Spedding perform in person was June 12, 1977, when he was in Bryan Ferry’s touring band alongside Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera.
Chris cuts a striking figure in his black leather motorbiking gear and that Flying-V. But it’s his facility across a wide swath of genres that impresses more. His work can be heard on recordings by Elton John, Paul McCartney, John Cale, and even the Bay City Rollers (anonymously). I’ve seen him live with Cale, Robert Gordon, Bryan Ferry, and solo.
Back in 1981, I interviewed him over breakfast in Duke’s at the erstwhile Tropicana on Santa Monica Blvd. We talked about his working with that diverse group of artists, and doing his own albums, but the thing I remember to this day was that he told me about leaving three guitars in a New York City taxi when he was coming home after a gig. Ouch. I hope he got them back.
Another bonus of my 1981 experience with Chris Spedding was meeting Dick Lynn, who was his manager at the time and these days is the Executive Director of Newport Live in Rhode Island, producing some beautiful music shows in a gorgeous setting.
It doesn’t matter what sort of music you enjoy listening to, chances are you can celebrate Chris Spedding’s birthday if you have records by any of these artists. Me? I’m in the mood to hear “Pablo Picasso” from 1975’s Helen of Troy. (yes, the Modern Lovers song. Cale produced the eponymous Modern Lovers album it was on, and he played piano on that track.)