Old friends... still the best!

Old friends... still the best!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Friends are always good… you can’t have too many of them. All that being said, there is that not so elusive quality that old friends share. They know where you come from and how you got where you are. You have shared moments of life and loss. Life evolves as it must for each of us in its own way, but at the end of the day… you are still friends. Here you see my dear friends Jerry, Chuck and myself. Fifty years ago when I was making my bones in the music world, they were both in Vietnam and yet here we are today breaking bread at Salaam in Athens, Ohio where the spice road cuisine is always good.

Golden moments indeed!

I love these guys…


Comments

  1. Comment made on July 28, 2018 by Joey

    @johno
    Amen brother

  2. Comment made on July 27, 2018 by johno

    I sincerely respect all veterans from the current recruits to the Vietnam veterans to WWII vets. All of them have heard the call and I respect them all. I come from an anti war background and all through my life have been an anti-nukes resistor. Nukes are nasty. We have too many already. We need to stop nuclear proliferation around the world.

  3. Comment made on July 26, 2018 by Mitch Spector

    @John B
    @johno That would be very cool .Still hoping for dinner with Jorma & The crew ..
    Peace John . Thank you !!

  4. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by Brian Doyle

    When I posted the new Vietnamese soup at Costco it was the final straw with Jorma…He came in to the room and said what kind of people have I attracted to my page? Haven’t I taught you anything about authentic Pho? And he threw us all out… lol

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=920835194766762&set=a.544087025774916.1073741830.100005208704771&type=3&theater

  5. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by carey georgas

    When’s he gonna get here?@John B

  6. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by John B

    We will be there Greg……Can’ wait!t @greg

  7. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by John B

    Too much……We will know him by the way he is universally acclaimed and loved by the media….current world political leaders and leaders of many of the worlds religions. He will be a peace maker and offer solutions to many of the planets most intractable and perplexing issues. @carey georgas

  8. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by John B

    Going to the Arizona shows with two of my oldest buddies. We have been friends since we were ten years old.Saw our first Tuna shows together at the old Academy Of Music. I am now …..hold on here let me get a calculator…..63….is that right?…..hold on…yep 63. Its been a good run….God is good. @Ed

  9. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by John B

    @johno

    @Mitch Spector
    As we get closer to show time we can arrange to hook up if you want.

  10. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by John B

    Great Song: @Tom Fabry

  11. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by John B

    Crosby has written some great stuff ! Ditto Paul…… In my mind there are few songs better then ” What Are Their Names?” He certainly asks the right questions doesn’t he? That album , If Only I Could Remember My Name, is one of my all time favorites. @Greg martelli

  12. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by carey georgas

    I must say, Manassas is one of my top 5 favorite LP’s, and I saw their show in 1972 in Houston. It was one to remember (obviously, 46 years later).

  13. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by Greg martelli

    I know the Cros reference might evoke some resentment, but ive always thought of him as a harmonizer and a band wrecker.
    Much rather listen to McGuinn,Hillman or Stills any day.
    We’re fortunate just got tickets to see Mcguiinn /Hillman backed by Marty Stuart’s band in October performing the 50 th commemoration of Sweetheart of the Rodeo ( WE AINT GOING NOWHERE) Small tour – check it out.
    Last time we saw Hillman we were fortunate to see him at Fur peace w/ Deset rose.
    Hillmans opening comments were”Crosby, you out there?”
    Back to Cros- he’s never let the JFK assanation go.if I could only remember my name???

    I could always abide Paul , in spite of incessant politicizing , he could write great stuff.Liittle known album, that’s grewt
    Jefferson’s tree of Liberty ( Starship),, check it out.

  14. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by Tom Fabry

    @Greg martelli
    Was it Crosby who thought the CIA was helping with the dissemination of LSD to the youth of America? CIA up to no good very often. Paul Kantner, God bless his soul, had an opinion on this.

  15. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by Greg martelli

    You can argue with the Cros,
    Can’t argue Zimmerman

  16. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by Tom Fabry

    @Greg martelli
    Man of Peace
    Bob Dylan

    Look out your window, baby, there’s a scene you’d like to catch
    The band is playing “Dixie”, a man got his hand outstretched
    Could be the Fuhrer
    Could be the local priest
    You know sometimes Satan, you know he comes as a man of peace

    He got a sweet gift of gab, he got a harmonious tongue
    He knows every song of love that ever has been sung
    Good intentions can be evil
    Both hands can be full of grease
    You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace

    Well, first he’s in the background, and then he’s in the front
    Both eyes are looking like they’re on a rabbit hunt
    Nobody can see through him
    No, not even the Chief of Police
    You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace

    Well, he catch you when you’re hoping for a glimpse of the sun
    Catch you when your troubles feel like they weigh a ton
    He could be standing next to you
    The person that you’d notice least
    I hear that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace

    Well, he can be fascinating, he can be dull
    He can ride down Niagara Falls in the barrels of your skull
    I can smell something cooking
    I can tell there’s going to be a feast
    You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace

    He’s a great humanitarian, he’s great philanthropist
    He knows just where to touch you honey, and how you like to be kissed
    He’ll put both his arms around you
    You can feel the tender touch of the beast
    You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace

    Well, the howling wolf will howl tonight, the king snake will crawl
    Trees that’ve stood for a thousand years suddenly will fall
    Want to get married? Do it now
    Tomorrow all activity will cease
    You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace

    Somewhere Mama’s weeping for her blue-eyed boy
    She’s holding them little white shoes and that little broken toy
    And he’s following a star
    The same one them three men followed from the East
    I hear that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace

  17. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by Mitch Spector

    @John B
    Gonna be awesome !! Made my visit to see my son around the show.
    Cant wait !!

  18. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by mikie

    I was playing my Pair a Dice Found tape yesterday in the boat garage. Sure is a powerful rendition of the old Barry McGuire Eve of Destruction song (which, BTW, was the first song I could play all the way thru on my old Supra guitar at age 14). m

  19. Comment made on July 25, 2018 by Greg martelli

    There’s a Canned Heat song on Future Blues,World in a tangle”.
    It speaks to ominous international calamity and precipitous environmental change .
    Great band,great stinging guitar by Henry Vestine,”Sunflower”.
    Alan Wilson died within the Year,last time I talked to Bear Hite was in a bar loft intermission in New Haven circa
    76,he died soon after.In early 90’s I saw them in a bar in Louisville,Armando’s.
    Henry Vestine was still “buzzin”, but he sat for entire show.
    At break we spoke,I looked into eyes of a heroin addict.
    Very sad,he died soon thereafter.
    What a shame,they would have been much better off attending to their health and renouncing hard drugs.
    Epitaph -the worlds in a tangle.

    Life is for the living-ride on

  20. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by greg

    Hey Jorma, sure am looking forward to the new hope winery show next week.
    Peace!

  21. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by Art

    “In a time of ignorance, one has no doubts even while doing the greatest evils. In an enlightened age, one trembles even while doing the greatest goods.”

    – Montesquieu, Preface to The Spirit of the Laws (1748)

  22. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by eaglesteve

    Joey? Nerfy!
    nuf’ said.

  23. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by Greg martelli

    I think we should petition Crosby,he has opinions on everything and he expresses them with his own self proclaimed authority.Hes also a huge conspiratorial promoter.If petitioned ,he’ll solve all our problems.
    He also co-wrote one of rocks most iconic songs-Triad

  24. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by carey georgas

    That’s what I was thinking, but didn’t see how it fit. What I’m talking about is spiritual, supernatural, if you will. It’s not something we’ll be led to, it will be a transformational thing. Many people have been supposed to be the Antichrist, plumb back to Nero, and the world’s stil ginnin’. Anyway, that’s just what I think about it – I sure ain’t lookin’ for converts.@johno

  25. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by johno

    There are many stories that he is alive.
    Many will follow after him…
    Sounds like the Anti-Christ.
    @John B

  26. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by carey georgas

    I see a clue in “in his name” that I can’t decipher. Am I reading too much into it?@John B

  27. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by Tom Fabry

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgSl32t_kuM

    Above a tune by Dan Bern. Contemplates if someone had the opportunity to eliminate Hitler.
    Well produced song. Bern sometimes plays in a place Jorma use to play, The Turning Point in Piermont NY.

    The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. – unsure of author. Sometimes attributed to Edmund Burke

  28. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by John B

    A peace maker who comes in his own name is even now preparing to step onto the world stage. Many will follow after him and marvel at the words and solutions to world problems that come out of his mouth. Many will follow after him…….. @carey georgas

  29. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by John B

    We have our tickets for Scottsdale and Tuscon. In countdown mode now.@Mitch Spector

  30. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by carey georgas

    I’m not much of one for Hitler comparisons. He was an evil anomaly with only a handful of comparisons in all of history. I think most of us are like the people who, out of fear or indifference, choose to look away or remain silent when confronted with such evil. I can’t recall Dr. King’s quote, but to paraphrase, those who choose to not speak out in the face of evil or injustice are as culpable as the perpetrators in perpetuating its existence. Whether you choose to buy into the doctrine of original sin or not, we are all tainted by the weaknesses of our egos, but we all have the power available to us to overcome them. It ain’t easy, but it’s possible. Even if perfection is unattainable in this world, we all have a responsibility to work towards that end. We were given the capacity to love and the commandment to do it for a reason.

  31. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by Brett Englund

    All I can offer folks is here’s to those Golden Moments

  32. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by johno

    Blessed be the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.(Matt 5:9)

  33. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by Tom Fabry

    Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight (Hebrews 13:20)—

    Hitler was diabolically disoriented and evil. Most folks want what is best for all, yet we all carry around a bit of the stain of Adam.

    Someone said just be obedient to G-d and let G-d sort out the outcomes. Good advice

  34. Comment made on July 24, 2018 by Rich L

    Jeremiah 6:14 “Peace, peace they say, when there is no peace.”

    The truth, I think, is we are all a lot closer to Hitler than to the Lord.

  35. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Bella

    What is becoming of our world. I think of this often. It’s obvious to me. I always connected to these lyrics. I wished others could feel the same. Imagine what a different world “our” world would be.

    Let there be peace on earth
    And let it begin with me
    Let There Be Peace on Earth
    The peace that was meant to be

    With God as our Father
    Brothers all are we
    Let me walk with my brother
    In perfect harmony.

    Let peace begin with me
    Let this be the moment now.

    With ev’ry step I take
    Let this be my solemn vow
    To take each moment and live
    Each moment in peace eternally
    Let there be peace on earth
    And let it begin with me

    Songwriters: Jill Jackson / Sy Miller

  36. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Joe from VA

    “Ideals are peaceful; history is violent.”
    Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier from the movie “Fury”

  37. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by jim hitchcock

    @Richard
    Opening for Johnny & Edgar when I saw them was Climax Blues Band:

    https://g.co/kgs/1C6EGe

  38. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by carey georgas

    Well hell, I punched that button too many times

  39. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by carey georgas

    They ain’t been peace on this earth since the first primitive societies started vying for territory eons ago. Sad thing is, the untold millions of foot soldiers and their families who have been sacrificed over all that time to settle the scores of those masters of war. The potential for peace exists. If not, the major faiths of the world are wrong. We just gotta figure it out, and believing it’s been achieved is not the place to start. Love is where the quest for peace begins.

  40. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by carey georgas

    They ain’t been peace on this earth since the first primitive societies started vying for territory eons ago. Sad thing is, the untold millions of foot soldiers and their families who have been sacrificed over all that time to settle the scores of those masters of war. The potential for peace exists. If not, the major faiths of the world are wrong. We just gotta figure it out, and believing it’s been achieved is not the place to start. Love is where it starts.

  41. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Ed

    You said it, Jorma. I’m 64, and my 3 best friends from high school are still my 3 best friends. As a colleague once said to me, that kind of friendship “nourishes the soul.” Amen.

  42. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by mark k

    People may agree or disagree on the necessity and use of “nukes” to end WW2, but as it was said “you can’t put the Jeanie back in the bottle”. Does anyone really believe that the Axis powers if they could would not have used them on us first. There are too many in the world that would gladly use them on us and on others today, and only by remaining strong with a viable and strong military can we have a chance of remaining safe. Saying that, yes world peace should be the ideal goal and hope of mankind but we all live in a reality where wars, terrorism and evil do exist, and on a smaller scale when someone is threatening your life, family or home, would you not want in that moment the tools to defend yourself.

  43. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by johno

    Didn’t mean to raise your blood pressure.
    What I mean is no more NEW nukes.
    I think we have enough.
    @Jorma

  44. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Tom Fabry

    @Jorma
    Love the necessary military, yes! Many friends and family in marines and army. Trust but verify. Just hate to see them, men and woman, some kids, used as pawns in a game, by some manipulators. It was Eisenhower who coined that phrase, “beware of the military industrial complex.” Need and support the military, not the Masters of War.
    Pray and work for peace.

  45. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Greg martelli

    I’m not jaundiced .But the Peace on Earth euphemism reminds me of a pastoral Christmas card.
    I believe the world to be more in accord with, Warren Zevons “Lawyers , guns and money”or more prosaically
    Roland , the Thompson gunner.
    I like my large engined motorcycles , we don’t want to talk to the cache , music loud , and food spicy.
    Imagine.

  46. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Mitch Spector

    Party of 2
    Saturday, September 8
    at 5:15 PM
    Orange Sky
    9800 E Talking Stick Way
    Scottsdale, AZ 85256
    (480) 850-8606

    Jorma
    Would have loved to meet you in Ronkonkoma last week.
    Would have been a true dream come true to share a meal with you .
    I have these reservations at a very nice restaurant for before the show on September 8th in Arizona .
    Would be my pleasure to add you and your party to dine with my son and i ,
    Been a fan of yours my whole life .Would be a blast .
    Hope you accept . We will munch out royally lol.
    Peace and love always !!

  47. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by johno

    We finally have peace on earth.
    There still are a couple small, insane skirmishes around the world. The military industrial complex must be pissed. They need a big war.
    We should be glad to have peace with Russia, N Korea and China. No more nukes.
    @Tom Fabry

    • Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Jorma

      OK… normally I don’t respond to comments like this but in today’s world, I just couldn’t help myself. I’m wondering if this is a tongue in cheek comment but without appropriate emojis, I’m guessing it’s serious. Are you kidding me? Peace on earth? Maybe some earth, but not the one I live on. No nukes? What planet are we talking about?

      As for our military… I never heard anyone complain about having too much ammunition. The only way to be strong… is to be strong. This is not a political comment. I didn’t vote for Trump and I didn’t vote for Hillary. I didn’t like either one of them then… and I don’t now. How I voted is my business.

      I’m flabbergasted…

      But moderately serene…

      Onward

  48. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Greg Martell

    What?

  49. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Tom Fabry

    @Mike Anderson
    Thanks for your service Brother.
    May war be avoided at all costs, but if we need to go, may we be on the side of the angels and not some deep state, military industrial complex bullshit.
    Hope your ears heal up.

  50. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Mike Anderson

    Wow, I lost my hearing as an Avionics Troubleshooter in and F4J squadron (VF-103) working on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga (73-77), aircraft going into afterburner will rattle your eardrums regardless of ear protection.

  51. Comment made on July 23, 2018 by Richard

    I too saw Johnny and Eger together at the old Felt Forum next to Madison Square Garden in about 1977. Was about 4 feet from the speakers,could not hear right for a few days. My hearing isn’t right because of lots of loud rock shows back then. I am also a retired carpenter,sure thats also why I have hearing lose too..

  52. Comment made on July 22, 2018 by Tom Fabry

    @johno
    Saw Edgar at Madison Square garden. 1974. Frankenstein, Free Ride, tunes were popular at the time. Rick Derringer opened up… My buddies went to see the Exorcist before the show. Real bright. Bottle rockets and M-80s were going off all over the place, at the concert, not the movie house on Broadway. Thank God the priest showed u in the Exorcist.

    Rick is singing a different tune these days and some of the old ones. He sings about Christ. Born in Celina Ohio. Plays with Ringo sometimes.

  53. Comment made on July 22, 2018 by jim hitchcock

    Saw Edgar premiere They Only Come Out at Night at The Hollywood Palladium, Johnny and Edgar Together at The Swing while the album was being recorded.

  54. Comment made on July 22, 2018 by Rich L

    I saw Edgar Winter an the old Chicago amphitheatre in the early 70’s also. I believe Ronnie Montrose was his guitarist. It was a great show. ZZTop openend up for them. No doubt that night contributed to my hearing loss.

    Frankenstein is one of those songs when it comes on the radio, well, you just can’t play it loud enough. @johno

  55. Comment made on July 22, 2018 by johno

    Does anybody remember Johnny’s brother Edgar? Saw him a couple times in the early 70’s.
    He had an album White Trash in ’71. Never saw Johnny.

  56. Comment made on July 21, 2018 by Sweetbac Jr.

    Didn’t your brother Peter play with Johnny Winter around this time?
    Speaking of…..what’s Pete been up to?….amazing guitar player

  57. Comment made on July 21, 2018 by jim hitchcock

    Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler, Neck and Neck. Something in this thread must have reminded me of this wonderful album 😉

  58. Comment made on July 21, 2018 by johno

    Looking good Jorma…Love the shirts!

  59. Comment made on July 21, 2018 by DennisK

    I say…@Tom Fabry

    http://www.merrell.com

    They rock!

  60. Comment made on July 20, 2018 by Greg martelli

    I’m a little late to discussion as it appears to have moved from the subject of the firebird guitar to the more gratifying camaraderie of Hawain shirt club .
    But I do have a question for Jorma,which takes us back a chapter to equipment, did you ever plug into John
    Cippolinas fender stack with the horns on it?
    If so any opinion?
    If not ,what was the Caps opinion on the rig?
    Finally what ever happened to the stars and stripe top hat that Jerry wore that Jack inherited,it should be in silo.
    I’m sure it could tell tales

    • Comment made on July 20, 2018 by Jorma

      John’s rig worked great for him but it never did much for me. He was all about the brittle singing notes… I like mine thicker. The four Twins I used with the Airplane worked great for that band but wasn’t ballsy enough for Hot Tuna as it evolved. Hence, sundry heads through multiple quad twelve bottoms. Today with the Firebird I use a 1967 50w Marshal through a 4×12 bottom. I’m using the same Thomas Organ Company WahWah pedal I got in 1965 with the Airplane. I’m also using a Zen Drive and I just got a electro harmonix mini q tron envelope follower. Fun. For the Chet Atkins SST I use a Louis Electric Twinmaster. It’s so clean a pedal steel player could blow through it. Sometimes people talk about guitars that have vanished for one reason or another along the way. What’s gone is gone. Sometimes vintage is just old… just sayin’

  61. Comment made on July 20, 2018 by Steven Levenson

    And you wore matching outfits……

  62. Comment made on July 20, 2018 by John B

    ” Remember old friends we made along the way.
    The gifts they gave that stay with us every day.”

    Mary McCaslin:

  63. Comment made on July 20, 2018 by carey georgas

    The late Guy Clark wrote a beautiful song about old friends. They shine like diamonds.

  64. Comment made on July 20, 2018 by Mitch Spector

    Looking good Jorma !! Party on .Life is beautiful ..Enjoy the weekend .

Write a Reply or Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *