Little Feat co-founder Richie Hayward lost his battle with liver cancer
August 13, 2010 11:24 AM Subscribe
Richie Hayward, who, along with Bill Payne and Lowell George founded arguably the greatest jam band in history succumbed to complications from liver cancer. In addition to his contributions to Little Feat, Hayward sat in on sessions with a veritable Who's Who of contemporary musicians, from Joan Armatrading to Warren Zevon. Previously on the Blue: Ready, Willin,' and Able.
If you're not familiar with Little Feat, you should take this opportunity. "Waiting for Columbus," the Feat's seminal live album should be required listening. There is an embarrassment of riches at Archive.org/details/LittleFeat
If you're not familiar with Little Feat, you should take this opportunity. "Waiting for Columbus," the Feat's seminal live album should be required listening. There is an embarrassment of riches at Archive.org/details/LittleFeat
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posted by white_devil at 11:38 AM on August 13, 2010
posted by white_devil at 11:38 AM on August 13, 2010
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posted by dancestoblue at 12:02 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by dancestoblue at 12:02 PM on August 13, 2010
Little Feat = best band ever
Waiting for Columbus = best live album ever
Lowell George and Richie Hayward = . and .
posted by Benny Andajetz at 12:09 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Waiting for Columbus = best live album ever
Lowell George and Richie Hayward = . and .
posted by Benny Andajetz at 12:09 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
This particularly a bummer for me as I missed a opportunity to see what would have been one of his last shows earlier this year.
If you get a chance, check out Little Feat's Rockpalast Live DVD. It was recorded in Germany in 1977 near the end of the Lowell George era and has most of the songs from Waiting for Columbus on it.
posted by TedW at 12:13 PM on August 13, 2010
If you get a chance, check out Little Feat's Rockpalast Live DVD. It was recorded in Germany in 1977 near the end of the Lowell George era and has most of the songs from Waiting for Columbus on it.
posted by TedW at 12:13 PM on August 13, 2010
The list of surviving contributors to the theme music of my youth shrinks again.
Its a sad day
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posted by cmdnc0 at 12:50 PM on August 13, 2010
Its a sad day
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posted by cmdnc0 at 12:50 PM on August 13, 2010
Waiting for Columbus had no 10 and no 11. It could never be played louder than it should for the given setting. Oh, but we tried. On a humongous glommed-together bunch of stereos over several dorm rooms. The Tower of Power horns could delaminate wood trim but it would still not be enough. Louder!
My fellow Iowan. Our hometown boy done good. "Time Loves A Hero" was my air drum song.
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posted by hal9k at 12:53 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
My fellow Iowan. Our hometown boy done good. "Time Loves A Hero" was my air drum song.
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posted by hal9k at 12:53 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Waiting For Columbus is the road-tripping album of my hardcore vagabond days.
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posted by quietalittlewild at 1:37 PM on August 13, 2010
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posted by quietalittlewild at 1:37 PM on August 13, 2010
Oh, how sad. Willin' was probably the greatest country song of all time. Those guys could groove, too. Monsters. Time Loves a Hero from Waiting for Columbus still gets muy heavy rotation 'round here.
I got to sit on the "VIP" stage right behind the drum set -- like 6 feet from Ritchie Hayward one time back in about '86. Lowell George was already gone, but man, what a show, and man - -what a drummer. My old buddy Mambo Johnny was good friends with Hayward, and he's gone on ahead of him already. I hope there's a monster drum circle over "there" tonight. Damn.
posted by Devils Rancher at 1:59 PM on August 13, 2010
I got to sit on the "VIP" stage right behind the drum set -- like 6 feet from Ritchie Hayward one time back in about '86. Lowell George was already gone, but man, what a show, and man - -what a drummer. My old buddy Mambo Johnny was good friends with Hayward, and he's gone on ahead of him already. I hope there's a monster drum circle over "there" tonight. Damn.
posted by Devils Rancher at 1:59 PM on August 13, 2010
Very sad to hear that. Waiting for Columbus is not just the best live album I know, but one of the best albums I know of any kind. RIP.
posted by Slyfen at 2:18 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by Slyfen at 2:18 PM on August 13, 2010
The first 5 songs of Sailing Shoes are genius: "Easy to Slip" (hey! covered by Sandy Denny! -- Cold cold cold -- Trouble -- Tripe Face boogie -- Willin.
Willin' is also on their first album, and it definitely gets the Most Improved Player award of any twice recorded song.
posted by msalt at 2:46 PM on August 13, 2010
Willin' is also on their first album, and it definitely gets the Most Improved Player award of any twice recorded song.
posted by msalt at 2:46 PM on August 13, 2010
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In fact,
.x1000.
To call Little Feat a jam band does a true disservice to their legacy, imho.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 3:14 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
In fact,
.x1000.
To call Little Feat a jam band does a true disservice to their legacy, imho.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 3:14 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
He was a damn fine drummer: deep pocket, serious groove. Rest in peace, Richie.
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posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:17 PM on August 13, 2010
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posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:17 PM on August 13, 2010
electrif [sic] lycanthrope, ferkricecakes, September 19, 1974 live in-studio at WLIR, one of the greatest bootlegs ever. Astonishing. This, and
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posted by Kinbote at 3:17 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
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posted by Kinbote at 3:17 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Tripe faced boogie gonna boogie my speakers/sneakers away.
Too bad, another great one gone.
posted by fixedgear at 5:50 PM on August 13, 2010
Too bad, another great one gone.
posted by fixedgear at 5:50 PM on August 13, 2010
Aw shit this really sucks. I love Little Feat....
posted by disclaimer at 6:09 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by disclaimer at 6:09 PM on August 13, 2010
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Listened to a few songs while my kids were having their bath tonight. Afterward my three-year-old was singing "Dixie Chicken".
posted by Songdog at 7:38 PM on August 13, 2010
Listened to a few songs while my kids were having their bath tonight. Afterward my three-year-old was singing "Dixie Chicken".
posted by Songdog at 7:38 PM on August 13, 2010
Somehow my post disappeared, or I spaced somehow; (abusing my liver in memorium) either way, kinbote speaks the truth: electrif [sic] lycanthrope, ferkricecakes, September 19, 1974 live in-studio at WLIR, one of the greatest bootlegs ever. Astonishing... The WLIR recording "Live at the Ultrasonic (lossless 1/2 track recording off the board)" is just an epic example of the Feat at their prime. A "Desert Island Classic" non pareil. Damn this wicked world.
posted by spacely_sprocket at 8:21 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by spacely_sprocket at 8:21 PM on August 13, 2010
RIP, Mr. Hayward.
and to restate, Little Feat were NOT a jam band.
posted by jonmc at 5:39 PM on August 14, 2010
and to restate, Little Feat were NOT a jam band.
posted by jonmc at 5:39 PM on August 14, 2010
jonmc ...Little Feat were NOT a jam band....
fingers of fire To call Little Feat a jam band does a true disservice to their legacy, imho....
I of all people, certainly was not--either accidentally or on purpose--diminishing the talent and craft of Little Feat by describing them that way in the post headline. I think the broader definition fits, however (tendency to improvisation*, blend of musical styles and genres, playing mostly in a festival setting with like-minded and/or complementary groups**, and a small, avid, following fanbase (of which I am a rabid member). Perhaps I should have chosen my words more carefully?
*watch Richie here mine the rhythms of Fat Man in a Bathtub
**The last two times I saw them was at Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, and at Sokol Blosser Winery with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
posted by spacely_sprocket at 6:41 PM on August 14, 2010
fingers of fire To call Little Feat a jam band does a true disservice to their legacy, imho....
I of all people, certainly was not--either accidentally or on purpose--diminishing the talent and craft of Little Feat by describing them that way in the post headline. I think the broader definition fits, however (tendency to improvisation*, blend of musical styles and genres, playing mostly in a festival setting with like-minded and/or complementary groups**, and a small, avid, following fanbase (of which I am a rabid member). Perhaps I should have chosen my words more carefully?
*watch Richie here mine the rhythms of Fat Man in a Bathtub
**The last two times I saw them was at Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, and at Sokol Blosser Winery with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
posted by spacely_sprocket at 6:41 PM on August 14, 2010
I heard about this last night when Jackson Browne announced it from the stage at his show in Dallas. What a loss.
posted by immlass at 9:56 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by immlass at 9:56 PM on August 14, 2010
re: jam band - for me, Little Feat in it's truest, purest incarnation ended when Lowell George died. Sadly, I only saw them when they re-formed in 1988, and the shows were no doubt fantastic - given the wealth of material they had to choose from and the killer players, how could it not be? But the new material was most certainly NOT Little Feat - or, at least, not up to par with Lowell-era Little Feat.
Of course when Lowell was around, the term jam band didn't exist (at least not as it's own genre of music), and the music that Little Feat made was incredibly well-constructed and even, at times, concise. That's why I take exception with anyone who lumps them in with the likes of the Dead or the Allman Brothers. To my ears, Little Feat has more in common with Steely Dan than with either of those two other bands.
YMMV.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 5:07 PM on August 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
Of course when Lowell was around, the term jam band didn't exist (at least not as it's own genre of music), and the music that Little Feat made was incredibly well-constructed and even, at times, concise. That's why I take exception with anyone who lumps them in with the likes of the Dead or the Allman Brothers. To my ears, Little Feat has more in common with Steely Dan than with either of those two other bands.
YMMV.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 5:07 PM on August 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
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posted by marienbad at 11:36 AM on August 13, 2010