Remembering John Lee Hooker
The first time I met John Lee Hooker was in 1967. Savoy Brown was going to be his back up band. We were to play a set and then John would join us for his show.
Rehearsals were set up at the Ram Jam Club for one afternoon in Brixton, London. I remember being on stage with the band when Hooker walked in to the club. He was confused and asked what was going on. I said we were there to rehearse. He replied, “I don’t rehearse” and turned around and walked straight back out! On that tour we played many venues……clubs, theaters, army bases, society (debutante) parties, colleges (Oxford/Cambridge etc) and also those 60’s “in clubs” (Brian Jones showed up at one of those). The gigs were countless and went on and on. One day, which wasn’t unusual, we played three, all together different gigs. John didn’t mind the schedule…he said that in Detroit in the 40’s, or maybe it was the 50’s, he had once played nine shows in a day! Also, because we didn’t have an extra amplifier, John would plug into one channel of my amplifier and I would use the other channel. Of course, I learnt a lot. I was young and he was one of my idols.
Through the confused time of my early teenage years I would constantly listen to John’s records. I loved his raw emotion and that set me on my path and gave me my focus which I still draw from today. We spoke quite a bit together at that time but I never told him about those early years of mine….but I think he knew. One day on tour I showed up with a permed “Afro” haircut…the surprise on his face I still see to this day! I think he was amazed at the 60’s and loved us British musicians. He was a fun living and loving guy. A really super nice person. Young at heart even when I last saw him in the 1990’s.
We could have been friends…we should have been friends…but my inherent shyness (that has cursed me all my life) stopped me from crossing that threshold.
He once came to a Savoy Brown show, during years when he wasn’t in vogue, and sat in the dressing room for more than an hour so he could come on stage and jam for the encore.. I bring that up to show what tenacity he had to keep his career going.
But also, I think he was a Savoy Brown fan. His guitarist once told me John had a Savoy Brown CD playing in his car.
My indebtedness to him can only be paid by my continuing playing of, wait for it……..The Savoy Brown Boogie!!!
Kim Simmonds
August 22, 2013