Saturday, May 26, 2013
AQUARIAN WEEKLY album interview.
Sticky Fingers
—by Hal B. Selzer, May 26, 2013
Sticky Fingers have spent the last 20 or so years touring the world, performing their legendary Rolling Stones tribute. Now they have released their own album, Like A Rolling Stone, and the Glen Carroll-led ensemble have created a record that sounds like what the Rolling Stones would sound like had they stuck to their heavy blues-tinged Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!-era sound. And it should sound like the Stones; the band on the album is a supergroup of musicians who have all played with the Stones, as well as many other rock and roll legends. It includes Waddy Wachtel on guitar, Kenny Aronoff on drums, Bobby Keys on sax, Ian McLagan on keys, Bernard Fowler on backup vocals, and Kenny Aaronson on bass.
Over 20 years in the making, the recordings are the culmination of Glen’s long time vision of where he wanted the band to go. I caught up with Glen and asked him about how the project finally came together.
How did you get such a renowned group of musicians together?
Creating this ensemble was really easier than you might think. All of the musicians have either recorded, toured, or both, with each other. It is nepotism at its best. A Darwinian talent selection of the “fittest and finest” finding its place in time and space.
You’ve been touring for many years; why did it take so long to get the debut Sticky Fingers album out?
I had a bet with Axl Rose about who could take longer recording their next album and I won. I’ve been writing songs for years and touring for more than a couple of decades. You hopefully learn a lot over the years. Admittedly, I took my sweet-ass time with this record but I recorded songs I like with guys whom I love. The rather lengthy gestation did allow the songs to evolve musically, like a fine wine. Given the choice betweenChinese Democracy or Like A Rolling Stone, which would you say won? Just kidding. I love “The Axl.” I kid “The Axl.”
How does the writing process work for you?
Mostly I write songs one of two ways. I’ll either start with lyrics and add music later, or conversely, I’ll come up with music and then write lyrics for the song. Generally, the idea for a song will come from a phrase or a situation that describes a feeling that is familiar to me. Occasionally a song will jump into your head with both. That was the case with “I Miss The Good Times.” I was virtually humming it at the same time I wrote the lyrics. It would be nice if they all came that easily—that’s what she said! Sorry, I love The Office!
How would you describe your music?
Our root sound is a blend of British Invasion, hard based blues, a splash of edgy country, mixed in with traditional Americana toe-tapping, heart-pumping, tear-jerking, tongue-in-cheek, ass kicking rock and roll. There’s no denying we have a Stones-y energetic sound to our music. All of the musicians in this group have performed and/or recorded with the Rolling Stones. It’s a very small school and the membership is exclusive. It was a real dream when this group came together. Each musician’s contributions helped shape and hone this record into what it is today. I’m ever grateful to Kenny A, Bobby, Waddy, Kenny “Double A,” Bernard and Ian McLagan.
How did you start out with the band?
I was drumming for the band when we first began. We were going through several vocalists a month. Some guys could sing yet had no stage presence. Some guys had all the stage presence in the world but couldn’t sing. We also had tried out a couple of guys that may have been able to pull it off but they refused to work on religious holidays, their wedding anniversary, etc., or any occasion that they felt took precedence over our music. Vocalists can be a real pain in the ass. I guess “divas” exist outside the opera world!
And guitarists can have their own unique brand of artistic drama. Back in 1997, we got booked as musical guests on the Jenny Jones television show in Chicago. Right before the gig, the guitar player disclosed that he was afraid to fly and wasn’t going and hadn’t thought it pertinent to tell me. What he finally said was, “I guess it’s time I have to drop out of the band, man.” I had to replace him in 12 hours, get the flight info changed with the television station and rehearse with the new guy. That was an easy task. So then the new guy astonishingly leaves me hanging two months later. For whatever reason he didn’t show up for a flight toPanama, while the rest of the band was already on location. Finding a “replacement guy” fromPanama with zero notice sucked! The wannabes and never gonnabes that you have to deal with in the early years make you really appreciate the real cats if you’re lucky enough to last long enough!
I’m so extremely fortunate to work with these world class musicians who I can now call genuine friends. If you keep your nose to the grindstone long enough it doesn’t matter how hard the adjustment bureau tries to hold you back. You can get what you want when it is time.
Any plans for live shows with this group?
This record was recorded with the intention of performing it live. We have to work around a lot of other tours. John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, Rolling Stones, etc. I’ve already performed live with some of these guys but getting them all together is a bit like herding cats. We would prefer to have all the original artists—as would our fans—and that’s understandable. I was at Kenny Aronoff’s house last week and we were talking about touring for the future so our fans can expect some dates to support this record. We also discussed possibly recording a live album with new material that’s already written, along with some of the favorites from this album.
If you could ask Mick Jagger one question, what would it be?
Has anyone ever told you that you look like Glen Carroll?
Friday, May 24, 2013 Los Angeles, Reverb Nation / Live Nation
STICKY FINGERS charts in at #2 in Los Angeles and Nationally at #7. Globally the band is ranked #11 for rock bands and #55 in the world for all music genres. Did you hear the corks pop?
Posted: December 13, 2013 NEWS / ROLLING STONES SONGS
MUSIC & MP3 NEWS
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Sticky Fingers Songs Confused with Missing Rolling Stones Songs
Over the past nine months, Rolling Stones fans have been sharing stories of confusion regarding eleven songs floating around the Internet. The mysterious songs were thought to have been lost recordings from a Rolling Stones recording session that took place in France, circa 1970. As it turns out, the songs were newly recorded songs by, Sticky Fingers. The songs appear on their recently launched CD, Like a Rolling Stone.
We hired Andy Johns as one of our producers because he’s worked with so many legends like the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and many others.
New York, New York (PRWEB) December 12, 2012
On December 6, 2012, Sticky Fingers have revealed that the eleven songs that have been circulating the Internet since July 2012 are actually songs from their original CD release titled, Like a Rolling Stone. Rough, demo-versions of the songs have been circulating the Internet for the past six months, making many Rolling Stones fans believe that the tracks were songs missing from a Stones recording session that took place in France circa 1970.
It doesn’t take much to excite fans of classic rock when buzz about lost or stolen recording begin to circulate, but this was different. Eleven songs were being passed around the globe that sounded to many to be in fact previously unreleased songs recorded by the Rolling Stones. The origin of the eleven songs could not be traced, bringing even more intrigue to the already frenzied situation.
As it turns out, the songs were the rough, demo versions of songs recorded by Glen Carroll and band, Sticky Fingers. Sticky Fingers has long been considered the world’s best Rolling Stones tribute band, Now, having toured for over 35 years, Sticky Fingers both looks and sounds like the Rolling Stones. It only makes sense that a record released by them would fool even the most skeptical Rolling Stones fans
The band is lead by lead vocalist, Glen Carroll. Originally hired to be the drummer, Glen took the vocal reigns in 1990, and has since taken control of the band and toured the globe. Plans to release a CD finally took hold in 2011, when Glen started assembling the talent. He and Sticky Fingers have performed in 15 countries, appeared on over 20 television shows, and most recently were the featured topic in Steven Kurutz’s book titled, Like a Rolling Stone: The Strange Life of Tribute Band.
In early 2012, Glen and some of the nation’s top rock & rollers began recording the first original Sticky Fingers album titled, “Like a Rolling Stone”. Staying true to the music was the goal, and because of that, Glen Carroll joined forces with musicians who both tour and record with the Rolling Stones. “I wanted the record to be ours, but also a tribute to the Rolling Stones and people like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf , and more whom basically created what modern classic rock & roll is today. To do this, you naturally want and need to work with the best guys in the world, thus, Bobby Keys, Bernard Fowler, Waddy Wachtel, Kenny Aronoff, Ian McLagan and Kenny Aaronson. All of these guys have recorded or performed with the Stones,” Glen said smiling.
Before the Like a Rolling Stone CD was released, many of the rough demo tracks were being passed around between the musicians in order to hone and correct their parts. Apparently, someone got hold of the tracks and spun quite a story. Even YouTube videos were made by Rolling Stones fans claiming they had found the recordings. Even the rough demo tracks sound like the Rolling Stones. In addition to the musicians used to create the CD, the producer chosen for the project coincidentally worked with the Rolling Stones in the early seventies in France. All the parts were there to make the story believable. “We hired Andy Johns to produce because he’s worked with so many legends like the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and many others. If anyone can make a record that rocks like the Rolling Stones, it’s Andy Johns”, said Glen.
The CD Like a Rolling Stone can be bought on Amazon, CDBaby.com and iTunes.
Posted: New York Times , Huffington Post 01/31/2012 8:13 am
Stephen Colbert Super PAC Disclosure Reveals No Unlimited Contributions, Few Corporations (The Band Sticky Fingers?)
First Posted: 01/31/2012 8:13 am Updated: 01/31/2012 3:13 pm
WASHINGTON — At 12:01 Tuesday morning, the most famous super PAC in America disclosed its donors for the first time. Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, the vehicle for much of comedian Stephen Colbert’s recent hijinks, disclosed that it had raised $825,475 from its inception in the middle of 2011 through December 31.
While most political observers want to see which billionaires and millionaires are bankrolling the super PACs backing the Republicans competing for the presidential nomination, the Colbert super PAC did not receive similarly super-sized campaign contributions. In fact, 90 percent of the contributions to Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow — which can receive unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, and unions — came from donors giving under $250. Those small donors are not required to be listed on the super PAC’s disclosure forms filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Colbert has repeatedly satirized the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, praising it for opening the door to unlimited corporate campaign contributions. His super PAC, however, only received contributions from two corporations.
Sticky Fingers Band (www.StickyFingersBand.com), and BestDamnTutoring.com gave $400 and $314, respectively. (You’re welcome for the publicity.)
The filing came accompanied by a press release announcing that Colbert had reclaimed control of his super PAC from fellow comedian Jon Stewart, who had taken charge of the group while Colbert pursued his bid for the Presidency of the United States of South Carolina.
In a separate filing sent to the FEC along with the year-end disclosure, Colbert states that the super PAC has raised almost $200,000 more in the month of January alone. That brings the full total raised to $1,023,121.
Colbert is quoted in the filing saying, ”Yeah! How you like me now, F.E.C? I’m rolling seven digits deep! I got 99 problems but a non-connected independent-expenditure only committee ain’t one!”
Throughout the past year Colbert has used his show, “The Colbert Report,” to make fun of the absurdities of campaign finance law in the wake of the Citizens United decision. In a five-part series, The Huffington Post documented the comedian’s use of satire to help explain the variety of ways that the campaign finance system, from super PACs to the FEC, works in often incomprehensible ways.
Posted: Monday, January 14, 2013
MUSIC NEWS CBS.FM
Jukebox Jury Web Series: Should There Be A Rock & Roll Retirement Age?
Do the Stones still got it? (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO: Jukebox Jury Web Series: Should There Be A Rock & Roll Retirement Age? – WCBS-FM 101.1
THE CASE: After 50 years on the stage, should classic rockers consider hanging it up over a little thing like a 70th birthday?
Music icons like The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys aren’t just influences – they’re still making new music and touring the world, as they both did to celebrate golden anniversaries in 2012. Meanwhile, their slightly younger peers KISS and Aerosmith released new albums last year without a hint of nostalgia.
Whenever they hit the road, Paul McCartney, The Who, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and Elton John have some of those year’s biggest tours. While these musicians certainly don’t need the money, fans are still packing the seats so why stop now? However, do rockers become parodies of themselves at a certain point, even the greatest ones? Should there be a retirement age for rock & roll, just like there is for other professions?
THE EXPERTS:
John Ostrosky, the co-host of TalkingMetal.com and the co-author of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s biography, No Regrets.
Doug Vannoni, a musician who has played in bands that toured with the Mick Taylor Band and Pink!, as well as played in the NYC music scene since the 1990s.
THE JURY: Sticky Fingers, a band that’s toured worldwide for more than 35 years.
THE VERDICT: Watch to find out!
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
“For those ROLLING STONES fans shut out of the band’s tour dates by ticket prices and traveling, STICKY FINGERS is the next best thing! On their summer tour of the Eastern seaboard, the band will be preforming three to four nights a week.”
