Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 11:38 AM

Yeah WW ...... I think Holly Near said that once on a special I saw when she recorded with Ronnie Gilbert.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: WyoWoman
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 11:22 AM

Singers like Mary Travers and Ronnie Gilbert, then later Holly Near are some of the reasons I'm able to just throw back my head and sing the way I do. I have a big voice and thanks to them I don't have to apologize for it or pretend that it is less than it is. As Dave Swan said, "Mary T. showed me how to just plant my feet and commit to the song..." Isn't that splendid? And so true.

WW

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Allan C.
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 11:00 AM

Back in the days when I had a "garage" band, I found that I quickly tired of having to work so very hard at trying to sound JUST LIKE THE RECORD. Like Link Wray, like the Torquays, like Duane Eddy, like whoever. PP&M taught me that it was okay to play it the way I heard it; that it was okay to make a change or two to make it sound like I wanted it to. That folkmusic was all about change, while also being about keeping things basically the same as they were. This was a hard line to walk, but PP&M did it as well as any and far better than some.

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 10:38 AM

And "Amen" bach atcha' Allan.......EXACTLY right!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Allan C.
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 10:21 AM

Amen to that, Spaw. Were it not for the likes of PP&M and the KT, I would probably not been introduced to many traditional songs until much later in life. "Three Ravens", "There Is A Ship", "Tiny Sparrow", "Leatherwing Bat" and many other such songs come to mind. Looking back, I think that if they had been done in the pure, traditional style, I might not (in that time of my life) have listened to them. As it was, thanks to PP&M and their compatriots, I fell in love with these songs. Then, when I heard other versions, I think I was more prepared to hear them with a better ear.

This, to me, sums up the enormous value of their contribution to folkmusic.

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 09:31 AM

Joe, you have nothing to confess and I am overjoyed to hear your tale! I am the last one to deny the importance of PPM and the bridge they provided for many to the world of folk music. Three very talented and to me at least, very kind, warm, humane, loving, intelligent, and humorous people that gave us an alternative to much of the drivel that we heard. Some may deny that they are really "folksingers" in the many debates we run around here on what is folk, but I am not one! Certainly they did modern, composed material, but they also did traditional songs. It seems that commercial success may have had a negative effect on their standing, but I've never seen it that way myself. I am envious of your time spent with Noel Stookey. The times I've heard him here and there have always made me want to know him personally...and that's also true of Peter and Mary. I don't worship them, I simply see them as people who are all the things I said before and that's the kind of person I have met most at the 'Cat.

Folk music, if it does nothing else, comes from far more interesting people than most other forms. Never think that my interest in personalities and BS overshadows my love of music Joe. And don't deny yourself the true joy of knowing people like Noel Stookey...or Sandy and Caroline, Rick Fielding, Don Meixner, Leej, Katlaughing, or indeed, me.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 04:55 AM

Well, I suppose I ought to confess something about my sordid past. Catspaw, are you listening to this?
I know some of you have suspected this about me, so I might as well confess. Well, you see, back in the early 1990's, when I was young and foolish, I got mixed up with a bunch of PP&M groupies. I always liked PP&M's music, and I found a PP&M thread in the folk music forum on Prodigy. The thread went on for about three years. The people were very nice, and we had some great discussions. Some of the people were even kind of like me, more interested in the songs than in the personalities.
The Prodigy group died when Prodigy started charging by the minute, and I followed some of the survivors from the group to a Maine computer bulletin board that was operated by Noel (Paul) Stookey. I had some interesting discussions with Noel, and I met him in person several times. I once sat two feet from him while he sang and played the guitar - his voice is still rich and resonant, and his guitar work is great. If you meet him, WyoWoman, say hello for me. And yes, he knows his tech stuff darn well. He operates an Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Maine.
I made friends with a couple of people who work with PP&M, and for a while, I got backstage passes and even free tickets on occasion. But Noel moved from Maine and time passed by, and I lost contact.
I did come across a few real PP&M groupies, and they were really an interesting phenomenon. They often went to several PP&M concerts in a year, flying long distances to get to concerts. Sometimes, they sent lavish gifts. Sometimes, when they felt their affection was not being returned, they got angry - occasionally to the point of being frightening. I have to say that PP&M and their "people" were very good and very gentle about handling people like that. Can't say I got to know Peter and Mary; but Noel is about as nice a person as you could ever hope to meet.
Bless me, Catspaw, for I have sinned. I have followed purveyors of "pop folk." I confess that even this very day, I listened to a PP&M CD. Am I forgiven, or is there no hope for me? Should I be confessing to Bill D instead?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: WyoWoman
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 09:51 PM

RiB -- I'll definitely ask them these questions. That's why I asked. I always try to go beyond the standard interview when I do these kinds of stories. And I almost always get great interviews. This is why RAY CHARLES!!!! asked me backstage and actually sat down and visited with me.

My frustration, now that I'm an editor, is that I do interviews and stories like this easily and well and just love doing them, but can't seem to inspire the writers I come in contact with to approach the material like this. I mean, people who've been in the business of entertainment for any time at all have been asked every inane question on the books, so why waste their time when you COULD get something really interesting and give them a chance to be real people?

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Jack (who is called Jack)
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 05:22 PM

Ask them how they describe themselves in terms of their role in folk and traditional music. Do they make any concious effort at 'preserving the old' or do they just sing what they like. If the former, do they still try to track down the old music or do any work with some of the surviving older traditional musicians (not that there are a lot left, we lost Brownie a few years ago).

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 04:59 PM

Gee, WW, I hope you get to ask some of these questions. I think they go beyond the usual fare in interviews.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Allan C.
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 12:00 PM

Yes, please ask them about the old days when they were still scratching around near Bleeker Street trying to get a gig and trekking down to Woodstock and hanging out with the likes of Fred Neil (although perhaps not with him specifically). I would also be curious to know who each of them ALMOST hooked up with as singing partners instead of the way things ended up.

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Bert
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 10:53 AM

I'm sure she'll be delighted that you performed one of her songs.

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: WyoWoman
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 10:48 AM

This is great! I just knew the Mudcateers would come through. Keep on posting and I'll keep writing -- and, yes, Big Mick, I most certainly will post the interview when it's done. I can put more on the web than in my newspaper story, so you'll get the unexpurgated version...

I actually sang one of Mary's songs, from her "Mary" album, when I traveled with a band in 1974. "Children One and All" was the cut, and I simply loved it. I lost it, however, and no longer have either a recording or the chart. Looked on the 'Net last night and I found a listing of her solo albums, but no information on how to get any of them. Anyone have any ideas?

AND -- do you think it will make her mad if I tell her that I performed it, since we were a bunch of kids and I don't think anyone even thought about paying ASCAP royalties?

(ah, the tangled webs we weave ....)

ww

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 09:15 AM

Mike and Mick both reinforce my thoughts on PPM as folkies and their influences.....I really think that would be a great line of questioning. Also, I know that at one point Paul Stookey was an internet junkie. Still true? Invite him to Mudcat....not just as a reader.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 09:08 AM

Damn..............I used the "Puff" lyrics to justify a lot of my activity from 1964 to 1972. I don't know if I really want the answer. WW, I hope you will post the interview when it was done. One of my most memorable events from my younger days was a PPM concert at the old George Welsh Civic Auditorium when I was 12 years old or so. I can remember listening to them, looking around at the looks on peoples faces and wishing I could sound like that, and affect people like that. I would want to know who their early influences were and hear details of their exposure to some of the legendary performers.

Mick

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Bert
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 08:55 AM

Just steer clear of questions about the meaning of "Puff the ....."

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 08:50 AM

Noel Paul Stookey did a long guest spot with me on my radio program this past April. He's vey bright, very nice and vey knowledgeable about folk music and of PP&M's role in the folk revival.

I believe that both Paul Prestopino and Dick Kniss are still playing with PP&M.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: John Hindsill
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 07:31 AM

I saw PP&M at 4th July concert at Hollywood Bowl 2 mos. ago. Paul Prestopino and a bassist (Dick Kniss?) backed them. The first half of the concert was great, as I noted on the 'Cat at the time, but after intermission they were backed by the WHOLE DAMNED HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA! 'nuff said about that.---John

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Harvey Gerst
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 02:05 AM

I thought Dick Kniss was still with them. If he's not, tell Peter I'm still available.

-Harvey

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 01:51 AM

Hey, Don - I met Dick Kniss about 3 years ago, when he was playing at a PP&M concert. I really liked him. He seemed just like a lot of old Chicago guys I used to know - very unassuming, and fun to be with. Darn good bass player, too.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 01:05 AM

I was about to make some wisecrack like, "Whatever you do, don't ask them what folk music is." But it occurs to me that I'd really like to know what these three very intelligent people have to say about it. Do they consider themselves folksingers? If you've been reading the "What is Folk" threads, you get my meaning here.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: DougR
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 12:55 AM

Okay, WyoWoman, ask Mary Travers why she didn't escape with me to some exotic Pacific Island back in the 1960's when I was madly in love with her! The fact that I was married to a marvelous woman at the time could have had something to do with it, I'm sure, but since she didn't know either one of us, she might have at least given me a shot. Of course I know what Mary's answer will be, "Well, he never asked me?" So, guys, what was your 1960s fantasy? Big Mick probably wanted to be a member of Ward Bond's "Wagon Train" but what about you?

Subject: RE: Help: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: DonMeixner
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 12:53 AM

Wyo,

I have always wondered what happened to all the great sidemen that played with them through the years. Hell what happened to the greatside men in general? Dick Kniss, Paul Prestopino, David Horowitz, Danny Kalb, Barry Kornfeld?

Maybe they will know.

Don

Subject: Interview with Peter, Paul and/or Mary
From: WyoWoman
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 12:29 AM

Hey, gang, I get to interview Peter, Paul and/or Mary prior to their coming to our fair state in a couple of weeks. Any questions you'd like to have them asked, or tidbits you'd like to share? Background I'm not likely to find in their press packet?

I'm SO excited. (I cherry-picked the story from my reporting staff, but since they're all in their 20s and don't KNOW from Peter,Paul and Mary, I figured, what tha' heck?)

WW