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27 Jul 09 - 11:55 AM (#2688041) Subject: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: PHJim Last night I heard a rebroadcast of Music That Changed The World on CBC radio. Michael Enwright and Robert Harris were talking about Bob Dylan's electric debut at Newport and Robert said that it was a true story that Pete Seeger was carrying an axe backstage and looking for the power wires to chop in order to stop the music. I don't doubt that Pete was pissed off, but I'd always assumed that the "axe" story was an urban legend. Anyone know for sure? |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:02 PM (#2688048) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Folknacious It's folklore, a "myth" according to Joe Boyd who was there, as reported in Chapter 12 of his excellent book White Bicycles. |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:03 PM (#2688049) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Peace Short thread. |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:14 PM (#2688056) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Mzee Simba Pete Seeger's axe is a long necked 5 string Vega banjo. I have one just like it. Pete once borrowed mine and played This Land is Your Land on it, when called upon to perform in the absence of his axe. It's a really great axe. |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:15 PM (#2688058) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Uncle_DaveO As I understand it, Pete was VERY critical of the sound system setup and management at that time, and "threatened" to take his axe, which he DID have for his own act, to the sound controls. But he was, as I've heard, qualifiedly approving of Dylan. I can't remember where I heard this. Maybe even here on Mudcat, and we all know that if it's on Mudcat it must be right! Dave Oesterreich |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:17 PM (#2688060) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Uncle_DaveO Mzee Simba, the "axe" in this case is not his instrument but a woodsman's tree-cutting tool, a literal axe, which Seeger used in demonstrating work songs. Dave Oesterreich |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:22 PM (#2688072) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Jim Carroll Nearest I heard of it was when he appeared onstage at The Albert Hall in London with a log, which he proceeded to cut his way through with an axe while singing - (If I Had A Hammer????). Always preferred the idea that he took the axe to Dylan! Jim Carroll |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:25 PM (#2688074) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,Elmore I saw Pete use that axe on a big log,on stage a couple of times in the sixties. |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:37 PM (#2688082) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Mzee Simba Hey, the axe as banjo bit was a joke! The song Pete sang with an axe, chopping wood, was "Didn't Ol' John" a wood-chopping work song. Sometimes he would start with hand-claps, and then, a little way in to the song, he would stop, and say, "Well, that's not quite the right sound..." Then he'd walk off stage, and come back with the log and axe, to laughter from the audience. Then he would finish the song right. He really knew how to wield an axe, too, having built his family log cabin by hand, chopping down the trees himself with an axe. |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:39 PM (#2688084) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,Tunesmith Pete explained his side of the story on a tv show broadcast in the UK a while back. He said that when Dylan's electric set began, there was so much distortion coming from the speakers that the words couldn't be heard. Pete, then went to the person in charge of the sound and asked them to get rid of the distortion, to which the sound guy said that the performers wanted it that way. Pete then shouted at the sound men that if he had an axe that he would cut the cable. Now, I know, rock history ridicules Pete's stance on this, but I'm with him 100%. What is the point of Dylan if you can't hear what he's singing! And, this is from a big Mike Bloomfield fan! |
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27 Jul 09 - 12:40 PM (#2688085) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Mzee Simba As for the Axe and Bob Dylan, my understanding of that story is that Pete said something like, "If I had my axe, I would cut that cable" not that he actually had one and tried to do the deed. |
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27 Jul 09 - 01:10 PM (#2688115) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Cool Beans Don't axe, don't tell. |
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27 Jul 09 - 02:25 PM (#2688173) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,Ken Brock Pete's woodchopping can be heard on a 1970's Tomato label tribute to Leadbelly, on which Arlo Guthrie also appears. |
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27 Jul 09 - 03:19 PM (#2688209) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Amos SO much of the world turns on a single axel... A |
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27 Jul 09 - 03:31 PM (#2688215) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Don Firth Pete didn't actually use the axe (as some folks wish he had). He just made a cutting remark about the sound quality. Don Firth |
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27 Jul 09 - 04:18 PM (#2688262) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: open mike i think his axe (banjo) has an enscription around the outside like this banjo will "surround hate and force it to surrender." or something. I think Woody Guthrie had a similar message on his instrument.. "this machine rolls over fascists"...or "this machine kills fascists.." |
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27 Jul 09 - 04:49 PM (#2688296) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Mzee Simba Woody's: "This machine kills fascists" preceeded Pete's "This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender" by many years. Pete's was sort of a tribute to Woody. |
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27 Jul 09 - 05:19 PM (#2688335) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: dick greenhaus My first wife was a professional dancer, and used to descibe the experience of taking the stage after Pete had finished a set (including his log chopping). Splinters on the stage left her company a good deal less than enthusiastic. |
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27 Jul 09 - 06:19 PM (#2688379) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,lacroix I'm no expert, but wouldn't it be dangerous to cut a live cable with an ax? |
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27 Jul 09 - 06:42 PM (#2688398) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band" Jim Carroll, You are spot on. I was at his Abert Hall concert in my youth when he did "Take This Hammer" sung with a tree felling axe and a huge log on stage. |
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27 Jul 09 - 06:51 PM (#2688406) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST Theo Bikel said something about Pete wanting to take an axe to Dylan's electrified band. It's mostly myth. Pete's annoyance was that the sound system distorted Dylan's voice and Pete's father, Charlie was in the audience, a bit hard of hearing. Pete wanted Charlie to hear the words to Dylan's songs. Pete would never do anything like that to a fellow performer. Theo may have said that Pete suggested the idea but Theo should know that Pete would never do that. Sometimes these things get blown out of proportion. Frank Hamilton |
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27 Jul 09 - 06:52 PM (#2688409) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,Stringsinger The reason I'm "guest" is because I'm on vacation on a different computer. |
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27 Jul 09 - 06:54 PM (#2688410) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Deckman In 1957, or 1958, Pete gave a concert at the Moore Theater in Seattle. He also brought along Sonny Terry and J C burris. At that concert, the stage crew brought a decent sized log on stage and an axe. Pete started chopping to "Didn't Old John ... CHOP ... Cross the Water ... CHOP" It brought down the house. Bob (deckman)Nelson |
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27 Jul 09 - 07:29 PM (#2688432) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,Gerry Doesn't Art Thieme's banjo say, "This machine kills time"? |
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27 Jul 09 - 07:35 PM (#2688435) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: McGrath of Harlow Sounds like a sound guy was making excuses for not doing his job right. Dylan might have wanted the music louder than people were used to, but I don't believe he'd have wanted the sound distorted. His words matter to him. |
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25 Mar 11 - 12:56 PM (#3121392) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,AlasdairB And I was with him when he bought the axe he used at the Albert hall. He was staying at our house in Glasgow for a week before doing a concert there. i was 14 years old and had the job of guiding him as he visited the sites in Glsgowgow and the West Of Scotland (my parents ahd day jobs. One day he said he needed to buy an axe. I assume he meant the hatchet we chopped wood for lighting coal fires. - every house in Glasgow had one. I couldn't believe it when he came out with a huge bloody great axe with a four foot long handle.I still remember the look of horror on the face of the caretaker of the venerated St Andrews Halls when he realised that Pete was going to chop the log right there on the stage where Gigli and Nellie Melba had sung. But he did and very expertly too, never touched the stage once. Brought the house down. |
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25 Mar 11 - 01:54 PM (#3121426) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: The Sandman sounds like someone has an axe to grind. |
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25 Mar 11 - 02:23 PM (#3121444) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Don Firth Now, a couple of people in this thread have said that when Pete did his thing with the axe, "he brought the house down!" If I were the owner of a concert hall where Pete was scheduled to sing, that might worry me a bit. . . . Don Firth |
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25 Mar 11 - 02:58 PM (#3121470) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,schlimmerkerl Tinay Seeger, Pete's daughter, used to run a pottery sale out of her house in Beacon, NY. The first time we pulled up, there was Pete in the yard chopping firewood. In the snow. He was probably about 86 at the time. |
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25 Mar 11 - 06:59 PM (#3121616) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: JohnH Re: Jim Carroll. Entirely true. I was there! There was a log on the stage and he took a felling axe from his guitar case to accompany a song! The most amazing night's performance I have ever enjoyed!! He divided the (Full) Albert Hall into choir sections and gave them parts... He even sang a version of Frog and Mouse from a crib sheet as he said he had heard it the day before and hadn't learnt it yet. |
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25 Mar 11 - 07:26 PM (#3121629) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: kendall The Pete Seeger I know would never do that. |
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25 Mar 11 - 07:40 PM (#3121637) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Jeri What? Sing from a crib sheet? |
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25 Mar 11 - 07:59 PM (#3121642) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Bobert I'm with Kendall on this one... Pete might have had some issues with the sound guy but not with Dylan... He's always been a live and let live kinda guy with folks on his side of the political divide... And to be honest, respectful of the knotheads, too... B~ |
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25 Mar 11 - 10:44 PM (#3121714) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: dick greenhaus Re Pete's woodchopping-- My ex-wife was a dancer in a troupe that once performed immediately after Seeger's set. I'm told that modern dance on a stage full of woodchips is no fun. |
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26 Mar 11 - 04:44 AM (#3121784) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Darowyn It would be an interesting addition to the "What's in your Gig Bag" thread. "Guitar, Spare strings, Plectrum, Capo, Axe, Log....." Cheers Dave |
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26 Mar 11 - 04:57 AM (#3121791) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: JohnH It was the version with the chorus "Here's to Cheshire, Here's to cheese, Here's to the pears and the apple trees.." |
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26 Mar 11 - 07:18 AM (#3121851) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Mr Red Well now! In a BBC documentary he was interviewed and he said "If I had got an axe I would have chopped the damn cables" But he was referring to the volume, not the instrument. He claimed he couldn't "hear" the tune. So the story has suffered the folk process. Enough verbiage in there to hang a myth on. |
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26 Mar 11 - 07:43 AM (#3121874) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,Folkiedave There was a bootleg recording of him made at the Free Trade Hall doing the rounds around 1962. The axe-chopping was in there but the mike must have been under the stage - there was a distinctive "boing" on each axe chop. |
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27 Nov 11 - 05:36 PM (#3264403) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: GUEST,banjopicker I dont think pete would use his axe on anything other than his firewood or cutting some kind of wood. I watched a little film of bob dylan called Im not there. I felt that when they re acted the part of the newport " axe scene" they made Pete Look like a crazed lunatic . |
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27 Nov 11 - 06:12 PM (#3264414) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Anne Neilson To follow on from AlasdairB on 25/3/11 -- I was present at the concert in Glasgow when Pete brought his axe on stage and chopped his way through a log whilst singing "Go down, Old Hannah". (I was tempted to collect one of the chips from the log -- I was sitting in the front row -- but persuaded myself that it wouldn't be 'cool'. Regret it to this day!) |
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28 Nov 11 - 05:17 AM (#3264625) Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's Axe- fact or urban legend? From: Bert He was on TV once, way back, Early or Mid Sixties I think and he had his big log on stage with him but he was using a sledge hammer not an axe. As I once made my living swinging a hammer, it is my opinion that he made a complete fool of himself. By stopping in the middle of swinging his hammer to sing he both destroyed the rhythm of his hammering and that of his singing. |