Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Walking on Planet C

Tight A$$ Dance Music

September 11, 2012


I invited some friends to perform some Tight A$$ Dance Music with me

On July 13, 2012 I invited some friends to come to Montreux, Switzerland with me and play some Tight A$$ Dance Music.

 

Tight A$$ Photos by Alexandre Guidetti


Me in the Morning


The Hitmaker


Scarlett Etienne


Johnny Marr


Ultra Nate Dj'ing


CHIC's Don Harris and Bill Holloman


Alison Moyet


CHIC's Selan


La Roux's Elly Jackson


CHIC's Ralph Rolle


Mark Ronson


CHIC's Kimberly Davis


Folami


Taylor Dayne


People partying on stage to CHIC's Tight A$$ Dance Music

 


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SRV #GuitarPorn

September 9, 2012


My friend, the extraordinary guitarist, Stevie Ray Vaughan

Back in the 70's and 80's there was a jet-setting world party going on. It was the era of mega-clubs, mega-optimism, and the soirees at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion, were actually cutting-edge and fun. Those days are long gone, the innocent days before air marshals, shoe and underwear bombers and the TSA.

I've logged millions of miles since then and know airline personnel whom I consider to be friends for life. One such person is Captain Scott Roper, of Delta Airlines. He's a music lover and a guitar player. The day we met he knew I was the dude who'd produced David Bowie's Let's Dance and the Vaughan Brother's Family Style.

I've known Scott for many years now and he called me yesterday and said, "Hey Nile, I'd like to donate my Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature model guitar to the We Are Family Foundation. It's autographed by Buddy Guy who told me, The finish is nicer than the one I bought, so let me sign on a piece of clear tape.""

I was blown away and couldn't thank him enough. I could tell Scott loves this instrument and from the pictures it looks like some serious SRV #GuitarPorn.

 


Back in the 70's there was a jet-setting world party going on - Here's Hugh Hefner's jet called The Big Bunny


Captain Scott Roper, of Delta Airlines is a music lover and a guitar player


Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan in the background while we were recording Family Style


Recording Family Style with the Vaughan Bros


David Bowie, Stevie Ray Vaughan & me


Scott's SRV Signature Strat. It's autographed by Buddy Guy who told me, "The finish is nicer than the one I bought, so let me sign on a piece of clear tape."


I could tell Scott loves this instrument and from the pictures it looks like some serious SRV #GuitarPorn


Me playing factory Gold Plated Strat on The Vaughan Bros Family Style


Vaughan Brothers Tour Shirt


Part of the Vaughan Brothers guitar arsenal


More parts of the Vaughan Brothers' guitar arsenal


Dawn Ciolfi & Scott Roper at Delta JFK


Some of my platinum albums that Stevie Ray Vaughan played on - Let's Dance and Family Style

 


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Madonna to Adam Lambert

September 7, 2012


My autographed copy of John Taylor's bio "In The Pleasure Groove - Love, Death and Duran Duran"

There have been so many deaths of friends and acquaintances lately, which remind me just how precious the gift of life is. Some friends had passed away unexpectedly and others after long bouts with various illnesses. There's a saying that goes, "When one door closes another opens" – that's truly been my life's pattern.

I've gotten an unusually large amount of calls, emails, and visits from people I've not seen or heard from in a long time this week. Though I have high regard for them all, it's especially rewarding when I hear from someone that I've worked with. Working with artists locked away in a recording studio, sometimes for months, creates an almost military type of bond.

This evening I've spent the night catching up with one of my all time closest platoon-mates - John Taylor, from Duran Duran. We talked about everything and everyone. The first words out of his mouth were, "This is long overdue."

I hadn't seen JT for a couple of years and one of my longest recording relationships has been with Duran Duran. This week spanned the gamut of work relationship linkages - folks I've worked with on everything, from Madonna to Adam Lambert.

 


John Taylor and me at Cafe Luxembourg, where he gave me a copy of his new biography


A page from John's new biography, In The Pleasure Groove. I'm the dude between Nick & Simon in the Michael Jackson-esque chainmail vest


The first words out of John's mouth were, "This is long overdue"


Simon, Nick and John of Duran Duran back in the original China Club


John Taylor and me back in the 80's doing the heavy hang


Me, Mick Jagger, & John Taylor at Limelight in the VIP room


John Taylor and me


Me and Madonna at Live Aid - I got a call from my old guitar tech who worked that show today


Today I recorded a track with Rich Hilton, who also recorded me playing "Shady" with Adam Lambert

 


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When Death Comes Knocking

September 4, 2012


Summer is officially over and now we Americans go back to work

Summer is officially over and now we Americans go back to work. I've worked harder this summer than any summer of my life - so the calendar has little meaning to me other than it being a measuring tool of events. My life is a journey through endless mazes, tunnels, windows, and doors with no knowledge of what's on the other side of any of them.

This past summer I've played countless shows and guitar on a number of records, composed dozens of songs, written scores of blog posts and spoken at a number of book and corporate events, penned a few articles for newspapers, and have snapped thousands of photographs. I've always worked hard but since being attacked by aggressive cancer almost two years ago, I've more than doubled my workload. I figure I'll just be too busy to answer the door When Death Comes Knocking.

 


I've worked harder this summer than any summer of my life!!


My life is a journey through endless mazes with no knowledge of what's on the other side


This past summer I've played countless shows


Kim & me on "He's The Greatest Dancer" at Ibiza 123


Me playing guitar on "Shady" with Adam Lambert


Me in one of Pablo Picasso's cape-maker's capes being shot by the legendary Bruce Weber at my apartment


Signing a staffers t-shirt at a book event (while it's still on her body)


I gave a speech at DraftFCB ad agency with another music man, Billy Man


I've penned a few articles for newspapers


My first meal after cancer surgery and since then, I've more than doubled my workload


I have snapped thousands of photographs this summer

 


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To Save My Life

August 31, 2012


Today I'd dreamt a wild mandrill was outside my window and I didn't know whether to run for my camera or run for my life

Today I awakened from a nightmare before I realized I was dreaming. I'd dreamt a wild mandrill was outside my window and I didn't know whether to run for my camera or run for my life. When I looked again, I saw there was no wild primate waiting to pounce on me.

My moment of peace was short lived when I looked at the clock and saw I'd overslept. I quickly got dressed because I had a meeting scheduled with an assistant dean from Drexel University.

Earlier this year I'd been given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from the institution. It was really a great honor which I'll always cherish. As I was getting the degree I couldn't help but think, "Not bad for a person who set the national truancy record for the entire parochial school system of the United States of America, at seven years old."

Drexel University is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is also the home of the famed Sigma Sound Studios tape library archive. They've successfully saved this precious resource that's played such an important role in R&B, Pop, and Dance Music, which to this day continues To Save My Life.

 


I quickly got dressed because I had a meeting


Driving to meet with assistant dean of Drexel University, Louisa Hanshew


Earlier this year I'd been given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree


It was really a great honor which I'll always cherish


Not bad for a person who set the national truancy record for the entire parochial school system of the United States of America, at seven years old.


Everyday, music continues To Save My Life


Drexel University is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is also the home of the famed Sigma Sound Studios tape library archive

 


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Serene, Almost, but Not Indifference

August 28, 2012


A Le Freak book party in Belfast, Ireland with some new friends

It's been almost a year since my memoir Le Freak was released. The experience has given me more than I'd ever expected. I've come to know so many new people by sharing my story with the book's readers. And they've gotten to know what life was like in a time and a place that can never be documented enough as far as I'm concerned. The music, fashion, and idealism was wonderful in that time. I believe I have a lot of music, life, and love left in me, and I'll be idealistic until my last breath - I call it acceptance.

Yesterday, a lifelong friend and cancer survivor lost two of his close relatives. "The planet is going through some shit" he said. But, damn, I've developed such a Zen calm about things. Serene, Almost, but Not Indifference."

 


Kyle MacLachlan, Angela Yee, me and Gayle King at my 1st Le Freak Salon


Me at the Edinburgh International Book Festival where my book sold out


It's been almost a year since my memoir Le Freak was released


The experience has given me more than I'd ever expected


Do you have a copy of Le Freak yet?


An autographed copy of Le Freak for the book store


Serene, Almost, but Not Indifference

 


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F Jazz Blues Movement

August 25, 2012


7x7TH STREET Animation tracks down the street and stops at my Indigo F Shack

Just a few days ago I was in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Fringe Festival. It's the biggest arts festival in the world. I was there primarily as an author but I was also there as a composer. I was part of a project called 7x7TH STREET. Seven different composers scored seven different interactive sculptures that were displayed in structures that were the colors that corresponded to the seven tones of a major scale in music. It was the brain-child of Belgian neo-pop artist, Jean Pierre Muller.

My composition is in the key of f, represented by the color indigo. The entire piece represents the many phases of my life. The overall length is around eleven minutes with seven movements. It's called the "Indigo F Suite" and today's playlist will start with the "F Jazz Blues Movement."

 


Jamming on some jazz for the folks at the Edinburgh Book Festival before talking about my memoir Le Freak


The wall display inside the Indigo F house on 7x7TH STREET


Me inside the the indigo house on 7x7TH STREET (I love that the photographer is visible in my eyeglasses)


Hanging on 7x7TH STREET


Chilling on 7x7TH STREET


Letter I is the beginning of the "F Jazz Blues Movement" (Yes, I know there should be a double bar marking)

 


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Importance or Hipness

August 21, 2012


Mr Welsh holding back a little chuckle as I play "Aw Fuck Off," the original version of "Le Freak"

The last few days in Edinburgh have been nothing short of amazing. I was there primarily for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, where I did two formal events, but I was also a part of the Edinburgh Arts Festival at Summerhall's Visual Arts Programme. I collaborated with artist Jean Pierre Muller to create 7x7, an exhibition on an entire street with him and seven musicians: Robert Wyatt, Archie Shepp, Sean O' Hagan, Mulatu Astatake, Kassin, Terry Riley and myself.

There were so many highlights that happened over the last few days, I literally could write an entire book on all of my amazing encounters. Since this is only a blog, I'll show and tell you about a mere few in no particular order of Importance or Hipness.

 


Highly opinionated author extraordinaire Irvine Welsh interviewed me at sold out event for my memoir Le Freak


Me in the foreground with Clive Anderson on BBC 4 show Loose Ends - Greg Proops from Whose Line Is It Anyway (left)


Me and the brilliant TV personality Sue Perkins, who interviewed me at the 7x7TH STREET exhibit


My little corner of the 7x7TH STREET - Check out Norma Jean poster at the Lenox Lounge


A night I'll never forget - I picked up my guitar and the whole place started singing almost every song I'd ever written


I stole the idea from a beautiful girl that I met in Ibiza when I posed for this photo at the book festival


The book signing line was so long it went outside and around the building


7x7TH STREET in the Summerhall booklet (photo taken while the street was under construction)


Playing jazz standards while the people take their seats for my first book lecture


Fan holds up one of the bowie albums I produced while heading to their seat


Me in front of the 7x7 sculputre that features my F Indigo Suite

 


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Edinburgh to NYC

August 19, 2012


United Airlines FL #109 - Edinburgh UK to NYC

Heading home after an amazing weekend at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Today's flight is from Edinburgh to NYC.

 

 


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In Words (& Music)

August 17, 2012


The Edinburgh International Book Festival's author logistics officer Emma Hay and me

Though there was a slight drizzle of rain, it was unseasonably warm when I landed around 10 A.M. in Edinburgh, Scotland. I was met by the Edinburgh International Book Festival's author logistics officer Emma Hay. She told me my room wouldn't be ready until noon. We dropped my bags at the hotel, then we killed a couple hours eating breakfast and touring the festival grounds.

As we approached the entrance I said to myself, "I'm at the largest book festival in the world." It actually felt a little awkward when my laminated pass said "Author" instead of musician, talent, or access-all-areas, which is typical in the music business.

There's something exciting about being a new person, in a new field, in a new place. My overactive imagination fired up. I always hear music soundtracks in my head but today I was thinking about words and pictures too. I saw a statue and thought of a scene from the film Jason and the Argonauts where a statue comes to life. Near the base of the statue was a large rubberized area covered with puddles of rain and colorful squares with phrases designed to make one think. I named it Pick Your Rain Soaked Truth and heard Teddy Pendergrass singing Harold Melvin's "Wake Everybody" in my head.

I walked into the large bookstore. I was overwhelmed. So many people and so many books - could this really be my new world? Then I entered the tent where I'll give my first performance, it reminded me of the film The Greatest Show on Earth. As my eyes scanned the room I started hearing the film's score in my head. I looked on the stage and noticed the same image that was on the rubberized area outside near the statue. In the center it simply said, The World, In Words (& Music).

 


The Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest book festival in the world


My laminated pass said "Author" instead of musician, talent, or access-all-areas


I love when statues come to life in films - I was waiting for him to suddenly ride off the festival grounds


As I walked the festival grounds I happened upon this large rubberized area - I don't know what it's called but I named it Pick Your Rainsoaked Truth


Customers and curious browsers at the Edinburgh Int. Book Festival - I was overwhelmed


The Guardian Spiegeltent where I'll give my 1st performance


The Greatest Show on Earth movie poster


I looked on the stage and noticed the same image that was on the rubberized area outside near the statue


Le Freak - My World, In Words (& Music)

 


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