Words are hard to find. Rupert was one of my oldest and dearest friends.
Insightful, stimulating, talented and funny, I feel privileged to have known and worked with him. An absolute gentleman. I produced his first album in 1971, Pick Up A Bone, with his partner David MacIver. He went on to be one of the most innovative and influential producers around and broke boundaries in the emerging recording technology of the 70s.
Skoots, my good friend, is gone. Sad news indeed, I’m devastated. A kinder, more generous, good-hearted man you couldn’t wish to meet. He changed my life and my music. My thoughts are with those close to him and all his many friends.
RG
One of my favourite occupations––when I’m not busy doing my other favourite occupations––is listening to music. Although I have a decent vinyl collection, mostly from the 70s and all bought decades ago, it’s downstairs. In any case, I rarely play much because it involves such a ritual. But I’m proud of it.
So apart from background kitchen radio din or pop insincerity in the car, sitting at my computer is mostly where I listen.
It may be difficult for younger people to fully understand how Little Richard changed everything; from music to society in general. Context is everything. He shook up the world in a profound way. Not only did he write the songs, but performed them without inhibition; he did for singing what Jimi Hendrix did for guitar…he freed it from its former constraints.
Nick Blagona, sound engineer extraordinaire, has died.
It’s difficult to assess the impact Nick had on my life…something like this has no form of measurement…but to say that it was truly profound would be an understatement.
He was the house engineer at Le Studio in Morin Heights when, in the winter of 1981, Rainbow started recording Straight Between The Eyes. As the producer, I spent a lot of time with him, sitting at the SSL desk, drinking endless cups of coffee and playing Battleships late into the night.