RIP "Dr. John"

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RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Muskrat » 06 Jun 2019, 23:08

This one hurts

While on the West Coast, and at the urging of producer Harold Battiste, Rebennack adopted the persona of Dr. John the Nite Tripper. Originally the stage name was supposed to go to vocalist and friend Ronnie Barron. "I never liked front men," he told New Orleans Advocate music writer Keith Spera in 2011. "I never felt any different after I became one. The idea of what front men become is kinda obnoxious." Rebennack also said he never thought his gravelly, New Orleans voice was that of a singer’s. "I said, 'Whaddya mean me? I can't sing,' " Rebennack told Spera. "And he said, 'Look, if Bob Dylan and Sonny and Cher can sing, you can sing.' I thought it would be a one-off deal and then I'd go back to producing records. It didn't happen."





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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby GoogaMooga » 06 Jun 2019, 23:55

Very sad news. Saw him twice solo and once standing in for Aaron Neville (!) For the Neville Brothers gig, one of the brothers introduced him on stage as "The Good Doctor", and he appeared with his cane/mojo stick/whatever.
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Neige » 07 Jun 2019, 00:01

I thought he was immortal! Now I've just left two dozens "sad" emoticons on Facebook.

It's one of my greatest heroes gone - I'll plunge into his back catalogue and peruse his peerless autobiography again...

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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby joels344 » 07 Jun 2019, 00:28

Sad news. RIP to a legend. I’ll put on Gris-Gris in memory of him right now.
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby never/ever » 07 Jun 2019, 01:44

That is indeed sad. I love the crumbling and crackled grooves he conjured....

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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Charlie O. » 07 Jun 2019, 05:25



R.I.P., Mac.
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Nervous Ned » 07 Jun 2019, 05:57

To say he never bettered ‘Gris-Gris’ is no slight, it’s so good. Really sad about this.
Wherever Mac is, it just got a lot funkier.
Gris-Gris for me later today via a whole lot of other great records.

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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Walk In My Shadow » 07 Jun 2019, 08:22

RIP Mac.

I liked his later albums just as much as the ones everybody knows.
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby modharper » 07 Jun 2019, 11:40

Terribly sad. Saw Mac live many times, and interviewed him twice - once in person. I got a phone call from his publicist immediately after our 2012 meet to tell me that Mac had enjoyed our conversation and that I was “off da hook”. I consider that one of the greatest compliments I have ever received.

'Gris Gris' - there was really nothing else like that at the time, was there? It was a bit of a game changer - I'm aware of the effect it had on the Stones, Elton, The Band, etc... It's just so unique, so... swampy. Already spun it this morning, and 'In The Right Place'.

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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Tactful Cactus » 07 Jun 2019, 13:04

Yea surprised and saddened this morning. He was one of the greats, the work speaks for itself.

His autobiography is really good. I think it was released as a promo tool for one of his lesser 80s albums but he had a whole life as a jobbing musician before Gris Gris came out.

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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Flower » 07 Jun 2019, 13:38

I'm still in shock! I've seen him many times in New Orleans at many different venues.

R.I.P. Mac .. thanks for the music.

:(
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Sneelock » 07 Jun 2019, 18:04

my adult daughter learned about New Orleans music and Mardi Gras and such from any number of pop culture references while she grew up. me, and a lot of people my age, learned about it by seeing Dr. John the Night Tripper on television. wham. all at once.

radio and good friends and pop culture has filled in a lot of gaps but what a magnificent thing to just have one guy open up this whole thing I had no idea about.

He might not have felt like he was some sort of Ambassador but he most certainly was.
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Minnie the Minx » 08 Jun 2019, 12:41

Apart from feeling sad, this made me think, again, of Kath xxx
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby C » 08 Jun 2019, 14:37

Dr Teeth - the last of the Muppets band - The Electric Mayhem

RIP




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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Belle Lettre » 08 Jun 2019, 17:03

Minnie the Minx wrote:Apart from feeling sad, this made me think, again, of Kath xxx


Yes, me too :(
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby C » 10 Jun 2019, 17:25

C wrote:Dr Teeth - the last of the Muppets band - The Electric Mayhem

RIP




.


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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Hugh » 10 Jun 2019, 22:54

C wrote:Dr Teeth - the last of the Muppets band - The Electric Mayhem

RIP




.



I thought “Janice” was still with us.

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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby BARON CORNY DOG » 12 Jun 2019, 11:47

Muskrat posted this on FB.
Final album forthcoming:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... um-846783/
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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby C » 12 Jun 2019, 15:25

Hugh wrote:
C wrote:Dr Teeth - the last of the Muppets band - The Electric Mayhem

RIP




.



I thought “Janice” was still with us.


My understanding is that 'Janice' was Janis Joplin





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Re: RIP "Dr. John"

Postby Muskrat » 12 Jun 2019, 15:31

Looks to me like Joni, though that’s not how she sings.

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