Jeff Baxter

[pinto91101]

Wow...Skunk Works.

[bradh716]

I'm guessing skunk weed.

[regmoe]

I see this guy at The Pentagon alot.

I've also seen him in "the building" in Langley.

He has an office on Capital Hill also.

This cat is a paid DOD consultant.

He's also a KILLER guitarist.

Who knew....

[rhondassongsdotcom]

Anyone that's tried to read the instructions on how to operate a commercial sound recording system already knows that teaching yourself to fly a plane or a missile is no problem in comparison.

[NortonNice]

I had no idea. This is golden!

[Johanneke1963]

Skunk Baxter for president! lol... ~: )

[fallendarknes12]

@bapyou communist bastard, jeff is a great man. a great guitar player and now that he has matured a little is less like a childish liberal hippie. maybe you should fricken grow a pair and get a military job and feel the pride of doing a job well done. so stop your bitching wah wah blood of 1000 middle easterns. once you smart up come back and speak like an adult before bitching about a good man! what the fuck have you done lately?

[bapyou]

I'm sure back in the day Jeffy was out protesting the Vietnam War along with the rest of his hippie musician friends. Suck on that, right-wing idiots.

Now Jeff Baxter is a whore for the military industrial complex. Jeff Baxter lives to defend the military industrial complex and the violence in prosecutes in the pursuit of profit.

The absolute sappiest version of America the Beautiful ever played.

The blood of one million Iraqis is also on your hands, Jeff. Reelin' in the years indeed.

[dtappel]

Well. He better learn slack key now! Go skunkster!

[MsGnorts]

The credibility part is because...he is on the side of the murderers...

[duppykitoon]

@MsGnorts He's working for Al Qaeda? Huh. I didn't get that...

[bsharpinLondon]

I'm Canadian and have always wondered why America has not made America the Beautiful its National Anthem. It is a far more beautiful piece of music and the lyrics peaceful. Flyers fans love it! (told you I was Canadian) The Christian connection is there along with great pride. Sadly, I think I know one of the big reasons for sticking with the SSB...bombs!

[FreedomZealot]

This is a great clip, but somebody should be slapped for introducing Jeff with a signature Steely Dan line that was actually played by Elliot Randall!

[shuttledik]

Fucking idiomatic phrasing! "OUTSIDE the box", asshole. "Out of the box" means standard or route.

[marcallainuhoh]

fuxxake....wtf.....I am so disapointed :(

[rickfisk]

Jeff Baxter a neocon. How sad.

[renues]

It's beyond cool that TODAY would even run a piece like this. Dana Rohrabacher actually refers to him as skunk! Classic.

[edgeguy99]

He got the name "skunk" in college for obvious reasons.

[pigletized]

And show bizz continues even into politics as usual. They could have brought in a Marine etc. but instead they brought this guy in. Oh well life goes on. Maybe he would make a good president for us as he sees the best of all worlds. I would vote for him. What we have now is too damn unpredictable and perhaps intentionally so, for the public, that is.

[TheViralSBK]

Hmm... to me it seems more like he's being used more for public relation purposes than for anything else...

[jsmusek]

Love it!!! Love Jeff Baxter...I'm a musician who is a conservative...glad to see a rock star who has a brain...excellent...

[Larrymh07]

@jsmusek Just because someone doesn't agree with my politics or religion, doesn't mean they don't have a brain,

[GrumpyOleMan]

@jsmusek You mean unlike the morons like Limbaugh Beck and OReilly who don't have a braincell between the three of them, True

[bcgoodell]

Thank you Jeff.

[twoslices]

He's not alone. I know quite a few rock musicians who are very conservative in their political views.

[univibe23]

Well...I'm stunned!! More power to him. A true Renaissance man!!

[MsGnorts]

@univibe23 Wikileaks...wikileaks...

[univibe23]

Well....I'm stunned!! But more power to him!! Buy the way, about the "Skunk" handle...I remember reading an interview with Jeff from more yrs ago than I care to say in which he told the story of taking revenge on someone by placing a Micky D's Fillet of Fish in their glove box and breaking a key off in the lock.....well after a few days..U get the picture (or smell i should say). Someone in the Band he was in nicknamed him "The Skunk" after that incident--and it just stuck...Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter.

[MrJTMagnum23]

just when you think you know someone, Whoa!

[videotitan1]

Probably the nickname Skunk because he was afraid of water back in the days, and after a week without a shower the smell playing that guitar was terrible. Makes sense to me.

[Bossman29577]

If I knew my rock and roll history?? Matt, you are a turd of a talking head now back to the teleprompter with youmoron. ...and Skunk IS THE MAN! Nicest guy youd ever want to meet and knows more about playing than a handful of the best, combined! You, my friend, are a BAD MAN!!!!

[1tallguy49]

His nickname came from the fact that his feet really smelled bad when he took his shoes off. I heard that on a Doobie Bros. interview.

[exposurejd]

Well, well, well! I guess this proves that NOT all rock stars are left-wing idiots! Bruce Springsteen performs "Born In The U.S.A." while Mr. Baxter lives to defend the U.S.A. Quite a difference! Mr. Baxter, you helped create some of the best music ever made (IMHO) and now you work to protect the country you love...Godspeed, brother!

[Larrymh07]

@exposurejd Don't forget his bandmates were all Democrats. It just goes to show you that right wingers don't really trust democracy.

[redeagle2007]

@exposurejd most rock stars are actually geniuses. at least back when it was about talent and smarts instead of looks like it is today. all of pink floyd. geniuses. this guy, an obvious genius. Queen's lead guitarist has a phd and is considered a genius. it takes someone with a lot of smarts to write music like they did.

[exposurejd]

@redeagle2007 I would say 'some" not "most. But other than that, I agree with everything you have to say...

[exposurejd]

@redeagle2007 I would say 'some" not "most". But other than that, I agree with everything you have to say...

[Pickininvt]

Great guy....great guitar player... great patriot....great American!

[Isotec1]

I was told the nickname Skunk came from his mustache being black and white color.

[DancingSpiderman]

BWAAhahahaa... 3-Star General Henry O-Ring... f-f-f-ffff BWAAhaha

You might blow an O-ring

I bet he gets that a lot

[mrktwn]

I love the irony that the "defense industry" is paid for and salaried by tax dollars, but most of those defense contractor types are (for the most part, Mr. Baxter not excluded) hard core free market/conservative types quick to tell you where to get off, vis-a-vis "socialism" but making a pretty good living from the fat of the people.

[trinitymike]

Yeah, God forbid someone does something more substantive with his later years than smoking dope and playing 30 year old hits to aging baby boomers.

[gilestraffic]

@trinitymike I love that he has discovered a new role in life...but the man is a living legend to musicians...and his 30 year old, dope smoking hits are inspiring modern day music, and will for years to come...what do you listen to? Enjoy the new Lady Gaga album.

[oneamongmany10]

Reaslly intersting vi; thanks for posting. Jeff also does "motivational talks". When I was a corporate weenie, he gave a talk at one of our pow wow meetings. Really interestin speaker. In person, though, he prefers to talk about defense stuff and not the old days with the Doobs or Steely Dan. Bummer.

[SwampDog1957]

Where does this "killing innocent civilians" or "vaporizing millions" come from?

He is a specialist in MISSLE DEFENSE systems. You do know what defense means.... don't you? Missle Defense systems are to protect lives from incoming missles. THEY DON'T KILL PEOPLE..... THEY KNOCK OUT MISSLES and save lives in the process!

[tomthefunky]

I wish he'd develop a bomb to drop on Matt Lauer's head. NBC is just as dangerous to America as Bin Laden.

[Larrymh07]

@tomthefunky Freedom of press is kind of scary, huh?

[userjoe1020]

From happy times in the 70s to vaporizing millions. What do you say to that???

[WilliamWallaceClaymo]

I say Jeff is working on the capabilities to prevent that from happening, dipshit. Of course people like you blame the democratic West and suck up to real dictators. Go move to Cuba or North Korea, druguserjoe1020.

[sunglass2]

At least we're not left with Lee Atwater.

[Zeppelindude628]

i wonder what the US would be like if Jeff ran for president...

[MTXSHO9732vV8SHO]

Music is one of the highest forms of Mathematics. He's not the first musician to make such a wild transition.

Actress Hedy Lamarr and Composer George Antheil came theorized code hopping radios during WW2. One of the Brothers Johnson now teaches computer science at a four year university.

Some rock musician submitted something to the government and was never heard from again. The leader from Boston was some big brain M.I.T. guy. The list goes on...

[3rdPR]

If Sept 11 inspired him, why didn't he go into demolition work?

[BostonTruth]

HAH! :-)

[Ieatdirt121]

Wow I never realized Jeff did so much. He used to be a pretty good friend of my family. He hooked me up with my first guitar and taught me how to play a little back when I was in elementary school. he one of nicest respectable people you'd ever meet.

[sserpent21]

Jeff, save us from North Korea.

[sserpent21]

Jeff, I hope you can save us if N Korea tries to start some shit again.

[barttheanorak]

Call me daft but what's the tune he plays at the end?

[rockjam78]

the song is America the beautiful

[drumsyeah]

Hmmm......I hope you 're just kidding....It's America the Beautiful......

[bluesbo]

Somebody tell that bimbo (Jamie) that it's a Fu Manchu mustache, not a handlebar.

[BlueRoseRocketBand2]

This blows my mind!!!

Goes to show you what thinking outside the box means. All those clones of ken and barbie dolls can't see the forest for the trees. Hell they are not allowed to.

[mikeyewz]

A Barbie doll???? I don't think so....unless she fell asleep in front of the fire and melted!!!

[generatrix999]

From rock star, to killing innocent foreign civilians.

Afghanistan, here we come, Skunk's got the missile action all figured out.

Look at some old Steely Dan vids, Skunk's not a stand out, lacks the 'feel' of a Joe Walsh etc.

Too bad the pentagon doesn't consult him on how to get Bin laden.

[kirk9215]

missle "Defense" systems.

Defending our country and soldiers, not killing innocent foreign civilians.

You must be an immigrant or an illegal or a tree hugger

[acmeseed]

hey mi namei jose jimenez and iam a ilegal alien but i know defense means defending oneself, not attacking anyone ...

[arabmd79]

Of course he wants to play something patriotic on his guitar, he's made millions off the American taxpayer!

[greenmacks]

The beginning sound clips are misleading - Jeff didn't play any of those famous guitar licks - he just played the background parts or a shitty version of them live - skunk sux

[tonewheel]

greenmacks...Jeff had nothing to do with putting together this piece, let alone deciding what music bed would be played underneath the voice over.

Don't be so unhappy.

[455Transam]

Bullshit he played the solo on "Take Me In Your Arms" for one.

[Grayboy43]

Jeff has a "Fu Manchu" moustache....Not a "Handlebar!

[michaelmastro]

God Bless Skunk!

[OgreDaddy]

A great player is an understatement!

Sharing the stage with Jeff at a local club was the most memorable performance of my life.

The man is a genius

[actron]

Thats a really cool thing to be able to say.

He is also an incredible pedal steel player.Just listen to 'Pearl of the Quarter" on Countdown to Ecstasy.

[toddallenhooper]

911 an inside job? Are you insane? Remember the terrorists, the plane hijackings, the crashes, the people who died? You think we killed several thousand of our own citizens? That's ludicrous...

[jazzermonk]

correct me if i'm wrong... but i thought i heard that he was nicknamed "skunk" because he was at a session and took off his shoes!

[leehr777]

1:07 HIGH!

[hitchwatch]

This guy is a right-wing nut and a shill for the defense contractors. I really don't care if he's a hotshot guitarist or not.

[friendobrians]

god bless jeff "skunk" baxter.

[PEA1010]

Jeff Baxter ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

[zaqwert777]

He also played DR. JOHNNY FEVER on "WKRP in Cincinnati"!

Another of the many true facts that I dream up everyday.

[cjs1776]

The "skunkworks" is part of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Started in the late 1950's and first directed by aeronautical engineering genius Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, this entity was responsible for producing aircraft such as the F104, U2, YF12A/SR71 and F117 stealth fighter and others. This secret engineering facility was first located near a smelly plastics factory, hence the name "skunkworks". Thanks for posting this vid!

[dannyodoul]

Mr. Baxter became known as "skunk" because he is the founder of the defense workshop known as "skunk works."

[zaqwert777]

I think it's more likely a reference to SKUNK WEED.

[PEA1010]

That was my thought too...

[eidetecker]

The nickname "skunk" was given to him in his early years because - like Joe Walsh at the time - he did not maintain good hygene. This is a fact.

[BoogyWoogyCreep]

How can it be fact, if he has never said how he got the name "Skunk". Top Secret man...

[455Transam]

He didn't have very good personal hygiene years ago that how!!

[tonewheel]

Untrue. While he refuses to divulge the origins of the nickname, he does say it was given to him during his early Rock years.

[acmeseed]

farts

[musicplusfood]

"in a word; out of the box thinking" thank you kindly General. skunk has always struck me as a highly intelligent man, and its proved right here.

[vindicator14]

Man, that is nuts...

[vespacurry]

Great Guitar palyer... BUt 911 was an iside job, ... so ... what the hell is he doing playing with the enermy.

[FuttBucker667]

If 9/11 was an inside job than some punk on YouTube wouldn't know about it.

[Obelisk2290]

good response could not have said it better. Skunk also worked of programs to save your hearing

[dougww1ectebow]

@FuttBucker667 That sums it up pretty well.

[leehr777]

We all play with the enemy.

[WilliamWallaceClaymo]

Yeah, 911 was done by the same contractors who faked the moon landing. Another genius theorist from the left wing of the psychiatric hospital.

[pigletized]

@WilliamWallaceClaymo Moon landing: Real, except in the minds of high school drop outs. 911 real except in the hearts of the same who say the Nazis did not commit any crime.

[Snotra]

Alot of the better guitar solo's layed down in Steely Dan's music we're done by Danny dias.

[Efrasnel]

...and assorted session musicians. But he could reproduce it live. That's the litmus test passed...

[msd49]

An incredible musician with incredible intellect.

[msd49]

An incredible musician with incredible intelligence.

[sdbopper]

The reason they called him SKUNK was due to the fact his FEET STUNK so bad when he toured with the DOObie Brothers,

They nicknamed him SKUNK. when his shoes came off after a show or in the hotel room the whole room stunk.

[solvecoagule]

The nickname appears in THE credits on Steely DAN's first albuM.

[sdbopper]

The reason they called him SKUNK was due to the fact his FEET STUNK so bad when he toured with the DOObie Brothers,

They nicknamed him SKUNK. when his shoes came off after a show or in the hotel room the whole room stunk.

[whiplasher8]

Well , NBC is not really noted for doing extensive , fact based , research . Especially where Matt Lauer is concerned .

[jeffkahl]

funny though they play "Reelin in the Years" which was played by Elliot Randall!

[leehr777]

Skunk weed i guess.