Rick Derringer Interview (1 of 9) - The Early Years

[j1mdown1ng]

The long version on here only has drums and vocals on the left channel.

[Arteios1]

Saw Derringer open for Zeppelin (actually Judas Priest preceded Rick) Day on the Green Oakland Colliseum July 1977 was blown away by his guitar mastery- some say he stole the show!

[floodedtick]

Rick was my next door neighbour for 3 years in Florida Dont believe me?? well he has an adopted son named martin and a wife named brenda but people call her Jenda 2 dogs named teddy and tia and used to have a kitten named phantom but sold it and ive been in his house like 100 times.... still dont believe me ask me anything oh yea and i also have his autographed picture and a card that he signed for my birthday

[backinpurple]

I come from the same town he did! Much love Fort Recovery, Ohio!

[tisgoner]

Rick Derringer is a hero of mine -ever since I found out he did the guitar solo on Show Biz Kids for Steely Dan (The Strangeloves whom he refers to here) was like the precursor to Steely Dan: composers posing as a group purely to get their music on radio. Love anything this guy does. Before you Steely Dan fans get on my case. I like them too.

[j1mdown1ng]

@tisgoner No, The Strangeloves were not Steely Dan. They were producers Feldman, Goldstein an Gohterer (sp?) They did one hit "I Want Candy"

[70goldtop]

This guy is really a wealth of information.Holy shit.Doesn't forget much does he?

[nerdflanders8710]

this guys a really likeable person



[gfieler100]

I asked this fucker for a pick one night in cincinnati and he said no you have to buy one of my cd's and pay for my autograph. I've seen him a few times in concert and they always introduce him as rick springfield, lol. His bass player sounds like he's playing with broken speakers and his drummer can't keep a beat. FUCKYOU Derringer you fucking one hit wonder and for christ sakes get a decent sound man that may help a little. I'm glad it was a free concert and stay the fuck out of cincinnati.

[SamariZach]

@gfieler100 do you realize how bitter you are over something stupid?

[adam694201]

This is a hell of a guy! When i was 13 yrs old, Rick was staying at a hotel In BG Ohio. A friend of mine had a father who knew rick, and he took me to meet him because I had a broken string on my guitar. Rick restrung my guitar for me and signed my guitar, we played hang on sloopy together, had a soda and I was on my way.

[naturaltoby]

Most all rock guitar players from the 70's know what a great guitar player Rick was then and is now......his stuff off of the Edgar Winter and Derringer albums was so cool....having Danny Johnson in the band Derringer didn't hurt either.

[TheIntruders]

The McCoys' drummer did not actually play on this track. It was, in fact, the legendary Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (uncredited, as usual). After numerous takes, Producer Wes Farrell told Purdie, "Not crude enough. I want you to sound like a 15 year-old white kid". Purdie did 5 more takes that were deemed "too good" before he suggested that Farrell tie one arm behind his back. The next take was the one you hear on record.

[RanetkiFan]

I just saw him at Showcase Live, at Foxboro Stadium. He is better than ever! Rick is THE pro-- no one better. Fantastic show, gives 110%

[NoirFan01]

@RanetkiFan 120% is the new 110% because 110% is a given now. LOL

[walkerwarbler]

Awesome power on the git-fiddle. Seen you many times. met you once and u weren't looking too good. (what do I know? maybe u had the flu!) Glad you got straight awhile back, even if it took some kinda voodoo to get it done. OK, that was a little pricky.. stubborn agnostic here. but it's small taters compared to keeping a guy like you healthy. Whatever works, Rick. THANK YOU for the years of hard work and great tunes. Stick around, dude!

[hockeycoachbill]

Anybody that doen't like Rick is a douch bag.

[ex1le444]

w00t

[Archiebell68]

Awesome story!

[KevinSean116]

One of the most giving and caring guys you could know....

[PerennialLucidity]

idiot.

[PoserHaterKiller]

your an idiot.

[rnrpeg]

Welp, at least Ricky D got the grammar part down, moronathon.

And he IS no less than a GENIUS with his instrument.

Have you contributed anything to the world, PHK, besides gradumating 3rd grade?

[thefalang]

I remember the McCoys playing at Green's Pavilion at Wampler's lake in So Michigan. They were great!

[TheBluesRock]

my greatest guitarhero !!!

[318767663]

Seen Rick in Detroit in July 09 - finally after 35 years --- He is great !!!!

[pilesovinyl]

What a true American rock star story. I can remember that black and white clip of Rick and his brother as teens playing their big hit. Its so cool that Rick went on to do solo stuff "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo", played with Edgar Winter as a replacement for Ronnie Montrose and played on so many Wierd Al recordings. Thanks for an interesting series and a fascinating clip.

[guyglowmore1]

i saw him in santa monica opening for dave mason. memorable concert. that was maybe around 1970

[Frinkstobat]

Wow HopNPlop, mine's a similar story. I was thirteen in '76/77 here in Australia, and spent countless hours jamming along to Derringer Live, and Sweet Evil with my first Les Paul copy. Rick was number 1 in those days. Nobody rocked like Rick! Every tune had a killer riff. Rick was such an incredible inspiration. I still have those Albums, yes Albums, Vinyl that is, Black Gold.... Thanks Rick.

[jonmurdock]

I saw Derringer in a bar in Ann Arbor MI in 1977, they were doing the DERRINGER LIVE set. Talk about a blistering gig! Some chick kept trying to touch RD's chest and he finally whacked her with his AXE. She was dazed, and two bouncers dragged her out and threw her into the street. Derringer never missed a note! Buy DERRINGER LIVE, one of the best live rock CD's out there - right up with the original Live at Leeds by The Who!

[HopNPlop]

Rick Derringer gave me the bug and inspired me to get my first guitar 32 years ago when I was 13. All these years later, playing my guitars is one of life's joys. Thanks Rick!

[Carlito1988]

People dismissed the McCoys as a pop or teenager band, but by the time they released their last 2 albums, 'Ball' & 'Infinite McCoys' the band were a true professional group with their songs showing signs of jazz, blues, psychedelic rock, etc. Next thing you knew, they became Johnny Winter's band minus the keyboard player. Wonder what ever happended to the keyboard player, he was pretty good himself...

[andyinoregon]

My musically hip cousin Bob Smith took me to my first rock concert. We saw The McCoys at the Van Wert, Ohio fairgrounds and it made me a lifelong Rick Derringer fan. R.I.P. Bob.

[kevinherbert]

Great post...more please

[nothwind]

What a guy. Ya gotta love him. Hope he writes a book, you know he's got lots of stories.....lololol.

[shawnfern]

damn, who shot this. Genius!

[KevinSean116]

One of the most "down to earth" humble guys you will ever know. He is also one "great guitar player as well!"

[robstorms]

Wow !! What fun to see! My band used to play some weekends at the YMCA in Dayton when the Rick Z combo was not playing there. They changed the name to Rick and the Raiders and then to the McCoys just before playing for my sisters prom. Thanks for sharing with us !!

[LivingLegendsMusic]

Is this "Dutch Master" Rob Storms from Oakwood?