Phil "Fang" Volk on Drake Levin, Paul Revere & Raiders

[bikecopjoe]

Hey Phil, Screw the Hall of Shame. Remember, if you're not pissing some body off, you're not playing Rock 'n' Roll.

Hey Jann Werner, You suck.

[ValerieV1]

I knew Phil back in Anaheim, California, in the 1980s. We went to the same congregation. What a nice guy he was!

[prestonr]

Hey Phil.  Preston, the drummer of The Electric Prunes here.... Always loved you guys. We had the privilege of appearing on some of the same TV shows with you, especially "Where The Action Is." By the way, I also worked with your sister! I was the drummer for many of the live shows done with her and the group, "The Establishment." Small world. I even have some pics of her and me together on a cruise ship gig we did around '68 or '69.

[rockfan363]

****Dammit, Paul Revere and the Raiders I meant.

[rockfan363]

I love Paul Revere and I have been a huge fan all for months but didn't T Bone Walker do that playing guitar behind your head move? I'm guessing Fang didn't mean first one to do that move but huge in influence in what Drake did?

[DWGERRY26]

It's nice to hear Phil comment on the HOF. Now I can speak my disgust. In the first few years of operation it may have been a honor to be inducted. Lately it's a Hall of Shame! They do a lot of reaching. How can garbage like the Sex Pistols get in and Grand Funk and Paul Revere & the Raiders are not. If it's political to keep these groups out why not put in groups like Savory Brown and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. These bands are still touring and releasing albums for over 40 years.

[Happy54Girl]

I can't believe that the best band ever is not in the Hall of Fame, because they should have already been there!

[formattester6]

this band left their mark on R&R for me!

[NcicHit2]

Screw the Rock & Roll Hall of fame. Go PR & The Raiders.

[Krylogenic]

Absolutely the greatest American Band!!! and I did not know about the most televised band in the 60s but I believe it because I saw them all the time on shows, commercials specials you name it and they HAD BETTER GET INDUCTED I AM WRITING MY LETTER TO CLEVELAND and DAMN the politics! PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS are THE BEST BAND OF THE 60s. RIP Drake Levin.

[hollies65]

Little Steven says it is his mission to get PR& The Raiders nominated and inducted to the R&R HOF. He said that about the Hollies the year before they got in!

[harvey1954]

Why would you worry about not being in an institution that won't even put in the Four Seasons? They obviously don't really care about music, but politics.

[hollies65]

@harvey1954 Four Seasons have been in for twenty years.

[sandinator]

The raiders need to be in the hall of fame.

[1962drob]

@rwells47 I noticed you favored this video. Doesn't Fang look good for a man who is in his '60's? Peace!!! Dean

[1962drob]

Fang looks good for a man in his 60's.

[1962drob]

Great tribute to Drake Levin. He and Fang were best friends growing up. It must be tough for Fang to lose a good friend like Drake.

[tbirdtim]

The RNR Hall of Fame seems more concerned with inducting decidedly NON rock'n'roll performers. Just look at the long list of blues musicians. Blues musicians may have influenced many RNR performers, but their music is NOT rock'n'roll; its BLUES music, you idiots.

Paul Revere and the Raiders, Neil Sedaka, Chubby Checker... Now THAT'S ROCK 'N' ROLL!

[Aibajunno]

You know, if you were a Raisers fan, and you hadn't seen the lead-in words at the front of this video, the instant he smiled, you would KNOW it was Fang. Thanks for posting. Good to see.

[JHallia]

Phil was a big inspiration to me on bass as a kid. The Raiders should definitely be in the Rock and Roll HoF, like the Dave Clark Five. The bass parts alone on those Raiders records are just awesome. I think Phil recorded them, but if it wasn't him whoever did it was really good. It's funny one of my current favorite groups, Rush, is also denied recognition in the so called "rock and roll hall of fame" What a joke it is.

[kilts4u2]

@JHallia Rush was just denied again. My hope is that Steppenwolf makes it. . but, like Rush, the longer it goes. . .the less it looks likely. What a crock.

[JHallia]

@kilts4u2 Really how can they deny Steppenwolf? What bar band has not played Born to Be Wild? You are right, Steppenwolf is yet another over looked band those clowns just don't get who rightfully deserve recognition if there was such a thing as a real rock and roll hall of fame.

[Knugabug]

Linda Ronstadt isn't in but Bonnie Raitt is.....the hall is a joke.

[franklinrocks1]

Christ Phil - was this a promo for PR & TR or a tribute to Drake? Took him 43 seconds into this to even mention Drake's name. Gawd - once a camera hog, always a camera hog.

[hollyyt53]

Phil, you and Drake might have had different names but you were brothers in every way that would ever count. You said some great things.

[ModGirl1967]

Lovely words about Drake Levin's influence on Jimi Hendrix.

[poptopia1]

james taylor has nothing to do with rock n roll,but he gets in the hall of fame.the raiders are one of our greatest bands,with a ton of hits but they keep getting ignored.they should have gone in while drake and smitty were still here.

[FIERO871]

Fuck Jann Wenner and his cronies! Look how long it took Bob Seger to be inducted.

[mamalied]

Fang, I watch the old videos ALL THE TIME and I'm so impressed with the show, the songs, and you guys had such cool moves and you and the guys were such BADASSES!!!! Thanks for the fantastic tunes, you guys were more influential and made way better music than 95% of the people in the Hall Of Fame. You deserve much more recognition, no doubt. I saw you guys open for the Stones in '66 (when I was 8!) and you inspired me to be a professional musician for the last 30 years. Thanks!

[bassbob42]

Right on Fang, don't feel bad, look at some of the creeps that made it there. In everyones hearts you are way up there. I still enjoy your music 45 years later.

[ABQ07]

Paul Revere & the Raiders are the greatest! The Rock and Roll Hall of Shame can't cop a clue.

[shnozzel12]

FANG !!!..INDUCT THE RAIDERS IN THE HALL OF FAME...THEY DESERVE IT...

[nycdude999]

Phil Volk is right on. The biggest oversight so far by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is in not inducting Paul Revere & The Raiders. They really belong there.

[DRIVEIN101]

I second recordguy, Fangster. If the R&R HOF doesn't want Paul Revere & The Raiders, it's THEIR loss. Over 750 TV appearances ov TV in the 60's, eh? It would be so great if Dick Clark started releasing Where The Action Is and Happening on DVD.

If we listen closely, we can hear Drake and Smitty jamming right now in Rock & Roll Heaven.

[dulcimerz2drumstix]

Thank you Fang for speaking about Jimi Hendrix and Spanish Castle. In fact, you can find the song "Spanish Castle Magic" on Jimi's second album, "Axis:Bold as love". Jimi was inspired by many musicians, including his contemporaries and was known to quietly pay tribute to them in his song writing. The Raiders were a very influential band to us musicians. Loved the energy and fun they would bring into their performances. There's no way that the Rock Hall of Fame can ignore them much longer!!

[elvidom2]

I was 7 years old when I watched you guys on where the action is, I Have been a fan since then, I bought the 45 let me in 1969 and played it till I wore it out. I miss your sound today, you guys belong in the greatest bands that ever was hall of fame in Rock n Roll history

[astronomius]

wow, a customer at a place i work at somehow remembered Drake Levin over the years to talk about him, a few weeks after Drake passed on...

Drake was a very influential guy

[koolbossjock]

Like Grand Funk here is another great band not in the Hall of fame.They should change the name to Hall of Shame. But its full of rap crap noise.

[astronomius]

@koolbossjock

yep, you said it all right there, that's what i'm talking about: GFR, PR & TR, Hall of Shame, and the-you-know Poo Poo Pah Doo

[Aldebaron9]

The IMMORTAL Drake Levin...

[DreamWeaverThere]

You won't remember me, but I knew all of you. I photographed the group at Where the Action Is at Pierce College...Great days back then...I remember talking to Mark on the phone just before Kicks came out..memories, yes, memories...you guys were some of the best!

[recordguy4321]

Don't worry Phil, you guys are too good for the stupid Hall of Shame. They have left so many artists out of their little club. Jann Wenner and the rest of their ilk are a joke!! Raiders forever. RIP Drake. You were magic.

[phildirt3]

@recordguy4321 its a political club

[thudson99]

we do have alot to thank Drake for. It makes me think of the many moves MJ did and the many people who actually influenced him. Yet he was the one who gets the credit for the dances that someone else originated. It is our duty to educate these young folks. We'll miss Drake.