JOHN CIPOLLINA - CLOSER - Small Portrait of a Great Talent

As Compay Secundo sang in 'Comandante Che Guevara' : Hasta siempre... until forever

Fish & Chip w/ Stu Blank
Chi Chi Club 7/18/1987

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• Cipollina
• Barry
• Melton
• Fish_&_Chip
• Closer

[motownharry]

My Band from Detroit moved to Stinson Bch in '81,2nd night invited to benefit in Bolinas,Band playing?J Cipolinna and The Dinasours,I was fascinated,I been in town 2 days and I'm talking to John.He invited me to sit in and I played with them for the last set,what Gentelmen,he introduced me as if we were old friends, we talked for some time later, as we talked he was un-glueing a thumb pick that had been glued to his thumb all night, I flipped,super Glue?Thumb Pick? Y-NOT? I just Loved It ! !

[WEIR4EVER]

@motownharry Gosh i love your comment! So brings back memories of my dear friend :-) I know exactly what you mean: John welcomed everyone alike, prince or pauper, you wanted to talk to him, he'd give you not only the time of day but loads of great stories, laughter, sharing and yes, introduce you like a pal. He was the greatest man i have ever known. and lolll on the picks! Yes, John always used finger picks, not just on the thumb! That's how he got his very sharp chords he'd dart like Lightning

[WEIR4EVER]

@WEIR4EVER Hum, i ran out of space, could write to you all day lol.

Anyways, very happy to meet you, and share these memories of the sweetest wildman there ever was. Be well, my friend.

Cassy

[SpainishArcher]

WEIR4EVER in case you haven't seen them , you should check out the Terry and the Pirates vids on here.

Lots of John live and some great songs.

Also another good Guitarist goes by the last name of Dolan who duels w, John.

Know anything about him?

Checkout Terry and the Pirates " Inlaws and Outlaws."

Also some Copperhead, one of the Bands John recorded at least one album with.

Check out Copperhead " Roller Derby Star ."

Keep on Rockin' John loud and proud.

[WEIR4EVER]

@SpainishArcher Sorry Dolph, im not sure i ever responded to this, although might have been by email way back when. But yeah, Dolan for sure! I saw them play tpgether a bunch and it was always epic and moving as can be. Terry and the Pirates, what a cast of characters! Ever heard of 'Problem Child'? Another great band he had at the time, with Greg Douglass. Made for some of the best guitar duels i ever chanced to see. They really went at it, those two, like ninjas! ;-)

[SpainishArcher]

At the risk of raising the ire of the Gods of the Bay Area and all of us QMS lovers I'll say John Cipollina is in the same league for me as Ritchie Blackmore as far as great guitarists .....untouchable.

[WEIR4EVER]

Hey Archer! Thank you for all your lovely comments on John. Yer right, R.B. is not a fave for me, however, there are different talents and voices for every soul, so it's cool with me. What matters to me is my friend John has touched you, and that you clamor for his return just like i do :-)

Happy trails, my friend.

[Lukeblueslover]

simply THE most underrated rock guitarist ever...simply a genius, instantly recognizable sound, innovative, soulful and tasty playing. Just unbelievable, only few in history could have the same honors.

[beachdog67]

Over four decades since the first time I saw/heard Cipollina and that unique sound STILL sends shivers up my aging spine. Crixt he was incredible. (Side note: QMS was the only band I never minded making my ears hurt.) Given the vintage of this track, is that Merl Saunders on organ?

[rosario93100]

Grande john ,uno dei migliori chitarristi mai esistiti....amen

[SpainishArcher]

My reference about Ritchie Blackmore stems from his melodic guitar work on the beautiful late '60s Deep Purple song, " April."

I recommend giving it a listen as a lot of it is a lovely instrumental piece which reaches a crescendo that kind of reminds me of QMS's "The Fool."

[BiggPoppa56]

First saw Quicksilver at the Matrix in 1966? Great band. Great sound. Cipollina's red guitar!