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'JOE JAMMER' PRESS ARTICLE
"The Who - and Joe
Jammer
Just Keep Rockin"
INSIDER MAGAZINE: Elmhurst, IL
7/26/06 Issue #14: Vol. #1
by: Will Petty / Managing Editor-Staff Writer
It was 1982 the last time The Who released a new full-length album.
Reagan was in the White House. The Cardinals won the World Series.
And Chicago-born guitar virtuoso
Joe Jammer was on a
world tour with French rock star Julien Clerc.
But music, like most other aspects of our culture, is retroactive. And
the history of The Who and Joe Jammer
- as he prefers to be called - is inter-connected . That's why it's so
fitting that after decades removed from the American musical landscape,
their returns are paralleled. Joe
Jammer - a former Who roadie - has recently
moved back to the Second City for the first time since graduating high
school on the South Side. Meanwhile, The Who just kicked off its first
world tour since the 80's, finishing gigs in Europe before playing through
the United States, South America and Asia, stopping at Chicago's United
Center on Monday, September 25, 2006. (This month The Who also
released its first new material - a mini rock opera, 'Wire & Glass' - in
over two decades, with more to come
this fall.)
It was the summer of 1968 when Joe Jammer,
soon to be a high school senior, went on the road with the British quartet
for several shows in Wisconsin and Minnesota, assembling and caretaking the
late Keith Moon's drum kit.
But that summer gig was just the beginning for the young Chicagoan, who'd
gotten his foot in rock's door by befriending a roadie for Jimi Hendrix
outside Roosevelt University's Auditorium Theater in 1966 and worked as Jimi
Hendrix's guitar roadie during that show.
Joe Jammer's Viking-esque
physique, persistence to party and genuine guitar talent laid the foundation
for his explosive future, which began to take hold shortly after graduating
high school in 1969, when drove to the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island
and became a new roadie for Led Zeppelin. His relationship with Jimmy
Page - who gave him his nickname - quickly blossomed into an opportunity for
Joe Jammer
to move to London with the band and work professionally with Zeppelin
producer Peter Grant and a bevy of rock legends.
Four years later, after playing concerts around the world and recording on
countless albums,
Joe Jammer met with The Who again, playing
rhythm guitar with the band in 1973 in London during the first staged
performances of the rock opera 'Tommy.'
Now after three decades of using the guitar as a passport to the world,
Joe Jammer
is in Chicago to stay (for now), performing week-to-week at clubs throughout
Chicagoland with his new band,
Joe Jammer and The Five Bucks. With a
set composed primarily of cover songs, the frontman has been able to tailor
his show to suburban audiences as well as celebrate his own musical history
and experiences. Shows typically have two sets of what he calls
"post-Zeppelin material," with songs including Bob Dylan's 'Rainy Day
Women,' Eric Clapton's 'Before You Accuse Me,' and James Brown's 'Here We
Come, Here We Go, Here We Are.' But what ultimately makes every song a
delight is Joe Jammer's
story behind it - from the times he jammed with Brown to the parties he
shared with Page, Beck and Clapton.
Though Joe Jammer
may not be performing with The Who at the United
Center, (though he previously had performed before the 20,000 seat, sell out
crowd and graced the stage at the original Chicago Stadium with Maggie Bell
opening for Bad Company on their world tour in the late 70's), you'll be
kicking yourself if you miss hearing his history with the band live at his
own shows.
"Joe Jammer's New American Adventure &
Re-Discovery of America Continues"
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THE JOE JAMMER
SAGA (2008)
Joe Jammer is truly a man of the times: born in
Chicago 1951, his destiny awaited him. A modern day Renaissance man
speaking 6 languages, his Viking-esque physique laid the foundation for his
explosive future, traveling throughout the world playing music that flows
from his fingers like magic. He knew from the age of 9 that all he wanted
from life was to play his music, his way. Movies, TV, radio, live
performances, print media and recorded music is his domain. He was the
first guitarist for “Supertramp”, live guitarist for Donna Summer, studio
guitarist for “Stealers Wheel”, as well as Mick Jagger, Joe Crocker, and
Ringo Starr. Not a stranger behind the scenes, Joe began his career as a
roadie for “Jimi Hendrix” (1967), “The Who” (1968), and Led Zeppelin (1969).
After moving to London at the invitation of Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Joe
appeared on over 150 albums within ten years. In 1973 Joe founded the
“Olympic Runners” and wrote and recorded 6 albums and 10 singles and the
theme song for the Joan Collins/Jackie Collins’ film “The Bitch” followed by
a British tour. In 1975, Joe did a world tour with “Maggie Bell” opening for
“Bad Company” (all managed by Peter Grant of Led Zeppelin fame). After
doing a two year French world tour (three continents, 120 shows) with
superstar Julien Clerc, the last concert found Joe in Montreal. He
fell in love with the city, moved there and became the guitarist for Quebec
superstar Robert Charlebois and harmonica master Jim Zeller for the next 20
years. Since returning to Chicago in 2005, “Joe Jammer and
The 5 Bucks” have been featured on “Svengoolie” with George Wendt from
“Cheers”. Joe was also given much local coverage in the press, TV and radio
for his Chicago White Sox victory song during their march to the World
Series Championship in 2005. Local media also covered Joe’s song for the
Chicago Bears in their successful drive to the 2007 Super Bowl.
Recently, you can hear Joe’s guitar work featured on the incidental music
(bumper music) for the Oprah Winfrey Show.
He is equally strong whether playing Rock & Roll, Blues, Surf Guitar, Funk
or Rock-a-Billy in multiple formats from a four piece band, trio, duo, or
one man show.
Joe Jammer can do it all………..
What can Joe do for you? |
