Earl Slick Interview – A bit of a trade off between me and Earl Slick [Listen 33:00 min]

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S02 Ep12 (Part 1 of 2) - A bit of a trade off between me and Earl Slick

Interview Date: June 7, 2012 @7pm EDT

Special Guest: Earl Slick - is one of the most in-demand and top guitarists living today; the "who's who" in music ask for him by name, and you should know him too.

You might have come across him for playing on albums like "Young Americans," " Station to Station," and "Reality" for David Bowie or for playing on "Double Fantasy," "Season of Glass," and "Milk and Honey" for John Lennon and Yoko Ono. He has multiple side projects like Phantom, Rocker and Slick, New York Dolls, Ian Hunter, Robert Smith, plus 8 solo albums under his belt and much, much more. In this podcast we talk about where he got the name "Earl Slick," how he got started, some of the great bands he has put together and what it was like playing on "David Live," "Station to Station," and "Young Americans."

Coolest Names in Music

Rock’n’Roll names can come real fast, and are about as easy as venerial disease to get rid of. The fact of the matter is, true nicknames are invariably given to you by someone else, but sometimes nicknames in music come from ulterior motives (from record producers to increase sales).  The best ones are earned.

Some of the things that determine a good name is; it needs to be catchy and memorable, it has to mean something that represents that person (onomatopoeias often help) and, of corse, it has to rock!

This is a tight race, and could go on forever, but these are some of the coolest names in history according to GTV.

Engelbert Humperdinck

(born Arnold George Dorsey) - Although this is not a competition, he still wins with the coolest and most unforgettable stage name ever. Named after a 19th-century opera composer, Humperdinck is famous for songs like "Release Me," "The Last Waltz," and "A Man Without Love."

or Prince

Prince (born Prince Rogers Nelson) - As funky as James Brown, plays guitar like Jimi Hendrix, and has the taste of Liberace; Prince's name (or Artist formally known as) will live forever based on sheer talent.

Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop - (born James Newell "Jim" Osterberg, Jr.) - Godfather of Punk has one of the best names in music, of course.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Screamin' Jay Hawkins (born Jalacy Hawkins) - was one of the originators of the Rock'n'Roll era. Some of his best tracks are "I Put a Spell on You," "Heart Attack and Vine," "Constipation Blues," and "Hong Kong."

Freddy Mercury

Freddy Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) - the ultimate stadium rock front-man; excellent delivery and flair. No one is better at getting a crowd fired up and enraptured.

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier) - this native Detroit rocker was the first to bring Metal and Glam together, and did it in the most over the top way.

Marlyn Manson

Marlyn Manson (born Brian Hugh Warner) - took his name from death and suicide, the agreed upon height of beauty, and of evil in America. Clever little man, he was bound to attract attention by name alone.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg (born Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr.) - One of the greatest rappers of all time; if there was a man that could make a decent appeal to make pot legal and put in in a song, it would be this guy.

The Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls (born Christopher George Latore Wallace) - A tragic figure who's murder case is still unsolved; maybe Marion "Suge" Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records, might shed a little light on this story.

Dr. Dre

Dr.Dre (born Andre Romelle Young) - this doctor prescribes some of the best music in hip-hop with albums like "The Chronic," his early days with N.W.A. or producing Eminem, and 50 Cent.

Diddy, P. Diddy,  Puff Daddy, Puff and Puffy

Diddy , P. Diddy,  Puff Daddy, Puff and Puffy (born Sean John Combs) - Musician, producer, actor; is there anything this guy can't do?

Axl Rose

Axl Rose (born William Bruce Rose, Jr.; raised as William Bruce Bailey) - A name that conjures up a 50's hot-rod magazine.

Slash

Slash (born Saul Hudson) - my respect for the man and his playing keep growing as the years go on...

Nikki Sixx

Nikki Sixx (born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, Jr) - One of the few metal glam rockers with a nickname.

Johnny Rotten

Johnny Rotten (born John Joseph Lydon) - So cool that Neil Young had to put him in a song. To say he's outspoken would be minimising the issue; listen to the man. He pushed music in different directions-hard. Still puts on a great show; says something to living with integrity. I'm still trying to decide if I like the Sex Pistols or the P.I.L. more.

Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious (born John Simon Ritchie) - Nicknamed by Rotten,  I think it ended up being more of a liability than a positive thing for Ritchie in the end.

Howlin' Wolf

Howlin' Wolf (born Chester Arthur Burnett) - With a voice and stage presence so powerful, "Howlin' Wolf" was kind of a given.

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) - names don't come any more poetic or reflect the blues as Muddy Waters.

Parting Thoughts:

Of course, the expletives are censored, but this gives a not bad example of Johnny Rotten.