The Hollywood Music Scene 1975-1976

Hope all is well and your soul is rested. We are going to talk about Hollywood, CA and the music scene in 1975. I was from Milwaukee, WI, Yes, where Liberace, and Les Paul, and the Violent Femmes are from. I had jammed with Deniel Edwards a fellow Milwaukee mate here in Milwaukee, and it was cool, kick butt and professional. I decided to move to LA and start a Rock'N Roll band with Deniel. I arrived at LAX and he was there to pick me up, after a killer lunch with my parents and Chris Jacobs in Milwaukee. He knew how to get to the Tropicana Hotel on Santa Monica Blvd. That's where we stayed when I was in the Tongue Band in '72. I rented a room for a month. I met with Deniel, he introduced me to Jon Hyde and Glenn Hyde, Jon was playing with a group called Detective with Michael De Barres on vocals, I first saw him in "Silverhead" they opened for an English group called "Uriah Heep" he was also in the classic movie "To Sir with Love", and Michael Monarch was from "Steppenwolf" on guitar, Tony Kaye from "Yes", Bobby Pickett a monster bass player, and Jon Hyde, he had all the Bonham chops and Robert Palmer chops to the maxx, great feel.

As time went on Deniel had some problems. After a month Glen and Jon invited me to live there. Ruby Starr had told me Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple wanted to talk to me. I had called him from Milwaukee and he told me he hired Cozey Powell, he said seeing your coming out anyway call me when you get here. I said great, talk to you soon. Finally after all this I was somewhat comfortable in Hollywood I called Ritchie, he said he was having dinner at the Rainbow at 8pm, he said join me, I was there at 8 and so was Ritchie. We talked about music, more music, his new band "Rainbow" and we had a blast just talking about dreams and he wanted a success after leaving "Deep Purple". Well, I had the huge fried shrimp at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on Sunset Blvd. I love those shrimps and they still have them, the pizzas are tastey too. I loved the Rainbow then! Tony always took great care of us at the Rainbow. So, we're having great conversation and in comes Carmine Appice. I love Carmine, an all-time classic rocker and probably in my opinion one of the best drummers in the history of rock. Then Cozy Powell is here, he's my other idle with his chops on the Jeff Beck Cd's he did, then Ronnie Dio, golden voice...! Badfinger then comes in, and Jerry and Steve from "Humble Pie" we had the whole 1/2 of the Rainbow , girls, girls and partying! Definitely one of the best nights of my life. Rock 'n Roll.

For a musician and a group at the time you wanted a record deal. A day or two later after being at the Rainbow, Jon Hyde got word that Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin were signing "Detective' to Swan Song Records. Bad Co. and Zepplin were both in the Malibu Colony.

Jon was soooooo excited. What a shot. He was walking on water, you would be too. Jon is show shy, yet so sincere and a gentle soul I was so happy for him. Well, more rehearsals at SIR. It's time to rock. Everything changed, I moved in with my friend Stephan and Jon got his new place and Glenn and Renee got their place. Well, life was great, dreams were coming true, life was so much fun at that time. A group called "Valentino" with Pete Comita was trying to lure Glen away, he stayed with "Detective" and would eventually later Road Manage "Valentino".

Let's talk about the Starwood, the Roxy, the Rainbow and Gazzarri's. It was the wildest days of rock. Detective rocked the Starwood, Arthur Kane from the New York Dolls had Blackie, Rush played their debut album there. I had met a friend named Hernando Courtright at the Starwood and he and some girls would come over and party at my apt. We always had fun and he was very sincere. So Hernando and I became the best of friends & party brothers, platforms, Bowie, girls were our life at the time. Danny who went on to the Rembrandts-Friends was also hanging out. Jon and Michael, Glen, from Detective were all close by, West Hollywood was a fun place to be. A month after I had known Hernando, he said well come over to my house and I said cool. He said come to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, then come to 909. I said Warren Beatty lives in the penthouse doesn't he? He said yeah. So I went and we listened to music (Be-Bop Deluxe, Queen, etc)and had a blast. I asked him why he lives in a hotel and he said my father owns it. Hernando was blessed being part of the Beverly Hills history. I'm glad I didn't know about this until I knew him for awhile for, I think that's why we are still friends, I didn't like him for what he had. I didn't even know and we loved to hang. We'd take the limos out to see Aerosmith, 10 CC, and many shows...I love Ya Bud...!

So any way back to the music scene. We saw Paul Kossoff from"Free" play with"Back Street Crawler" he died on his flight back to London. We saw everyone at that time at the Starwood. Hernando knew Randy Rhoads very well, when he was in "Quiet Riot" we went to rehearsals. Randy went on to play with OZZY , we were so happy for him, and he died in a plane crash in Orlando years later. Everyone knew Randy was going to make it. We saw a lot of bands. "Cheap Trick" just got their deal and played the Starwood. People were playing Gazzarris too. The newest band on the scene were called "Van Halen" I saw them at the Starwood alot. Gary managed the club and we were friend since '72 when he hired "Tongue". One time a group called "Wolfgang" who would later become "Autograph" opened the show for this new group "Van Halen". "Van Halen" wore jump suits and moved the gear in and then get dressed for the show. So all of you young guys out there in 2007 move the gear and shut-up....pay your dues we have all had to. I'm serious! They rocked, and David did a kick rap.

The band got quiet and David told us about a poker game and someone trying to rip him off, won't give David the money he is owed, and he said " Don't Make Me Wake Up Joe" he still won't pay, so David said "Meet Joe" it was a 357 and the band came back in with the fury, it was funny. Detective was rehearsing to go out on the next "Kiss", tour the biggest one ever. I moved back to Milwaukee and went to Montreal. Hernando and Jackie Fox from "the Runaways" got together and I loved Joan Jett. Hernando and I had so much fun and we are still friends today. You have to love that. I hope you all have a handful of close friends. Deniel and I just didn't gel, I don't know what ever happened to him or Glenn Hyde. I know Jon from Detective is a trainer-vegetarian-a man helping people live properly/God bless you Jon. He also lived with Renee Russo the model for awhile, don't forget Jon is a monster drummer so if you hare of Jon playing the blues and funk-Go see him. Life was changing again and time to hold on....! These were definitely some of the best days of my life...! I met some wonderful people, God bless you all! We were having way too much fun. Health and Happiness...

The next time we talk it will be "The Music Scene of New York 1976-1977. Then well get to AXE. I hope you are enjoying yourselves...! Teddy 2007

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Source by Teddy Mueller