Thanks For Giving A Damn

John Knowles shares stories about his friendship with Chet Atkins. John shares everything from recording techniques to personal stories about Chet’s interactions with Roger Miller, George Martin, Jerry Reed, Charlie Pride, Waylon Jennings, Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Owen Bradley, Harlan Howard, etc.

Paul Griffith tells the strange story about the time he spent playing drums for Hank Williams Jr.

We talk about the strange and wonderful day when Elvis Presley showed up unannounced at the White House with a pistol and demanded to see President Nixon.

Peter talks about Rodney Crowell’s Volkswagen, seeing Van Halen at the Whiskey in 1977, Tom Petty at the Whiskey, touring with the Ramones on the Rocket To Russia tour, Ramones stories, DIY touring before punk rock hit, Rodney Bingenheimer stories, John Prine stories, Jim Rooney, etc.

Peter talks about pro wrestling in Buffalo, meeting Townes Van Zandt, Gurf Morlix stories, Martin Scorsese stories, singing on the streets, watching Dave Van Ronk play in the snow, busking with Allen Ginsberg, Bob Kaufman stories, Lawrence Ferlinghetti stories, etc.

Ben Schafer talks about working for Allen Ginsberg, Ginsberg’s day to day life, seeing Jurassic Park with Gregory Corso, Ginsberg’s photography, fan mail, Richard Hell, Allen’s apartment and personal library, Bob Dylan, haters and stalkers, talking about Kerouac, publicizing the Beat Generation, Lou Reed, Ginsberg’s funeral, etc.

Jerry talks about Jimmy Reed playing his uncle’s juke joint in Florida, seeing Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson at the Apollo Theater, playing private parties for the Kennedys, touring with Frank Zappa, touring with Liza Minnelli, Muddy Waters stories, meeting Jim Brown in a dark alley, Stevie Wonder stories, BB King stories, etc.

Melanie Howard talks about Harlan living with Buck Owens, writing Tiger By The Tail, Pick Me Up On Your Way Down, hanging out at Tootsie’s with Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Roger Miller, Bobby Bare and Tom T. Hall, bowling with Hawkshaw Hawkins, guitar pulls, Patsy recording Crazy and I Fall To Pieces on the same session, drinking vodka with Lefty Frizzell, Waylon stories, fishing with Hank Jr., Johnny Cash, Mel Tillis, Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, etc.

Jim talks about the Blue People of Kentucky, Wrong-Eyed Jesus, David Byrne’s handshake, arcs of redemption, decorating a motor home with spanish moss, Pentecostal churches, making a film for the BBC, Harry Crews, David Johansen, The Handsome Family, Mike “The California Hippie” Boyette, etc.

Don talks about having Vince Gill as a wingman, meeting his wife at a baseball game, inventing the “songwriters in the round”, hearing his song on The Muppet Show, songwriting advice, writing On The Other Hand with Paul Overstreet, Randy Travis stories, meeting Roy Rogers, Kenny Rogers stories, etc.