Back when Paul Schafer played along with the musical guest on Letterman

similarly:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/pop/images/jools_1.jpg

Are you willing to play your current single in a boogie version: y/n

don't know when it started or ended, but I used to joke that I'd like to see him try that with someone like Nick Cave...

and then I saw it...

Dave holding up the long box!

I remember that Nick Cave one very clearly! The highlight was when Paul S took a brief keyboard solo-- suddenly his face contorted into a mask of sheer repugnance/fury/unholy passion. BEST SOLO FACE EVER. His expression didn't even match what he was playing-- his solo wasn't especially intense. My friend had taped it, and we made her rewind the keyboard solo over and over again.

It wasn't until the end that I realized that the Screaming Trees were from the NBC show. And why did they use another drummer? That wasn't even Anton Figg.

I remember Sonic Youth performing "100%" with 'The World's Most Dangerous Band' on the old NBC show, that was pretty weird. I think this practice continued for at least the first couple years he was on CBS, but less and less often.

Man, that clip really reminds me that the Chili Peppers was a pretty awesome band for a while.

And why did they use another drummer? That wasn't even Anton Figg.

looks like steve ferrone (currently with tom petty's heartbreakers) was filling in that night.

early bands played on letterman without the house band (cf. r.e.m. in 1983: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykp0Vq77IBw)...at some point in the late 80s when it became mandated that the musical guests had to play with shaffer et al. which was kind of a shame, because the brilliant steve jordan was no longer the drummer by that point, and bands had to make do with that ham-fisted fuck anton figg.

I remember seeing Motorhead on the old NBC Letterman show. Dave made fun of Motorhead the entire show adn then when they came out to play, Lemmy flashed a death stare at Letterman. I think they ended up playing an old Chuck Berry tune and not even a Motorhead song.

the letterman house band played "north american scum" w/ lcd earlier this year. the lot of them also played tambourine's when tokyo police club played.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ogWgG0UOY

JAMC "Far Gone and Out"

Funky Bass! ALternately hilarious and infuriating.

that last one was controversial on the Prodigy shoegazing boards way back when

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YzuoXDC9ESw

Pixies w/the house band

i recall paul playing a one-chord keyboard part on beastie boys' "sabatoge" in the early CBS years. dave's line all night was "are you ready to get SARED???? we have the beastie boys here"

Man, this situation still bugs me.

Will Lee looks like a complete dork in that RHCP clip.

And what kind of green room conversation was taking place before the show when NBC brass was telling the band, "you guys sound great, but the drummer's going to have to play the triangle."

I mean, was this some sort of union joke or waht?

Something to do with budgets? I can't really remember. When the Letterman group played with L7, they had something like a total of six guitars going. Pretty crunchy.

When Peter Bjorn and John were on earlier this year, some lady from the band played the bongo part.

I've long been curious as to what, exactly, the arrangement is/was between the featured band and the Letterman house band, because my recollection is that not every musical guest employed Paul and the boys/girl (though the majority seem to), even post-'80s.

If it truly is, or was, a mandated thing, as Lawrence the Looter says, it's, of course, unfortunate that guests are made to present generally inferior performances to satisfy that obligation (not to mention members of the guest band being forced to break out the triangle just so they can participate -- I think drummers often fall victim to this simply because they might otherwise be have to sit in on someone else's kit, and that is almost always extremely uncomfortable). But truth be told, these collisions are often pretty fascinating for me -- I'm glad that we have that shaky version of "Trompe le Monde" (Black Francis in fine voice though) with bad Schaffer soloing and somewhat forced literate skronk guitar-work from Sid McGinnis.

And at other times, the performances are perfectly good. I'm not sure why anyone would object, on musical grounds, to the Screaming Trees and JAMC performances linked -- the bass player's white trousers and Stanley Clarke conviction in the JAMC one(?), because his playing is pretty faithful to the recording (maybe a bit busier and more R&B informed, but still appropriate and definitely not "funky" in the conventional sense).

Random notes:

Nice to see Steve Ferrone get a chance to, ahem, rock out (looks like he was having fun) in that Screaming Trees clip; he sounds good there.

One may not care for the playing of Anton Fig, he might not always mesh well with the featured act (though I think he does fine usually and is sometimes great), but he definitely isn't "ham-fisted". I prefer Steve Jordan, actually, but not everything he played on the Letterman show was golden either: check this performance of the band playing "Panama" with Eddie Van Halen(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZU32Ex4p04) -- not bad, per se, but kind of weird (all-around).

I'm pretty sure I once read an interview with Anton where he spoke of Tony Williams subbing for him in the band. How cool would it have been to see Tony Williams play behind The JAMC or Screaming Trees? I wonder who the band did back, if anyone, when Tony subbed (don't know how long he did either).

they backed up Dinosaur Jr. once I'm pretty sure (Start Choppin' era)

there's a Green Mind-era Dino Jr. clip on youtube, but it's in such terrible shape you can't really see if the house band is in on it

SJ sounds totally fine on that Van Halen clip to me. Still, what a weird thing to do.

lol @ Chad Smith on timbales. I wonder what would happen if you were in RHCP in the early 90s and you didn't have abs.

I still don't get why though.

PAUL SHAFFER circa. 1991: "Oh, FANTASTIC! Chainsaw Kittens are scheduled to come on AND I GET TO PLAY THE ORGAN AGAIN."

To be fair,it's really only some of the fills that I'm not feeling, as far as the drums go (and more-so it's the way that the toms are tuned -- just sounds odd for that song) in the Van Halen clip.

x-post

Jordan OTM on RHCP and abs.

I saw Urge Overkill play Bottle of Fur with the house band. Paul Schaffer was pounding the chimes at the end. They sounded better than they had any right to.

oh man i thought the same thing about abs when watching the video

maybe that's why they went through like 6 different guitarists at the time, dudes just didn't have the abs for it.

It's not every band that plays with the house band. It's actually quite rare. I always thought it was just bands with a cool sense of humor who were free wheeling enough to do it as a way to shake things up.

I think they did this with Stevie Ray Vaughan. I've seen it. It was on either Letterman or Carson.

I don't think a band would play on national tv w/out their regular drummer just for a laugh.

I thought it was a rule. A buddy of mine was in Poi Dog Pondering back in the day and when they did the Letterman show there were major negotiations to get every member of their own rather large band out on the stage- one of the two drummers ended up banging a stick on a soda can!

I'm trying to imagine what it would've been like had G.E. Smith played along with the Replacements on SNL, and I don't like what I'm seeing in my head right now.

I'll have to ask Ted about that, Ken.

Ha! You do that, John.

Found that SRV clip. The WMDB backed him on "Wall of Denial".

...and here's Sonic Youth

Here's a clip from a time when Dinosaur Jr. played and the house band guitarist took a little lead break that I don't think Mascis appreciated, as he proceeded to subsequently bitch slap him with a blazing solo in response.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV6b4eij7ZQ

I heard Tito Puente was on there once and they made him play the drum kit while Anton played the timbales.

Maybe it's a way for the guys in the show band to let real bands know that they're studio musicians for hire and they're available for recording?

Yeah, Will Lee never did a single jingle vocal until he was discovered during that Chili Peppers performance.

Okay so this is pretty fucking hysterical too, The La's "There She Goes" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVd2x0EpnYA&feature=related

funny becuase Shafers on the tambourine, the guitarist brought out the old Rickenbacker AND for the lead singer who supposedly demanded a mixer with the original 60's dust still on it when recording the album, this must surely be the sound he had in mind...

plus a Beatles bonus in the end. I LOVE it

This is great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwhyGz2tQJc

Is that the clip where Paul throws his tampon into the crowd?

I had never seen that Dinosaur jr clip before - Mascis just SLAUGHTERS that house guitarist!

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up
Posted: August 26, 2007 5:33:29 PM
Something to do with budgets? I can't really remember. When the Letterman group played with L7, they had something like a total of six guitars going. Pretty crunchy.

I'm glad that we have that shaky version of "Trompe le Monde" (Black Francis in fine voice though) with bad Schaffer soloing and somewhat forced literate skronk guitar-work from Sid McGinnis.

Was watching this clip for a while before I realized it must be from Letterman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jeZtxB_pGI&feature=related

Aargh the dreaded end page, try again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jeZtxB_pGI&feature=related

Forget it. It's The Bangles singing "If She Knew What She Whats."

"Wants"

Tarfumes mentioned this over on the VU thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2u_xYIEOCg

The Kinks on Leno in '93 except it's really Ray & Dave with Leno's rhythm section and pianist.

Back to Letterman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o11abgxUxsc

The B-52's doing "Love Shack" backed by The World's Most Dangerous Band.

with Kate doing the "TIN ROOF...RUSTED" cause clearly Cindy is under the weather.

I also love how they walk out and just instantly go into the song, no hesitation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zizL69E362E

ZZ Top: "Pincushion" w/the CBS band

I think I remember a band (Pere Ubu, early 90s?) where only two or three members had been invited to play on the show, and were complaining about it somewhere.

Looking at the longest version of their appearance, in the intro Dave mentions that the band had to pay their own way to New York after both their label and NBC refused to. So if that's true, and Letterman's people where like, "Only three of you can be on the show, and Paul gets to sing harmony"...yeah, I'd be pissed too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7dhvuq0cEY

"Oh, one more thing: Anton gets to play congas AND regular drums!"

Here's an interesting one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRC2yPiqyU0

XTC's first performance _period_ in 7 years, doing "King For A Day" in the summer of '89, and needing the backing since there were only three guys in the band by then.

Pere Ubu’s label at the time (Fontana) refused to pay for their flights to play on Letterman because the album wasn’t selling. Someone — probably David Thomas — helpfully pointed out that $2500 was not a huge expense for a major label for a national US TV appearance that might help boost sales. Due to the publicity surrounding this, Jane’s Addiction, R.E.M., and others helped pay for Ubu’s travel. I was a huge Ubu fan at the time, but I missed the show. When I eventually saw it, I wondered why such a startlingly unique band would waste this opportunity by playing one of their dullest songs.

The only band I know of that turned down a Letterman appearance because of the house band stipulation was the Replacements, but I assume there were others. And Anton Fig is one of the worst drummers in the history of sound.

Yeah, what is the deal with that guy? I actually saw him play live once and it did not change my opinion.

The only band I know of that turned down a Letterman appearance because of the house band stipulation was the Replacements, but I assume there were others. And Anton Fig is one of the worst drummers in the history of sound.

I wasn't surprised to see his name pop up in the credits for Dylan's "Clean Cut Kid" on Empire Burlesque - it makes the complete suckage of that track all the more understandable - but he's also on Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual and I love that album. I guess he works with that album's production because in a way they wanted something like a drum machine without completely sounding like one.

FWIW, this is still one of my favorite 'Viewer Mail' moments.

Not Letterman's band, but re: the Replacements, when Westerberg returned to SNL, I liked how he made use of the show's horn section for "Can't Hardly Wait." It's one of the few times I've seen a musical guest benefit from the house band. (I still prefer the "Tim" version, but the horn arrangement on the Pleased to Meet Me version is actually pretty good in its own right.)

I guess he works with that album's production because in a way they wanted something like a drum machine without completely sounding like one.

Fig is on a few records where his awfulness doesn't intrude, but he's also on no fewer than NINE Joe Bonamassa albums, which cancels out any positives in his discography.

I actually saw him play live once and it did not change my opinion.

I almost went to see Booker T and the MGs in 1991, but decided against it when I found out Fig was the drummer on that tour. I can't think of a worse possible choice for that band.

Imagine Metallica on Letterman with Paul on keyboards and no Lars

...or Lars in the back thrashing a triangle!

I would've liked to have seen the whole Grateful Dead or .38 Special on there. Three drummers!

But but but...one of them would be Anton Fig.

_I guess he works with that album's production because in a way they wanted something like a drum machine without completely sounding like one._

Fig is on a few records where his awfulness doesn't intrude, but he's also on no fewer than NINE Joe Bonamassa albums, which cancels out any positives in his discography.

_I actually saw him play live once and it did not change my opinion._

I almost went to see Booker T and the MGs in 1991, but decided against it when I found out Fig was the drummer on that tour. I can't think of a worse possible choice for that band.

Named.

Anyway, when I saw him in more recent times he was playing with a jazz-metal guitarist and actually taking solos. There are some things one shouldn’t hear.

As good a thread as any to marvel at the very of its time guest band Paul put together for the 5th anniversary show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niVcUXN_8gs
(starts at 8:05)

Freddie Hubbard
Clarence Clemons
Grover Washington Jr.
Peter Frampton
Andy Summers
Felix Cavaliere
Herbie Hancock

Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians's appearances meant Morris was either not there or playing a tambourine instead of his drums. And I think Andy once just had his arms crossed the entire time.

I was curious about Fig, because I hate his playing and his sound but he seems to get a lot of work, and indeed, almost everything he played on (at least as listed on Wiki) is pretty shitty. But he was the principal drummer on "Erotica."

Now Anton Fier, he was pretty dope, but I think he's retired.

For a while he was working in a coffee shop/restaurant until it closed. Thought he most be the owner, but nope, just an employee.

There's a little montage of musical guests starting at 1:17:30 here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdncPaRZZek

Some are during the Anton years, and some (thankfully) during the Steve Jordan years. I also remember Shaffer and Carole King playing a killer "Chest Fever" on the Radio City Wurlitzers, but it either got cut from this, or I imagined it.

oh wait, found it, it was from the 6th anniversary show (at 37:57):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdncPaRZZek

ugh shit sorry here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV1rZzc6ClI

Forgot that both Steve Jordan AND Fig played on the Stones' Dirty Work! I like Jordan quite a bit so it's strange to see hear them doing more or less the same gigs. "How do we want the drumming? Because we've covered both sides of the spectrum with the two we've hired for this session!"

I love Anton Fier, it's sad that he stopped playing a while ago (at least a few years now). Maybe he had a good reason and doesn't miss it, but I feel that's unlikely.

I haven't been able to find a listing of which Dirty Work tracks Jordan or Fig play on, but my guess is that Jordan could be on just about any track -- he can sound uncannily like Watts -- and Fig is probably on "Winning Ugly," since it sounds nothing like Watts or Jordan. And because it's awful.

David Marchese gave "Winning Ugly" an apt description - it sounds exactly like the kind of thing you'd hear in an '80s Dan Aykroyd comedy. Play it over Trading Places or Spies Like Us, it'll probably match perfectly.

I do like this opening bit he did on Letterman with Ringo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5avrzeQ3ZsM

which Dirty Work tracks Jordan or Fig play on

The Rolling Stones database on timeisonourside.com suggests that Anton Fig is playing percussion on "Back to Zero", the album's Talking Heads pastiche, but that may be guesswork.

Looking at that 10th anniversary montage and finding some performances worth investigating further

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mir_awnzhI

Black Crowes, except it's the Robinson Bros. and their other guitar dude circa 1990: "Jealous Again"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTut68r_Q-E

Bob Weir & Jerry Garcia sit in with the World's Most Dangerous Band and do "When I Paint My Masterpiece" in '87

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgAtnL5r-F0

Sinead O'Conner: "Mandinka" (this clip booed at the 10th Anniversary BTW)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PsnvLrK5cM

Van Morrison w/Georgie Fame sitting in for Paul!: "Whenever God Shines His Light" & "Have I Told You Lately?"

Oh wow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxofd9whblw

The Breeders, except it's the Deals and Jim Macpherson is relegated to shaker and tympani(!): "So Sad About Us"

Has Viva Shaf Vegas been mentioned yet? Don’t think so.

Another WOW: Paul backing Kate Bush on "The Man With The Child In His Eyes" from SNL

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3krnke

Paul and co jamming with Joan Jett on Roadrunner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFJ7BFU3iKM

Modern Lovers or Junior Walker?

1,2,3,4,5,6 Modern Lovers

Late entry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xLZPCviDZ0

Alice In Chains (one of Staley's last TV performances): "Again/We Die Young" w/extra guitars & backing vox from the house band in early '96

The guitarist guy really likes to make a meal of switching instruments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZgsHi7wA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZgsHi7wAiI

that Kate performance must be her one and only such in the U.S. ever…

...except for the performance of "Them Heavy People" on the same broadcast, which my brother saw at the time.

This performance by Dinosaur Jr. on Letterman from 1993 is so insane. As usual, Paul Schaffer and Co. sit in, but they’re throwing in bells, a wild sax solo, high harmony vox, and it is SO LOUD. They crush it; the Ed Sullivan Theater is fully melted🔥🔥https://t.co/5K0fjJhI1B

— Ben Boyer (@sleezsisters) January 11, 2022

David Sandborn holding his own in the tornado!

OTM!

Will is very focused on his prompter.

Ben used to post here.

schaffer's plugging his ears. lol what a prick.

I thought he was doing that to help him sing his harmony note.

NOT VERY PROFESSIONAL IN THAT CASE, PAUL

that was genuinely out of control. i love it.

also: hey two drummers . . . but only has a kick drum???

this is my new favorite thing, btw.

*only ONE

that's not the Ed Sullivan Theater, that's NBC studios!

I was going to do a post itt chroniclling Dino Jr. on Letterman, but got lazy & forgot.

Here's their debut that Dave references in his intro to that "Out There" clip: they perform "The Wagon" and Murph is limited to a couple floor toms and a tambourine. Will Lee is into it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm7flMpKK5Y

...and here they are on the CBS show, doing "Feel The Pain" with discreet help from the house band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DbkEnoVNhg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v4m4SzmA4U

10,000 Maniacs, except it's just Nat & the guitar player w/The World's Most Dangerous Band: "Don't Talk"

By 1993, they were able to negotiate that Will & Paul could have a coffee break so the whole band could appear, but were still stuck w/Anton, so their drummer was stuck on congas and tambourine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oG5i20uew

"Stockton Gala Days"

Nick Cave video with the Paul Schafer stank face mentioned early on (about 2:20 in)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO17Vdi94CA

Always enjoyed the contrast between the guitarist's 'chance to shine' on The Wagon's bridge and J taking the solo

One thing a lot of these clips have got me thinking about is when exactly in the '90s did the musical guests on late night talk shows (not just Letterman) get relegated the last 10 or so minutes of the show? A number of these clips indicate that the bands played in the middle of show, like in this Screaming Trees on Letterman clip, where we find out they played before a cooking segment!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJIEZx-_T74

i always assumed it was because everyone was watching for the music portion so they put it at the end to get people to stay tuned. also lament all bands getting strictly relegated to one song. i know it was less common, but i have clear recollections of some bands getting to play a couple songs.

wrt Letterman maybe it had something to do with the show's starting time moving from 12:30 to 11:30. With the 12:30 start, if you waited to put the band on at the end that would be like 1:20am or something, maybe that was considered too late

XP Yeah, I noticed on some '80s-'90s Carson clips that they often had bands do two songs back to back without a commercial break.

wrt Letterman maybe it had something to do with the show's starting time moving from 12:30 to 11:30. With the 12:30 start, if you waited to put the band on at the end that would be like 1:20am or something, maybe that was considered too late

I can see that. Apparently though he kept doing that in the early days of the CBS show. I was just a kid then, but my parents were cool/understanding enough that I saw a lot of those shows at the time, and I really don't remember a time when bands weren't the last thing on a show.

Huh I only ever watched Conan (right from the very beginning) and the band was always at the end.

In my head bands and comedians were always at the end but I only watched the last couple of years of Carson and then Conan.

Comedians sometimes came to the couch (depending on if Johnny waved them over), so I think there was at least always one more segment after their sketch?

sketch set

I seem to remember Lyle Lovett on the couch on Letterman, an example of a musician playing last in the lineup but not closing out the night with the performance itself.

i was always annoyed that the "performance" guests rarely got to sit at the couch and talk shit. imagine the hilarity of letterman trying to talk to j mascis after that performance.

Thread needs L7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5miCNKSoptQ

"Are you alright, Paul?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpx20yJ4KoA

"Are you alright, Paul?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpx20yJ4KoA

TIme for the rare, once a decade appearance of Poi Dog Pondering!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ7oxb5BjJ8

Screaming Trees clip appears to have Steve Ferrone on drums! When exactly was he in that mix?

nice of Thurston to wear a T-shirt from a band cooler than his ;)

all the Jicks got to be on tv, but Paul still wails on the keys for Jenny and the Ess Dog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEanHqTHIyA

I keep misreading the title as "Paul Schrader."

Already been mentioned multiple times over here, so it's officially A Thing: Your favourite misread ILX thread titles!

Still waiting for more discussion of
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-oxl1boHZU

Hey James, thanks for posting that Poi Dog clip! Love their first few albums. Also great to see Susan Voelz up front, her two solo LPs are terrific.

Thread really delivers, thanks everyone

Paul Shaffer's name is completely misspelled in the thread title, which is no doubt part of the reason for the confusion with the other Paul!

Poul Schiffrin

Lol

Hey James, thanks for posting that Poi Dog clip! Love their first few albums. Also great to see Susan Voelz up front, her two solo LPs are terrific.

god damn, L7 was badass in that clip

these are all really fun to watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGZw0v5fbQw

The Go-Go's w/Paul in 1994.

Paul in black cowboy hat jamming along with the Texas Tornados as they played throughout this show in 1990. Last 4 minutes the Tornados playing a full song and Paul gets a piano break.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FW6zF_dgww

Wow, Great Find!

I remember seeing Motorhead on the old NBC Letterman show. Dave made fun of Motorhead the entire show adn then when they came out to play, Lemmy flashed a death stare at Letterman. I think they ended up playing an old Chuck Berry tune and not even a Motorhead song.

― earlnash, Sunday, August 26, 2007 2:20 PM (fifteen years ago) bookmarkflaglink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrW8C4nBVUE

Ha
Did Dave do the same bit when Radiohead came on?

This is neat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E7D_oHOgRc

The World's Most Dangerous Go-Go's: "Cool Jerk '90"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd-1zwWYGKU

Wilco w/Paul: "Outtasite (Outtamind)"

#onethread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DnweMnI1Lw

Del Shannon: "Runaway"

Nice. Particularly like WIll's sound on that.

Paul jammed with Megadeth, which I didn't recall at the time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTSBSuhCVxY

Here too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JzovrQ0Xu8

Alice In Chains

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqWemOCwpHs

Good Finds!

OMG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-2FSTN584Q

The Ramones, except it's just Joey & Johnny: "Pet Cemetery"

Just think...Anton Ramone

Looking closer at those Megadeth clips...both of those performances were promoting the same album! Really rare to see a band do separate appearances on a show for the same record (and it not be a residency).

they might be giants, making their network tv debut, playing a tight version of "they'll need a crane" with paul schaefer and the band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBXkWetkf48

Haven’t read through this thread entirely, but is there some background as to why Paul Schafer did this kinda shit? Seems like a colossal dick move to push you and your band onto musical guests.

i mean it makes sense for some bands, like early TMBG

Sure, but that’s not typical. It doesn’t seem like it was a “Hey, can we play with you guys?” sorta set-up, but kinda the price you pay if you wanna be on the show. Cuz I can’t imagine most bands would be cool with it.

As mentioned upthread, that's why the Replacements never did Letterman (Pleased To Meet Me-era, iirc).

Yeah, it always seemed like a shitty flex, like “you may think you’re so great, but actually we can do your shit as well as everyone else’s.”

Also I’d like to know if bands’ song choices were ever vetoed because the house band couldn’t do them or didn’t have a part to play.

Probably not. Shaffer & co. were all heavy session pros, so there's not a lot they couldn't fake.

A lot of times they would also back up solo artists, even if said artists already had established backing bands.

For example, Stevie Ray Vaughan sans Double Trouble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEeck-DHDaI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQr_L4_M9lU

"Crossfire" & "Wall of Denial"...Another example of somebody making separate appearances on the show months apart promoting the same album.

i mean, the roots do this on fallon all the time?

But people like them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jszCZPGsCow

CSN: "As I Come Of Age"

#OneThread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWsM3BkXZXM

Albert Collins & The Anton Fig Blues Band: "A Good Fool Is Hard To Find"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bijm95hoVF4

Lucinda Williams, with Gurf & Roger McGuinn (!)*: "Six Blocks Away"

*I guess he was sitting in that night?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwBV-bXQsfY

Subdudes, with Paul stepping back: "Tired of Being Alone"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPQPJp8xrOY

Psychedelic Furs: "Until She Comes"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jkZEJuD21o

Spin Doctors, w/a double rhythm section:'"Jimmy Olsen's Blues"

One more...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lGq-Y4LQrQ

Squeeze, except it's just Difford & Tillbrook &...Jools(?): "If It's Love"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OUfXJ8g6Fw

Blue Rodeo, with Steve Ferrone: "Restless"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5B2_Rbu8-8

Steve Earle: "Copperhead Road" and a funny interview

Re: earlier discussion on why they did this, I'd imagine the production team were happy to have essentially the same band on each week with the same backline. Saves them dealing with some over-hitting drummer or guitarist who turns their amp up full otherwise "it doesn't sound right".

Man, WIll's really rocking the Breck hair in that Lucinda McGuinn video.

Matt OTM. I remember a conversation with guy who had been in the show a few times who he said something like "Paul, Will and company have been doing it for so long they are like the crew of a B52 bomber."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-f3Weo2vs4

Cracker, with their drummer on tambourine and dance moves: "Teen Angst"

Think I already posted the Poi Dog Pondering appearance upthread. Believe they managed to get the whole band on stage somehow. One guy had to play percussion on a soda can iirc.

It wouldn't surprise me if Paul renegotiated his contract at some point so that they always had to play with the bands in order to give him and his band more to do on the show. They were and are highly well-connected so maybe they thought it was their due. But Matt's explanation could very well be right.

Still think it must have had something to do with either union rules, royalty payments or both.

Yeah, but the practice stopped when they went to CBS and they may have been worried about losing bookings to Leno.

They still did a version of it at CBS: bands appear in their full lineups, but sometimes the house band would play along with them to beef up the sound. However, usually when this happened, Paul & co. wouldn't get as much screentime during the performances.

Speaking of CBS, Dave's people have been having clips from that era removed left and right as of late.

Dave's staff has really stepped up trying to post their own clips. Somewhat ghoulishly perhaps, anytime a celebrity who was on the show dies they'll get an old interview with them up that same day.

...or just if somebody's in the news. Noticed they put up some Blink-182 stuff right after the reunion announcement.

Anyway, this is new to me: Sonic Youth (w/a very pregnant Kim) doing "Bull In The Heather" on the CBS show.

https://digg.com/music/link/sonic-youth-letterman-1994-GqIWpyBSo0

Paul and the band have to sit silently and watch.

By the time Letterman moved to CBS, Shaffer’s band rarely accompanied musical guests.

And I always assumed the main reason one or two members of a band had to play with Shaffer et al on NBC was the size of the studio. For the first few years of Late Night the Bangles, R.E.M., and Dylan, among others, played without Shaffer’s band, but Letterman was moved to a new, and smaller, studio around ‘86-‘87 or so, making it difficult-to-impossible to fit even just a four-piece band’s gear etc. onto the stage.

when we played the CBS show Paul & the band hung around to watch our performance from their stations, even though we were dead last and they all could have bailed early. out of sight of the camera Schaeffer was there really bopping head head along and following what we were doing, just rocking out, and it made me feel like a million, billion bucks. One of the best "go ahead and meet your heroes" experiences I can imagine

Cool!

Another one of those 'discreet augmentation' bits from the CBS Orchestra:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d75oeqBBVA

ZZ Top: "What's Up With That"

On that same tip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIpmUroL2D4

Johnny Winter: "Dust My Broom"

oh man that Johnny Winter one is hot stuff

the letterman youtube videos have started including ads and psas at the end, it's lovely stuff

From now or then?

era appropriate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opdndYLhcJI

Richard Thompson: "I Feel So Good" (Will Lee going HAM during the guitar solo)

Posted before, but was taken down:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Y_3t629YM

Breeders: "So Sad About Us" (with bonus Who from TWMDB afterwards)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3MxcmfEtxo

Ray Davies (no Kinks, not even Dave): "How Do I Get Close?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVgeAK6IN4s

Los Lobos: "Reva's House"

I stayed up for that Ray Davies appearance (hey, 11:30-12:30 Central was LATE on a weeknight for a high schooler who had to get up at 6am for Jazz Band practice). I was disappointed that Dave wasn’t there, but liked the performance anyway. And Letterman’s wrong: it was their 26th album (counting live albums, not counting compilations), not their 48th.

It’s hard to see the hype sticker, but it calls the Kinks “The World’s Premier Rock & Roll Band!” They really wanted to fill the stadiums that the Stones and Who had filled in the summer of ‘89, but UK Jive topped out at #122 in the US, and the best they could hope for was 1/2-empty sheds on their 1990 tour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo6V2V6luLY

Liz Phair: "Supernova"

WOW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYifslpfSq8

The Feelies: "Doin' It Again"

oh big cheers for that one - they sound good!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaoEuyObRkY

Bo Diddley: "Bo Diddley Put The Rock In Rock-'n'-Roll"

Lol @ Dave's bit of business with the LP cover at the start of the Liz Phair clip

(Liz doesn't sound her best there... too bad)

https://consequence.net/2023/01/paul-shaffer-fill-in-the-roots-jimmy-fallon/

(posted today)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnUI4a7BKpE

Letterman did one of his primetime anniversary specials not long after the SNL incident, including part of that clip in a musical guests montage, and there was audible booing.

On a related note, here's Julee Cruise w/the SNL band when she and the Spanic Boys pitch-hit for Sinead in '90.

https://vimeo.com/145203027

Borrowing from the "Controversial Opinions" thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29mx2bYvrJk

Herbie Hancock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htqlOFuO-QM

#onethread

Slightly fixated on that Jon Lovitz-looking background dancer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-LZodq5Qxg

Ray Davies & The Max Weinberg 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYB22jmw3YY

David Johansen & The Max Weinberg 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQR52G6gvSk

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There's a bunch of Lou Reed clips like this, but singling this one out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVFcj-QLpu0

"Busload of Faith" during a Chicago residency. The Lou Mullet is OUT OF CONTROL

^^James Cotton on harp!

an example of this I quite admire is when XTC were on the show in 1989. I *think* this is the one and only time they played live on television after 1982 and PS and his band do a pretty good job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amx5CK7vdoc

from an interview with the plugz' bassist re: their famous/great turn as bob dylan's band on letterman in 1984:

Paul Shaffer tried to jam along with us at soundcheck. It didn't go well for Paul. Bob told Bill Graham, “Lose the clown on the keyboard.”

Ok, so I nominate this as the best clip of all of this phenomenon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUPSilcJFrQ

Duane Eddy sits in...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqy0JafNerE

the boys jamming with sly and robbie, 1985.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Padjp3Fhnhg

every year or 3 i do a search for the video evidence of john mcenroe jamming with toots and the maytals on his short-lived late nite show. no luck so far.

Do you know the David Bowie story about him?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcC6nx3C8i0

Pretty sure this is a repost. But I love this collection of Lou Reed playing on Letterman

xp

i didn't, but i just searched and assume you mean the story of bowie catching him butchering the "rebel rebel" riff in a hotel they were both staying in. ha!

Yes, that’s the one

Rosanne Cash & The World's Most Dangerous Country Band (featuring Anton Fig)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvsO8HvcTGs

A HAWT "Green, Yellow & Red"

Master bassist Will Lee on bongos! Anton and Mike D do the duel drums.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7-17aBxu5o

an example of this I quite admire is when XTC were on the show in 1989. I *think* this is the one and only time they played live on television after 1982 and PS and his band do a pretty good job.

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