Jeff "Skunk" Baxter: Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and the Sound of an Era
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is one of the most iconic guitarists of all time, and in this interview, he shares the incredible stories behind his legendary career. From playing unforgettable solos on Steely Dan hits like "My Old School" and "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" to his time with The Doobie Brothers, Jeff opens up about what it was like to shape the sound of two of the most influential bands in rock history. He also dives into his approach to guitar, the music industry, and some of the behind-the-scenes moments that only someone with his experience could share. If you’re into classic rock or just love a great story, check this out.
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Rick, you are interviewing the legends of music before they are gone. Please continue your archive before it's too late.
I'm not shure if Rick is interviewing them, but he doesn't interrupt them when they start talking.
@@markschattefor6997 that's a musicians spelling for sure
What any new musician should learn..."you gotta do the work"!
@@neilmarsh7437 A vocalist pins his preferred mic to the wall.
@@neilmarsh7437 Well maybe you haven't noticed, but not everybodies first language is English, so a little mistake so now and then shouldn't be a problem.
But I love that you pointed out that little funny mistake I made.
And sadly or maybe luckily I'm NOT a musician. ;-)
Yeah man!!! I met Skunk when I was a skycap at Orlando Intl. way back June 1995. Jeff got out of a Bronco truck onto our curb on his way to a flight. I recognized him and I yelled, "SKUNK!". He walked right over to me. I think he was genuinely surprised that someone recognized him. We chatted and I asked him for his autograph. He wrote on a piece of paper, "To Dave Rock' n' Roll Forever! Jeff "Skunk" Baxter." I met a lot of celebrities in those days, but Jeff is the only autograph I ever asked for and got. I still have it. So cool.
Cool story man , it warms my heart 😂❤
At my old job, we hired Skunk to speak to our customers at a user conference we held every year. I got a chance to sit down and talk to him about what to expect and what not. He was very cordial and funny. All around genuine guy. Class act.
Hell man you just made me all emotional I swear, and I'm truly happy for you . I can Imagine how you felt and I'm 1000% with you brother ❤
My old school... I hope all of you had as much beer and fun as I had "getting ready" in the 80-ies for a night on the town! That song was always a must. Skunk and those horns... brings tears to my eyes!
Keep 'em coming, Rick!!!
Nice! I probably saw you at Orlando International, I flew out of there a few times, I live in Melbourne
I keep bringing up the fact that I'm now 88, but this 1 hour 23 minutes and 23 seconds is without a doubt one on the highlights of all my listening and viewing time that I can recall. I'll view this again, repeatedly, while I'm still able.
Keep it going, dude !! Music keeps young the brain ... yeah, Rick is a lovely host and gives his guest the space to unfold. ;-) I hope the young generation can learn from these "old bones" where music mainly was "hand made". Wish you a HNY !!! (and Merry Xmas)
I think you'll enjoy this.
The ability to explore the music and musicians of youth is one of the best aspects of the internet.
I'm 69, so I'm a "youngster". I wish you many years of music.
💛💛💛💛💛
HOW THE HELL can anyone not love Jeff Skunk Baxter??
He is an American Treasure!!!
God bless him and you! May you both live and play until both over 100*
One time before internet I thought he was the DJ on WKRP in Cincinnati 😂
Unexpected sentence of the day "So one day, Andres Segovia walks in" LOVE IT!
I let out an involuntary belly laugh that scared my cat. Totally out of left field...
That story blew my mind...can you imagine?
I know just like that , and fixed his Ramirez 😅 love this man
Dude, exactly when he said that my face hit the floor❤
Yeah, that also floored me Serendipitous...!
Rick, as a journalist, I really appreciate you allowing the guest to fully explain their answer before following up with another question. That is so important because often times the brilliance comes out at the very end. Also, with regard to Skunk, he has some of the greatest and most iconic leads in the history of music. How do I know? Because I can play them in my head fifty years later!
For real I hate when the interviewer keeps interrupting the guest not letting them finish a thought. Rick doesn't do that. He is a great interviewer.
Yeah man. Thank you for letting him talk...🤟
Completely. That's the difference between a great interviewer, and someone who thinks that the interview is about them.
Too many interviewers want the audience to be just as impressed with them as the person being interviewed. Not Rick.
@@davidk7324 Rick talks as a friend, and then steps back. A rare gift.
Absolutely jaw-dropping--Bloomfield and Zappa jamming in the front of the store, and freakin' Segovia comes in to get his Ramirez fixed for his gig that night at Carnegie Hall, telling a teenaged Skunk Baxter in Spanish to tell those guys to stop hanging their guitars around their necks like canoe paddles. Are you kidding me right now? Then he goes on to play legendary solos on some of the most legendary recordings ever. And then he sincerely says at the end he's surprised anybody's interested in anything he has to say lol. I hope Rick recognizes how important it is what he's doing right now, documenting these incredible conversations with these incredible musicians. Please keep doing this, man!
That was one of the craziest stories I’ve ever heard. Viva Segovia
That was one of the very best comments I’ve ever read! That was concise, thorough, and substantive.
Very well done! 🙏🏻
Yesiree! Maximum Respect!
Another stellar interview!
Rick, you are creating the World Encyclopedia of Rock History Videos.
Best interview ever. Wow, Skunk is one fine human being.
I could listen to Skunk talk for hours and not get bored. Fascinating man who has seen more than most of us ever will.
Playing a Tele body that he scored "Dumpster diving at the fender factory" Yikes, what a provenance!
Yeah, it was an enjoyable insight into a legendary musician. I always saw him on in the media but never delved into him personally. OMG, how interesting...!
Loved this! What a legend. I could listen to him all day.
Jeff has a slow deliberate speaking style and I have heard so many nervous interviewers jump in and cut him off. Thank you for giving him the time to finish those awesome stories. Excellent job, Rick.
This. This. This!!
Yes, this! So many interviewers and other content creators seem to have a phobia of silence. The spaces in between are important in both music and speech.
Truth spoken.
Rick knows how to do it. And they all feel comfortable with him.
Skunk is a prodigy beyond music. He was once a member of a think tank for the United States Department of Defense. We are so fortunate that you were able to get this interview, Rick!!
I just looked him up on Wikipedia. Pretty crazy how he came by that knowledge. Smart guy.
Beato is on an absolute tear with these big names.
Most of the big names seem to be interviewed by Rick.
They're all calling their agents and asking how to get on Beato.
Wonder if Rick will ever get to interview Donald Fagen....
He's reached the tipping point... Now people will be coming to him.
Rick is a musician's musician. The reason these interviews are so perfect is because we're watching Rick being amazed at his guests along with us. If the interviewer is GENUINELY interested and fascinated by his guests, it makes the perfect interview.
Absolutely, I watched, listened and made notes.
Yep, he's as into it as we are... It's just as fun watching him react as well... Quite a unique man!
So many interviews that we both go "wow" at the same time!
...the recording artists recognize this in Rick and open up to him un guardedly, which makes for insightful conversations.
@Long2556 exactly. I've yet to see a dull interview with Rick. He asks about all the stuff I'm interested in. I love when he gets into the musical details, like specific chords, harmonies, etc... I can't get that anywhere else. No one does interviews like Rick.
Skunk Baxter is an amazing fellow, great musician, and actually consulted on missile technology for national defense. He is what can reliably be referred to as a Renaissance Man. And this was a wonderful interview, thank you Rick, thank you Mr. Baxter!
I was going to say genius
@turdferguson4453 Yep within the first few minutes of this interview you can tell he is a genius. The fact that he did all of this musical stuff and was defense consultant is mind boggling.
@@Minor7thb5 And an expert in asymmetrical warfare.
You've gotta be a rocket scientist to be able to play pedal steel well.
@@AhBeeDoi It's amazing with the kind of talent he has how much humility he has - which helps him tell those great stories about every moment of his career, as well as his youth working in guitar stores. He seems in awe of his own experiences encountering other musicians and it was clear how he loved to learn from them.
Last night I'm working at my repair bench. I've got this vintage unit I picked up cheap that needs some some hours put into it... It's a labor of love because this is a unit I used to play with for hours on end back in the 70's, and now I've got one of my own. I've got this Rick Beato Jeff Baxter interview going while I work. I'm deep in this bird's nest of wires when I hear Jeff's say, "I cut that on a Teac 3340S 4 track." I thought I imagined it. THATS what I was working on. Ha what a laugh.
Awesome!
I know the guy is humble and doesnt care for compliments, further I know he wont be reading these comments here. But thank you Mr. Baxter for doing this interview. Loved every second of listening.
ROBERT FRIPP …. you must be one of the few people on the planet that he may be willing to be interviewed by. Please try (probably again) to persuade him. I’m sure there are tens of thousands of Fripp fans who would love to view the result. Thank you again for what you do!
Yes Rick. Please interview the king!
FRIPP! FRIPP! FRIPP! FRIPP!
(read this to the beat of "Game Over" by Lil Flip for maximum effect)
Thought the same when the whole sitting down to play segment was on :)
Rick, this has to be on your wish list. Fripp + Steve Hackett; 2 great sit down players
Yep, agree 100%
As a paleontology fan, hearing Jeff say "Cretaceous" makes me appreciate him more! Legendary musician as well, of course.
....and I'll add "heuristic" to the list.....Jeff's a Renaissance man, along with Rick.
Ain't going to lie, had to look that one up.
Last era of the dinosaurs. But the best era, not Jurassic. The biggest Carnivores and Herbivores were around in the Cretaceous
"Know I know where the rest of my intellect went." :o) He's smart beyond description.
Me also.
There's name dropping and there's this. The interview starts like a book you know you're not going to be able to put down. Fascinating, articulate, intelligent, entertaining...I could go on, but I'll finish with a genuine thank you both so much.
And the topper…at the near end… “We gave Oscar Peterson…”
yep, I couldn't "put it down', and really didn't have the time to watch it, but, alas, I did!... lol!
@@bigvrocks2480 Just as well it's here for a while. I had to leave it to go to rehearsal. It's a hard life!
Last Monday (December 1) at the boarding lobby of the Burbank airport, I saw this man sit down near me and I thought he looked just like Skunk Baxter, so I went over and told him he looked a lot like Skunk Baxter. He looked at me and asked, "I do?" then he paused for a moment and said, "I am". I told him I was a big fan and he thanked me, then extended his arm to shake my hand. I would have loved to have a conversation with him, but it was crowded, so I just asked for a selfie and then just let him enjoy some privacy in a crowded public space (nobody else recognized him, or if they did they didn't approach him). I have been a big fan since 1972. Rick, thank you for asking Skunk about all the things I would have wanted to ask so I could hear what he had to say. You are an excellent interviewer and I very much appreciate what you do so the rest of us can hear our heroes tell their stories.
Very cool! I live in Burbank and come across so many unrecognized major contributors to the arts. Hardly anyone notices them, so I briefly interact with them to hopefully brighten their day. I rarely approach the popular celebrities of today since they’re good for now :) I’m sure you made Skunk Baxter’s day!
I love this !
Wow, what an awesome encounter! There is nothing better than accidentally running into someone you never expected to meet and they turn out to be really gracious and cool. Happy Holidays!
@@metalfaceoff945Ain't that the truth. My best friend ran into Ruth Brown at Mickey D's in Studio City. You never know.
Saw Steely Dan with Skunk Baxter in 1973 at the Rainbow in London, absolutely amazing, still in my memory banks. This man is what I call an all time great. Thank you Rick for this fabulous interview and thank you Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter for all your wonderful music.
Very jealous.
What a fascinating guy he is! You can see right away how intelligent he is, yet he seems to have no pretenses about him and he comes across as a humble man who appreciates everything good that happens to him.
Wow Rick, you did it again. After David Gilmour, I thought you had to quit, because there was no way you could top that, but I was so wrong! Please never stop, this is the stuff of legends.
This is a dude worth listening to, humble, observant.
They don’t make them like this anymore. Musicians of his era were 3 parts philosophers 1 part performers.
.... also has an IQ of 167... that's scary smart!
@@onefatstratcat The guy used his expertise in electronics and use of data-compression algorithms to somehow help the US military understand assymetric warfare. That is functioning on a whole 'nother level. And all that started because Skunk had a neighbor who was an avionics engineer and Skunk liked reading his aviation magazines. I thought it was interesting during this interview where he said to play a pedal steel guitar apparatus it helps to have a pilot's license!!
Rick, all I can say is thank you so much for interviewing all of these great players and hearing their incredible stories. Skunks memory is incredible.
Rick, this is absolutely sick. This is the type of interview you let future generations watch.
Actually, Gen Z and any generation to follow will not have the foresight to look back at expert musicianship. I tried to get my boys into The Eagles and they wont bite
Talk about name dropping! Segovia, Hendrix, Zappa, Atkins, Beck, Slash, Peterson...WOW!
Don’t forget Beethoven being the greatest pedal steel player 😮
Billy & the Beaters!
Rick's interviews are becoming a wish list of musicians I've always wanted to see interviewed in a cohesive, respectful, non-tabloid manner that allows them to both celebrate their musical contributions and simply the love of music I think we all share. Thank you so much Mr. Beato for making these happen. Cheers!
We all are in your debt for this, Rick.
Absolutely
Thank you so much. ❤
I consider Jeff "Skunk" Baxter one of the top five guitarists of all time. And, "My Old School" is one of my top five favorite songs of all time. And, as Rick says, any of the top five could easily be number one. Thank you Rick and Skunk for one of the top five interviews I have ever seen.
There are popstars, then there are musical artists. Once in half a century, there's a Jeff Baxter. To say he exceeds the musical boundaries doesn't even begin to tell his story. And Rick, you are the best interviewer since Dick Cavett. Thank you both!
Skunk is an awesome story teller and Rick is smart enough to stay out of his way and give him all the room he needs to do his thing. Incredible interview Rick! Hopefully Donald Fagan will soon be in Rick’s interview chair.
I've been hoping and waiting for Skunk to show up for an interview. This is a Great Day!!
Waddy Watchel next?
Fascinating guy!
Rick is one of THE BEST interviewers going. Ask a question and let them go. I didn't want it end. Skunk is a guy you want to listen to as much as possible. Guitars, playing, recording, inventing, whatever, he's a precious resource.
Rick not only asks great questions and listens well - his energy creates a comfortable atmosphere for people to share...
I met Skunk back in 1976 he shook my hand for it seemed like 5 minutes thanking me for coming to see him in the Doobie Brothers. Gave me a beer and we had a great conversation. Amazing guy and I still have my Doobie's shirt signed by him but Michael only gave me a hello and took off. But about 20 years later I saw Michael McDonald play and got him to sign the same shirt. Skunk is definitely one of the greatest guitar players of our time. And by the way Livin' on the Fault Line was always my favorite LP and I have it right here.
Jeff has mind-blowing knowledge, range, and love for the instrument plus a total respect for fellow players, what a human. Purity comes thru, rare. Demos of the steel? Please, please Rick, pretty pleaeeeese. We need more Jeff
In "My Old School", that horn line after "California tumbles into the sea" is just the most beautiful thing!
Ending with the bari sax: Plop!
The horns arrangement on that song..... truly one of a kind!
As a native of Mexico City, I didn't have a clue that Skunk Baxter grew up here and did some gigs with Mexican bands in the 60's, like Los Hooligans -their biggest hit was "Agujetas de color de rosa" ("Pink-Colored Shoe Laces"), and I'm told I was barely one or two years old when I first heard it; now I think it maybe was the first rock'n'roll song that I danced to... hahaha... Phenomenal interview, Rick.
I know this guy from high school in Mexico City.
@alfredoasalidelamora5945 My good!
Me too! And he worked at Radio Éxitos!!😮
life is so amazing!
Jeff's Mexico City stories really hit home for me. I spent the 60s in the city and as a young teen got into radio and music there. A very creative city.
Life lesson from Skunk - "I just wanted to see where it goes." Another great Beato interview.
Technically a lesson from Oscar Peterson
Thank you Rick for hosting Skunk! Truly a treasure hearing his stories
Watching Skunk air guitar along with “My Old School” is priceless. What a career, what a storyteller, maybe my favorite interview yet!!
At first I thought he was doing an air guitar too, and maybe he was, but some of those motions made me think he was playing an air saxophone.
😊 7:17 skunk mentions my dads band “ Joey Dee and the Starliters” while talking about Jimi Hendrix. AWESOME !
Born & raised in Queens, the Peppermint Lounge was still popping into the 80’s ..
Yeah, mixed them at Little Darlins in FLA
One of the best and most enjoyable interviews to date. "Skunk" is a national treasure .
Skunk's pedal steel playing on "Pearl Of The Quarter" is beautiful. One of my favorite SD tracks. Great interview Rick 👍👍
As well as the Doobie Brothers "South City Midnight Lady".
Also "Razor Boy".
Pedal.
I was going to say that, fabulous
This guy played the freaking music and he still has it in his "feels" when he listens to it - the magic of music is a real thing. Skunk is a phenom!
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is hands down a true living legend.
Great interview Rick.
🙏 CLASSIC 🙏🙏
Not only a phenomenal guitarist but probably one of the most iconic 'staches in rock in roll.
Tiran Porter is a monster bass player. Just listen to those DBB songs. I’ve been a long time fan of Jeff’s and I’m really glad to see him with Rick. Another stellar interview.
@ronjon5386 I saw Skunks reaction to Tirans playing. 💥💥
Thank you Rick. This interview is an instant treasure. Skunk is the real life Walter Mitty of modern music.
Listening to these interviews feels like the audio version of pouring over liner notes on an album. Man, I miss those days, but you certainly bring it back with these incredible interviews. Keep it going!
20 yrs ago in downtown San Diego in the Gaslamp area. I was walking by a restaurant - and happened to be wearing a black vest over my shirt. Skunk walked onto the sidewalk and asked me to get a cab for him. I told him I wasnt who he thought I was but I was a big fan of his. I didnt hold him up with questions or platitudes - but had a quick hello with him. Skunk didnt mention it here as one of his highlights, so he may not remember.
These interviews are the oral history of popular music over the last 50 years. The Grammy Academy or the Smithsonian need to preserve this stuff for posterity.
One of Rick's BEST interviews EVER-- specific and so cool!
Once again I was just going to watch the first few minutes then skip around. Watched it all. I knew about Skunk but never seen him in an interview. Made my day.
Skunk Baxter is more of a genius than I realized until now. Maybe my favorite Beato interview ever.
Boy does this bring back memories. I am now 72 but as a young man I was a keyboard player who grew up in the north side of Chicago area. My introduction to playing rock and roll was through my distant cousin Michael Bloomfield who was an amazing guitar player who never got the real praise he richly deserved. Rest in peace Michael.
Mike Bloomfield never got real praise?!
Season of the Witch alone is popping up on so many soundtracks.
If you claim to love Blues and you don't know Mike Bloomfield, well then you don't
I'm 72 also and i recently read a great biography about him called "Guitar King" by David Dann. He wasn't a pop star just one of the greatest guitar players who ever lived and every
player on earth to this day knows it.
Just by coincidence, on the drive to work this morning I was listening to Skunk's blistering solo on "Wheels of Fortune." This is pure joy.
Great taste! A Doobs favorite of mine. Particularly Tiran's bass riffs.
The guitar solo in “Rikki” is one of my favorites….. it is pure perfection. And to hear the details from Skunk… too cool. It starts out somewhat bold in the context of the tune and wow it resolves so beautifully!
Skunk plays with so much energy. He always injects a little humor into his playing.
Best musical interviewer ever!! I have never been disappointed in Rick's interviews. He is just there to help move the artist along. Skunk Baxter is as interesting as a musician can be!!! Thank you Rick.
Totally agree.
If there's ever a Skunk Baxter biopic, JK Simmons is right there as this version of Jeff.
What a generous fellow! That was a real treat! Thank you Rick! Now get Denny Dias 😉
That's what I'm talking about!!! Nobody plays like Denny!
My first concert was the Doobie Brothers in Montgomery, AL ~July 27, 1977. I always wondered why Skunk Baxter chose to sit down most of the time. Now I know. Great interview.
My first show was Medford, OR Oct. 11th '77 in a place that normally held 8,000. I think the announced attendance was 10,000. That place was packed. The backdrop was the album cover. Thought it was cool it was a picture of the transamerica pyramid.
The way he just name drops all these various artists, music stores and clubs is utterly amazing! You can't put a price tag on the stories coming out of Jeff and all the older artists you have on your show.... This is like an oral history lesson told by the actual artists themselves. Best content on YT by a mile! Thank you, Rick for yet another outstanding interview!
Saw him live last year in CT, was very engaging and still can play great, and had a few surprises up his sleeve as well!🫡🔥👍🏻👍🏻
It's amazing isn't it! Some people "name-drop" but he's just like oh yeah, I was with so and so and.... amazing!! Great interview huh!
Abraham Laborials son is Paul Mccartneys drummer.
There's so much more to Skunk than just his guitar and percussion talents. Massive respect for the gentleman.
I liked how Rick’s ears perked up even more when Skunk started talking about Oscar Peterson. What a great way to close another phenomenal conversation.
Thank you Rick and Skunk
Jeff The Skunk Baxter is so beyond words. As a guitarist, musician and human being. What an amazing soul he is. Absolute treasure!💙
Back around 2009 I had the chance to speak with Jeff prior to a Ventures show at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. I knew he haunted the DC area as a proponent of intelligence matters and I assumed he was there to see the show. Nope--he was sitting in with 'em! Jeff was the coolest, kindest gentleman. Humble, too. And halfway through the show Jeff gave his testimony about how he got drawn into playing guitar by The Ventures . I had tears in my eyes. Thank you Jeff for all the great music. And thank you Rick for this lovely interview.
Love the Ventures, Still have their 10Th Anniversary double vinyl. Always thought SD was pretty cool even if wasn’t “rock”. Can’t believe how Jeff is in both those worlds. Crazy amazing.
I could listen to "Skunk" for hours! He is an incredible historian of music....Stay Gold!
That guy SKUNK is a LEGEND... and still so down to earth. SO inspiring. I picked up and was noodling around my guitar while watching the video. Cheers Rick. Another winner here
When I was a kid I was a huge Steely Dan and Doobies fan, and I always just viewed Skunk as that sideman with the big mustache, mainly because he wasn't in the front position. Little did I know just how significant he was to the success of so many records, bands and songs. I love your interviews like this that shine the correct light on guys like this who are such legends that maybe never got their due in their day by the typical listener...even though all the other musicians knew it all along. Skunk is a fascinating dude and I'd love to just hang with him for hours and listen to his wisdom and great stories.
Yeah I think the fact that he sat when he played a lot of the fans didn't realize how much he was putting in. But he is a musicians musician 👌
Awesome that Jeff put Slash onto the steel guitar. Related story: every year, my kids attend the Otis Redding Music Camp in Macon, GA. One of the coaches is Dawn Jackson, who owns Jackson Steel Guitars. Slash plays Jackson Steel Guitars. This year, he asked Dawn if he could visit the kids at Otis Camp (virtually). So that's how my kids got to talk to Slash this summer! All because of Jeff Baxter!
This interview is pure GOLD. I live in Nashville and I see a lot of people trying to make it in the music business. But here's Skunk Baxter laying down the truth. He has ate, slept, and breathed music his entire life and he's very well educated.
Thank you Rick, what Skunk said "sing what you play !!!" wow, best lesson right there !!!
This☝️! Years ago I had reached a plateau in my bass playing and was struggling to learn new songs. I decided to try a George Benson approach, singing along to what I was playing. It quickly unlocked a whole new skill set for me. Hear a song, hum the bass line, play it. Soon I was playing through an entire album in the time it used to take to learn 1 song. Eventually my brain became faster at processing what I was hearing, so the singing part wasn't necessary. Hear a pitch, fretting hand goes straight to the root position. And the first two albums I revisited with this technique? Pretzel Logic and The Captain and Me!
Oteil? Is that you?
Glad to hear the love for Tiran Porter, I've always thought he was overlooked. Great bass player and he really shines on Takni' It To The Streets.
What a genius. Mr. Baxter's talent, intellect, deep musical knowledge- history, theory, professional experience-- mind boggling. AND he is also a classically trained pianist, who plays drums! A jazz monster too. This is a fascinating video for anyone who has ever picked up an instrument or listened to an y pop tune and wondered how it was created. And for Steely Dan Fans this could be the holy grail. There is more meat on the bone here than can be digested in one sitting. Skunk's intellect and talent are almost superhuman. Hats off to this legend and thank you Rick for the way you apply your own great knowledge and superb interviewing skills.
It was a privilege to see Skunk live in a bar in Auckland in the mid 80's demoing the Roland guitar synth, I was sitting about 5 meters from the stage. He had a kick ass band with him and they played a great version of Rikki Don't Lose that Number.
WOW! The inner twenty-year-old me is just cheering for this interview, because the twenty-year-old me, a HUGE Doobie Brothers fan, who first saw them at Littlejohn Coliseum at Clemson in spring 1974 (fairly new band Lynyrd Skynyrd opened), saw this new, cool as hell guitarist, seated on stage with the Doobie Brothers in Macon, GA ('75, maybe '76?), who gave off more energy sitting down than the rest of the band who were standing up! And it is extra cool that Baxter's personality is just as I thought he'd be, all these years. What a top-tier musician, and congrats for getting this legendary musician on your show!
The Segovia story gave me literal goosebumps
Same here!!
I’m not even a musician but I’m fascinated by Skunk’s stories. Just an amazing human being.
We must protect Skunk at all costs. This man is a legend among the greats. Awesome sit-down, Rick.
Not only is he an awesome guitar player, he sounds super smart and is a nice person as well. Bubble-wrap him at once !🤣
Protect him from what?
Never would’ve thought that Skunk Baxter was in the Mexican rock and roll scene in the early 60s!!!! It would be amazing to get more into the details of that time as it is under documented!!! What a great interview and an amazing player!! Greetings from Ciudad de Mexico
In every respect, the perfect guest for your show, Rick! Such a brilliant player, such an icon, such a formidable figure in music during what we can all look back on as an incredibly imaginative and sophisticated period in rock/pop. Could listen to Skunk all day!
Rick, you’ve interviewed many greats. Jeff is the greatest, most entertaining of them all.
Well, I would like to see a death match between Skunk Baxter and Stewart Copeland.
Andy summers from police was another High, i didnt expect that he would be that entertaining
@ which… If you think about the very recent David Gilmour interview… You’ll understand what a bummer it was and wanna let down. I mean, it kind of seemed like a little bit of an advert for the new album. I mean, we wanted to be much longer. To talk about Pink Floyd. Maybe a little bit about Syd Barrett. About songwriting. And all of that stuff.
Of course it’s interesting to me. Is that David Gilmour is a fantastic guitar player and musician… Even while being somewhat limited… I mean compared to Skunk Baxter or Pat Metheny or 100 other guys. That’s not to say that his heart and his emotions and his ability to create evocative music as an artist is limited. He’s really great and he’s one of my favorites. But…
Well, I would rate David's solo on "Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2" as one of the best of all time.
@ no doubt about it.🩷🩷🩷
Wow.
What an incredible interview.
That man is just fantastic!!
What a talent!! What a many of talents!
He is one of those guys who has a tinker brain and an endless amount of curiosity and passion to go to great lengths to find the results of anything he has buzzing in his mind.
The guy is super intelligent and regular hang for a good minute. Skunk is legendary and it is understood.
Thank you Rick for your service and genius to be the best interviewer for the American Songbook. These interviews are historic and will be preserved over time. These are some of the best interviews I have ever listened to.
Unbelievable interview! Great stories, great behind the scenes from a Master. Rick you are the best interviewer on the planet. Knowledgeable, informed and intuitive….
I'm listening to this almost as a radio interview. Back in the day you used to hear this sort of interview on the radio fairly often.
One of my favorite interviews, Rick! Jeff is an amazing human being, and a legendary musician. One of the best guitarists ever! He's also pretty involved in physics! Thank you, Rick!!
That Midnight Special performance of My Old School is incredible! Great to hear the talk about it. I wish there were more Steely Dan performances from that time.
I think the other song recorded from that session was My Old School.
Rick GREAT interview! I had the pleasure of meeting Skunk years ago, at of all places, a national security conference. He does have a career outside of music. I think I was one of two people who recognized him. He's such an awesome guitarist, but more importantly an awesome person.
Again, Rick, you have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, only a musician can properly interview another musician...fantastic work !
Fantastic discussion with Jeff Baxter...I could listen to him talk about his career and experiences for hours...fascinating guy!
Excellent. Jeff is so intelligent, talented and in tune with everything around him. He is an icon from an era that is soon to become bygone I'm afraid. Makes me happy and sad at the same time. Thank you Rick. Well done!
Ricks place. Where legends gather. A stupendously great interview. Thank you Rick!
The newer generations have "0" clue on true musicianship from icons like Skunk. Listening to how the try to perfect their craft is priceless. These interviews with the greats are truly a treasure.
Simply incredible...thank you for the honor to listen...
Legend! You've done it again, Rick! What an honor it must have been to talk with him about his fabulous career!
I have said this many times before but... I have endless respect for Jeff Baxter's playing after hearing the solos in My Old School....like this with them in the interview...back then I remember my young ears exploding.....and saying how did he do that? I remember how that felt and I still ask that....and I have never heard anyone play like that....which puts Baxter in a place in my humble opinion.....a place where only he stands. There are may fine players out there...but I will always point in his direction.....and with endless respect.....once again Rick a fantastic interview.
Wow Rick, this might be your best interview ever!!! That was priceless. Thank you! 🙏
what a fantastic interview ive been a fan of skunk and all the bands he played with. i also grew up in new york city and use to go to the brill building all the places he mentioned reminded me of of that magical time in the 60 s when people really loved live music thank you for the wonderful stories skunk
Some people are exceptional people who found themselves in exceptional places at exceptional times. This guy is the friggin Forest Gump of great music. Exceptional interview Rick. Thank you!