When Skunk said that he thinks that "Ringo was one of those guys who was less interested in being somebody than doing something" he was describing exactly why the Beatles were genius, as a group. When the Beatles were playing, it was always about the music. It was always about the song. They never sought to stand out as individuals in that respect. They always subjugated their egos to make the music great rather than themselves.
"Ringo's a sweetheart." BTW--This guy's guitar work on "My Old School" is awesome; it blows me away no matter how many times I hear it. In fact, I think I'll play that song now.
Love this....I was a trumpet player until the Beatles came on the Ed Sullivan show, and at the age of 11,the trumpet years were done...Because of Ringo..At 72,I'm still playing and teaching drums.Jazz Rock,Funk,Latin...I've played all styles...BUT..It started with Ringo Starr.
Met Jeff in around 76, 77, when he was with the Doobie Brothers. Our band was the opening act. Very nice person it was a pleasure to meet him, I have his autograph. I'm a fan. How are you doing, Jeff? I hope all is well! Monty
I read a story of Mr. Baxter doing session work. On one call, he was tasked with playing 29 musical sheets from beginning to end. With no breaks. He set up stands for them all and sat in a rolling chair and had someone wheel him along from sheet to sheet for a continual score. Think about that. To me it seems a monumental task. Amazing.
The humility of the Beatles amazes me. They all became world-famous and wealthy at an early age and remained very humble throughout their lives. Paul and Ringo have said their famous personas are separate from their personal lives and treat them as different people. Ringo stated no one in his personal life calls him that. Macca will say, "That McCartney guy is pretty famous," like it's someone else. 😆
I saw a Ringo interview from the early days where Ringo said: "You can never tell how long fame will last, it could all be gone tomorrow.". He said he would be happy if he made enough money to open a Hair Dressing salon. Humble.
Jeff man in black skunk Baxter. 😂 I had no idea. I’d like to know more. Somehow I’m thinking if he did things for the government, it was good things. Things that were working for peace. How can you be a Doobie Brother and not work towards ☮️
i tell you what my Northern Friend, you really do create good content. I'm 39 years old and i get to learn an awful lot about the legends from channels like this. its appreciated. Happy new Year.
One of my favorite guitar player magazines back in the day was Jeff’s interview… what entertaining insights and also practical lessons, he imparted upon us all those years ago! I always remembered how Dolly Parton was trying to explain to him that she wanted fireworks with reds and greens and explosions and etc. … Of course, Mr. Baxter delivered the goods while Dolly was going “wheeee wheeeeeee!!!”
Amazing musician, loved his Steely Dan work and had no idea about Jeff's Defense work. Also nice to hear someone like Jeff complimenting Ringo rather than the usual back sniping we get among artists.
I know Skunk, well really not but I remember seeing and talking to Skunk at many DOD tradeshows. Skunk would be at the DOD tradeshows walking around taking in all the new tech items. Sometimes Skunk would wear a suit. All the time there was a group of Washington DC suits fallowing Skunk like young groupies'. No they were not their to see or hear his music, they were there to be part of his genius DOD ideas . I guess his brain was really active for music just like it was for ideas in the Washington DOD arena . Skunk had/has a genus brain. I would easy say that Skunk came up with many ideas for the DOD that has and will save many young soldiers lives.
Some of my favorite interviews will always include Skunk Baxter... in 72 when the 1st Steely Dan Album came out... I have been a huge fan of him ever since..huge respect
Everyone talks about Jeff’s work with the Doobies, etc. But if you want to hear some amazing pedal steel work from Jeff, listen to ‘Hannah and Gabi’ by the Lemonheads. Just beautiful - really makes that song.
No secret Ringo is above Jeff’s rank in that “other career”. There’s an Elliot Mintz interview with Ringo and Ringo’s cat enters the room and we learn the cat’s name, Spook. 58:50.
Always seems so incongruous that Jeff was a sublime musician and also a technical genius. Music is so intuitive and soulful , technology cut and dried logic and math and physics.
Jeff Is Real I Met Him At Cherokee Sound on Fairfax Avenue It’s Not There Anymore He Was and a Studio Cat He Was At Cherokee Sound Just Sitting There No Guitar No Nothing Just In The Lobby He Knew Me 🎶 From Shit We Smoked a Joint I Had And He Was Not Pretentious Skunk Baxter Is Very Intelligent He Is Super Smart He Did Not Belittle Me We Talked Like 👍🏽 Brothers Most Don’t Know Jeff is Super Duper Smart Yet He is Not Arrogant We Smoked Out and He Kept His Cool Jeff “ Skunk “ Baxter Is One Super Cool 😎 Cat Sincerely
Great guitarist,nice human being,very laid back guy.Didn't know he had a double life!😮...someone mentioned his Nick-name ' SKUNK', l heard somewhere the U.S. Government had a project called (Skunkworks)??🤔
Rich Starkey has always been a very talented guy, a smart guy, and a person with insight into human nature. More than a drummer to the Beatles. He fit their rock touring period, and the later experimental years. Let me tell, Ringo could have made a career out of being a great character actor in the movies. But he chose music, and his personal life.
I ❤❤❤ Jeff Baxter ,He was in a Huge Band like Steely Band.And Especially The Doobie Brothers, And then with Rings Starr Live. MARK HUDSON AND THE HUDSON BROTHERS OUR GODS !!🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤
What an Interesting man! Didn’t know about his Stealth Government Work. Talented Man! I recently saw him in a Spirit Music Video with a LOT of Musicians playing “I’ve Got A Line On You.” It was VERY Cool 😎
all the Beatles are/were highly intelligent people... that whole crop of 60s musicians. At the level of a Beatle, I would imagine, you then are protected by the state with nifty futuristic technology
I have listened to many of the interviews that the Beatles gave when they were together, and I've heard each of them talk after they broke up. My take on all of them is that they were all above average. Ringo may seem to be dull witted to folks who haven't paid attention, but he often said things that were really perceptive.
Skunk… one of the good guys..Sure wish I could sit in that glass dome of secrecy in Get Smart with Jeff and talk secret meetings… that would be worth the price of admission
Jeff brought his gear into our office in the Pentagon once for a lunchtime jam session with some of the staff who played, and someone asked him where he got the nickname and I don't remember his response, but he would not tell us how he got the nickname. I have a VHS video of him playing at our 4th of July picnic 2001 in the Parking lot of the old Navy Annex after we moved out of the Pentagon.
Richard isn't psychic and never has been. He only knew what his band mates would get up to before the fact, and about that impending phone call because he's a time traveler. There's been almost 100 references to Ringo and Time Travel in novels, and pop culture since '71. He just says that being in the band was "like being psychic" to distract from the truth.
Of course, when you have the kind of money Ringo has, you can AFFORD to be forgiving and put things off. Money can CHANGE your outlooks in ALL KINDS of respects
The guy changed his name before he was even famous, with the hopes of being famous, the only beetle to do that, was never really asked why, because why join a group if you want to be famous for yourself, and now he’s described as a person who wants to do something?
I've never been comfortable with the fact that this guy does secret work for the government. Baxter is also a conservative. I've always enjoyed his music. Does what Baxter does follow in the tradition of The Beatles love n peace ethos?
Interesting question. Peace and Love is a great aspiration but there's still the very real anthropology 101 fact that the species finds things to fight about and ways to be horrible to each other. It is possible that we need people like Baxter to help keep the consequences of someone's worst impulses from spilling over into to daily life. Also, conservatives want 80 to 90% of what everyone else wants. Yet another dumb division we engage in simply because people act like talking to the other side will lead to an infection. Have you shown a conservative the Beatles love n peace ethos today? 😀
So essentially Skunk worked for the military industrial complex which extracts taxpayer dollars and launders it through unproductive wars to fatten the overstuffed pockets of defense contractor oligarchs. Guess he never read Smedley Butler's War Is A Racket. He was on the cover of the first Guitar Player Magazine I bought when I first picked up the guitar. Unlike him, I used to challenge my father's military service in Korea and Vietnam. He's still alive. Great guy, but we had some incredible rows when I was a kid.
😂😂😂ya don’t know sheeeet research a bit more and you’ll find the golden truth. More security clearances than the President. Missile Defense … like a bee that would go to all the different agencies and light it all with Genius. He was a pretty good boyfriend too
The Pentagon needs a steel guitar player ( asap)....send men in black to get him... what men in black are available to go pick up skunk? "sir, we have 2 agents just hanging around drinking coffee"....ok send them to pick up skunk.....what are their names? their names are Jake and Elwood...!!!
Who gives a flying F? There’s more to people than their political beliefs. You’re either too young and ignorant to realize this or you’re older and just haven’t had the good fortune to become enlightened in your life journey. I hope the former is true, because then maybe, just maybe, there’s hope for you.
What a gentleman Jeff is. And a talented artist.
Until you find out about some of the things he did.
@@deekneumann3943 Thank You, i thought the same thing, i wouldn't trust him.
When Skunk said that he thinks that "Ringo was one of those guys who was less interested in being somebody than doing something" he was describing exactly why the Beatles were genius, as a group.
When the Beatles were playing, it was always about the music. It was always about the song. They never sought to stand out as individuals in that respect. They always subjugated their egos to make the music great rather than themselves.
And this became someone
"Ringo's a sweetheart." BTW--This guy's guitar work on "My Old School" is awesome; it blows me away no matter how many times I hear it. In fact, I think I'll play that song now.
“Rikki Don’t Lose That That Number”, is one of my favorites! Such a unique lead!
Skunk's guitar work on anything is awesome. He seems like such a humble guy about it.
Yes, one of my favorite all time solos.
Love this....I was a trumpet player until the Beatles came on the Ed Sullivan show, and at the age of 11,the trumpet years were done...Because of Ringo..At 72,I'm still playing and teaching drums.Jazz Rock,Funk,Latin...I've played all styles...BUT..It started with Ringo Starr.
Met Jeff in around 76, 77, when he was with the Doobie Brothers. Our band was the opening act. Very nice person it was a pleasure to meet him, I have his autograph. I'm a fan. How are you doing, Jeff? I hope all is well! Monty
One of my favorite guitarists talking about one of my favorite drummers. What's not to love? Thanks for this.
Jeff's contribution with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers are legendary. Gosh, I love his moustache. He looks so cool.
I read a story of Mr. Baxter doing session work. On one call, he was tasked with playing 29 musical sheets from beginning to end. With no breaks. He set up stands for them all and sat in a rolling chair and had someone wheel him along from sheet to sheet for a continual score. Think about that. To me it seems a monumental task. Amazing.
The humility of the Beatles amazes me. They all became world-famous and wealthy at an early age and remained very humble throughout their lives. Paul and Ringo have said their famous personas are separate from their personal lives and treat them as different people. Ringo stated no one in his personal life calls him that. Macca will say, "That McCartney guy is pretty famous," like it's someone else. 😆
Ronald Reagan said it's amazing what you can accomplish when it's not important who gets the credit.
I saw a Ringo interview from the early days where Ringo said: "You can never tell how long fame will last, it could all be gone tomorrow.". He said he would be happy if he made enough money to open a Hair Dressing salon. Humble.
I was completely unaware of Jeff's second career. I love interviews like this where you still find out new tidbits. Well done!
Jeff man in black skunk Baxter. 😂 I had no idea. I’d like to know more. Somehow I’m thinking if he did things for the government, it was good things. Things that were working for peace. How can you be a Doobie Brother and not work towards ☮️
What a guy ! ... 2 careers with one requiring security clearance & both highly skilled and neither involving the same people ... Legendary !
I've done something similar. No one believes you.
Well, Jeff is a real self promoter. Depends on how much of that shit you believe.
One requiring security clearances the other requiring Security
How many others like him in music
Thanks for keeping us all free, Jeff.
We're not free...
i tell you what my Northern Friend, you really do create good content. I'm 39 years old and i get to learn an awful lot about the legends from channels like this. its appreciated. Happy new Year.
Jeff Skunk Baxter is THE most underrated and talented guitarists in RocknRoll history - Amazing player
One of my favorite guitar player magazines back in the day was Jeff’s interview… what entertaining insights and also practical lessons, he imparted upon us all those years ago!
I always remembered how Dolly Parton was trying to explain to him that she wanted fireworks with reds and greens and explosions and etc. …
Of course, Mr. Baxter delivered the goods while Dolly was going “wheeee wheeeeeee!!!”
Amazing musician, loved his Steely Dan work and had no idea about Jeff's Defense work. Also nice to hear someone like Jeff complimenting Ringo rather than the usual back sniping we get among artists.
Cheers to Baxter for his service in two very distinct and different industries .
If he ever writes his autobiography, I bet it will be ridiculously riveting.
Ringo is truly a Star with a heart of gold.
Best wishes to him always.
I know Skunk, well really not but I remember seeing and talking to Skunk at many DOD tradeshows. Skunk would be at the DOD tradeshows walking around taking in all the new tech items. Sometimes Skunk would wear a suit. All the time there was a group of Washington DC suits fallowing Skunk like young groupies'. No they were not their to see or hear his music, they were there to be part of his genius DOD ideas . I guess his brain was really active for music just like it was for ideas in the Washington DOD arena . Skunk had/has a genus brain. I would easy say that Skunk came up with many ideas for the DOD that has and will save many young soldiers lives.
A great interview I love listening to Jeff
A genius in many circles - and loquacious. Every lecture and conversation is interesting.
Wow! I’m 64 years old and did not know Jeff works with the DoD! Keeping our country safe and our toes tapping at the same time! So wild!
fascinating gent indeed.!
can’t get enough of these interesting interviews..
😉☺️😊😀
✌🏻🌏🇦🇺🤘🏻
Some of my favorite interviews will always include Skunk Baxter... in 72 when the 1st Steely Dan Album came out... I have been a huge fan of him ever since..huge respect
Seems like a good guy he’s definitely a great guitar player
Everyone talks about Jeff’s work with the Doobies, etc. But if you want to hear some amazing pedal steel work from Jeff, listen to ‘Hannah and Gabi’ by the Lemonheads. Just beautiful - really makes that song.
Ringo's an excellent drummer! Left handed playing right handed! His drumming on the early music was really the best!
What an amazing guy Baxter is. A legend. He has been somebody and he did something too.
Wonderful interview! Thank you
No secret Ringo is above Jeff’s rank in that “other career”. There’s an Elliot Mintz interview with Ringo and Ringo’s cat enters the room and we learn the cat’s name, Spook. 58:50.
Ohhh???? I need to know more
Always seems so incongruous that Jeff was a sublime musician and also a technical genius.
Music is so intuitive and soulful , technology cut and dried logic and math and physics.
Don't kid yourself, there's a lot of math in music!
Jeff is an AllStar, Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, major league string bender......
Enjoyed his work with Steely.
Ringo is really a nice guy.
Jeff Is Real
I Met Him At
Cherokee Sound on
Fairfax Avenue
It’s Not There Anymore
He Was and a Studio
Cat He Was At Cherokee
Sound Just Sitting There
No Guitar
No Nothing
Just In The Lobby
He Knew Me 🎶
From Shit We Smoked a
Joint I Had And He Was Not Pretentious
Skunk Baxter Is Very Intelligent He Is Super Smart He Did Not Belittle
Me We Talked Like 👍🏽 Brothers
Most Don’t Know
Jeff is Super Duper
Smart Yet He is Not
Arrogant
We Smoked Out and He
Kept His Cool
Jeff “ Skunk “ Baxter
Is One Super Cool 😎
Cat
Sincerely
My Man! Skunk is the real deal musician person!
Skunk teaming up with "Chucky Baby" Barris on assignment.
I learned from the Harry Neilson documentary that Ringo was the best man at Harry’s wedding. He said H did so much coke he threw up 😃
What the Skunk didn't know was Ringo is his handler
A lovely story and one I've never heard before!
Ringo is the tree that bends in the gale without breaking.
Great guitarist,nice human being,very laid back guy.Didn't know he had a double life!😮...someone mentioned his Nick-name ' SKUNK', l heard somewhere the U.S. Government had a project called (Skunkworks)??🤔
Rich Starkey has always been a very talented guy, a smart guy, and a person with insight into human nature. More than a drummer to the Beatles. He fit their rock touring period, and the later experimental years. Let me tell, Ringo could have made a career out of being a great character actor in the movies. But he chose music, and his personal life.
I ❤❤❤ Jeff Baxter ,He was in a Huge Band like Steely Band.And Especially The Doobie Brothers, And then with Rings Starr Live.
MARK HUDSON AND THE HUDSON BROTHERS OUR GODS !!🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤
What an Interesting man! Didn’t know about his Stealth Government Work. Talented Man!
I recently saw him in a Spirit Music Video with a LOT of Musicians playing “I’ve Got A Line On You.” It was VERY Cool 😎
Great interview.
Awesome interview 👏
Man he has lost so much weight, such an honest talented guitarist!
great interview
all the Beatles are/were highly intelligent people... that whole crop of 60s musicians. At the level of a Beatle, I would imagine, you then are protected by the state with nifty futuristic technology
I have listened to many of the interviews that the Beatles gave when they were together, and I've heard each of them talk after they broke up. My take on all of them is that they were all above average. Ringo may seem to be dull witted to folks who haven't paid attention, but he often said things that were really perceptive.
Jeff needs a memoir.
Like,A THOUSAND page memoir!
Skunk probably has some unreal stories to tell about working for the Gov but can;t tell us.
Ringo's All Star bands are awesome.
ringo seems a cool guy.
nice one John, Thank you.
Skunk… one of the good guys..Sure wish I could sit in that glass dome of secrecy in Get Smart with Jeff and talk secret meetings… that would be worth the price of admission
The “Cone of Silence” housing Agent 86 and the Chief.
The most top secret think about Baxter is the origin of his nickname. I don’t think he’s ever disclosed that.
Jeff brought his gear into our office in the Pentagon once for a lunchtime jam session with some of the staff who played, and someone asked him where he got the nickname and I don't remember his response, but he would not tell us how he got the nickname. I have a VHS video of him playing at our 4th of July picnic 2001 in the Parking lot of the old Navy Annex after we moved out of the Pentagon.
I just look at who Ringo chooses to be HIS drummer -- Greg Bissonnet!
Thank you!
Great interview enjoy your interviews 3:34 3:40
This is great stuff .😊
This was interesting, but I was expecting to hear him talk about actual music making with Ringo.
I'd like to have a L10HsC for a day and talk to this cat. What an interesting cat.
Class act and talented musician plus helped out his country because he’s a brainiac.
Never knew he was a spook I just thought he was a killer string player.
You're not supposed to share classified information with people unless they have a need to know, even if they have security clearance.
Skunk is not sharing classified information.
Dude, Ringo is not psychic! Never occurred to you Ringo was notified of the call first?
Richard isn't psychic and never has been. He only knew what his band mates would get up to before the fact, and about that impending phone call because he's a time traveler. There's been almost 100 references to Ringo and Time Travel in novels, and pop culture since '71. He just says that being in the band was "like being psychic" to distract from the truth.
Was Jeff working for the government when he played in Ultimate Spinach from Boston?
Of course, when you have the kind of money Ringo has, you can AFFORD to be forgiving and put things off. Money can CHANGE your outlooks in ALL KINDS of respects
ringo has become my fav beatle
The guy changed his name before he was even famous, with the hopes of being famous, the only beetle to do that, was never really asked why, because why join a group if you want to be famous for yourself, and now he’s described as a person who wants to do something?
Jeff's hinting at the quantum phase shift rail gun he invented.
Baxter is a clever man.
Skunk the Spook. Is anyone besides me curious about what Skunk does for the Pentagon? Before we all fall down on our knees for the guy?
How did Mr. Baxter get the nickname..Skunk?
Why did they Call Jeff Skunk?
Jeff Baxter did you know Jim Lester
Little known fact:Skunk is also a helluva’ time-traveler.Er…whoops..,🙊🙉🙈👽
Hmm... I would like to see this guy eat spaghetti . Oh what a mess..........
Let me guess. He's Richard Starkey😊
Sir Richard Starkey, Knight of the British Empire.😛
The question is, who the real Skunk Baxter is?
I've never been comfortable with the fact that this guy does secret work for the government. Baxter is also a conservative. I've always enjoyed his music. Does what Baxter does follow in the tradition of The Beatles love n peace ethos?
Interesting question. Peace and Love is a great aspiration but there's still the very real anthropology 101 fact that the species finds things to fight about and ways to be horrible to each other. It is possible that we need people like Baxter to help keep the consequences of someone's worst impulses from spilling over into to daily life. Also, conservatives want 80 to 90% of what everyone else wants. Yet another dumb division we engage in simply because people act like talking to the other side will lead to an infection. Have you shown a conservative the Beatles love n peace ethos today? 😀
What’s his other career?
Here's a guy who developed at missile system for defense.
So essentially Skunk worked for the military industrial complex which extracts taxpayer dollars and launders it through unproductive wars to fatten the overstuffed pockets of defense contractor oligarchs. Guess he never read Smedley Butler's War Is A Racket. He was on the cover of the first Guitar Player Magazine I bought when I first picked up the guitar. Unlike him, I used to challenge my father's military service in Korea and Vietnam. He's still alive. Great guy, but we had some incredible rows when I was a kid.
Beard meets beard!
RRHOF is BS and Skunk is just being polite. He doesn't need them.
Ringo's not psychic, he just outranks you. 😉
I've no idea how he copes with that beard. Does he eat through a tube?
Did he work for The CIA or something? I never knew this.
😂😂😂ya don’t know sheeeet research a bit more and you’ll find the golden truth. More security clearances than the President. Missile Defense … like a bee that would go to all the different agencies and light it all with Genius. He was a pretty good boyfriend too
The Pentagon needs a steel guitar player ( asap)....send men in black to get him...
what men in black are available to go pick up skunk?
"sir, we have 2 agents just hanging around drinking coffee"....ok send them to pick up skunk.....what are their names?
their names are Jake and Elwood...!!!
Not many "former covert government operatives" go around talking about it, curious?????
Skiff Skip.2 mye Lou
Im all out of dump
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is trump voter...
Who gives a flying F? There’s more to people than their political beliefs. You’re either too young and ignorant to realize this or you’re older and just haven’t had the good fortune to become enlightened in your life journey. I hope the former is true, because then maybe, just maybe, there’s hope for you.
And that affects his musicianship how exactly?
Thank goodness.
Who cares? and it’s non of your business anyway.
Good to know. 👍
I'm certain no one besides his family actually cares who he really is.😊
Damn Jeff looks thin