That's a cool question Earle.
Back in the ole days Ed King would remind us before we went on stage....NO WRONG NOTES>>>>NO MISTAKES!!!! We pretty much adhered. If there was a wrong note you got the ED glare.
Also, during a performance if you weren't up to the microphone and ready for your harmony part Randy Seol would actually hurl a drum stick at you, of which I was a regular recipient. Lee Freeman and I were his favorite targets. I think because Mark Weitz was older and Ed would've killed him. Gary Lovetro and Lee usually got Ed's glares.
We rehearsed our second and third and fifth albums in the studio. That's a fun process. You work out parts. Jam on things. Then roll the tape.
Much different from rehearsing songs over and over and then taking them on the road and then finally going into the studio and laying it all down at once.
Before a show nowadays, because of time constraints and logistics, we're lucky to get in five rehearsals prior...sometimes less.
A couple of weeks ago we were asked to partake in an album for a charity, Victoria's Voice, for which various artists are choosing an Elvis song to record. The idea was to choose a deep track. Not the obvious stuff. We chose CRAWFISH from the movie King Creole. We had actually played the song about nine years ago at a benefit show across the street from Capital Records at The Avalon on Elvis's birthday. Much in the same way, everyone chose what Elvis songs to play.
Anyway, we went into the studio without rehearsing and it came out great.
These days we tend to make more mistakes than ever. Mostly only WE know when they happen. The reason for that is we're always adding new ideas and with little time to spend perfecting them we get into little train wrecks. The ideal thing would be to rehearse about three or four days a week for about six weeks before a gig. Then we'd nail it.
The first Part of our rehearsals are spent jamming. Someone usual starts us off. It's rarely ever an actual song. Mostly it's an off the cuff riff that we all find our way into.
We also have to have in depth vocal rehearsals because of all the harmonies. That's the hard part and most time consuming.
Rehearsing the old songs just kind of falls into place. rehearsing newer songs turns into rearranging and writing new sections. All very time consuming.
Our stuff is no easy task.
Saw a Moody Blues documentary where Denny Laine gave Mike Pinder some good natured ribbing about how he once played a wrong note during a British concert. No matter how much I nail a certain tune consistently on guitar,there are times I inexplicably play a wrong note somewhere.has this ever happened to you during stage performance?Also,how often does SAC rehearse and have you ever rehearse much in the studio?I know the Beatles used to warm up by playing early rock gems like "Rip it Up" and "Ready Teddy".......
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