Just Fantastic to see Sai brother Phil out on a short international tour and in front of the cameras again, in S.F. this weekend, come on out Bay area kids. Go Man Go. This boy was a real hero to me long before he became an esteemed friend, the incomparable PF Sloan. Secret Agent Man is also elusive and very reclusive, (PF- I stayed in hiding for 25 years) and thats the great part for you, of him being out and about again. PF Sloan is a tremendous Force in modern music. His music is still heard after 40+ years, and as relevant as ever- as evidenced within this current Examiner article below that included the controversial war protest tune he penned and played guitar on - Eve of Destruction. That song was the vanguard. The tipping point. Suddenly the great mass of Bubble Gum kids turned serious about war.The first real political Sock it to me in all pop music. Eve scared the hell out of President Johnson and The establishment and got Barry McGuire blackballed for life, and drew intense government heat on PF for years. But in the end, one line became the rally cry and activated the process of legislation that actually changed the US Constitution - Youre old enough to kill, but not for votin. With the 26th amendment passed in 1971, they ultimately reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 primarily because of PFs great golden pen. Can you think of any other song that has done anything like that? Because there arent any. A Master songwriter, this boy can PLAY too ! Thats him playing guitar in the classic all-time intro at the beginning of California Dreamin - another song he co-wrote with The Mamas and the Papas, a great band he helped form, like also The Grass Roots. PF was a prolific session player too, leader of LAs Wrecking Crew. He was lead Guitarist for Jan & Dean, and thats him singing that falsetto in Little old lady from Pasadena. He plays that great ripping lead in Secret Agent Man. (Sometime ask me to share the back story he told me about- Secret ASIAN man). He wrote and played guitar on You Baby and Where were you when I needed you for the Turtles and more. PF has had enormous influence in music history, just everywhere then. He was a highly desired vocal arranger and did the famous Beach Boys harmonies that the Beatles admitted they emulated, even Paul has said his favourite album ever was Endless Summer. PF Sloan. John Lennon became so intimidated by this one, and PF told me John walked out the room whenever he walked in. All the boys joked about it. John- intimidated? Huh? I Love his war stories and cannot draw enough of them out of him. I just love this guy and you may have a chance to see him live now, so rare. Go if he comes near you. I was with Phil when George died. We fed poor Indian kids lunch and played them Beatles music for the first time for them while they ate. That was a reaction to see. We played My Sweet Lord for an elephant, so she would always remember, and we cried and cried. George told PF at their first meeting- I Love your guitar man. PF was going about saying that to the kids all day. I briefly encountered him once, but PF knew George for over 30 years, and was a peer and a key to their discovery. What a destiny. Too many PF credits to cover here. But a few of my Favs: Phil was a 14yr old bubble gum record scout at Decca Records when he got a recording mailed to him from Brian Epstein in Liverpool- I want to hold you hand and PF liked it and brought it upstairs. Decca Execs did nothing with it. Yup, PF has the first American ears to ever hear the Beatles. This is the man- well then- boy. His ear really is exquisite and told me that he knew they had it before the 2nd verse. Parlophone was the first label to agree. They all came to LA to thank him personally after they came to America, and that bond was created. PF was also prominent at the birth of the Surf Sound. In fact, that entire California Sound was largely rooted in one man - PF Sloan. If you cant make it to a show, have a look at his newly released memoirs Whats exactly wrong with me ? book of great war stories, another must-read rock music book that will go wide - they are really classic stories. PF is creating some history again. Phil got his first guitar lesson from Elvis (Dis heres an E boy ) and like the King, he is also privately a man of great compassion. His publicity doesnt speak of this, but - In India, they tie donkeys front legs together to keep them from mounting or wandering away. Phil carries a knife here and goes about cutting them all free. Then goes head to head with angry villagers about it in the pandemonium. Not my fight, I have another focus and stay neutral but Ha Ha Ha - its hilarious. Kick that little foot Sally Ann ! Phil is keenly aware and devoted to Vedic teachings and his Satguru, and the wisdom of the East for like 40 years. Only recently has begun to discuss this publicly in depth. Humble guy -Ive fed homeless street people, volunteered in soup kitchens and distributed blankets with him in Los Angeles, when he surely had other things he could have been doing. PF donated 2 songs to an album to benefit my ragamuffin kids here. And about 9 years ago Secret Agent Man got used in a film, Austin Powers I think. Phil used of those proceeds to underwrite for a rural India feeding program I then organised, along with 2 other kind friends, Momo and Actress Sara Miles, and I built the kitchen with my hands. I found some nice snaps here from opening day before we turned it over to the schools permanently in 2006. Since we were both LA, and it was him, I was calling it the - California Feedin program. PF was in London last week, and now Berkley this weekend. Go meet a legend. Ill add his FB link so you can follow if he has posts any dates near to you. Dont miss this one guys, rare opportunity, and it will probably help feed some poor kids here too.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 02:54:19 +0000
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