MUSIC HISTORY 101 A VETERANS DAY SPECIAL MEMORIAL Many musicians have served in the U.S. Military. Here is a few of their stories: Pete Altieri (Sacred Oath) At just a young age, the bassist formed a band and was signed to a record label shortly after. The band quickly took off, but a few years into it, Altieri decided to enlist in the army. Most people expect a band like us to be saying the government’s horrible, the country sucks, Altieri said. In fact, we’re the opposite. Two of us served in the military, and we couldn’t respect more what they do.Altieri served in the army for three years before being forced out after a car accident while on duty in Fort Hood, Texas. Les Aldridge, the guitarist for Altieri’s second band Low Twelve, also served in the army as mechanic for heavy vehicles in settings such as Germany and Korea. After a 10-year hiatus, Sacred Oath was reformed, sans Altieri, and has been active ever since. He still resides with metal band Low Twelve, which has been active since 1998. We want to give credit where credit is due, Aldridge said. People always take things for granted, but after serving in the military, I would never be able to take their service for granted. We have a lot of fans that are soldiers, and I guarantee that when a GI comes to our shows, we spoil them rotten. Ian Astbury (The Cult) Astbury was born in England and raised in many places including Glasgow, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and Liverpool, and has traveled to many parts of the world throughout his life so far: Japan, China, Nepal, Bombay, Tibet, Vietnam, Cuba, New York, London and Los Angeles. However, before he was able to travel, Astbury was homeless for a time after a dispute with his landlord, which taught him basic survivalist skills. In 1979, he served in the army, but only for a short time- 29 days. Luckily, his nomadic experience had prepared him for the homeless life and militant life. Had he stayed in the army, he probably would have adjusted very well. The next year, Astbury moved to Bradford where he began his musical career. Despite his short time in the service, he is an avid WWII memorabilia collector and took with him many of the skills he learned during his brief time with the army. Tony Bennett Legendary crooner Tony Bennett served in the US Army during World War II in Germany and France, getting his first crack at singing with a military band. Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in New York City on August 3, 1926, Bennett was the youngest of three children and was already performing at the age of six. He was called up for the Army in 1944 during WWII. After basic training, Bennett was assigned to the 63rd Infantry Division (the Blood and Fire Division) where he served in France and Germany. While in Europe, Bennett encountered an old friend, and invited him to eat with him. The Friend was black, and an officer from the south suggested that the friend should take his meal in the kitchen. This suggestions was met with language that resulted in Bennetts demotion from corporal to private, and assignment to a unit desinterring mass graves and preparing the bodies for shipment home. It was while he was in the army that Bennett got his first opportunity to sing -- with a military band. Transferred to special services, he finished the war touring Europe and studied music at Heidelburg University before returning to the U.S. He studied voice under the GI Bill while supporting himself as an elevator operator. His signature song, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, was recorded in 1963. Johnny Cash Cash served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Cash trained in Texas and spent most of his military career in Germany, where he worked as a Morse code intercept operator with the USAF Security Service. Cash bought his first guitar with his military pay at a German pawn shop, taught himself to play during his free time, and formed his first band while part of the Air Force: The Landsberg Barbarians. During his four years in the Air Force, Cash entertained the GIs with his music and songs before heading back to the States and, eventually, becoming the star we know today. He also entertained the troops during the Vietnam War, despite his political views on the conflict. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) Dickinson was born and raised in England, mostly by his grandparents. His father was in the military as well, as he served as mechanic for the army. Dickinson was not close to his parents at all growing up, and at 13 was enrolled into a boarding school in Northamptonshire, England, his birth place. During his time there, he became interested in the military and co-founded the school’s wargames society, and was quite powerful in the cadet force. It was during this time that Dickinson was allowed to experiment with real live ammunition, which he took advantage of by using them for booby traps. After leaving the boarding school, Dickinson enrolled in the Territorial Army, which was a part-time voluntary force in the British Army. Territorial soldiers and officers train in their spare time to provide support to full-time Regular units when they’re needed. When the Army goes on operations overseas, you’ll find Territorial soldiers serving alongside the Regulars. From doctors and nurses in field hospitals to Infantry soldiers working on the front line, most Army jobs are open to Territorials. Dickinson served in the TA for approximately six months, despite his parents desires for him to be in the army. He left to pursue school and music full-time. Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead) In 1960, the 17 year-old Garcia had to join the military as punishment for stealing his mother’s car and smuggled his guitar into basic training with him at Fort Ord and was then transferred to Fort Winfield Scott in San Francisco, a place that had “these neat old barracks and almost nothing to do,” Garcia said in an interview with Janns Wenner of Rolling Stone. Because of his free time, he started playing guitar more and more. He is also notorious for going AWOL several times, which led to his general discharge on December 14, 1960. He spent a mere nine months in the service. Jimi Hendrix In 1961 after being caught stealing cars Hendrix was given the choice to serve his country or to go to prison. He picked the first and was stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Hendrix wasn’t given the choice on whether to join the military. In 1961, Hendrix was given the choice between two years in prison or the Army after the cops caught him with involvement with stolen cars. Young Jimi enlisted on May 31, 1961, and he was stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. According to those in charge they let him go after a year because he wasn’t the world’s best soldier. Army reports state that Hendrix slept while on duty, required constant supervision and wasn’t a particularly good marksman. Although he had signed up for three years of military service, the higher-ups decided to dismiss Jimi after one year, mostly due to his “habitual offenses.” Born in 1942 in Seattle, Washington. His father, Al Hendrix, was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 during WWII. Because of that, Jimi’s father (who had six fingers on each hand) was not present for his birth, and was forced to stay in the army for another three years after. After receiving honorable discharge in 1945, Al obtained his son, changed his name and raised him, as his mother was neglectful. The couple soon got back together and had four more children. Hendrix’s rough childhood was imprinted into his memory and would stay with him throughout his life. On May 31, 1961 Hendrix enlisted in the army after getting in trouble with the law and being given a choice of joining the army or serving two years jail time. After completing basic training, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Hendrix wasn’t completely on top of things during his time in the army, and was asked to leave after serving just one year. However, during that year, he and fellow soldier and bassist Billy Cox would often perform together on and off base. Despite his short time in the army, Hendrix did go on to discuss it on three occasions in interviews that followed his time there: The first being in 1967 for the film “See My Music Talking” (much later released under the title “Experience”), which was intended for TV to promote his recently released Axis: Bold as Love LP, in which he spoke very briefly of his first parachuting experience: Once you get out there everything is so quiet, all you hear is the breezes-s-s-s… This comment has later been used to claim that he was saying that this was one of the sources of his “spacey” guitar sound. The second and third mentions of his military experience were in interviews for Melody Maker in 1967 and 1969. After being discharged, Hendrix focused solely on his music career, which was bountiful, successful and very well received by all. He died on September 18, 1970 and is a member of the 27 Club. It’s a shame he died so young, because had he still been alive today, I can only imagine the things he would have accomplished not only for himself, but for the rest of the music world as well. If every member of the 27 Club lived longer, there’s no doubt today’s music would be a lot different. Jamey Johnson Corporal Jamey Johnson served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves prior to his days chasing the country music dream in Birmingham, Ala. and then Nashville. He speaks fondly of his days in the military, and even makes mention of it twice on his debut album. “I’m very proud to have served in the Marines,” he told CMT in 2010. “I respect the Marines. They gave me guidance and stability. I’d wake up every day and have a purpose.” Johnson was a mortar man, and while in the service he made friends with a number of other musicians. They’d sing and write songs together and many keep in contact with him today. At the time of the CMT interview, Johnson’s road manager was a man he served alongside. George Jones Although the Korean War was underway during George Jones’ time with the Marines, the eventual country legend was never asked to go overseas. He spent his entire enlistment — beginning in 1951 — stationed in California. Jones’ country career took off shortly after he was discharged. In 1955 he released his first single ‘Why Baby Why,’ which quickly became a Top 5 hit. Unlike many country artists who’ve served, little is written about Jones’ time in the military. Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle) Keenan is a man of many talents, being the vocalist for two bands, as well as a record producer and actor. At age 47, he has already made quite the name for himself. However, before he was known solely as a musician, he served time in the U.S. army. Born in Akron, Ohio, Keenan was the only child of parents who divorced just four years after he was born. At age 17, Bill Murray’s performance in Stripes, the 1981 comedy film inspired Keenan to enroll in the army. His ultimate intention of joining was for the G.I. Bill to fund his dream of attending art school, his true calling. Keenan initially served in the Army as a forward observer before studying at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (West Point Prep School) from 1983 to 1984. In addition to completing a rigorous math and English curriculum, he ran on the cross country team and sang in the glee club. It was during his time in the military that he adopted the sobriquet “Maynard” on a whim. He was distinguished in basic and advanced training, but declined an appointment to West Point and instead chose to pursue a music career because of his disillusionment with his colleagues’ values and because he knew West Point would not tolerate his dissidence. After completing his term in the army, Keenan studied art at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating in 1988, he moved to Los Angeles and practiced interior design for a short time before moving on to pursue music as a career. B.B. King At the age of 18 B.B. King enlisted in the military while he was working in the cotton fields in Mississippi. He was not able to fully serve his country, a fact he has always regrets, because cotton field owners struck a deal with the military to keep their field hands from being deployed. In 1943, King, who was 18 and worked in the cotton fields in Mississippi, enlisted in the U.S. Army. He went through basic training, but he wasn’t able to serve as a soldier. During World War II, plantation owners cut a deal with the draft board to keep working African-American men away from the war so they could keep working the fields, King said in an interview with Parade Magazine in 2008. He goes on to say he regrets not being able to fully serve his country. “We got only partial basic training, served a few months, and went back to work on the plantation. So when I die, there won’t be a flag on my coffin,” he said. Kris Kristofferson An Army Ranger and Helicopter Pilot, Kristofferson reached the rank of Captain and was offered an Instructor job at West Point- but turned it down. Ray Manzarek (The Doors) The late Ray Manzarek from the Doors spent time in the forces stationed in Thailand when his initial stab at law school wasn’t to his liking. He spent a lot of time entertaining the troops playing keyboards. Rumor has it he was discharged he told the base shrink he thought he was turning gay. Willie Nelson Nelson served in the U.S. Air Force for a short time after graduating high school in 1950. However, back troubles forced him to leave the service after being stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Johnny Cash also was trained at Lackland, although it’s not clear if the two eventual country legends ever crossed paths there. After the Air Force, Nelson tried college at Baylor University, but eventually took odd jobs like selling encyclopedias before his country music career took off. That took time. His move to Nashville didn’t come until 1960, but by then he’d written a few hits — like ‘Crazy,’ which was recorded by Patsy Cline. James Otto James Otto served in the U.S. Navy before chasing his country music dreams. There is a long history of Otto men serving their country, and the singer tells G.I. Jobs that he put pressure on himself to continue that tradition. “My grandfather is a Korean War vet, my dad was a drill sergeant — I think he retired at 23 years,” Otto says. “It’s something that I always felt was, I don’t know, a great quality in people — that they wanted to serve and they wanted to give years of their life to their country. It’s something that I wish that more people would do.” Both men before him were also musical, so the popular singer was encouraged to learn both violin and saxaphone before picking up the guitar. He moved to Nashville in 1998, teamed up with the MusikMafia and soon signed a record deal. Elvis Presley Presley spent two years in the active military and four years in the reserves and spent most of his time in Germany. He was given the option to be on a special force that is in charge of entertaining the troops but he chose to enter the standard army – which impressed many of his fans and peers. Presley spent two years on active military duty and two four years in the Reserves. He entered the U.S. Army on March 24, 1958. He attended basic and advanced training in Fort Hood, Texas, and he served for nearly two years in Germany! The King left active duty on March 5, 1960, and he was discharged from the Army Reserve on March 23, 1964, almost exactly six years from the moment he entered the military. Although Elvis was originally offered a spot in the “Special Services,” which would mean touring and entertaining the troops, he decided to become a full-fledged soldier, which earned him the respect of many. Shaggy Before Shaggy was “bombastic” he left Jamaica to move to the U.S. He struggled to find work and joined the Marines in 1988, eventually finding himself in the Gulf War. George Strait Perhaps more than any other artist, George Strait‘s time in the military helped launch his country music career. The singer was enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1975, and he spent the final two years in Hawaii. While there he played country music with an Army-sponsored band called Rambling Country, and also with an off-base group called Santee. By the time he left, he was already a seasoned stage player. Wife Norma followed her husband around through his military years, and during the time afterward, when he was back in college at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State). The pair married in Dec. 1971 and had their first kid soon after. Ice T A few of the musicians on this list got into trouble that led to them joining the military, Ice T. spent four years as an army ranger and then found himself in trouble afterward. Since though, he has managed a successful career in music and acting.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:55:06 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015