For Steve Fishell

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

Hello Steve, I found the video of "Every Step Of The Way" with the Zum in it again recently. I love that video! My friend Tommy Dodd from Georgia also plays a Zum and the first steel I saw onstage live was a Zum. I've never played a Zum, but I'd love to.

Brett

Fish · Posted 28 Sep 2007 7:46 pm

Hey Brett,
I hope you have a chance to play a Zumsteel someday; they are fantastic guitars. Bruce Zumsteg is masterful builder and a great guy. I've had this guitar since 1982 and it still plays great. I remember the first time I played it, the pedal action was like butter.

I'm just curious; what video did you find? You never know what will turn up on youtube. One of my favorites is the youtube video of The Big E playing with Ernest Tubb on "Driving Nails In My Coffin." It's incredible. Buddy looks everywhere except at his hands and plays a perfect solo.
take care,
Steve

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

Steve, it was the "Every Step of The Way" video that you were in with McBride & The Ride. I love that video. I actually had the chance to talk to Bruce Zumsteg in 2003 at the International Steel Guitar Convention. Did you know Buddy Emmons now plays a Zumsteel? I've got a lot of friends who play Zumsteels.

Brett

Fish · Posted 29 Sep 2007 12:35 pm

Yes...I saw Buddy at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop performance with Johnny Bush earlier this year. He had the Zum singing that night. It was quite a surprise to see him on a Zumsteel. The thing I love about Buddy is he loves to try out new guitars, amps, gear, etc. He's constantly searching for and discovering new tone and new sounds.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

Steve, I feel the same way. I played an Emmons guitar for four years, but I'm now playing a GFI. In addition to GFI, I'd love to play a Zumsteel. I met Budy before he started playin' a Zum. My friend Tommy has a few Zums, and every one of them sounds awesome!

Brett

Fish · Posted 29 Sep 2007 12:45 pm

Brett---
I forgot to thank you for your compliments regarding the McBride and the Ride vid. Thanks for reminding me about that one....I completely forgot. Mullets were definitely in that year...thanks to Billy Ray. I didn't have enough hair to grow one! Very Happy

take it easy,
Steve

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

No problem, Steve. It's an awesome video! I forgot, too-you can find a video of me playin' my GFI on YouTube.

Brett

Fish · Posted 29 Sep 2007 1:04 pm

Wow...you can play AND sing. Great work, Brett. When I was about 16 I heard Lloyd Green on Sweetheart of the Rodeo and Rusty Young on Bad Weather and I knew I had to have a pedal steel. It led me to discover Buddy, Mooney, Sneaky, Jay Dee, Bobby Black, Jerry Byrd and all the greats. The steel guitar will take you down a path of new surprises every single day. Keep going, Brett.

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Hey Steve...que paso, amigo?
"Mullets were definitely in"...looks funny to see that actually in print.
Out here in LA, before we knew what they were called, we were calling that cut a "615".

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Hello, Steve

I don't know if you'll remember me, but we toured together in Europe - you were there with Emmylou, and I played steel (a ZB) with an all-British group that accompanied David Allan Coe (I seem to recall that you had more fun than us!!! Sad

)

I've been wondering if you'd show up on the Forum so I could say 'Hi'. That tour had Jerry Lee, too, as well as Newgrass Revival.

If you don't remember us, I'm sure you will remember Mervyn Conn's "Hurry Up & Wait Tour, 1987".....

Best wishes,

Roger R.

Tim Harr · From: Dunlap, Illinois

Steve,

One of my favorite albums you played on (produced) is Radney Foster 'Del Rio, TX 1959"

That is some GREAT producing and even better Steel guitar playing.

The Fender Steel sounds great. (as well as the ZUM)

The whole Album is just tasty in the best way - - Something to really be proud of.

Actually, that Album has the VIBE that more of todays projects NEED.

Tim Harr
E. Peoria, IL

Fish · Posted 30 Sep 2007 7:41 am

Yo Skip,
How are ya? How does it feel to be smart enough to realize that playing keys and steel go hand in hand. Ernest figured it out in the early seventies. I wish I had.

Re mullets: We have stickers on our fridge to help us spot the different styles, like "The Kentucky Waterfall" and the "The Tennessee Top Hat" and the "Shorty Longback (or "Sho Lo")." Good to hear from you!

Roger: How could I forget? I hope you're doing well. Remember when Jerry Lee and Tany kept us all (60 people) waiting on the tarmac for an hour? Whatta tour! Mervyn was dubbed "The Great Con" by guitarist Frank Reckard. I remember buying Phil Kaufman (our "Road Mangler") a birthday shot of JD at the Hilton lobby bar in Zurich. The bill: $23! It's probably double now with the dollar in freefall these days!! I do recall good hangs on the flights with you, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush and the entire traveling circus. Glad to see you on the forum. Cheers!

Tim: Thank you very much....I don't deserve your kind words, considering I still haven't learned to play steel like a "grownup" yet i.e. Buddy, Day, Brumley, Franklin, etc. If the album is any good it's because Radney Foster is a VERY unique and trusting artist who loves taking big risks and experimenting. He also really gets the whole concept of old guitars and amps adding something different to the equation. If it weren't for Radney's incredible songs we would have been lost. Hats also go off to the "big bad label guy" Tim DuBois, who is one-of-a-kind. He left us completely alone, offered great guidance when we needed it (often), and established an environment of trust that gave us the confidence to stretch a little. Thanks again, Tim.

Johnny Baldwin · From: Long Beach, California, USA

Here 'ya go: "Every Step Of The Way"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poAohUMX5N4

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Hi again, Steve

It's hard to believe that it was twenty years ago!!!

Do you recall Mervyn's creative route-planning? Bourge in France to Stavanger, Norway went as follows: by bus to Paris, commercial flight to London, Gatwick Airport, bus to Stanstead (50 miles north of London), an overnight stay, then that dreadful chartered Vickers Viscount (a vintage airliner) to our destination. I bet he did it to save about $500 all-in.....

And yes - the prices! It was cheaper to eat money in Switzerland. The Zurich Hilton was the hotel where Jerry Lee trashed his room with the aid of a felt-tip pen. He was certainly a law unto himself!

I remember that Sierra that you played at our end-of-tour party (also in Zurich - and right next to that strip-club) - I've forgotten whose it was, but it had never been played with any authority before and, before the first tune was finished, you were down to five strings!!!

Hanging out was indeed a lot of fun, and I learned a great deal from playing in such exalted musical company. Bela, Pat Flynn, John Cowan and Sam Bush (Newgrass Revival) were tremendous, and I watched you 'Hot Band' guys every show without fail. You and I chatted about the challenges of pedal-steel, and I want you to know how much you helped me in my early struggles with the instrument.

All's well here, and I'd have been very happy to know back then that I'd end up earning my living playing music in the USA.

My very best wishes...

Roger

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Oh, and a 'PS'....

Who was your guitar-tech guy? Wasn't his name Maple Briney, or something similar? He was a trip, too!

I must dig out some of those old photographs...

RR

Fish · Posted 1 Oct 2007 7:04 pm

Hi Roger,

I can't imagine adding anything but confusion to your pursuit of this most complicated of instruments, but if I were any help I'm glad. Thank you for your words.

Your mind is much sharper for decades-old detail than mine, my friend....but it's all coming back to me, especially the Zurich Hilton. I remember our late night/early morning end-of-the tour party in Zurich was interrupted by a loud knock at the door. When we opened it, we saw a famous country singer and an accompanying bodyguard. The artist, who'd had quite a few, leered at all of us and yelled, "I know you're all in there talking about me!!"

Yes, it's such a glamorous life on the road.
cheers,
Fish

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

steve...you don't know me but i was backstage at many emmylou shows..thanx to that gooney gooch of a fiddle player , wayne goodwin, that you had in the band. do you ever hear from him? he never calls me!

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Steve I was wondering if Phil Kaufman is still alive?? I did some TV shows with Emmylou in the mid 80's out here in NZ and Phil demanded that the fridge in the green room be filled with every type of New Zealand beer there was -- and he drank the whole lot in about 2 days !! amazing character -- and they just kept topping up the fridge for him every day!!!!!!!

I worked with Wayne Goodwin a few times too when he was living in Australia - great fiddle player.

Fish · Posted 3 Oct 2007 6:12 am

To Roger: Sorry...I forgot to mention that the chap's name is Maple Byrne. He is currently Emmy's tour AND stage manager. Maple keeps everything running smoothly.

To Chris: We need to put a tracer out on ole Gucci Wayne....I haven't heard from him in years. Last spotted in the Sydney area I believe. Thanks for coming to our concerts.

To Paddy: The Road Mangler Phil Kaufman is very much alive and well and has been spotted on the road once again, sometimes not far from the local pubbery.
He looked fit as a fiddle when I saw him a couple of months back. The man is immortal!!

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Steve - glad to hear that, Phil is quite a character - he would walk around with a Sheriffs badge on with flashing lights around it -- and called it his Texas pacemaker ha !! Boy that man could sure drink Laughing

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