On 8/13/98, we held a live chat in the GDF Conference Room with Bill Champlin, to celebrate the release of Live. A great time was had by all.
[note: as of 5/28/02, this was still available from Amazon]
Geoff Gould: Tonight the GDF is proud to have Bill Champlin here in the GDF Conference Room. Welcome Bill
GG: so Bill is in Atlantic City, and I'm in SF
Bill Champlin: But we're still close
JREISTETER: it been a while since I've heard Sons of Champlin.
Bill Champlin: Me too
Lioness ll: When did you cut your live CD?
Bill Champlin: In Santa Rosa, CA. Jan. 24.
SDG513: Why so long for a live album????
Bill Champlin: You mean length of CD?
BeCk3468: What do you do besides play music?
Bill Champlin: Record music and watch TV.
Lioness ll: When will you guys play on the east coast?
Bill Champlin: Hopefully in the next year sometime. No plans yet
LlZZIR: You know, my life was garbage until I got this cd
Bill Champlin: Meeeeeeeem...My lil' sister
LlZZIR: Beeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuu
GG: For those late arrivals, I'm Geoff Gould, the GDF host, and Bill Champlin is Bill Champlin. Are there any Sons reunion plans cooking?
Bill Champlin: We want to play in Dec. and Jan.
BeCk3468: How long have you been playing?
Bill Champlin: The Sons played from '65 to 77. Then again last year.
Ddhd8098: Whats your favorite color? do you know david cassidy?
Bill Champlin: Owsley Purple and Panama red
Wholemtn: How about a gig in the Bay Area?
Bill Champlin: Where...When?
SDG513: Do you think top 40 radio is killing the grand music scene???
Bill Champlin: Video is doing a quicker job of it.
BeCk3468: Bill-do you have any siblings?
Bill Champlin: Look above your name. My Sister
LlZZIR: Hi Beck....shhh.
Headwack: Any plans for a Mid West tour?
Bill Champlin: Love to. Maybe soon.
Lioness ll:?Did you reform with the original members of THE SONS?
Bill Champlin: The 5 piece is close to original and then the horns are new but MIGHTY.
Headwack: Been a fan since I first saw you guys at the Kalidascope in Hollywood.
Bill Champlin: WOW With Sly and Canned Heat?
Headwack: That's the one, followed you to the bay area and was fortunate to get in
GG: for those of you familiar with the original Sons album, they've still got it on this live CD
KeyGordo: Speaking of horns, was the Happy Trails quote a first that nite? Or did you have to add the laugh??
Bill Champlin: You had to be there.
HornCoolio: Gordo inside nasty joke. That night live.
GG: When they bust into "Freedom" you start movin and groovin big time.
Bill Champlin: That's always been a burner
MelanieCAR: By the way, this is the best Sons recording
Bill Champlin: Mel, I think so. We shoud have done a live album a long time ago.
GG: The thing about it though is that it doesn't sound dated, which something that old easily could .. it sounds "right now" to me.
Lioness ll: Do you have a website so we can keep up with you?
Bill Champlin: Yeah. I bet Mel knows the url
LMR121: www.sonsofchamplin.com ... www.dead.net for the CD
GG: The CD is also available here as well, keyword: gdstore
SDG513:?HOW WAS THE ALBUM RECORDED (I.E. SOUNDBOARD, BOOM.
Bill Champlin: Both. We also added a little to fix up some wrong track assignments.
Bill Champlin: Wow. You guys are so informed.
BeCk3468: Bill-what inspired you to play music?
Bill Champlin: It runs in the family.
SDG513: seemless recording........
Bill Champlin: Dick Mithune did a lot of working on it. He's really organized and is a good producer.
Kevgret: Bill.. how hard was it to pick the set for the cd?
Bill Champlin: We put on what sounded best and what I hadn't already done on my live album.
Cyainmaui: Bill, is it true there is enough music still in the can from the January show to put out another live album?
Bill Champlin: Maybe a short one but I'd rather go in the studio and cause some real damage.
LlZZIR: So, what do we do as citizens to get the Sons more air play and get more of you.
Bill Champlin: LlZZIR: Tell a friend....at radio.
GG: If you want to help the Sons, it's probably good to get people to buy CD from stores that feed sales ratings that way BMG will pay more attention.
Wholemtn: Where is Tom tonight, Bill?
Bill Champlin: Teesav's not here? I'll get that guy
HornCoolio: Hey Bill, where the heck are you?
Bill Champlin: Mic, Atlantic City ...Day job
HornCoolio: LOL
Amyjoy23: Hi dad, how ya doin? We have a ton of e-mail from people wanting your radio interview with Ardos.
Bill Champlin: Hi Amy. Say hi to my daughter. Amy...everybody
Jockfun788: Bill: Are you famous?
Bill Champlin: In certain circles.
Jockfun788: Do you do road tours Bill?
Bill Champlin: I also play with Chicago and we're always out in the summer.
Jockfun788: Bill: Cool. Where are you origninally from?
Bill Champlin: SF Bay Area
BeCk3468: Bill:what is your one wish in life?
Bill Champlin: Just one? Peace
HornCoolio: peace of what?
Bill Champlin: Now Mic. Be good
Jockfun788: Bill and whoever is with him in the little box I see above this writing, don't you miss home?
Bill Champlin: Sure do. But all God's chillun' got rent.
Jockfun788: How old are both of you?
Bill Champlin: I'm older at the end of a tour than at the start
Mrjams7: What have ya'll been doin since 78?
Bill Champlin: Sessions and road gigs.
Jockfun788: is that over 30?
Bill Champlin: Oh yeah
GG: Bill, can we talk a bit about the interplay, if any, there might have been with the Dead in the old days?
Bill Champlin: Me and Terry Haggerty did a few things with Mickey on his solo album and I worked on Bob's Heaven Help the fool album. Nice, huh?
GG: Did anyone ever sit in with each other?
Bill Champlin: Not that I can remember. But then they were Dead gigs so my memory is a little hazy
GG: Terry really burned on Rolling Thunder; what's he up to these days?
Bill Champlin: Terry's playing with Vince on the road this week. I did a bunch of stuff with Vince when he played with the Tubes
GG: Wow! Terry and Vince? great!
HornCoolio: I remember doing Rolling Thunder at Mickey's ranch
WTF24: You sang backup with the Tubes, correct?
Bill Champlin: Yeah 2 albums. I was the LA session ringer. They'd have me. I was from up north.
WTF24: Really?
GG: Kinda funny being the LA session ringer from up north!
BeCk3468: Can you say bye to me i have to get off : (
Bill Champlin: Bye, Thanks for comin' to Geoff's back porch. Ya'll come back now.
LookAway19: Any chance Mic doing any locals?
Bill Champlin: Mic's all over the backgrounds on the CD.
NCoren: Bill, who do you think has been your biggest influence?
Bill Champlin: Originally Lou Rawls but after that anyone who's good. Stevie Wonder.
GG: Lou Rawls? Makes sense
Bill Champlin: Lou wrote the book for loose phrasing.
Jockfun788: Bill: What has been you major favorite song that you have played?
Bill Champlin: Cold Sweat.. James Brown
HornCoolio: we did Daytripper too
LlZZIR: So, really, Bill, what do we have to do to help make it possible for the Sons to get all over the place touring??? Host, Jock
Bill Champlin: Help get a snowball going with this CD. If it gets a groundswell thing....thing's will change.
Amyjoy23: BJK wants to know if you would ever do a cover of the Chicago song "Free" Its so Sons
Bill Champlin: Doubtful
SwanMuse1: Hard habit to break is one of my favorite songs
Bill Champlin: SwanMuse1: Mine too.
DankSaxMan: Better yet..do "West End" Or"Saved By the Grace"
Bill Champlin: Hmmm. West End. I forgot that one
HornCoolio: Wet End?
Bill Champlin: Now Mic ... It's all about the Micmeter. A growing religion from the East....Bay
HornCoolio: sorry
AzoffRules: ooooh... I luv West End :-)
DankSaxMan: Mic you naughty boy!
MelanieCAR: West End was always followed by Big Boss Man
DankSaxMan: I got the 45 version, Bill. Want a copy?
SwanMuse1: I've had a few hard habits to break in my life :)
Bill Champlin: You too?
Jockfun788: :oO
LlZZIR: Swanny=knows what it means to rise up from hard times
LMR121: How's the non-smoking going, Bill? Speaking of habits.
BScott1415: Mic is not the band's barometer of behavior...or is he?...:-)
LookAway19: mic did you bring the micmeter tonight?
HornCoolio: the meter has risen
Bill Champlin: Such an Altitude..Mic
DankSaxMan: now thats a visual
AMJKAP: Hi bill...does the gum work??
Bill Champlin: Kinda'. I still like cigars but I'm off the lil' white ones
Jockfun788: Have you really sang with Amy Grant?
Bill Champlin: Yeah. 3 albums
LMR121: Any places in particular I should visit while in SF?
Bill Champlin: The Fillmore Auditorium
HornCoolio: I sorta remember the Chateau
GG: The Chateau was classic
Bill Champlin: I wanna' go to that one. God Is Green
GG: It's a date Bill!
Wholemtn: Gosh Mic, I sure hope that you remember the Chateau
Bill Champlin: Maybe Rita can get us a ticket for that show.
GG: Rita?
Bill Champlin: thanks for hangin' get the album. All your questions will be answered by Micmeter.
DankSaxMan: MicMeter..official PR voice of the Sons
GLDCO: Hey Bill, Tell us about "tobacco Rd"?
Bill Champlin: Lou Rawls's first hit. John D. Loudermilk wrote it.
CDAEHLERB: Tell us about Time Will Bring You Love.
Bill Champlin: Me and Pat Craig wrote it in '75 and it's still a cool acoustic kinda' thing
Aikoanne: Bill, i was wondering if you remember Sundance on Mt Rose, at Tahoe?
Bill Champlin: Yes I do. I still remember driving home in a snowstorm
Aikoanne: Tahoe loved and loves you !
HornCoolio: Well, not all of us
Aikoanne: It was a fun era
HornCoolio: Happy Trails
Aikoanne: I’m an elderly fan ... mark, thats redundant : )
Bill Champlin: That's cool. I'm an elderly artist
Cyainmaui: Bill, any truth to the rumors there might be a studio album in the works down the road for the Sons?
Bill Champlin: I hope so. We kinda' need a record deal to make that happen.
MelanieCAR: What do you all think are the best single possibilities on the CD?
Bill Champlin: I think Time Will Bring You Love has the best shot at AC radio. My voice has been there a lot lately and this may work.
HornCoolio: But how will they ever hear the horns... if thats the single?
Bill Champlin: Mic, You're singin'.. What do you want?
HornCoolio: uh
HornCoolio: um
HornCoolio: never mind
KeyGordo: BTW, Bill - I sold five copies of the Sons CD on Little Feat chat over the past two weeks...
Bill Champlin: I caught Little Feat in Chicago a month ago. Awesome
KeyGordo: Bill -always wondered if you thought about doing something with them? They're one of the few bands. I consider in your league..
WTF24: Craig Fuller (ex-Little feat) is my hero!!
Bill Champlin: I love Shawn Murphy's voice. She's BAD
KeyGordo: WTF - remind me to introduce you to DaFeatz!
Bill Champlin: KeyGordo: When...Where??? I'm there
LookAway19: Bill how the new solo cd coming along?
Bill Champlin: LookAway19: I'm thinkin' about using the tunes for the Sons
Bdw319: Bill, how did you have time for the chat with all that touring? What a busy guy!
Bill Champlin: The road's easy in a way. Only 2 hrs. a day and a lot of laptop time
GG: I'm home listening to Freedom
HornCoolio: Tom Saviano's solo on Freedom is a classic
Wholemtn: Yes, Tom is fabulous on Freedom
Bill Champlin: How 'bout that alto solo. REAL
Bill Champlin: Let's all thank Geoff for putting up with us. Thanks Geoff.
Bill Champlin: Everybody.. thanks for coming and thanks for the ears. Tell a friend. This music is worth hearing.
GG: Personally, I'd like to do this again; this is more than just a PR stunt
Bill Champlin: I know that the Sons fans are really just a group of friends who have fun. And that's what it's all about.
