AJOBO: Remembering Paul Revere
By now, you’ve heard the sad news that we lost one of, really, the pillars of ‘60s rock on Saturday: Paul Revere, titular leader of Paul Revere and the Raiders, lost his battle with cancer at age 76. Though, in the band, he was mostly found behind his keyboard/organ, his off-stage personality shone through in his brilliant smile and affable aura. Nicknamed “Uncle” Paul because he was slightly older than the other Raiders, the (nickname synonym) was also fitting because of his kindness and penchant for mentoring young musicians, including Raider front man Mark Lindsay.
On Sunday, Lindsay posted the following statement to his Facebook page:
We all know that Paul had been very ill for a while, and you always hope for the best — a miracle, maybe. But it just wasn’t to be this time. It is still surreal to think that he is gone. I’m sure this cannot be an easy time for Sydney and all of Paul’s family, and I wish them all the best, and peace.
In 1958, Revere and I got together in Idaho, and it clicked. We had a great run, and for a real long stretch, it was magic. All good things seem to come to an end, though, and eventually Revere and I drifted apart and went our separate ways. But I want to remember the good times, when he was my best friend and we were partners, and the world was ours for a while. Right now I would like to think he’s playing wild boogie-woogie on that big golden upright in the sky. Play on, brother, see you down the road. ~ ML
Another member of the Raiders, iconic bassist Phil “Fang” Volk, got his own nickname from Revere. When I interviewed him in 2011, he said, “[Paul] gave me a big break by hiring me and bringing me into that band and allowing me to prove myself because at first I didn’t have all the bass chops. Mark [Lindsay] had suggested he’d get rid of me before I’d even had a chance to prove myself but Paul said, ‘No, let’s give him a little time. He’s going to be a great entertainer, you watch.’ And so Paul had faith in me and I owe him a big debt of gratitude.” And late Saturday night, he sent out an email in tribute to his friend:
It’s a very sad day for the Raider legacy…. my heart is broken….He was a dear friend of mine… I hope the media shows him the respect he deserves… Perhaps some of you who have the access & ability, could send out a few press releases like you did when we lost Drake…Anything will be appreciated… He was a good man with a great big heart, and he dedicated his life to his band for the past five decades… He will truly be missed in the rock & roll world, and by his friends who loved him as I did… He was an original, “the genuine article” – one of a kind – and his accomplishments need to be touted and celebrated. Thank you for anything you are able to do to give him honor at this time of sorrow and loss…
Phil “Fang” Volk
And, yesterday, fellow Raider Jim “Harpo” Valley chimed in with his own Facebook update about his friend:
So my dear friend and mentor Paul Revere has entered Rock N Roll Heaven but will not be forgotten here… among his legion of fans! His joyful enthusiasm and good time music will live on for generations to come. Bless you dear Uncle Paul..we miss you! I called him the “George Burns of Rock and Roll”. His humor and amazing stage presence enabled us Raiders to be the best we could be!
Obviously, these are just a few of the many, many remembrances of how Revere touched countless lives in and out of the music business. I was heartened to see Revere trending on my Facebook feed Sunday, along with articles from the likes of Billboard and NBCNews popping up. Though many sources recognized him as basically “the guy who led the band in the Revolutionary War outfits,” the overwhelming outpour of love for Revere from his contemporaries and industry folks at large speaks volumes, both to his character in life, and his everlasting legacy.
We’ll miss you, Paul. Thanks for all the “kicks.”
In other news, this edition of AJOBO is a day late because of some really, super fun traveling blunders yesterday, including mechanical errors and switching planes that make for an excruciatingly long day. (And those of you who read my column on Popdose know that I haaaaaaaaate flying when everything goes 100% smoothly.) But, I’m now in Los Angeles, running on New York time. Why am I a week-long West Coaster? For the LA Fest for Beatles Fans, of course!
Just like our coverage of the Chicago Fest in August, we’ll be focusing on the Fabs this week on REBEAT. And if you’re heading to the LAX Marriott this weekend, make sure you stop by the Women Historians Panel on Saturday at 3:45pm in the Paperback Writer room. I’m, once again, a panelist, and one of our contributors, Susan Ryan, will moderate.
Of course, if you’re not near the City of Angels, or can’t make it to the Fest, stay tuned to our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for live updates of Fest activities and guests!
In the meantime, check out…
This Week on REBEAT!
– Did you miss Sally O’ Rourke? So did we! Thankfully her brand new column, “It Was 50 Years Ago Today,” debuts this afternoon! As if the title isn’t a dead giveaway, she’ll be spotlighting music, books, movies, and more, that are celebrating their 50th anniversaries.
– An exciting new weekly recurrence also debuts this week: “Staff Picks.” Another pretty self-explanatory title, each week, some of the REBEAT staffers and myself will be chiming in on a topic of relevance. On Thursday, we’re honoring John Lennon’s birthday by running down our favorite solo-Lennon tracks.
-Among the Beatle-themed pieces of the week are a preview of the Fest from a first-timer, a spotlight on those infamous Beatles fans known as “Apple Scruffs,” reviews, and more!
