Bill Payne interview: "A History of Little Feat"

Bill Payne reviews a history of Little Feat for the Little Feat Radio Show. Bill talks about how the band's membership has changed over the past 54 years, and discusses one song from each of Little Feat's studio albums. Recorded in Roanoke, VA on April 26, 2023.
0:00 Intro
00:57 Little Feat "In 3 Acts"
01:57 Act 3 - Little Feat Today
06:04 Act 2 - 1987 - 2019
25:35 Act 1 - 1969 - 1979
41:20 Bill on music streaming
43:53 Go see Little Feat Live!
Thanks to Hank Randall for most of the Little Feat photos.
Thanks to Chris Cafiero for his work as Little Feat archivist. Check out his work on these KZbin channels ‪@JeffSq‬ ‪@LittleFeatArchive‬
Audio and video used includes:
"Long Distance Love"
• Little Feat - Long Dis...
"Representing the Mambo"
• Little Feat - Key West...
"Time Loves a Hero"
• Time Loves A Hero-Day ...
"Under the Radar"
archive.org/details/lf1997-12...
"Easy to Slip"
archive.org/details/LittleFea...
Richie Hayward drum solo recorded at the Downtown Disney House of Blues, November, 1997, courtesy of Mike J.
Other photos used include
Neon Park
www.bahrgallery.com/artist-ma...
Little Feat on the Riverboat President 1988
exhibits.tulane.edu/exhibit/r...
Robert Hunter
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

[@thingsetcetra]

We all love you Master Payne! Live long and keep playing!

[@TheNaturalust]

Bill, I can’t tell you how much your music has meant to me. I was raised in Montana but live in the Bay Area now. You will see me in the first or second row of every local Feat show. Second row, seats 1 and 2 for your upcoming show at the Greek with Teseschi Trucks. Thanks brother.

[@mvhoyt61able]

I am so happy to have found this interview. Thank you, Bill, for all of these gems you and band mate's created. I consider Waiting for Columbus to be the greatest live album ever produced. Thank you thank you thank you. ❤❤❤❤

[@thingsetcetra]

Always my heroes!

[@thingsetcetra]

I feel very lucky to have you all in my life!

[@JSSPatent]

it’s always good Bill !

[@thingsetcetra]

Thank you Red for all you do!

[@redmiller1]

You’re welcome. Grateful to be part of our fan community

[@thingsetcetra]

TDCS was the 1st Feat for me. But afterwards I couldn’t get enough!

[@TheNaturalust]

Scott has really done the band and fans proud. Couldn’t be more happy with that choice even though I would be a shoe in if given a chance! 😂

[@thingsetcetra]

Six feet of snow!

[@jamescox8402]

Saw the Feat in Brisbane, Australia in '77 or '78 one of the most 'complete' bands ever. Staggeringly great. In the '80's I was in the Sydney Opera house watching of all things a surf movie and when intermission came sitting in front of me was Bill Payne. I decided when he came back with his popcorn I had to speak with him. He never came back probably 'cause the movie was shithouse. No live rock album was better than "Waiting for Columbus'.

[@thingsetcetra]

Feat had the biggest impact on my life. Not just the music but the community! Lol my boys were at Mateel! They were 7. They still remember and still love you!

[@shays01]

Candy ... How are you?

[@davidmoss4606]

Oh The Mateel! Those were fun shows indeed .... As Fred says, "it was a christian miracle and it rained weed during Willin" .... Hangin on to the good times!

[@thingsetcetra]

I love you, and so does Bo and all us diehard fans!

[@thingsetcetra]

Your fans will always love you!

[@rappere11]

Love the band way back at Clover Studios. A very special experience for me. What an incredable band.

[@thingsetcetra]

Work work work!

[@thingsetcetra]

I made a shirt I wrote lyrics on. I wore it in Portland and Richie knew as soon as he saw it! I will always love Feat!

[@TheNaturalust]

That era with Craig Fuller and Shaun Murphy was spectacular!!

[@thingsetcetra]

Love you Bill. You are a legend! I hope to see you in Sisters Oregon once more!

[@FeatnikSF]

This has got to be Candy.....!

[@thingsetcetra]

Yes dear Miss Shag!

[@tomgraham7755]

Bill and I graduated from Righetti high in Orcutt Calif 1967.

[@waynemacgregor5614]

A Warrior, huh? I graduated in 1965. Watched Bill in "Something Wild" when he was just starting out. Have seen Little Feat about 20 times since then. Great band.

[@thingsetcetra]

I can’t wait for more Feat!

[@barbarasolomon889]

Feats Don’t Fail Me Now-1974 ❤

[@thingsetcetra]

Ha I moved to Atlanta died my hair red and worked on Peachtre st! All for Feat.

[@thingsetcetra]

Just another Sunday!

[@FeatnikSF]

That was the song we did the Mambo line at the Mateel

[@joemcgraw5529]

Bill I love Little Feat ,The best Party Band ever, I do have a few albums signed by most of the band, when people ask who is my favorite band I say Little feat and most of it is your style of playing,all members are very talented and thats why I have seen the band so many times

[@butchcassidy3373]

Great content. I first discover the Feat in 80 from my friends DrK and Emory. Thanks for turning me on to the best band ever. Saw them in the 90s finally. Sure wish I could have seen them with Lowell. Rock on Feat

[@GeoffreyMays]

No band quite like Little Feat! I liked Sailing Shoes, but it was Rock N Roll Doctor that hooked me for life. Saw them twice while Lowell was still alive. Sadly they weren't so well known so they opened the shows (once for ELO, another time for Poco). A big heartfelt shout out to Sam Clayton who put me on the guest list for the second show because I was a poor college student and couldn't afford the ticket (I was the "popcorn guy"). I'll never forget his kindness and generosity! Didn't know how they would carry on after Lowell passed, but they did with flying colors! (just recently saw the Waiting For Columbus anniversary show - fantastic!). And I can thank Bill & company for turning me on to Dolly Parton, when I saw that 3 of them were in her backing band, I bought the album.

[@thingsetcetra]

I miss Richie so much!

[@davidmoss4606]

me too

[@jroper7672]

Hell of a show in Tulsa, loved the Story of your visit to the Bob Dylan exhibit, please come back!!

[@fatbelly27]

Sailin Shoes and Dixie Chicken are my favourite Feat albums

[@guineveregruntle6746]

Great band

[@thingsetcetra]

Sam is the best! As every member of Feat!

[@rodmitchell831]

Love little feat.......fusion before its time

[@KurtWesthNielsen]

Thanks to Red for doing this thing through all these years!

[@redmiller1]

Your welcome, Kurt. Still ain’t had enough fun. I hope Little Feat make it back to Denmark soon for all their loyal fans like you.

[@jameswestmoreland9717]

Saw Little Feat in '71 maybe. Small "coffeehouse in Atlanta. Quartet then.

[@davidmoss4606]

I want to hear about The Little Feat Radio Hour in there somewhere!!!! :) Looking forward!

[@redmiller1]

Spoiler: he does give you a shout out

[@davidmoss4606]

@@redmiller1 :) Looking forward to hearing it!!!

[@FeatnikSF]

The LFRH chatroom was where many of our shared friendships began. Our pals in Europe logged on at crazy hours (their time) to join us in the "Tub". Even band members logged on to join the chat! I made note of a memorable quote from Richie Hayward which I've shared freely: "Never mistake a rut for a deep groove". I had the honor of being a guest on the LFRH once. Thank you Mossman!

[@davidmoss4606]

Those were some good times for sure! What a connection and early form of the community that has become family!

[@thingsetcetra]

Shaun was a great addition to the best band!

[@scotttannehill3438]

Always felt that Sarasota didn't treat them right at the Van Wezal show right after we lost Lowell....not that someone was at fault....a groove was somehow missed....perhaps it was the strict No Smoking rule there. Its a feeling that I've always carried from that particular night. If so....Hope we made it right at the Sarasota Blues Fest a few years later. Thanks for sharing what you've able here and on Radio Margaritaville

[@barbarasolomon889]

Billy So sorry you lost your confidant friend. Went to Rio in August! It was magical!

[@1927su]

Lowell George was cool.

[@wimweender1306]

😅❤🤩

[@thingsetcetra]

Nobody can do Richie!

[@shays01]

Well both the Mossman and the Shaggymae are here

[@davidmoss4606]

Indeed! Like an old family affair. :)

[@thingsetcetra]

Feels like home!

[@thingsetcetra]

Yeah I say too much. But this is special. I know Paul would ask me about my kids! I’d smoke pot with Richie! There is history! I miss 1r and so many!

[@bobrennegarbe5547]

HoyHoy!

[@robinjones6999]

Buy the albums - end of

[@Parrain0606]

RRHOF!!!!!

[@gottadomor7438]

That this band is not just in the RRHOF but has its own separate corridor dedicated to within it ... well, it just makes the place invalid. Yeah okay I'll accept hiding it way off in the farthest corner & you have to open a couple doorways to creaky staircases too, so only cool people can find it but ... until that wing christened, it's the RRHO Lame not Fame.

[@w5cdt]

Hi Bill….played any golf lately?

[@jonothanhayman2932]

Little Feat were unrepeatable, like most of the best bands are. I'd venture to suggest Jim Gordon as a great drummer too, though. ❤