Bill Payne - Tragic Deaths: Lowell George, John Belushi (7 of 10)

An exclusive series of Living Legends Music interviews with Bill Payne of Little Feat. Part 7 of 10. Recorded on May 1st, 2008 at The Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, FL.
Bill Payne's official website: www.billpaynemusic.com
Little Feat's official website: www.littlefeat.net
Living Legends Music online: www.livinglegendsmusic.com

[@bluesborn]

The death of Lowell George was an enormous loss depriving the world of a truly gifted deeply soulful artist of limitless talent.

[@TonyW2444]

Just got lost in his drugs and alcohol and did not look after his friends or family, but deeply loved and left us a lot but all too soon,,

[@KITLEVEY]

I think Bill Payne's keys work in the Little Feat band was the stuff of legends. Can't get enough of it. Richie Hayward and Kenny Gradney were, and still may be, my favorite drum/bass combination. I miss that band beyond reason. Their sound, rhythms, and cadence remain unmatched in my mind.

[@phyllis1753]

Bill Payne. One of the greatest unsung keyboard players in rock!

[@BattManion1979]

He's no wimp, he was smart enough to know when to quit.

[@jjj13031984]

...but you ARE huge!! to a lot of people, Little Feat is and will remain huge!! great great band.

[@musiceducationvideo4111]

Bill Payne is a legend!

[@mrwhiskeydik]

Saw Feat twice with Lowell. A lot of genius's are flawed, maybe that's part of their genius. I think Bill Payne was being quite frank and honest about Lowell and the lifestyle. The music of Lowell George and Little Feat will stand the test of time

[@prissilou]

Never commented on this video years ago when I first saw it, but now I will: Little Feat, as formed in 1973 (I think, maybe 1972, I'm getting old) with Lowell, Billy Payne, Richie Hayward, Sam Clayton, and Kenny Gradney was probably one of the greatest RnR bands of all time, at least IMHO. When the band regrouped (as mentioned above) and became a six-piece powerhouse, they became a force of nature. How they still happened to be one of the most unknown and underrated bands of all time is still a mystery to me. They were the backup band for Robert Palmer on his Pressure Drop album, but I think the major issue was that they didn't get the promotion from their record label. I think the only reason I knew who LF was was because I lived in the Norfolk VA area and the Norfolk record station DJs were hearing LF performing in the DC area and bringing the music back to the Tidewater area. Anyway, it didn't take long for myself and lots of other LF fans to be swept up into the euphoria that was a Memphis night underneath a streetlight...love you Lowell...

[@westwindpainting]

I am from Virginia too. I remember their music on k 94. .I loved the tunes. Sad he went off on the coke trip.

[@greyhound001]

Bill...one of my true inspirations as a keyboardist.

[@Cerph]

In "Fat Man in the Bathtub", Lowell says it all- "Don't want no speedballs, cause' I might die tryin'". I was at his last concert at Lisner Auditorium, in D.C.- (it blew me away, when I saw that he died that night in his hotel room).

[@everysandwich]

Very sharp guy and reasonable guy blessed with outstanding talent. This is the kind of sanity and pragmatism so many bands need. As for Lowell George and so many others, some day I hope we'll see stop seeing genius and self-destruction getting way too familiar with each other. One foot on the floor at all times, you two!

[@charlestehuia9263]

Thank you Lowell and God bless and keep you brother.

[@sixxteenbits]

Lowell was an amazing performer and left behind a body of exceptional work. But sometimes I feel that Lowell's greatest legacy is his daughter Inara!

[@HUGESNFAN]

Lowell's heart gave out but look on the bright side: he left a treasure trove of wonderful songs. Like Stephen Foster -he kind of had to pass on to the next world so that we could focus on his worldly accomplishments. Sometimes this world can't hold on to those special talents of which Lowell certainly was one.

[@krisscanlon4051]

11 years later indeed still true

[@andyokus5735]

Very true Lisa.

[@jamespfitz]

Also, a lot of cocaine. Like...a lot, lot, lot, lot, lot of cocaine. And vodka.

[@TheNaturalust]

Payne tells it like it is, Lowell was a musical genius but he was screwed up. Addicted to coke and smack and the combination of the two. Unless he would have been able to overcome that ball and chain the music would have suffered even more and led to his eventual downfall. Probably my favorite guitar player of all time and Richie Hayward was definitely my favorite drummer. RIP Lowell and Richie.

[@timoflea8417]

Damned thing is how many of the musicians, artists, poets, philosophers -- so many of our best and brightest -- paid some heavy dues to cold blue steel and sweet fire. We lost too many, and we will always miss them; however far more came through that hell and many if not most are still keeping on today. We live, we lose, we learn, eh? It's not easy to live and live well. There are no maps or manuals. Still, along our paths we can take much needed sustenance one and another, and thank our stars for all those who came before or along beside us, especially those like Lowell George, or George Harrison, or Warren Zevon, or Laura Nyro, or all the others' whose music kept lifting you and me a little higher... maybe showing us a sign, helping us be willin to keep on moving.

[@Cerph]

Just listen to the words of "Fat Man In The Bathtub"- Lowell details his own death- ("don't want no speedballs, cause I might die tryin"). My sense is- the man was depressed, and did the best he could with what he had. Very sensitive, intelligent and talented.

[@gregstreater1717]

you tube

[@EastonUlster]

just found this music ,love it.

[@atypicalphred]

thank you Bill for sharing that with us......lot's of us interested in your view's on thing's and your music as well.

[@Cerph]

Telling it like it was- (painful, but true)

[@Staylogical]

Leon Russell,Billy Payne and Billy Preston.The best keyboard players of at least a couple of generations.

[@thecoldwaters]

I always thought Matt Berry would make a great Lowell. Dude looks uncannily like him.

[@truckeemick2486]

I never saw things the way you put them now Bill, but with age and hindsight i can only fully agree with your sentiments. I was angry too when he went. Such a waste of an irreplaceable soul. your playing that took us away and his painful at times lyrics that explained sometimes the inexplainable will live on forever and will always be referred to as sounding as if they were recorded just yesterday. RIP Richie, lowell.

[@BobReed58]

Always had the impression that Bill Payne had his act together. After seeing this, turns out I was right.

[@johnstewartmeyer1631]

very kind. to lose people and not to blame them..to go on and not fear their dying..and look back and not think of ones own loss. or at least not talk about. for we yet live and we will not see them again..

[@immobilien]

In the early 70's, I was working in the summer for a plumbing company and we did the plumbing work for Bill's parents' new home in Moody, Texas........they were extremely nice people...;)

[@VisualSOLUTIONSMedia]

Unbelievable that Belushi wanted to play Lowell, and that they both died from speedballs!!!

[@jamestutsock20]

I saw Bill a year or 2 ago at Terminal West here in Atlanta, good to see the "survivors" so to speak, he stayed after and answered all questions, very relaxed and at peace. This was THE band for me in the early 70's living in Alexandria, 2 shows a night at Lisner Auditorium (years before the Waiting For Columbus shows there) on GWU campus, Bonnie Raitt, Emmy Lou Harris with long BLACK hair of course at the time and a third wonderful local gal whose name still escapes me would come sauntering out with tambourines from stage left to join in the chorus for Dixie Chicken. That was the only time they came out and they did it both shows so I guess it must have been a good scene backstage. Crushed when he died, I had no plans to see the band again, but I did end up in New Orleans for Jazz Fest and found out they were going to be playing on a boat (with other bands I don't recall the names ) called the Queen Mary that would go out on the Mississippi at night. I remember seeing advertising that it was the first show of the new lineup with Craig Fuller but its been so long I will have to revisit my timeline.. There was a big room with a stage and several bars, Bonnie Raitt was there again and helped Craig on vocals with several songs. I was really amazed at well it all sounded and Tackett was also a good addition and indeed this was the most commercially successful period for the band. Wandering around during intermission to see the city lights from the water it was not hard to tell this boat was not seeing much maintenance (kind of like the rest of the city) and in retrospect only too much tequila kept me from being properly concerned. The boat was nowhere to be found the next year, and although the friend that introduced me to the band remained a diehard fan I never saw them again. Just read on Wiki that Jimmy Page considered Little Feat his favorite band in a 1975 Rolling Stone interview.

[@dontask448]

Brilliant!

[@designermite]

Very insightful....

[@samsngdevice5103]

Keep the feeds comming!

[@mikemadden2729]

The wheels came off? All of you went thru that? *And you became the the best band of all time.* A 'supergroup' to fans & to musicians everywhere, LMFAO!!! I think they'll be playin' your stuff quite a while. I hear a Little Feat tune on the radio almost every day, all these years later.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Wow the miles connected between Lowell and John. Self sabotage is notorious in artists however BP kept on

[@oztang1]

BEAUTIFUL BILL

[@blossomrusso6457]

Good god what a solid friend. Everybody in the 70s was great right? True but what a pure expression we lost with lowell. Man, I just wish I could've seen these times...

[@timoflea8417]

I lived in those times, the '60s & '70s, and sometimes I wonder how I managed to survive through it all. There can never be another '60s nor the better part of the '70s. I hasten to add that all of those times weren't so very good In a lot of ways, it may be said that it was the worst of those times that birthed the best of those times. People came together in the civil rights movement, in the women's rights movement and in the antiwar movement - not to forget the music nor the psychedelic counterculture. I dare say, it was kind of our American Spring, and a holding of our politicians - our government - and our own selves to account. In this wonderful, ongoing experiment which history shows our country to be, one never before in the history of the world and still the greatest accomplishment in all of civilization there came together in the 1960s a rejuvenation, a revitalization and a true revolution -- of the mind, of the psyche and of the very soul of our nation which I believe with all my heart would have made the founding fathers proud. Yet, it wasn't always pretty and it very often was downright ugly; still people came together like never before and, sad to say, not since. These days I fear we're hovering perilously close to a precipice and for all my better self I tremble to see just how close we are. Man, oh man, how I wish for another coming together for all the good but find myself thinking that's just wishing for the moon. I don't yearn for a return to some fabled day of yore, yet I know the whole shebang just came together like it did when it did. So, instead I think about what really worked back then. I keep returning to the music. That keeps me willing, and it keeps me coming back to KZbin where I'm delighted to see how music is still showing a sign to so many people. Lord knows, it's not easy, but it's for damn sure worth it.. Maybe all it takes, really, just maybe -- is to be willin' !!

[@Sirchud68]

Yeah, this gen needs to know this story

[@drewtobias4923]

Matt Berry should do the Lowell story. Matt has also got an album out!

[@anthbooth]

i miss this guy ... grew up to his music seen little feat in germany years ago without lowell ... not the same

[@grimmpoxer]

If Jack Black could make it all about Lowell, it might be good. If Jack Black made it all about himself, I'd rather give birth to a flaming porcupine than watch *that* biopic.

[@wisesatyr72]

Two of the coolest dudes

[@inatizzy2]

Yes Jack Black is an image of Lowell.. He could pull it off and oh what a story could be told. Lowell was the greatest and more people need to know of him. Amazing !

[@missinglowell]

thanks for posting - good to hear from someone who knew them both, and saw the connection (genius) - he's right - Belushi could've done Lowell, but JBlack would be inspired chanelling perhaps....how i miss him, and how i wish what passes for "music" today came close to what those guys were "puttin' out" .... ♥

[@GasserGlass]

Knew Lowell from the Hunt Valley Maryland (Blue Seas Studio days...they were recording FEATS DON'T FAIL ME NOW....was great to be a part of that whole scene.... Steve Boone (bass player) of the Lovin- Spoonful Owned the Studio.... Some great music, great laughs with Lowell George, Steve Boone, Guy Philips, Butch Roche, Trudy and many others...Think Bonnie Rait & Donovan were a part of those Blue Seas Studio days and the Little Feat days..... Lil Blurry near Lowell's last days DAZE.... PEACE

[@richdys]

Bill Payne is probably the best all around keyboardists in Rock. There are probably one or two better pianists, a handful of better organists and a few better synthesists, but nobody does it all as well as Payne. Amazing player. Very insightful comments about Lowell. The sad reality for LFeat was that Lowell and Payne could make more money as individual players or artists than they could as members of Little Feat. . sad but true. .

[@mikemadden2729]

But then we wouldn't have Little Feat.

[@ScottyColoradoKid]

Oh c'mon you guys; Let It Roll was a great freakin song! Give them some credit; besides, you see them live even now and they blow your socks off! Ya just have to see them LIVE

[@glammer]

Agreed, I'd put the Let It Roll album above the flawed Down on the Farm. I get why people aren't into the post-Lowell era but I saw them on Avila Beach in California in the late 90s and there was no other band who could sit in a groove like them, even without Lowell. My socks ended up in Monteray.

[@dyccupcutter]

When we are all long gone (generations from now) - they will celebrate the music of Little Feat. Oh yes!! They will Celebrate. Carry on!

[@w5cdt]

Good to see you playing with the Doobies!

[@kynyrdskynyrd]

I saw the Dead at a great outdoors show in Eugene Or. when Bob Weir announced from the stage the passing of Lowell.

[@duffleaver6108]

I was watching a Jack Black in a movie the same day before I saw this video and thought the same thing!

[@cielo27rah]

@shoutingthomas hey need to shout : Bill and Paul don't need to shout you wish you had their talent Just say Thank You Loving Lowell is great appreciate the people that had his back

[@kevinallen6197]

LowellGeorge and ToyCaldwell What a shame. Amazing people destroyed by drug abuse. Pay attention kids.

[@sexstring]

You think so too!! Good Freakin call!

[@Kirkola]

Sobering

[@georgiarebelinne]

Designermite---I agree---"very insightful." If Billy says it--i believe it. He's got a head on his shoulders to match the fingers on his hands. What a cool guy.....

[@jamiepastman5594]

One of the great keyboardists of all time kids. Forget Rick Wakeman

[@shoutingthomas]

Payne and Barrerre should have realized how lucky they were to be in a band with one of the great geniuses of rock and kept their mouths shut and done whatever they told him. Jazz fusion, indeed. Like Lowell said, "a band needs a leader".

[@mikemadden2729]

Those 3 guys were the best singer songwriters in the world & the other 3 were the best rhythm section in the world!

[@mikemadden2729]

8 years ago? Are you still around to see this?

[@iansnyder274]

Uhh..life is a bit more complicated than that🤔

[@richardrejmer8721]

I would pay to see Jack Black play Lowell George. . I think he could pull it off really well

[@AceHermes]

Wikipedia says Lowell's death was a heart attack caused by a heroin overdose. So what's this guy talking about?

[@audiodoc68]

Great idea, Bill - Jack Black doin' Lowell's & Little Feat's Story.

[@ktpinnacle]

With Barrerre's passing, I thing that might be it for Feat. They were all musician's musicians. Payne's right, they could have become huge and appreciated by all instead of a group that was bright for too short a time.

[@marielaveau5321]

Now they have Scott Sherman on guitar. I wonder if they will do the Ramble on the Island in Jamaica again when the pandemic allows. My son was their guitar technician for about 10 years. ✌️

[@ktpinnacle]

@@marielaveau5321 Good news.

[@1959seeburg222]

I love the Little Feat with Lowell George. I was lucky enough to see the 4/13/78 show at Warner Theater in D.C. and one more time 10/1/78 in Vermont on a school field trip from New Hampton, NH. If I could have only one album, I think it would be "Waiting For Columbus".

[@cielo27rah]

Jack Black could pull it off - love these interviews - thanks for posting

[@TonyW2444]

Just sad....

[@glennhmartin]

Actually Lowell died in Arlington, VA on June 29, 1979 after his last show the night before at the Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC.

[@Cerph]

Sad, but true- I was at that show (was totally blown away, seeing that Lowell died the next day, while reading the newspaper). "Don't want no speedballs, cause I might die tryin'".

[@mavis41558]

Bill Payne - Tragic Deaths: Lowell George, John Belushi sad but Bill is telling a great story, sounds like out of love........

[@AprilJasper]

Jack Black would play a GREAT Lowell George! I want to see that movie.

[@truckeemick2486]

April Jasper. i been lookin out for this movie. whats it called.? stariing jack black yeah?

[@YogsenForfoth]

Man, if it had been like 10-15 years ago, Jack Black would have been an incredible choice to play Lowell George. He’s just too old nowadays. 😔

[@martinevans123]

I'll sing to that

[@waiting4aliens]

We saw Lowell just before he died playing at the Warner in D.C. . Phil remarked, he looks like hell, like he was living in a cave doing cocaine. Phil was right.

[@TheTheoldgit]

@nomorerocketships thats nota bad idea .Its a great idea!

[@MortimerYoung]

@KAJohnson50 Maybe, but I don't think so. I think you're thinking of Skynyrd's piano player, the late great Billy Powell.

[@cielo27rah]

I really appreciate this interview Living is not wimpy it takes, well you know, elephant balls and to quote Tom Petty Rhino skin

[@pawnansell]

The Nite that Lowell died in Charlote NC, we were supose to mix the sound for him the next day at the Empire Theater in Richmond Va, We were ready for the sound check about 4:00 and the Light co owner came in and there was going to be no show that Lowell ODed . WOW What a shock. Gary

[@mikemadden2729]

Your story hits hard 10 years later. I saw them with Lowell in Madison, Wisconsin in the 1970s.

[@thefuzzboxx1018]

does this guy always looked pissed off?

[@TD1878]

@sylicone221 Whatever pal. No appreciation of a fine talent. And, for your information, I appreciate a wide range of music. If you can't appreciate the talent that was Lowell George that's your problem... not mine :)

[@Jordan__Sloan]

WMP his initials, he takes it as wimp, you can tell that was one of those Laurel canyon LSD epiphanies

[@VisualSOLUTIONSMedia]

Wonderful. Magnificent. Pianist.

[@EdVidz]

dear louiseduvee: that claim that the AMA advocated cocaine as an alterntive to marijuana in 1970? Got any proof? Don't both quoting High Times btw

[@charleswinokoor6023]

“Just say no.” I remember when it was fashionable to mock Nancy Reagan for uttering that anti-drug motto. Corny, right? Well look what speedballs did for George and Belushi.

[@richardcole786]

feat was such a great band! not really all that great after lowell died! damn shame!

[@BrushApe66]

"Billy Payne ain't looking like he is too chipper"? ASSUMING that you or I live to that age (60), let's see what WE look like...lol

[@cielo27rah]

@shoutingthomas

[@nomorerocketships]

jack black could play lowell george; not a bad idea...

[@Umberto2]

@RoughBoy1056 vince herman could do it no problem

[@reincarnatedman]

@420honey You plainly don't know what you are talking about ... can't put it plainer than that. Those that know, they know that they know. Those that don't know, they don't know that they don't know.

[@bernardliu8526]

reincarnatedman Do you or did you know ?

[@TD1878]

@sylicone221 Well look who it is - the man who appreciates Beyonce Mr. Mister and Squeeze. Not that I condone that. Just hardly the expert in eclectic musical tastes and not likely to appreciate Lowell George - purely judging on your comments of course, my good man :)

[@delphinazizumbo8674]

wtf does payne think he know about JERRY? nothin about nothin? bill payne: sideman, not a Creator, a Player

[@pretorious700]

@GratefuIDead Bill Payne could play more with one finger than Billy Powell could with both hands, both feet, and his pecker.

[@coreyfellows9420]

Billy Powell was far more versatile. He could do early American Western In one song... Boogie in the next.... Rock in the next... His fills are always subtle and effective. Plus the the way he swells his runs into solos are like nothing else in ANY ROCK... Maybe some Elton John stuff... It's funny how Powell even is part of the story... It's kinda like Jordan.... Everyone sais X is better then Jordan... Why??? Cause Jordans the best.... And set the mark for what "the best" is.... And that transcends all sports....

[@coreyfellows9420]

No one remembers anything the dead did on piano... And despite it being almost comical.... Everyone knows the piano parts from free bird.....

[@moshepotts]

Who????

[@captainstartrip]

Bill Payne, what a arse, I can now understand why Lowell (a true genius) disliked him so much...

[@TheTinyAutistsGuideToTheGalaxy]

The same arse that immediately thought of Lowell's family after he killed himself with drugs. We addicts tend to not be around to pick up the pieces.

[@jeremiahwilson1781]

i think jack black can sing his ass off

[@PhukIT1865]

blah blah blah stoned bs