Blackfoot Interview with Shorty & Rick Medlocke

Legendary Jacksonville Rock Band Blackfoot in a rare 1981
Interview. Songwriter Shorty Medlocke ("Train Train") plays harp and Rick Medlocke talks about Blackfoot success in
Europe in advance of their album "Marauder". Rich Langlois asks the questions for "Backstreet" TV program.

[@TheeRocker]

Warmed up for Rickey in Blackfoot, about 6 months before joining Skynyrd... Smokin' player and singer !!! Shout out Thunderfoot !!! Steele Horse Cafe, Elkhart IN '94'ish, from the gig to the bike party after got home about 7AM lol...

[@StevenDennyTH56]

Truly, Blackfoot was and are major contributors in creating and perpetuating around the world the popularity and success of our very own idiom of Southern Rock music from it's very roots right here in Jville, FL.

[@mcoope15]

I used to know Jakson back in the early 90's. He was one hell of a nice guy. Truly one of a kind. RIP "Thunderfoot".

[@ourlifeinwyoming4654]

Priceless! I saw Blackfoot on the Marauder tour, 1981, The Fox in Atlanta. The Danny Joe Brown opened up for them. Shorty did the harmonica into to Train. I remember him saying, "You boys play too damned loud!" I'll cherish those memories forever.

[@sherrynanney5215]

Rickey Medlocke thank you for being you. God bless Shorty for rasing a man a man like Rickey

[@richardtaylor9500]

I saw Blackfoot rip up the Reading festival in 1982 - never forgotten it. Superb rock'n'roll band!

[@markhenry6486]

Boy I sure wish I'd been there too!

[@katherineskrzynecki3347]

Yes, they are!

[@sherrynanney5215]

I love this so much. I wish that we could have heard more of Shorty. wisdom

[@johnefry3936]

You can definitely hear shorty in ricky, especially years later when ricky had stories to tell. Shorty was a great influence. And gotta love that juice harp.

[@DeLaFey1777]

amazing! Shorty Medlocke..........thank you SO much for posting this! The man that led Ricky to being one of the best rockers out in the biz! Nothing but love the the rattlesnake rock and rollers!

[@Shannonrenees]

I love shorty in fox chase to, he was incredible, he raised Rickey right !!! 🌹 Love you shorty, your the coolest 🦊

[@LeroyKinkade]

Just an amazing Band, pure and honest Rock n Roll. You became a fan for life once you got that Rattlesnake Bite!

[@Outlaw53james]

Shorty Medlocke is one of the greatest blues harpists of all time.

[@surferdude800]

did you know and hang out with Shorty? That's the only way you would have a window into his harp playing. There is nothing else of him recorded other than Train Train which isn't nearly enough to rank him as one of the greatest.

[@witchfindergeneral13]

Shorty was awesome and played several instruments and wrote Train Train. He plays the intro harmonica on the song. Which no one can deny is absolutely badass technique. However the rest of the harp when the song starts is Cub Koda. There are many great Harp players and Shorty definitely had his own unique style. No one can take that away from him.

[@witchfindergeneral13]

And you’re wrong. There are other recordings Shorty is on.

[@katherineskrzynecki3347]

Agreed!

[@raymonddehn1602]

Absolutely beautiful gentelman. Can't wait for the release of the full album.

[@GeezaBun]

That's wonderful, thanks for posting this rarity. Never knew what Shorty looked like until now.

[@tomitstube]

so cool hearing shorty do that intro, good stuff man.

[@ott5178]

That was a cool moment in music history for sure. RIP, Shorty.

[@Shannonrenees]

Yes for sure, we love ya Shorty 🌹

[@briangisler1981]

Not too many country Pa folks like me can say this. But I hung out with Jakson Spires all day and most of the night back in 1999. He taught me the correct way to play highway song on the guitar. I’ll never forget it. The stories I could tell. OMG! RIP my friend.

[@jimmylong6045]

love shorty medlocke

[@dwightdeskins8052]

Shorty Medlocke was the inspiration for the LYNYRD SKYNYRD song Ballad of Curtis Lowe, and by the way, he aint a blackman.

[@d.b.rackstrawd.b.rackstraw1785]

+Dwight Deskins and didnt cash in pop bottles 😉 👍

[@user-yb8bq1ir4w]

Yes a lot of shorty in Rickey love how Rickey calls shorty daddy so much respect to his grand daddy

[@Frankopinion]

That's cool seeing Shorty playing that intro.

[@stephenmiddleton891]

Tomcattin, the album I bought with my first wage packet at 16. Then came 1981 castle donnington monsters of Rock.( just a mile away from me) and then the lads kindly released a donnington single on vinyl.It rained that day but no one cared when Blackfoot (and slade) hit the P.A.

[@axslinger99]

I met Jakson back 2003 and he was the greatest guy. It's mind boggling to see them this young! I was jammin' on Train, Train when it was new! Damn, I feel old. God Bless em' all.

[@EVHguitarz]

Shorty was a real BADASS! what a true bluegrasser...amazing harp player

[@DavidLee-rx6uo]

It was awesome they brought Shorty along .. Shorty was a big part inspiration to Skynyrd and Blackfoot and many bands here in J-ville

[@poolman1726]

words of incredible wisdom from shorty medlocke, thank you so much for posting this

[@jeffreyschnoldt5388]

Years ago I saw black foot open up for ozzie the blizzard of ozz, with Randy Rhodes, great concert ..

[@chickasawstarrmountain9747]

Shorty (Curtis lowe)influnced all southern rock Rickey was blessed to be raised by him

[@katherineskrzynecki3347]

Yes, he did! And yes, he really influenced Rickey! TY Shorty!

[@Tracywalden2424]

I promise I could listen to Shorty all day long love him ❤️💕🎶🎶ttt24

[@jojoheartspaypay]

Walker and Medlocke absolutely beautiful cats.

[@beckybean5161]

I was young when I last saw Blackfoot. and that was a long time ago. you guys look as great as you sound.

[@williamrolls8075]

Hello Becky

[@k1kevin619]

Blackfoot and Shorty. Awesome stuff. Shorty sends out words of wisdom.

[@Mark-ui1pc]

Man this is so cool.....ive seen blackfoot rip through indy a few times. They will ALWAYS be one of my favz. THANKS FOR THIS UPLOAD.

[@Mission2Transition641]

wow ! great interview show!! loved it..Shorty Medlocke is great!!

[@acdcpowerage1]

cool video, wow that harp of Shortys ! takes me back to early 80's listnin' to blackfoot. Donnington 1981.......people who know how to make boogie bubble.... Saw Rickey with Skynard this week @ the Apollo Manchester, he's still got it. Thats how i ended up lookin @ this stuff. Cool tunes. !!

[@southern428]

thanks brings back a load of old memories

[@beckybean5161]

I like that rematk Shorty made. anything you do or say will come back on you. karma

[@EVHguitarz]

Shorty! just listen to that old man wail on that harp.........sure miss those days

[@wing59]

The last Band Members NEED TO DO That LIVE One Foe US!

[@johnm2617]

Saw these guys in 81- or 82 ! Opened for nazerath ! Binghamton ny ! Never herd of them ! My jaw dropped when the started playing ! Wow great band ! So I have seen them about 15 times since !!

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

Thanks to Rickey and guitar player magazine I bought my first good guitar, 1976 Ibanez Destroyer. It took ten months to pay off at $3.35 an hour. Still have it.

[@jacoblee5825]

Ole Shorty a national treasure ,Rip Shorty and Jackson.

[@FireHorse11291966]

I am so thankful for youtube to be able to see old footage like this.

[@eddiemuniz761]

Kerrang!!! magazine did a well received article with Ricky on the cover of one of their early issues!!!

[@y00h0011]

Glad he did this interview.. just 1 year before he passed.

[@richwhite63]

I always loved Shorty's voice, still do , he was awesome !!!

[@timothyvandyke-lc1oi]

I've seen this interview years ago I mean years ago in 1982 ...late nite rock and roll, show ..can't remember now..I do rember hearing on a j ville radio signal.....They were a class 1 act...I saw Ricky at Blount co .Alabama at a amphitheater in 1994 I think it was north of Bham ..50 miles.of course Ricky was playing his best.He was telling the crowd how he liked north Ala...And then some red neck threw a beer can at Ricky's guitar....Rick told him.....THANKS U FREEKIN RED NECK .FOR SCAR ING MY 1958 LES PAUL.....RICK SORRY FOR THAT DRUNK RED NECK ..THANKS FOR PLAYING THE GIG. YOUR A GOOD MAN....THERE IS ALOT OF GOOD Spirit HERE MY Friend...peace pipe. Mushrooms native spirit here...native Americans live here in the Mts....Thanks

[@DavidSchelldorfSelectMedia]

Show was called Backstreet, hosted by Rich Langlois who was responsible for everything.

[@adamolddude4495]

That was awesome thanks for sharing. Of course it's 13 years ago but first time I have seen this and honestly forgot about it being Rick's dad Shorty.

[@bobslydell806]

You DO know my band. We (in the beginning) opened with either train train or ‘ol ring, ‘ol tig and ol’ rover. either way, if you saw us WAY back then, we always played these two songs. I LOVE them still. God Bless Blackfoot.

[@pcdubya]

Wow, to put a face with the sound. My Mom bought my brother that album in about 1980 and remember shorty talking and playing before launching into the main riff, too cool

[@MusicDude86]

Awesome video!!! Thanks for uploading this!!!

[@richardbisson8771]

wow shorty medlocke and rick truely an honor to watch this

[@razorsteel7242]

Shorty Medlocke's guest spots were always a welcome surprise when playing a Blackfoot LP the 1st time!

[@mikepierro6929]

One of he greatest albums ever by Blackfoot was "No Reservations". That was some awesome music.

[@thierrystabat8583]

The first and one of better album I Listened. Very hard to find at this time (as Flyin'high).

[@vincentcreamer6408]

No reservations is a great album and very hard to find!!! Big Wheels is sill one my favorite Blackfoot songs!!!!

[@jeffbrown7408]

Shorty , what a cool dude! Love Blackfoot🎸

[@Svenly10]

Very cool interview and clip! Blackfoot and Rickey are the best - also cool to saw Shorty.

[@debzeppeliniv]

wow that was priceless thanx !

[@williamrolls8075]

Hello Deborah

[@michaellehmbeck8671]

Thank you so much !!!

[@JC-11111]

Is that Ricky talking? Man he was young. This is the year I was born. Wow. Makes remember just how old I'm getting. I never thought I'd turn 40. You feel like you'll be young forever. 😔 Because those first 18 years takes forever to go by as a kid...my daughter would be 8 yrs old already. Instead she's forever 1 yr, 9 months and 20 days old. I miss her terribly. It's hard to believe we'd already already be halfway to her being 18 yrs old. Makes me so mad and sad when I think about it. 😥

[@costellogus]

One of the most exciting band i have ever seen saw them live twice when they played Ireland prize vinyl in my record collection miss the original band Rickey is an amazing singer front man pity he doesn't sing in Skynyrd

[@dr.know-it-all5148]

Jackson Spires on the right of Mr. Shorty.

[@Mopheadmusic2000]

Who wouldn't love this band? Man, I wore out their LPs when I was growin' up!

[@TIGERSINTEXAS]

This is a great video.

[@Pappy63]

I'm a damn Yankee but I love the Jacksonville R&R!

[@oranstelly5393]

The south does again.

[@kimmartin7024]

Love it

[@joesmith3501]

Gold!

[@MOBProduktion]

Helt fantastisk intervju!

[@gskh]

Underrated band. Love them

[@danhilbert6727]

Man, this brings tears to my eyes... what a man, what a grandpa! There he was still doing it at 69 y/o, then less than a year later he was gone. R.I.P. Shorty 😢 What a wonderful legacy he left in these guys - who are still kickin' it as old (or older) now than he was then 🎸🎵🎶

[@stellarocquie7957]

And here Rickey is, still doing it at 71!

[@bendavidson7122]

LOVE BLACKFOOT!!!!!!!!!!!

[@picklerick2718]

He played it just like the tape.

[@obbor4]

Florrida World Music Festival (this spelling is correct!), 1979, Shorty plays the opening intro on the harp, Blackfoot follows by tearing up the Tangerine Bowl with 'Train, Train!!!.'

[@annaleonardi6299]

He was and still is a great performer...and he was good looking and still is...We just seen them ..Sknyrd in Durant OK show 2016..

[@williamrolls8075]

Hello Ana

[@stellarocquie7957]

OMG, Shorty is so cute. What a character! RIP!

[@williamrolls8075]

Hello Stella

[@TheOriginalShredneck]

RIP shorty one hell of a human being!

[@kjcsinger]

thanks for this video Shorty is kickin' at the end!

[@angelaguerry3627]

Saw them the first time in 1981

[@frankcastle2438]

Wise man.

[@lordharry423]

Shorty is younger here than Rickey is now

[@terrydaniels9126]

Jamming black foot

[@HMACDONALD69]

Damn !! Rickey was hot !!

[@Intermentor]

Just bought Skrikes today on cd. Way too good album to only listen to on Spotify. Buy it you too.

[@barefootdrummer7]

Rickey medlocke is a genius never got the credit he deserved his grandfather shorty medlocke was one of the most inspiring and knowledgeable I felt blessed after I talk to shorty medlocke so many times he was full of spirit and soul I guess that's why Rickey medlocke it's such a big influence on me I play drums in a band called spearfinger we got the name from The Old Cherokee urban legend we are from Asheville and Clyde North Carolina Mountain Music but enough about us you can check us out on KZbin or something if you like I'll just wanted to give a shout out to Rickey medlocke for making my life much better he was kind of like my Elvis Presley hero LOL he probably doesn't even remember me but we met on several occasions in Asheville North Carolina he did some shows for some friends of mine he was always so nice and inspired me to play music buy ear I just feel it deep down in your soul and makes you want to move wanted everyone to know how thankful I was for the inspiration to play music and the influence Rickey medlocke had on me he helped make my life great thank you Rickey medlocke may God bless you and yours keep on rockin your true friend probably your biggest fan Randy Schultz Asheville North Carolina rip shorty medlocke I will never forget you God bless all

[@fistchips]

I wonder where Charlie was during this interview?

[@TheAtrocityvendor]

"Fox Chase" Rules

[@gardnerberry113]

I often think about ol' Ring, ol' Tiger, and ol' Rover...

[@corvettecoupe3731]

I always wanted to see shorty. He was younger back them than I thought he was...

[@shelwhitley1011]

Yes, but unfortunately we lost the "young man at heart" the year after this interview. :'(

[@barefootdrummer7]

Michelle Whitley hi bro how's it going love your comment on Blackfoot hit me back I would love to talk to you

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

@@shelwhitley1011 When my wife and I visit Jacksonville, Shorty's on my list of people who are going to get a bouquet of flowers.

[@Scott-ly2nk]

Ol shorty raised rickey

[@alphonzo1955]

yep he rock

[@Mrwufpac]

That is right, his grandparents raised him...

[@TheFruitloop186]

HIs grandparents adopted him

[@lordharry423]

They were at their peak here. If they had continue on this vein could have been as big as John Cougar

[@blusismylife]

i wish he record some video lessons teaching the greatests hits of the Blackfoot

[@blusismylife]

that WAS blackfoot.. INDEED!

[@ARTll-zy1cp]

I can't say enough about these guys. Love Shorty's attitude towards life. Anyone know what key that harp shorty was playing is in. C maybe??

[@surferdude800]

intro in G. lead solo's after slide leads were in A

[@rebelrecording]

@lastofthewild1s also to Lynyrd!If you recall,i think it was "made in the shade"was Van Zants tip of the hat to Shorty!

[@STataw]

You know you know

[@truthweallknow]

Yeah buddy

[@miamigroove]

4:55 I have found this out....that love is what its all about :0)

[@underdoggo9064]

Charlie wasn't present. Ken Hensley also joined around this time.

[@bobowman470]

There's shorty and Jak

[@bowslap]

Wow, Shorty Medlocke...that old man not only raised rickey and inspired him, but also who many consider to be the "chairman emeritus" of Southern rock..Mr. Ronnie Van Zant....was the inspiration and dedication of the "Ballad of Curtis Lowe".. to have been a fly on the wall while these guys were growing up around characters such as this man...

[@Hurriken42]

That is the best set they could come up with? What is the show, Waynes World? Is Shorty still alive?

[@markhenry6622]

Wish I had a fraction of the common sense Shorty has.