Jorma Kaukonen Interview with Mark Steinberg April 10, 1982

This videotaped interview was recorded prior to Jorma Kaukonen's concert performance at New England College's Science Lecture Hall, on April 10, 1982. This was recorded at a time when Jorma was in between record labels and was touring solo. The interviewer is Mark Steinberg, camera work by Marise Nazzaro, and production assistance by Luc Nicknair. Very early college work by all three.
The audio track on the original video tape was totally distorted, so I had to use the cassette recordings that I was rolling. I broadcast the audio from this on my WNEC-FM radio program a week or so after this was recorded back in 1982. This video version of the tape, sat on a shelf for 30 years until I bought an old Beta-max machine off of eBay and digitally transferred the beta cassette. I then segmented the original audio tape into about 40 parts in order to sync it to the video. It's far from perfect, but a hell of a lot better than it was. This is the entirety of the video recording, and the interview starts at the 2:20 mark. Figured I'd post the entire thing, since it's archival.

[@jantinucci]

Fun to watch this 39 years later. '82 I was a sophomore and just started exploring his unique style of blues and became a lifelong fan. What a gift!

[@carlrudd1858]

Jorma in the NRA... right ON, bro!!

[@donreed]

Thank you. I don't know what I'm more impressed by - the conversation being held, or the technical ability needed and realized to be able to restore the interview itself. Dead heat. Happy New Year, whomever you happen to be.

[@MrTapes]

Wow, Thanks so much for the compliments. I greatly appreciate them. I am Mark. Happy New Year to you too Don. Peace.

[@donreed]

@@MrTapes Thank you, Mark.

[@jkweddingentrancesux]

awesome!

[@stonepaintertim]

this is the Jorma I first saw live; '82; solo acoustic; I saw him in Boston; then Stony Brook

[@cdog9559]

same here '82 live Providence R. I. solo acoustic "Living Room" venue

[@blurreyes]

Jorma's music is good for the soul. One thing to say to camera person Marise Nazzaro: max head room. Thanks for including the re-stringing / tuning section. Some of us are glad to see that. Funny that he had to go all the way to Ohio to find a peaceful ranch.

[@marksteinberg9290]

This was a very early (in our careers) interview for us. For me, It was the first time I’d ever interviewed anyone! I included the pre-interview portion, as its archival.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

The difference in cost of a ranch in the bay area and ohio is millions. What he has in ohio seems to work great for him. Living in the bay area myself I couldn't be happy anywhere else

[@brianht1434]

@Lastname First Never been to the Bay area would love to! Jorma's ranch is in a rather remote area, but seems beautiful and peaceful. Wouldn't mind living in remote Ohio(although I'm used to bustling N.Y. and N.J.). Owns quite a bit of acreage, got a good deal. Can do a lot with that large piece of property.

[@yumpinyimbo6612]

WOW Hall , Eugene !!!

[@bobbylane-weedhawks-skullm650]

good interview, Mark

[@MrTapes]

Thanks Bob, appreciate that.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

It is. Thanks, Mark

[@jonnybirchyboy1560]

Good questions

[@christianresearchproject]

That tuner is the size of Montana, thank Jesus for SNARK.

[@lowtunesinc.2926]

Yeah, those were the state of the art tuners in '82; BIG!

[@danw5785]

Always very well spoken, even at this time when Jorma was known to indulge,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@RobotMillionaire]

Dan W indulge in what?

[@danw5785]

@@RobotMillionaire Hey-ron

[@RobotMillionaire]

Dan W how do you know that?

[@codys4491]

@@RobotMillionaire read his book

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@codys4491 long period w methedrine...injecting it at that. Also heroin addiction. He has been clean for decades now. Its all in his book

[@merseybeat1963]

That group JA should have stayed intact..with Hot Tune working when they other lot were doing they're other sht. As a unit with this dude playing guitar it was a chemistry.

[@TheSecondNature]

Ok, if you're a Hot Tuna fan and you really want your heart broken, go to 15:06 and cry I'm so happy they managed to go back together and give us all these years of amazing music, but listening to that made me cringe

[@MrTapes]

I know what you mean. Funny thing was, that Jorma and Jack got back together the following year.

[@TheSecondNature]

@@MrTapes thanks god!

[@bobot1981]

Yeah! Ouch. I didn't realize that there was a time like that. I just saw Jack and Jorma perform last friday, 12/7/2018 and it was wonderful! Jorma shook my hand and signed my book!

[@TheSecondNature]

@@bobot1981 he talks about it in the book. Quite dark times for sure

[@bobot1981]

Oh wow, I'm only at the point in the book where a teen Jorma returns to the States. That comment in the video felt like a kick in the gut! @@TheSecondNature

[@jimdep6542]

Yeah, I agree with the comments below about Jorma's reflex reaction to Jack Casady's name being brought up, knowing they've been buds for so many decades. I don't know what happened , but that's common in the band business. Just like families, you get into an argument over something stupid and don't talk for months or more. It's a litter tougher in bands to patch things up because the band splits up and you're off putting another family together. When tight friendships form in a band, even when you or your friend splits, one phone call can clear up past hard feelings.....and I'm sure we're all glad Jorma and Jack worked it out fairly quick.

[@benmeltzer7213]

All he said was they were out of touch, not that there was ill feeling (and he answered other questions with similar abruptness).

[@mushly13]

I recently read his memoir-- the period when he and Jack were estranged was complicated and painful, mostly a result of what Jorma was going through with drug addiction and a lot of mental/emotional gymnastics. The journey to come back around and find eachother, and the magic of their Tuna Telepathy, was long and arduous, full of "hiccups." Thankfully, they made it! the book is a really engaging work-- full of heart and honest accountability.

[@sbc8861]

@@mushly13 What period were they estranged? Paul Kantner stated in 1984 that he was trying to get Jorma to participate in a Jefferson Airplane reunion. A few months later Kantner quit Jefferson Starship and formed The KBC Band with Marty Balin and Jack Casady, and five years later he managed to get all the members of the classic lineup back together for one last album and tour. Watching this clip it's hard to believe Kaukonen was ever a hippie.

[@kathrynfauble9053]

@SBC Are you sure Jorma was a hippie in 1966 and 1967 when Jefferson Airplane was rehearsing and / or performing every day? Grace Slick said in a 1984 NBC television interview she couldn’t stand being associated with a phenomenon called hippies.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@sbc8861 I read his book. I wouldn't say he was a hippie and he didn't really care for san francisco or the hippie scene. His book is a good read.

[@davidtorney7077]

A '55 Chevy is a bomb.

[@killforpeae69]

YIKES !!!!!

[@lastnamefirst4035]

😃

[@brianht1434]

Does anyone who played at Woodstock, N.Y. 1969- Still play on tour other than Jorma and Jack, I don't think so!

[@brianht1434]

1969 What a year! I'm in N.J. now, but spent my first 40 years in N.Y.- Woodstock, Man on the Moon, N.Y. Jets and Namath win 1st Superbowl, N.Y. Mets beat the Boston Red Sox and Bill Buckner to win the World Series! ☺

[@MrTapes]

@@brianht1434 In '69 the Mets beat the Orioles, not the red Sox (that was in 1986).

[@MrTapes]

@@brianht1434 Santana, The Who, to name just a couple.

[@dawnkirkbride6466]

had no idea Pigpen was a great guitar player?you get the impression Jorma rated him as much as anyone

[@mrvootie1]

Bears Choice

[@herbythechef7624]

I didnt know either i knew that he played a little guitar but he never did with the dead so i just assumed he didnt play much

[@thebone1964]

It seems like this was the time in which Jorma was becoming dissatisfied with his Os. I started playing one as a result of seeing Jorma playing them and I still love mine.

[@brutallyremastered4255]

Just regretting selling mine to pay the bills many years ago.

[@onyachamp]

I have a celebrity deluxe signed by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley and a Monterey knock off that , looks, sounds and plays better than the Ovation. Such easy, comfortable guitars to play.

[@marcolascaraky6663]

I still have s beta.ax 1/2 i. in fiction..

[@herbythechef7624]

Jorma mentioned he wanted a gibson named after him if it were possible. That almost happened but I heard that Gibson guitars switched CEOs and then that project for his guitar was scrapped now he has a Martin signature guitar

[@robj8862]

Jormas got an Epiphone Signature I think I know Jack has a signature bass.

[@brianht1434]

Don't know why he ever chose to play Ovation guitars? Not impressed with their tone!

[@brianht1434]

His Gibson J50 has an incredible sound!

[@herbythechef7624]

@@brianht1434 the j50 is the best. To this day he plays it the most out of his like 10 beautiful guitars he plays at his ranch every week. Gibson made a mistake not giving jorma a signature model. It would have been great im sure of it. Guy has great taste. Except for those ovations lol

[@MikeJones-ti6pc]

Obviously Jorma reunited with Jack, and a few years later, even with Balin, Slick and Kanter for2o year JA1989' reunion tour!! Jorma refused to do 'White Rabbit' on tour which his son covered, as Grace went at it!!!

[@marksteinberg9290]

Peter Kaukonen is Jorma’s brother, not son. As he was the second guitarist on the ‘89 reunion I imagine that’s who you’re talking about.

[@patrickguitar8676]

Nice non erratic

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Jorma the hunter, an nra member

[@The93ssfd]

Glad to hear it!!

[@edlawrence5059]

My opinion of him just went down a notch.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@edlawrence5059 Couple of years ago he posted a video of a very young deer he shot. I know people hunt but I don't understand the enjoyment of killing a young animal, cutting it's head off and hanging it on the wall

[@brianht1434]

My dad went hunting for deer yearly and ducks occasionally. He took me duck hunting once, that was enough for me, never again!

[@mobiditch6848]

@@lastnamefirst4035 a friend from Venice Calif turned me on to venison jerky...wow, surprisingly delicious.

[@tad449]

7:44 is he flipping off the interviewer after a question he didn't like? Lolol

[@eddiehaskell7225]

geez...what an eye for detail!.....looks like he was..or just scratching his eye...

[@brianht1434]

Rumor has it that Jorma and Jack stopped talking to eachother over a girl.

[@kathrynfauble9053]

@Brian Stone Confirming that rumor today would be impossible. When you discuss 1960s music or 1970s music as late as 2021, focus on the music.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Read his book "Been So Long" and find out

[@brianht1434]

@sammy Scotchguard. I do quite a bit of reading, but not lengthy books A very good friend of mine read the book, I will ask him! From your comment I'm assuming it's in the book, but not so sure. Been a Jorma fan since I saw him live at The Academy of Music in NYC in 1973! "sammy Scotchguard"?

[@lastnamefirst4035]

I did read the book but I don't recall any mention of Jorma and Jack stopped talking bc of a girl but most certainly could have been. Been awhile since I read it

[@brianht1434]

Kathryn Fauble I DO focus on the music, more than most, probably even you! The reason I mentioned the "falling out " between Jorma and Jack was because they were friends at 14 and still now 65 years later. In this interview, Jorma quickly dismissed the chance of keeping in touch with Jack as if he would never ever, no? I was always curious what happened! Your comment was VERY presumptive!!

[@xanaduxanadu4325]

I read his book and he was sort of an ass in his youth maybe the drugs? His music is beautiful tho. I'm an equal opprtunity listener.

[@herbythechef7624]

It seems like jorma aged into a kind old man. I used to be kind of snotty too but i matured. Its amazing how some people evolve in their lives

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Read the book too. If I recall he injected methedrine over 10 years. Probably one of the worst drugs for a peaceful, nice attitude

[@lastnamefirst4035]

I was a little depressed at a point in the book. I didn't like who he was and the way he left his wife in san francisco. She too was strung out and addicted and never did get clean.Probably best he left and eventually he did get clean. Its a very honest look at his life. Im sure it wasn't easy to write

[@brianht1434]

@Sammy Scotchguard Never knew that! (I never read the book)☺Not happy to find out, no wonder he was a bit thin for some years. Methedrine works fine orally, no need for a needle. Probably didn't hurt his playing guitar much. At least it wasn't Methamphetamine, that shit kills! Think I might be glad that I never read his book. You sure "SS"?🎸

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@brianht1434 yeah Im sure. Would be a helluva thing to make up about someone. Tho he had his drug years they weren't sp much time out of his 80 years where he has spent most of hia life clean. Btw methedrine and methamphetamine are the same thing

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Why are we watching Jorma tune his guitar?

[@marksteinberg9290]

Because the footage is archival, and I restored everything that was shot, and recorded. Why are you such a curmudgeon?

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@marksteinberg9290 God

[@miqseri]

@@marksteinberg9290 Why is he such a what now?

[@reissouthworth3978]

Because it is so interesting to see how connected he is to his instrument.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@marksteinberg9290 because Im an old woman and time is ticking away 😀

[@jltrem]

Jesus Christ, he's actually playing an Ovation.

[@marksteinberg9290]

He played them for a few years. Not an anomaly.

[@brianht1434]

@Mark Steinberg Terrible choice, very surprised he didn't know better! Sticks to his Gibson J50 and Martin guitars for the most part nowadays!🎸