Toast To Freedom - Interview - Donald Fagen

[@mark_lhr3]

The greatest songwriter who ever lived, IMHO.

[@The302Kid]

I truly Love Steely Dan. The music is practically the sound track of my life...I am 60 years old. My Favorite Albums - 1975 Katy Lied and 1976 The Royal Scam. But I have all of Steely Dan's albums including Donald Fagen's solo work.

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

Never knew Donald has been involved with Amnesty. His "Steely Dan" persona had never given away this serious and humble side of him. Nice interview. Continued respect to Donald and Walter for all they did as songwriters, musicians and (both in the beginning and later on when they reunited) performers.

[@WoodenSteel-J6artisan]

Thank you Donald and RIP Walter for the mass of wonderful REAL music you continue to give the World.

[@billneyland2964]

Biggest musical influence of my life. As a guitarist, I would love to play keyboards- but, NO ONE will ever replace Fagen…..true genius….

[@BradBolin]

I don't play, I write, but he's my ideal as far as artists go. If I was a twentieth as talented and productive as him I would happy. So far, I ain't happy.

[@IAm-qf2xb]

Wow I have never heard Donald so lacking in bitterness. It’s great to see him so kindly. He’s in a good place emotionally. Cool.

[@davidl570]

Totally agree, but he's now dealing with the recent passing of his wife, so I hope he heals from his grief eventually. Seems like a good guy.

[@IAm-qf2xb]

@ The sense is that he wants to be compassionate. I hope that the compassion shows now and that what people give back helps him heal.

[@JerryMungo]

To see him like this is kind of unsettling. Where is the sarcasm? Where is the air of superiority? Don’t get me wrong . I’m a huge fan since 1972. But now I’m thinking he’s been cloned . He almost seems approachable.

[@IAm-qf2xb]

@@JerryMungo He’s had to let go of Becker, so he has passed through helplessness. Loss of a spouse rekindles self-care and preparation.

[@jacksonfan221]

@@JerryMungoI’m sure losing Libby hurts a lot. It will take time to heal.

[@andyinoregon]

My wife and I are forever grateful to NBC's "The Midnight Special" rock concert show for featuring Steely Dan on February 9th and August 31st of 1973. The quality of those two live performances was the reason we drove 90 miles north to the U. of Toledo on April 21,1974 to see them in concert, with no idea that the touring band would also include future legends Michael McDonald and drummer Jeff Porcaro. My favorite memory of Donald Fagen will always be seeing him leave his piano seat during the long, bluesy, instrumental outro to "Pretzel Logic," and stand, center-stage, conducting the band like a symphony maestro. We drove home on a musical high, but with no idea that Steely Dan wouldn't tour again until August of 1993.

[@rafipollak]

Lucky you!!!

[@SeaMark782]

I saw them in 1974 too. A small club in Glendale, CA, in March. Turns out my high school friend, Jeff Porcaro, got hired to play drums. He told us about the gig and we saw them play 2 nights, met the band and hung out. Fagan is a genius along with Walter, RIP.

[@MegaByrds]

@@SeaMark782 wow!

[@andyinoregon]

@@SeaMark782 Lucky you. The crazy thing for us is that we first saw Jeff Porcaro drumming on TV's "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour," when it debuted in the late summer of 1971. Whenever he was shown with the studio band my wife and I would joke that he looked young enough to be on "The Partridge Family" TV show. Early the next year, on Sunday March 19, 1972, we attended a Sonny & Cher concert in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the couple proudly introduced their 17-year-old drummer to the packed house. The local newspaper reported that it was the highest-grossing concert to date in the city's history. Two years later we were happily surprised to see a just-turned 20 Jeff Porcaro take the stage with Steely Dan, as a tandem drummer alongside Jim Hodder. The two of them memorably drummed the other 6 members of the touring band off the stage after the final encore.

[@jamalgray8694]

After years of enjoying their music, I finally got to see them live in Philly (Tower Theater) around 2009. Best concert I've ever seen 4:09 . Donald's "swag" was off the charts. Long Live The Nightfly. RIP Becker. Thank you for the soundtrack to my life...

[@maureencora1]

Donald Fagen & Walter Becker / Steely Dan the G*O*A*T of Studio Bands.

[@waynej2608]

Agree. They were pretty damned impressive live, too. 👍

[@maureencora1]

@@waynej2608 Touche' (smile)

[@The302Kid]

I compare my stereo speakers with Steely Dan's music!

[@maureencora1]

@@The302Kid Touche' (smile)

[@elbaza91]

He’s right about mainstream radio these days, there is so much great music that never gets heard by the general public

[@cgmahony]

Such a humble man for such a brilliant musician and songwriter. I expect he's got some Irish blood in him. Always go to see him when he's in Dublin. A decent skin. ☘🍉

[@rafipollak]

actually he has jewish blood.

[@bobtis]

Love you Donald your Music Has ment so much to me in my life. True Dat

[@ginalorenzo]

That’s the perfect man right there…voice, talent, brains, looks…sigh 💕

[@kendallevans4079]

"looks"??🤐

[@ginalorenzo]

To me he looks just delicious!!

[@kendallevans4079]

@@ginalorenzo Yuck!

[@chrisgillard6129]

@@ginalorenzodon’t they have a song called, “Lunch With Gina” you naughty little girl ❤

[@ginalorenzo]

Of course!! 😜

[@recomusicofficial]

This brought a tear in my eye. Thank you for the great interview!

[@bobburroughs6241]

Just favourites, finally saw them in England in 2008!

[@juanignaciosemeriaolmos4871]

It will be a little strange when you are no longer here. Thanks Donald!!!!

[@bleepbrady]

There has been many great American song writers. Donald Fagan was instrumental in defining the mid to late 20th Century and into the 21st. Personally speaking he is the best.

[@Mark-bd5ci]

Not even close

[@EPHEN-STEPHEN]

You have seen the near: Highest of highs. Same goes for your share of lows also. I have heard just a couple weeks ago about Libby and all l can think is all the great music you have made, have been involved in and hope you may do... you deserve a break though. You have and still make your share of people smile & groove so l will shut the hell up ! P.S. I JUST SIGNED IN, STRANGER 😉.

[@craft-o-matic399]

Thank you Donald!

[@johnwilderom7195]

Love you donald

[@wolfstyle68]

"Here come those Santa Ana winds again.."

[@rafipollak]

Come on Don, we're waiting for some new material. What about doing something with old friends such as Lary Carlton or Skunk?

[@MisterB2eternity]

It's kind hard to do when Walter and his wife/muze are no longer on this planet.

[@kamks6054]

Do it Again, Rikki, etc, , The Royal Scam, Aja, Gaucho, The Nightfly.

[@The302Kid]

Any Major Dude, Dr. Wu, Rose Darling, King of he World, Pretzel Logic, and Fire in the Hole.

[@markstevenson6635]

Levon Helm passed in 2012 so this may not be recent

[@scotconnolly1188]

The song was also released in 2012 as well so would expect this interview also from 2012

[@dadduorp]

Agreed. He looks younger here than what I’ve seen of him recently.

[@steveperelli3602]

I love Steely Dan

[@steveperelli3602]

Hi Donald, I love peg

[@paulrom446]

Very important! Especially with the travesties we face!

[@SpockOfRock]

In the middle of May the man is wearing a winter coat... This is done to confuse alien spacecraft, forcing them to drop their guard long enough for Air Force fighter jets to lock on and fire their nuclear tipped AIM-9 missles. A brilliant plan really!

[@SkibidiToiletFortniteOhio]

How did you write a comment 12 years ago on a video that’s 3 days old

[@gerrydooley951]

there is a youtube psychologist standing by ready to take your call.

[@zeeman3684]

@@gerrydooley951 Plan sounds good, no? Winter coat in May thing? (hahaha)

[@nessick6378]

How is this comment 12 years old when the video is only 3 weeks? Lol

[@lucaswb1433]

This video is old. For example, Levon Helm passed away in 2012. He mentions him living in Woodstock or something...

[@adamstuart8768]

Never mentions zionism, retains an essential liberal decency. Ole! 34

[@kenbash2951]

How completely ironic that the guy who openly mocked John Lennon's peace, love and understanding message in the song 'Imagine' in his song 'Only a Fool Would Say That' ends up singing about Peace, Love and Understanding- extremely disappointed in Mr. Fagen. Me thinks best to copy said song- "A world become one of salads and sun Only a fool would say that":)

[@kamks6054]

John Lennon... His song Imagine...was so naively hypocritical...

[@kenbash2951]

@@kamks6054 That was EXACTLY my point on Fagen. He rightfully mocks Lennon for Imagine but then records his own version 50 years later. Comically ironic.

[@cursedbeans5560]

@@kenbash2951people’s angles change on music they once criticised. Fagen might not completely agree with the naïveté of ‘Imagine’ but rather its sentiment.

[@kenbash2951]

@cursedbeans5560 Let's just settle on hypocritical- to the max- there I said it:)

[@cursedbeans5560]

@@kenbash2951 I can somewhat understand where you are coming from, but opinions are going to undeniably change over 50 years of life, and Donald has had many experiences that could change his perspective on life.

[@paulkornreich9806]

I have no idea what he is talking about vis a vis music freedom. Lyrics were more censored in his day. Record producers have always controlled artists, and the controls were worse in the past. Billy Joel even parodied silly controls like song length for radio air play time in "The Entertainer". When I was growing up, while the radio did try to have a variety of genres, there were maybe two or three songs in Spanish, and outside of England, Canada, Australia and Sweden, there were no international artists. Without a record contract, an artist had almost no chance (yes, there were some exceptions such as The Seekers and Rush that were discovered by DJs, but they were few and far between). While financial control continues today, it was *even worsre* back then (Badfinger, Tommy James, numerous African American artists got royally screwed). Further, although things continue to be bad (e.g. Kesha), there is probably more legal redress now. Also, if an artist is big enough (e.g. Taylor Swift), they can regain control of their content. Finally, media channels like KZbin make it easier for an artist to get started and recognized w/o the need for a record label and without censorship. So, his statements about some idealized past are false.

[@dougpeters1625]

I think he might be talking about genres not getting pigeonholed, in the sense of back in those days you would hear all different types of music on one radio station.

[@granthurlburt4062]

You're right that you have no idea. Being able to say a few dirty words in no way makes it more free. Nothing since the mid-1970's equates the huge amount of experimentation there was-Beatles, Stones, Folk Music, all elxctric rock. Just look at the line-up for Woodstock. All that arose in the mid-1960;. Hip hop and Rap are all corporate controlled. You thnk just because lyrics include "guine F--k mah bitches up" tht it's free. A lot of rap and hip-hip doesnt even have human beings playing. Lyrics often jsut have the same line repeated. A lot of modern songs just take one line from a late sixties song and repeat it over and over. Much less dynamic range, one or two instruements, if not synthed, and a drum machine.

[@onefoot7]

Steely Dan...or just watch the fuckin paint dry....I'll go with paint

[@karlsalocks]

Dude.

[@garthmarenghi9623]

You're on the wrong planet.

[@chasvonplatten1298]

Maybe if you listen instead of watch?

[@cedricliggins7528]

Cruel thing to say

[@justasimplesomeone]

Shame you think like that. Why are you even here, then ? Luckily SD fans are certainly not dependent on your opinion. Also, he’s saying something beautiful. Open your ears, mate!