YouTube fed me this video, featuring Ian Anderson attempting to take an occasional puff on his 3/4 bent pipe, on the David Letterman show, 6/7/82. Not so long ago, but times have certainly changed.
Pipes, rockers, and talk shows
- Thread starter pauls456
- Start date
"Attempting" is the operative word! I myself wouldn't even attempt it. The odds of a pipe going out between sparse opportunities to puff -- whilst being interviewed -- are too great. Only the pipe smokers in the audience (an extreme minority) would understand.
The majority of Letterman's audience is thinking that Ian is smoking marijuana in that pipe.
At the time, I thought he was just posturing. I still think that.
Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson were, and still are, my favorite folk rock band. I have been lucky to see Tull 8 times in concert, but stop going to see them after Ian's voice blew out. He hasn't been able to belt out the songs since the late 1980's. Still he is a master song writer and wonderful musician.
Do people even still watch talk shows? Most are ditching cable altogether, for movie services.
you might have been impressed by Mike Bordin of Faith No More. When I saw them in either 98 or 99 I noticed he was smoking a Calabash while drumming and doing both impeccably well. And zero showmanship on either.
Oh heck yeah. Just not as many watch it on the teevee. But since Craig Ferguson retired it is confusing as to why they would.
Fun talk show fact you can actually understand the words Hunter S. Thompson said if you play the clip at half speed.
He's got his lighter in the other hand. I have no doubt he was puffing away during the commercial break.