Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
Makes you wonder how big some of those contributions were, doesn't it?
  

    
Which brings up another question.   How did Nicky handle the obvious use of
hard drugs at Stones sessions?
  

    
Hi everybody,
Slight delay for a day as I was doing radio interviews in the UK. Nice
to see some more postings here, although (I think) today is the last
scheduled day for Nicky Hopkins. I'll check in tomorrow to see if any
one has some last questions or comments.

Re. Nicky's contributions to the Stones (and others), Keith Richards
freely admitted to me that, for instance, 'We Love You' didn't really
exist as a song until Nicky came in with his piano riff. He didn't seem
to see any contradiction between saying that and the fact that the
songwriter credits read Jagger/Richards!

Nicky's slide into habitual drug and drink usage probably began while
working with the Stones and accelerated when he moved to California in
1969. Having to sit out sessions that often went on for 15 hours or
more probably made the idea of some stimulants attractive, if not a
necessity. By the time Nicky came off the legendary 1972 tour of the
USA he had acquired a cocaine habit and almost certainly was flirting
with heroin too. Most of his close friends agree however that alcohol
was his true drug of choice during his 'lost years'. 

The 'happy end' came when he successfully kicked his habits, regained
his connection to his music and had 7 very happy years with his second
wife, Moira.  
  

    
Glad to hear that he had a happy ending.  As a person of, ahem, a
certain age, it's always fun to read about musicians who had their best
years at the end (Louis Armstrong is another good example).

The Stones were sort of notorious for making darn sure that the
songwriter credits always read Jagger/Richards (or Nanker Phelge!).  
  

    
Julian is right in that this is the end of his scheduled
interview/discussion. I want to thank Julian and Ari and everyone else
for a wonderful conversation over the past week. As always, the topic
will remain open indefinitely in anyone wants to post more.
  

    
I enjoyed the book and I've really enjoyed this. Thanks, Julian.
  

    
The book is great. Thank you, Julian.
  

    
Thanks back to everyone who took part in this. It was a new experience
for me and a glimpse into a world I didn't know existed. Fascinating
stuff.

Thanks Julie for the introduction and Ari for starting the ball
rolling.

I hope if you liked the book that you'll tell your friends about it
and put it out there anywhere you think is helpful on the web. As
regards Nicky Hopkins, I am a 'musician on a mission'. Let's see him in
the Hall Of Fame next year! 

Byeee...
  

    
Good ol' Nanker Phelge. Never got interviewed, to my knowledge, and what a
lot of great stories we must be missing.
  

    
If I remember right, Phelge was interviewed for the Keith Richards
book. 
  

    
Hello Julian
the book is really great
Jonny L