We lost a Rock & Roll Great, Rick Derringer

[DogMania]

I usually don't jump in on the music threads, but the we lost one of the best rock guitar players, Rick Derringer, who gave me one of my long time favorite songs, Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo. It has one of my favorite guitar solos, not to mention one of the most recognizable guitar rifts throughout the song.

RIP, Rick.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Indeed. Besides his own career, the dudes in Steely Dan hired the baddest guitar players in the biz to play on their records and Rick was no exception.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

As a teenager he first hit the charts with 'Hang on Sloopy'. He was lead singer and guitarist for the McCoys. Went by his real name (Zehringer) then.

May he rest in peace.

 

[TRest]

My first concert was seeing him at Lake Compounce in the old ballroom, probably 77 or 78.

 

[Husky Alien]

I saw him open up for Aerosmith at the Springfield Civic Center in the 70's and I have been a fan ever since. Such a great underrated guitarist. His latest material went back to the blues, the music he loved. He can really tear it up. RIP Rick Derringer.

 

[Chin Diesel]

He was critical in Wendi Richter beating that old cow Moolah.

I think that is a compliment.

 

[Waquoit]

My first concert was seeing him at Lake Compounce in the old ballroom, probably 77 or 78.

My second. He was the middle of a triple-bill of one name groups: Stillwater, Derringer, Boston.

 

[husky8273]

He played in ROTC hangar - spring of '80

 

[huskyharry]

I usually don't jump in on the music threads, but the we lost one of the best rock guitar players, Rick Derringer, who gave me one of my long time favorite songs, Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo. It has one of my favorite guitar solos, not to mention one of the most recognizable guitar rifts throughout the song.

RIP, Rick.

Used to play and sing that song on a band 35 years ago

 

[Jimdish255]

He played in ROTC hangar - spring of '80

Yessir I was there! Kinda. What a freaky place that was. Rick played a ton in the northeast.

 

[HCCForever]

I saw him at the Shaboo multiple times in late 70s and early 80s. He was a little guy who I believe was 5’5” or so. He used to play many benefits in Colchester and other towns in CT. I believe he had close friends in Colchester.

I’m a big Steely Dan fan so I remember “Show Biz Kids” and other tunes.


He also played with Johnny and Edgar Winter.

The last time I saw him was benefit concert with Lefty Foster from Shaboo around 2011 at Jillson Park in Willimantic. Marshall Tucker was there as well along with a young guitarist at the time named Desiree Bassett. She could really shred.


RIP Rick.

 

[microfich]

Guy in our dorm was the bass player in a band. His room was configured like a sound studio - had the best sets of speakers and amps of anyone by far. Professional.
Well, he'd practice at night, in his room, volume up, every room shaking to the bass line of Rock 'n Roll Hoochie Koo.
I can still hear it clearly. Forever etched my music memory. His nickname, of course, Hoochie!

 

[alexd]

Indeed. Besides his own career, the dudes in Steely Dan hired the baddest guitar players in the biz to play on their records and Rick was no exception.

Yep... Show Biz kids, Chain Lightning (simply amazing solo), my rival....

 

[alexd]

I saw him at the Shaboo multiple times in late 70s and early 80s. He was a little guy who I believe was 5’5” or so. He used to play many benefits in Colchester and other towns in CT. I believe he had close friends in Colchester.

I’m a big Steely Dan fan so I remember “Show Biz Kids” and other tunes.


He also played with Johnny and Edgar Winter.

The last time I saw him was benefit concert with Lefty Foster from Shaboo around 2011 at Jillson Park in Willimantic. Marshall Tucker was there as well along with a young guitarist at the time named Desiree Bassett. She could really shred.


RIP Rick.

Not to side track.... but Desiree Bassett is amazing. Saw her jump on stage at Mohegan's Wolf Den to jam with Foghat on "I just want to make love to you".

RIP Rick. You will be missed.

 

[gtcam]

A great guitarist. Saw him at Shaboo a few times in the 70s - one time he hooked up with James Montgomery - what a show - my ears rang for 3 days.

 

[HCCForever]

Not to side track.... but Desiree Bassett is amazing. Saw her jump on stage at Mohegan's Wolf Den to jam with Foghat on "I just want to make love to you".

RIP Rick. You will be missed.

Desiree is amazing. Hard to believe she is now around 31 and married. Time marches on for all if we’re lucky.

And Rick was great as well. I just read that he was instrumental in helping
Steely Dan get a recording contract. Rick became a self professed Jesus freak and always seemed ready to help those in need.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Yep... Show Biz kids, Chain Lightning (simply amazing solo), my rival....

When I was a freshman living in "frats" in 97 my answering machine message was just the intro to "my rival"....with a rap laid over the top.

 

[Lafayette]

I saw him at the Shaboo multiple times in late 70s and early 80s. He was a little guy who I believe was 5’5” or so. He used to play many benefits in Colchester and other towns in CT. I believe he had close friends in Colchester.

I’m a big Steely Dan fan so I remember “Show Biz Kids” and other tunes.


He also played with Johnny and Edgar Winter.

The last time I saw him was benefit concert with Lefty Foster from Shaboo around 2011 at Jillson Park in Willimantic. Marshall Tucker was there as well along with a young guitarist at the time named Desiree Bassett. She could really shred.


RIP Rick.

Went to one of the Eagles farewell concerts at the Prudential center a year or so ago. Who opens for them? Steely Dan! What a treat to see "them" perform given we lost Becker, but Fagan was on. Didn't trip. And then a rousing "In the City" by Walsh was a great ending.

 

[cullaville]

I saw him at the Shaboo multiple times in late 70s and early 80s. He was a little guy who I believe was 5’5” or so. He used to play many benefits in Colchester and other towns in CT. I believe he had close friends in Colchester.

I’m a big Steely Dan fan so I remember “Show Biz Kids” and other tunes.


He also played with Johnny and Edgar Winter.

The last time I saw him was benefit concert with Lefty Foster from Shaboo around 2011 at Jillson Park in Willimantic. Marshall Tucker was there as well along with a young guitarist at the time named Desiree Bassett. She could really shred.


RIP Rick.

The Shaboo shows were great

 

[cullaville]

Derringer produced "Weird Al" Yankovic's debut album, "Weird Al" Yankovic (1983). Between 1983 and 1989, he produced six Yankovic albums, for which he received his only Grammy Award.[2

 

[HCCForever]

Went to one of the Eagles farewell concerts at the Prudential center a year or so ago. Who opens for them? Steely Dan! What a treat to see "them" perform given we lost Becker, but Fagan was on. Didn't trip. And then a rousing "In the City" by Walsh was a great ending.

Love “In the City” which was in the movie “The Warriors “.

 

[Dogfish]

As a teenager he first hit the charts with 'Hang on Sloopy'. He was lead singer and guitarist for the McCoys. Went by his real name (Zehringer) then.

May he rest in peace.

If you haven't seen it, the video they made for this song takes place on what looks to be a back lot in Hollywood. The band is up on a platform stage with a, uhm, young lady dancing around. It's worth a peek on youtube.

 

[Waquoit]

My freshman HS English teacher was from Ohio and said Rick used to play at her high school.

 

[Lafayette]

Still makes me laugh that Hans Zimmer was in the MTV 1st: The Buggle's "Video Killed the Radio Star" dressed in black leather playing the keyboards. Not on-topic, but topic-adjacent since sharing interesting music industry facts.

Me: 10 years in Atlantic/Elektra.

 

[Lafayette]

Love “In the City” which was in the movie “The Warriors “.

Come out and play!