Question about Dusty Rhodes

**calyx** · 08-14-2018

So, was Fripp visible to the crowd at any point ? Fleetingly, throughout the concert, to at least one side of the audience ? Or when Gabriel introduced the band ? Could anyone in the venue see him play although he would have been outside of most people's field of vision ?

**Lopez** · 08-14-2018

I saw the show, I believe it was Halloween, 1977, at the Paradise in Boston. I had heard the rumor about Dusty. Not sure if he was on that leg of the tour or not. Tony was, that I'm sure. If I remember correctly, Larry Fast was on keys.

**proggy_jazzer** · 08-14-2018

The third scheduled show of the '77 tour was to be in my town (Davenport IA) at a 2700 seat theatre. My best friend and I (15 yrs old) had down-front tickets and were as pumped as could possibly be. Unfortunately, we were two of only a few dozen to purchase advance tickets, and the show was cancelled.

I didn't see PG live until the Security tour (with the same mate!). In a small twist of fate, the Security show we saw ended up being at one of the four venues used for the recording of Plays Live.

**chalkpie** · 08-14-2018

Originally Posted by calyx

So, was Fripp visible to the crowd at any point ?

Originally Posted by Steve F.

It was very obvious who was playing those fuzz-sustained notes. Didn't take a lot of guessing.

I don't think you could see his silhouette, but I don't 100% remember.

..

**Sturgeon's Lawyer** · 08-14-2018

At the '78 show I saw (Berkeley Community Theatre; the opening act, if I recall correctly, by Jules and the Polar Bears), Gabriel came down the aisle and walked up on to the stage, saying "I want to introduce to you someone who has influenced my work deeply," went on for a while, implying that this was some important musician ... and eventually pulled the teddy bear out from behind the piano, then sat down and played the Teddy Bear song.

The Daily Cal (UC Berkeley's newspaper) described this as a "cruel Fripp-tease."

**heracleummantegazziani** · 08-14-2018

We saw the 77 tour at the Syracuse War Memorial, Fripp (Dusty) did indeed play behind a curtain. Fantastic show, especially Lay Your Hands On Me when Gabe was passed around the first 15 rows or so during his crowd surf.

**moecurlythanu** · 08-14-2018

^ That song was around that early? I've never seen it on the bootlegs from that era.

**heracleummantegazziani** · 08-14-2018

What the hell was I thinking, I take it all back, Brain Fart

It was Nov 9 , 1986 saw Dusty with Gabe at the Syracuse War Memorial, played behind curtain, Lay Your Hands on Me left a huge impression on me that evening.

**calyx** · 08-14-2018

May I reiterate my question : if Fripp was playing concealed behind a curtain, how were you informed of his presence ? Did Gabriel introduce him at the end (and if so, did Fripp move to a visible position at this point), or was he somehow visible on the side of the stage to some or all of the audience ? Could anyone in the audience have remained unaware that he was there at all ? Thanks.

**pmrviana** · 08-14-2018

Originally Posted by calyx

May I reiterate my question : if Fripp was playing concealed behind a curtain, how were you informed of his presence ? Did Gabriel introduce him at the end (and if so, did Fripp move to a visible position at this point), or was he somehow visible on the side of the stage to some or all of the audience ? Could anyone in the audience have remained unaware that he was there at all ? Thanks.

Maybe you haven't noticed this comment, but it seems it was possible for some people to see him at the side of the stage:

Originally Posted by philsunset

Saw the Gabriel show in Detroit. I was sitting near the front waaaay on the left side so I could watch Dusty behind the curtain. I have a CD of the Los Angeles show of the tour. Might be time to listen to that again, it's been a while.

**calyx** · 08-14-2018

Originally Posted by pmrviana

Maybe you haven't noticed this comment, but it seems it was possible for some people to see him at the side of the stage:

Thanks. Yes, I had missed that one. Still, outside of this very privileged location in the venue, what about the majority of the audience ?

**Steve F.** · 08-14-2018

Originally Posted by calyx

Thanks. Yes, I had missed that one. Still, outside of this very privileged location in the venue, what about the majority of the audience ?

No, MOST people in the audience couldn't see him.
But most people in the audience knew what he sounded like and knew he was there.

**Mister Triscuits** · 08-14-2018

Originally Posted by Steve F.

No, MOST people in the audience couldn't see him.
But most people in the audience knew what he sounded like and knew he was there.

On the widely circulated Roxy bootleg Gabriel introduces the concealed Dusty Rhodes ("Rusty Dusty and his toads are remarkably shy"), only to be greeted with audience shouts of "Fripp!"

**Chichen Itza** · 08-14-2018

Caught this at the Palladium in NYC

Yes, most knew he was there , but he was not visible at all

Many bootlegs from the tour in 77 feature shouts of "Where's Fripp???", the Roxy included as I recall, so very apparent he was expected

A year later at the Bottom Line in NYC, Fripp had a table in the audience but didn't play

**philsunset** · 08-14-2018

Originally Posted by calyx

So, was Fripp visible to the crowd at any point ? Fleetingly, throughout the concert, to at least one side of the audience ? Or when Gabriel introduced the band ? Could anyone in the venue see him play although he would have been outside of most people's field of vision ?

Yes, I could see him pretty much the whole show. Sitting, as usual. I have to say though most of my attention was on Gabriel. If memory serves there were songs he didn't play on and he would get up and leave the stage.

**LASERCD** · 08-14-2018

Originally Posted by Chichen Itza

Caught this at the Palladium in NYC

Yes, most knew he was there , but he was not visible at all

Many bootlegs from the tour in 77 feature shouts of "Where's Fripp???", the Roxy included as I recall, so very apparent he was expected

A year later at the Bottom Line in NYC, Fripp had a table in the audience but didn't play

Then you were at a different Bottom Line show than the one I was at. Fripp was sitting at a table with Tony Smith as I recall. He put down his fork and disappeared only to wind up on stage a few minutes later. As I remember he played guitar on Modern Love and All Day All Of The Night, Here Comes The Flood and tambourine on Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. He also played for part of the set for Gabriel's 1978 show at the Palladium in NYC.

**JKL2000** · 08-14-2018

Originally Posted by heracleummantegazziani

What the hell was I thinking, I take it all back, Brain Fart

It was Nov 9 , 1986 saw Dusty with Gabe at the Syracuse War Memorial, played behind curtain, Lay Your Hands on Me left a huge impression on me that evening.

I was at that show, I’m pretty sure Fripp was not there. Maybe you’re thinking of David Rhodes, who I’m pretty sure was there though no one was behind a curtain.

**JKL2000** · 08-14-2018

I can’t believe Gabriel played The Bottom Line! I didn’t know about him then though, and didn’t see him till the Security tour in Utica, NY.

**moecurlythanu** · 08-15-2018

Yeah, I think Fripp only played with Gabriel in '77 & '78, around the time he was producing PG II.

**Right_Brained** · 08-20-2018

Just uncovered some pix I took in Detroit (at Masonic Auditorium) during Gabriel's first solo tour. Photos aren't great, but I did manage to get a shot of Mr. Fripp playing off to the side behind a half curtain positioned next to Larry Fast. Kinda neat when you think about the prog credentials in that band, Gabriel, Fast, Fripp and Levin.

Fast & Fripp.jpg

gabriel-band.jpg

gabriel-vertical.jpg

**Right_Brained** · 08-20-2018

gabriel-band only.jpg

One more photo of band only from Gabriel's first tour. Footnote: also in the band was Steve Hunter who had a Detroit connection in playing with Mitch Ryder. I had been fortunate enough to see Gabriel play with Genesis on Selling England and Lamb tours and didn't know what to expect seeing him solo. In hindsight it was a great show, but I was really hoping for something from Genesis and if I remember correctly, for the encore he did Back in NYC.

**syncopatico** · 08-20-2018

Originally Posted by Right_Brained

gabriel-band only.jpgIn hindsight it was a great show, but I was really hoping for something from Genesis and if I remember correctly, for the encore he did Back in NYC.

Great photos! Thanks for sharing them! The Masonic Auditorium concert you attended took place on March 13, 1977; and you are correct, the encore was Back In NYC. I only know this because there is a very good sounding (albeit mono) audience recording of this show in circulation. (This particular show also featured the very rare song "Why Don't We" which was very quickly dropped from the setlist. Which was a shame because it was quite proggy for Gabriel ala 1977 and even had *echoes* of earlier Genesis-type sounding material (it was approx. 7:00 min.)