|
|
|||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
Doug Lubahn on Clear Light Part 2
|
||||||||
|
Did you do any sessions for any other artists at the time?
No, I don't think so. Once Danny Kortchmar joined the band, I ended up on a Monkees song and some Carole King demos.
Yeah, how did some of the members of Clear Light end up playing on the sessions for the Monkees Head soundtrack?
I think it was through Danny, ..or maybe through Ralph for that matter. It was only one song so I don't have a strong memory of that session.
Did you ever play live with The Doors?
No. Ray would play keyboard bass live. Once I was asked to go to Mexico with them to play but then never heard anything more about it.
Was there a gruelling tour schedule to promote the Clear Light album?
Gruelling? Yes and no. We ended up almost living in New York at the Albert Hotel for MONTHS at a time. Playing The Scene, The Electric Circus, The Cheetah and others. (I think Ralph lost it one night and started screaming at the audience about what LOSERS they were! The Cheetah promptly escorted us all out of the building, but to be honest, Ralph was right. We had been telling Paul that we hated that STUPID FUCKING club, but he wouldn't listen so Ralphie dealt with it in his own way!) We were living in a suite of rooms at The Albert and did have girls climbing the fire escape at night to screw us. We also had a rehearsal space in the basement along with other bands visiting New York. The Albert and The Chelsea were the places to stay for Rock groups. Why? Because they'd put up with our bullshit! Life was good. We also played around LA quite a bit when we were there.
Do you think Elektra did enough to promote the album or do you think they were concentrating on Love and The Doors?
Well, We all got the same BILLBOARD on Sunset Blvd., but Love and The Doors took off like rockets and Clear Light seemed to fall by the wayside.
What were the circumstances of Bob Seal leaving the group?
Paul Rothchild! I think that Bob threatened to strangle Paul, and I think he meant it!!
So how did the arrival of Danny Kortchmar affect the dynamic of the band?
I think we lost all direction and the family feeling that had made us special in our own way. It felt too much like a business and all the heart was gone.
Do you have any recollections of recording material for a second Clear Light album?
No, I really don't. Ask Elektra.
Did the group split up or just drift apart?
It ended when Danny Kortchmar announced that he had received a large inheritance and was leaving the band and moving up into Laurel Canyon with his girlfriend and brand new Porsche. It was kinda like "SEE YA"! Looking back, I think he was just killing time with us while waiting for the inheritance he knew was coming. But to be fair, you'd have to ask him about that. Maybe he just didn't like the music.
What are you doing these days?
I was a captain on a Sport fishing boat for 6 years down here in Florida. Got tired of the ocean beating the shit out of me and left. I'm now kind of semi retired.
Are you still in contact with any of the other members of Clear Light?
Not really. I saw Dallas and Mike in LA when the Billy Squier band played the coliseum there. Stayed at Mike’s house with him for a day or two. Felt like old times. We used to have a pool game called "Aqua Man vs. Tree Sloth". I was Aqua Man, he was Tree Sloth. He'd chase my ass around the pool for hours, and I always had to be ready for a sneak attack! He was about twice my size, so when he got his hands on me, I was in deep shit! But back then I could hold my breath for about an hour...easily much longer than Mike could, so I survived. Great memories, fun times. Mike and I were very close. And Dallas too, and Bob. One tight family. I truly miss them.
What are your plans for the future?
To see what the future brings.
MAY 2004
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
| page created with Easy Designer |