The strange case of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opening acts going on to be global phenomena
There’s something magical in the way that Patti Smith talks about CBGB’s.
When she was talking about the iconic punk venue in New York, she reflected on how important it was for not only her and her band, but a number of other iconic punk artists who wound up making a name for themselves. Without having that kind of space on hand, a lot of the great avant-garde artists that we know and love today may not have ever made a name for themselves.
“The sound was crappy, there was always things breaking down and glasses breaking and people vomiting and the rats scurrying around in the back,” she said, “It was our shithole, and that was the greatest thing. I’ve played a lot of places, and it was the only place I’ve ever played that felt like our place.”
Great artists who push the boundaries of music aren’t able to simply head into a recording studio and get going; they need time to focus on their craft and effectively carve out what they want their sound to be. It’s not just venues where artists are able to do this either, but it’s also on tour, supporting other artists, who give them a stage before they’re ready to headline their own shows.
It’s important you get to gigs early and watch support artists, as you never know who’s going to wind up becoming the new big thing. Next time you go to a small venue, look at some of the old posters, and I can guarantee there will be plenty of big names which now fill stadiums at the bottom of gig posters. You should especially go and watch the support band if you happen to be watching Engelbert Humperdinck perform, as it seems that every single artist who ever takes to the stage before him winds up becoming a huge star.
One of the most notable names is Jimi Hendrix, who supported Humperdinck in March and April of 1967. This was shortly after Hendrix had started to make a name for himself as one of the most exciting new live performers around. He was able to further add fuel to this fire on tour with Humperdinck, which meant that when people in London eventually got themselves to a gig, they found out that it wasn’t merely hype.
“I loved Jimi Hendrix from the beginning,” said Mick Jagger, reflecting on the moment he saw him live, “The moment I saw him, I thought he was fantastic. I was an instant convert. Mr Jimi Hendrix is the best thing I’ve ever seen. It was exciting, sexy and interesting. He didn’t have a very good voice, but made up for it with his guitar.”
And it wasn’t just Jimi Hendrix who supported Humperdinck and went on to become a star, you also had artists such as The Walker Brothers, The Carpenters and even Yusuf/Cat Stevens, who became a lot more than just a live performer in his time but also morphed into one of the greatest songwriters to ever hum a tune. His songs reached deep inside listeners and dragged their hidden emotions to the surface.
“I have loved Cat Stevens from the first time I heard his voice, heard him play the guitar, and heard his wonderful, touching, deep lyrics,” Dolly Parton declared when discussing his music, “I also thought he was the most beautiful and mysterious man I had ever seen. I loved how his music touched my very soul…and still does. Tea For The Tillerman is still my favourite album ever.” All these great artists, all completely different sounds, and all connected by supporting the same person.
