As a cancer survivor, my heart always hurts when somebody else is diagnosed, or is taken by the disease. This time it's somebody who influenced me quite a bit during my first year playing. I remember when the guy who lived across the street from me as a kid showed me the first Yesterday & Today LP back in '76. He ran a snack route to supermarkets and had a friend who was in a position to trade promo LPs for cookies, chips or whatever. Upon listening, I was floored by the rhythm section, Meniketti's playing and the songs. The album quickly became a staple for me, and I'm not ashamed to say I ripped off alot of Phil's licks over the years - based on what I heard in those grooves. I ultimately snagged my friend's promo copy in a even up trade for Cheap Trick At Budokan, and it's still in my collection - along with a couple of sealed "backup" copies. Still have to pick up the CD somewhere.
RIP Phil - a true "Earthshaker"...
