I heard the sad news today that Dr John – The Night Tripper – has died at the tender age of seventy seven.
I first heard of Mac Rebennack back in the late sixties when he adopted his new persona of Dr John with his gowns, headdresses, juju, mojo bags and New Orleans accoutrements. He developed a psychedelic voodoo full of all the rhythms of New Orleans and psychedelic Rock which fitted right into the weirdness of the 60s Underground. That album Gris-gris, with its wonderful I Walk On Guilded Splinters, really made a splash in my head and on a large number of other people too.
Unbeknown to me I’d already heard him quite a lot. He’s been a session man in LA and New Orleans working with the likes of Sonny and Cher, Mothers of Invention and Canned Heat.
Mac had left quite a life – starting off as a kid playing with the great Professor Longhair and then recording with a lot of people in New Orleans and even having a minor hit with Storm Warning. He was involved with a lot of dodgy business – running a brothel and drug dealing.
I was lucky enough to get to see him up close in a small club in Hull. I sat in the front row while he regaled us with his magic for a whole evening.
He came on dressed like a shamanic voodoo god – all bright robes, beads, ribbons, scarves, mojo bags and a great gnarled stick. He sat at the piano and regaled us with a range of great classics – including a great version of Iko-Iko. What a night.
I’ll miss you Mac! Thanks for the music!