Live Interview with Poco by Bill Kraus
Bill - What was the greatest factor in the Buffalo Springfield break?
Rich - There were several factors. We weren't getting into a commercial bag. Neil (Young) left the group several times. It finally got to be too many times, and that was the end. And we weren't getting the audience reception we thought we deserved.
Bill - Who was responsible for the breakup?
Rich - No one person.
Bill - How do you feel about the trouble with Crosby's group now?
Rich - I know nothing about Crosby.
Bill - Have you moved on a parallel or upward, musically, from the Springfield days?
Rich - Upward
Bill - Classify your music.
Rich - No classification; we just make people happy. I think it is natural for people to collect experiences throughout their life. Different artists we have heard, different styles, songs, all become a part of us, and when we create music, we automatically use these experiences.
George - When we were small, we were influenced by what we heard.
Bill - I noticed that you ( Rusty) and Rich were rapping to each other during the set, while playing very heavily.
Rich - I said, "I want a B Flat stupid"
Rusty - We were listening to each other, as we played.
Bill - How did country music infiltrate the pop scene?
Tim - I have to pass on country music.
Jim - It's always been that way. At least as far back as the fifties.
Rich - I think Rock is a combination of Country and Blues.
Jim - Country and Blues started mingling. Our mother and father liked Country Music and our friends liked Blues. We kind of grew up with this and put both these together. You can realize what a parcel of each of these and other things were put together.
Rich - When it comes down to all the experiences we have had, during our lives.
Tim - Country music is a more basic form of expression.
Bill - Are you advocates of old basic rock?
George - Yeah, of course.
Bill - When do you think Rock took root, and from what?
Jim - It's a combination of Country and Blues.
Tim - Since Country music is a more basic form of expression, I think we can say that Rock is an extension of Country music and Blues.
Rich - Since I was raised with Country music, there were parts I liked. But, since it was forced on us, we searched for other means of expressions, while we held on to part of the Country scene we liked. We found so much more elsewhere. And, from it, came a total statement.
Bill - What is your favorite group?
Rich - You want names? The Beatles inspire me.
Bill - What about their movie "Let It Be"?
Tim - I thought "Let It Be" was great.
Bill - How long have you been in the music business?
Rusty - 17 years.
Rich - That's how old his is, 18.
Bill - What about the steel guitar? Is it hard to learn?
Rusty - A lot of people are trying to learn to play. Led Zepplin. And they can't learn, because it is too hard. It's very difficult.
Tim - He plays it with his knees, feet and hands.
Bill - What do you think about Peter Drake?
Rusty - With him it's all gimmicks - he sings to give the guitar pitch.
Bill - But what about rumors that Country music is a passing thing?
Rusty - It has been passing for 80 years.
Bill - What did you always want to be?
Rusty - I always wanted to be a sky-diver or scuba-diver.
Jim - I always wanted to be in film production, a writer, and so forth, anything to do with show business.
Rusty - I also wanted to be vice-president of the U.S.
Tim - I wanted to be a dancer in show business.
Rich - (as he answers the phone.) I always wanted to be a telephone operator.
Bill - What would you guys like to do for the future?
Rich - I would like to move to a farm and read about it.
Tim - I'm doing it.
Bill - What do you think of the death of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix?
Rich - It's a great loss of two Rock contributors.
Rusty - It's a shame. Man, like to us, it was like far-out land, just as we are as far away from them as you are.
Tim - They both O.D. It's a drag man.
Bill - What is your new album like?
Jim - It's live, just like our last album.