To everyones surprise, steely dan s debut album spawned the hits do it again and reelin in the years. The guitarists denny dias and jeff skunk baxter rounded out the. Iggy pop, the documentarys narrator, begins by listing some of the artists and artistic movements influenced by burroughs. Steely dan in steely dan burroughs s novel naked lunch with other young musicians, notably guitarists jeff skunk baxter and denny dias, emerging in 1972 with cant buy a thrill. On september 3rd, 2017, the world lost another musical legend walter becker, onehalf of the duo that named themselves after a metallic sex toy from a william s. Today would have been the 98th birthday of legendary author william s. We hear from director john waters on the impact on him of burroughs open homosexuality and frankness about sex. The bands name is in reference to the steampowered dildo, steely dan iii from yokohama, in william s. So, just for the hell of it, here are a few other interesting facts about steely dan.
Burroughs novel, i believe, but musically its much different. So they decided to put together their own band, appropriating the name steely dan from the fictitious brand name of a dildo steely dan iii from yokahama in the william burroughs novel naked lunch. Influenced by the beat generation, particularly by burroughs, they took their band name from a. Burroughs and jack kerouac, two novice writers at the dawn of their careers, sat down to write a novel about the summer of 1944, when one of their friends killed another in a moment of brutal and tragic bloodshed. If there should be a twentyfirst century, this is one of the few works historians could turn to for a grasp, both imaginative and intelligent, of the strange historical phase of the human condition we are living through. The reader follows the narration of junkie william lee, who takes on various aliases, from the u. Listen to what is probably the greatest steely dan show. The bands very name is a scatological reference from a novel by beat generation antihero william burroughs. Thats an easy question for any steely dan fan to answer and everyone has answered correctly. Steely dan named after a dildo in the william burroughs novel naked lunch dissolved after its 1980 album, gaucho, though mr. They added a ninth to virtually every chord they played. Burroughs novel naked lunch using various studio musicians to perform with them.
Having been discovered by abc records executive gary katz, they signed a recording contract under the steely dan name taking the name from the william s. Burroughss 1959 novel naked lunch had been required reading for aspiring beatniks, and featured a sex toy that, as every steely dan bore knows, the group named themselves after. We had to come up with a name in a hurry and walter and i were both burroughs. Jan 30, 2015 iggy pop, the documentarys narrator, begins by listing some of the artists and artistic movements influenced by burroughs. Walter becker, guitarist, songwriter and cofounder of. Burroughss novel naked lunch with other young musicians, notably guitarists jeff skunk baxter and denny dias, emerging in 1972 with cant buy a thrill. Louis, missouri, and became one of the founding figures of the beat movement. Burroughs has 128 books on goodreads with 466838 ratings.
Though steely dan recorded prolifically for much of the seventies, they toured for only a brief spell early in that decade, deciding they much preferred the studio to the road. The music world has been grateful ever since and indeed, burroughs has exerted a powerful influence over popular music. Steely dan live at paramount theatre seattle, jul 1, 1974 at. Becker was the silent one, but he was also the kind of misanthrope that would roll. A spoiled rich girl from roald dahls book charlie and the chocolate factory. The 1993 interview when walter becker opened up about steely.
Feb 05, 2012 today would have been the 98th birthday of legendary author william s. As fans of beat generation literature of fagen and becker named the band after steely dan iii fromyokohama, astrapon dildoreferred to in the william s. Sep 03, 2017 the year 1972 brought the name steely dan borrowed from a dildo of the same name in william burroughs novel naked lunch and the debut album cant buy a thrill, with an. The rock band steely dan took their name from a dildo which features in william burroughs novel naked lunch. The drummers of steely dan the steely dan readerthe. In 1977, the american glossy magazine new times interviewed william burroughs, the beat writer and junkie figurehead who had inspired many of the rock generation. But then again, they left that as yet another puzzle for listeners to resolve. The book is structured as a series of loosely connected vignettes. These people are too fancy, theyre too sophisticated, william s. Jun 03, 20 in 1972, after signing with abc records they came up with the name steely dan. The best performances are provided by jeff porcaro and denny dias. Editors notes steely dan produced some of some of the most literate pop records of the 70s. The acts soft machine and steely dan took their names from the writers work and burroughs went on to collaborate with artists of the avantgarde like laurie anderson. Steely dan originates from annandaleonhudson, new york.
Steely dan all the facts and hidden meanings from a band. Other than donald fagan and walter becker, the duo that is steely dan, the only musician who played on all seven albums was the late victor feldman. Ok, maybe you know that the rock band steely dan took its name from a dildo in william burroughs naked lunch. Kurt cobain asked burroughs to appear as jesus in the music video for the nirvana song heartshaped box. Steely dan band name inspired from a strapon dildo in williams s. Working with abc producer gary katz, they secretly assembled steely dan named after a prosthetic phallus in william s. Apr 27, 2017 in 1977, the american glossy magazine new times interviewed william burroughs, the beat writer and junkie figurehead who had inspired many of the rock generation. Walter becker, guitarist, songwriter and cofounder of steely. Becker was on bass in the original lineup, with jeff skunk baxter and denny dias sharing guitar duties. To everyones surprise, steely dans debut album spawned. Burroughs, one of the three seminal writers of the beat generation the other two being his friends jack kerouac and allen ginsberg, was born in st. This was followed by a deal for their band, steely dan, named after a dildo in william burroughs 1959 novel naked lunch.
Burroughs novel naked lunch, and while yes thats true, many things in life overlap. Burroughss avantgarde novel naked lunch, he wrote and directed a surreal 1991 film of the same name that was based on the novel as well as on burroughss life. Steely dan produced some of some of the most literate pop records of the 70s. Burroughs is a superb writer, and naked lunch a novel of revolt in the best latemodern sense. His first album, call me burroughs, was comprised of readings from the naked lunch and nova express. Sep 29, 2017 so they decided to put together their own band, appropriating the name steely dan from the fictitious brand name of a dildo steely dan iii from yokahama in the william burroughs novel naked lunch. Named after a sex toy from the william burroughs junkie novel naked lunch, steely dan had evolved from a bona fide group to, at the time of katy lieds 1975 release, a collection of studio hot shots, with walter becker and don fagen writing, producing, and singing all vocals. Most of the sex in naked lunch is between men, though its often surreal, violent, and mucky. Sep 04, 2017 taking their name from the steampowered dildo in william burroughss novel the naked lunch, steely dan set about recording their debut album, cant buy a thrill, which would spawn two. Donald fagen has just released his fourth solo album, sunken condos. Named after a sex toy in a william burroughs novel, steely dan recorded seven albums of seminal jazzpop from 1972 to 1980. How steely dan made their classic album pretzel logic louder. By ken micaleff modern drummer between 1972 and 1980, steely dan produced some of the most searing and bitter pop music ever recorded.
Oct 26, 2016 theyre named after a dildo from the william burroughs novel naked lunch. But have you ever read the passage that inspired them. Bob dylan, the beatles, steely dan, kurt cobain, lou reed. The bands 1972 debut album included the top 40 hit do it again.
Burroughs, over the years, said that the order of chapters in the book did not. Over 100 session musicians contributed to their songs. Taking their name from the steampowered dildo in william burroughs novel the naked lunch, steely dan set about recording their debut album, cant buy a thrill, which would spawn two unlikely hits with do it again and reelin in the years. Of course others, and rightly so, will tell you that the boys took their name from william burroughs fans of beat generation literature, fagen and becker named the band after steely dan iii from yokohama, a strapon dildo mentioned in the william s.
With scathing lyrics delivered by donald fagens pungent vocals, he and partner walter beckers music chronicled the feelings of many who passed through young adulthood during the 1970s. Jul 19, 2019 thats an easy question for any steely dan fan to answer and everyone has answered correctly. Steely dan produced criticallyacclaimed albums from 1972 to 1980, after which fagen and becker decided to. Steely dan cofounder walter becker has died at the age of. Steely dan was named after a sexual device in the william burroughs novel the naked lunch. Becker was on bass in the original lineup, with jeff skunk baxter and. Taking their name from the steampowered dildo in william burroughss novel the naked lunch, steely dan set about recording their debut album, cant buy a thrill, which would spawn two.
Burroughs even in the beginning, steely dan as a musicallyrical concept turned into something for the initiated. With the father he had, perhaps he was doomed from the start. Donald fagen sunken condos reprise records coachella. In the naked lunch 1959 and other novels, william s. Burroughss 1959 novel naked lunch had been required reading for aspiring beatniks, and featured a sex toy that, as every steely dan bore knows, the group named themselves after burroughs had never heard steely dans music. Sep 03, 2017 steely dan named after a dildo in the william burroughs novel naked lunch dissolved after its 1980 album, gaucho, though mr. The year 1972 brought the name steely dan borrowed from a dildo of the same name in william burroughs novel naked lunch and the debut album cant buy a thrill, with an. The dildo used in the scene is called a steely dan iii, and is the source from which the. Walter becker, the guitarist for steely dan, died on sept. Popular culture references to william and mary special. Steely dan is an american rock duo founded in 1972 by core members walter becker guitars, bass, backing vocals and donald fagen keyboards, lead vocals. To everyones surprise, steely dans debut album spawned the hits do it again and.
Ginsberg, ever the keen marketeer, realized burroughs work should be published and enlisted the help of kerouac in order to go to tangier and compile the manuscript. In the novel, the steely dan dildo squirts out milk and also gets eaten by a bull dyke at some point. He passed away at the age of 33 due to liver issues brought on by his addiction. Heres the excerpt from the book that mentions steely dan. Influenced by the beat generation, particularly by burroughs, they took their band name from a steampowered dildo. Burroughs 1959 novel naked lunch, a book ill admit to reading but not actually understanding.
Thompson, george carlin and a hoarse whisper of jim morrison, and the good doctor thompson no doubt kept a volume of burroughs on his desk between the dictionary and the thesaurus. The 1993 interview when walter becker opened up about. Burroughs subversive classic turns 50 and is still as vile and embarrassing as it always was. Butterfly 1993, starring irons and set primarily in 1960s beijing, cronenberg brought to read more. Fortified by two top10 hits, do it again and reelin in the years, and the sale of millions or albums, becker bass and guitar and fagen keyboards abandoned the road but. Before forming steely dan, founding members donald fagen and walter becker had a group named the bad rock group featuring comedian chevy chase on drums and also used the band name the leather canary. Named after a home appliance in a william burroughs novel, steely dan began as a touring rock n roll band that eventually disbanded after two albums.
Burroughs, one of the most influential writers not only in the literary realm, but in the cultural landscape at large. Theyre named after a dildo from the william burroughs novel naked lunch. Sep 04, 2017 this was followed by a deal for their band, steely dan, named after a dildo in william burroughs 1959 novel naked lunch. Along with walter becker, fagen was one of the masterminds of steely dan. Steely dan released seven studio non compilation albums from 19721980. As fans of beat generation literature of fagen and becker named the band after steely dan iii from yokohama, a strapon dildo referred to in the william s. Steely dan might sound like a dorky jazz band, but their inception isnt so pg.
Steely dan band name inspired from a strapon dildo in williams. Burroughs stated that the chapters are intended to be read in any order. Steely dan steely dan might sound like a dorky jazz band, but their inception isnt so pg. Steely dan iii from yokohama is the name of an oversized steampowered strapon dildo mentioned in william s. Til steely dan was named after a dildo in a william s. The reader follows the narration of junkie william lee, who takes on various aliases.
Five deep cuts underscore the overlooked brilliance of steely. Jan 30, 2020 the acts soft machine and steely dan took their names from the writers work and burroughs went on to collaborate with artists of the avantgarde like laurie anderson, sonic youth and genesis p. Five fascinating facts about william burroughs interesting. Listen to what is probably the greatest steely dan show ever. Louis, missouri, on february 5, 1914, to the son of the founder of the burroughs adding machine co. Steely dan band name inspired from a strapon dildo in. The acts soft machine and steely dan took their names from the writers work and burroughs went on to collaborate with artists of the avantgarde like laurie anderson, sonic youth and genesis.
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