Wednesday, November 02, 2022

Jonesy & The Killer

I've mentioned over the years - including HERE- how much I love the battiness of Steve Jones' iconic radio show Jonesy's Jukebox, and this is definitely one of my all-time favorite episodes, him playing a 2006 interview with Jerry Lee Lewis. The randomness of his questions along with his candor ("I can't think of anything to ask, really") is on point as always 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Record promotion executive Michael Plen had arranged to deliver a piano to the studio, and Lewis was set to perform live on the show. Things went downhill from the moment he entered the radio studio. As soon as he saw the piano, Lewis snarled, “What’s that thing doing here? I ain’t playing no goddamn piano!”

Despite the tension, the rapport between the two musical rebels was going great until Jonesy brought up the problems Lewis had on his trip to London in 1958.  The Killer’s demeanor shifted dramatically because Jonesy was referring to the notorious UK tour that began with a career-crushing press conference at London’s Heathrow airport.  Myra Gale Brown, the 13-year-old girl accompanying Lewis, told a reporter she was Lewis’s new wife. It was later revealed that Myra was also Lewis’ cousin. After that, the tension in the radio studio was as thick as pea soup. In a rare moment, Jonesy was lost for words. 
 

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