Codell Rodriguez
Daily Egyptian
After seeing a Grateful Dead cover band, the founding members of Pepperland decided to form a Beatles tribute band.
But instead of trying to match the sound of the band VH1 called the greatest artists in rock 'n' roll history, the St. Louis-based Pepperland, named after the location of "Yellow Submarine," decided to just do their own thing.
Pepperland, which consists of Larry Jones - who just goes by Jones (rhythm guitar and vocals) - Tony Craig (drums and vocals), Nado (vocals and sometimes percussion), John Brown (keyboards) and George Smith (bass), may not look or sound exactly like the original Fab Four, but the band found a connection when it opened for Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band.
Jones, Tony and Nado found time away from ridding the world of Blue Meanies and searching for lands of yellow submarines to talk to the Daily Egyptian, via separate phone lines.
DE: How did you guys get together?
Jones: Go ahead Tony.
Tony: Jones and I were at Mississippi Nights in St. Louis and were watching a Dead band, and we had been listening to the White Album over and over and over again for a couple weeks ...
Jones: Actually about 25 years for me.
Tony: As for me, a few weeks. So we looked at one another and said, "Hey, gee, I have a great idea. Let's do a Beatles band and knock everybody's knickers off." Or something like that.
Jones: Which worked out perfectly because, at the time, Nado and I and another founding member, were playing in another project, which we called King Turkey.
Nado: (laughs)
Jones: Which was nothing but a funk fest. (laughs)
Tony: Long live King Turkey. (laughs)
Jones: We developed a really strong rapport in that band. So then all the seeds were actually sewn.
Tony: Nothing too cosmic or anything.
DE: No flaming pies?
Tony: No flaming pies or anything like that.
Jones: Although Ben (one of the founding members) could make a really mean lemon meringue pie. I think he learned it from his mom.
DE: So is being a Beatle fan a prerequisite to being in the band?
Jones: It helps. If you're not, you've probably come and gone by now.
Tony: Yeah, Nado and I are the only hardcore ones.
Nado: Doing it for six stinking years.
Tony: For six stinking years, we're the hardcore ones.
DE: What's your favorite Beatles album?
Tony: I'm going to say the White Album. And you guys can't say the same ones.
Jones: OK.
Tony: Because then we'll be way too boring. Nado?
Nado: I'm going to say "Abbey Road."
Tony: Jones?
Jones: "Meet the Beatles."
Tony: "Meet the Beatles?"
Nado: Wow. I didn't know that Larry.
DE: Do you have a favorite Beatle?
Tony: Oh, that's impossible.
Jones: I do. My favorite Beatle is George.
Nado: I've never had a favorite. It always changes.
Tony: I'm going to say John Lennon.
Jones: Nado's is Billy Preston.
Nado: (laughs) Nah dude.
Tony: My favorite beetle is the dung beetle. (laughs)
Nado: Man, this is a total Pepperland interview for sure.
DE: Who's your favorite band besides the Beatles?
Tony: Mine would have to be Sting.
Nado: Wow. Dude! Band or solo act?
DE: Just artist.
Nado: Jeff Buckley, hands down.
Jones: Mine would have to be Sade, without a doubt. (laughs)
DE: I'm sure there are plenty of Sade fans out there.
DE: Have any of you ever been to Britain?
Jones: The closest I've ever been is Chicago.
Nado: (laughs) Dude, come on!
Jones: It's the truth.
Nado: My next-door neighbors were from Britain. (laughs)
DE: The Beatles made several movies. Any favorites?
Tony: "Magical Mystery Tour," hands down.
Jones: "Enter the Dragon."
Tony: "Enter the Dragon?"
Nado: (laughs)
Tony: Wasn't Ringo in that? Didn't Ringo play a gnome?
Jones: Whenever they first get off the boat and [Lee] looks over to the courtyard where there are hundreds of kung-fu fighters practicing.
Tony: Uh huh.
Jones: He was actually the one in the third row, about the 15th person in from the left.
Tony: Wearing a hat with a flower on it?
Jones: You can make it out, if you slow the film down, you'll see because he's wearing a lot of rings.
Nado: You've gotta be shitting me.
Jones: Nah, I'm full of crap. You're right.
Nado: OK.
DE: Where do all the lonely people belong?
Jones: With me.
Tony: They should go over to Jones' house.
Jones: Maybe we could get a bite to eat afterward.
Catch Pepperland at Hangar 9 Saturday at about 10 p.m.
Reporter Codell Rodriguez can be reached at crodriguez@dailyegyptian.com.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
