The NGDB, Pete Anderson (Latvian music icon)

and the USSR …

or, Russia -0, America 1

by john mceuen

In 1977 the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band became the first American group to perform in the Soviet Union, an historic event of 28 sold out concerts that was covered by various media including U.S. News and World Report, CBS Nighttime News and Rolling Stone.  Jim Brown, documentary director of “Rockin’ the Iron Curtain“  (it explores how American music ‘brought down the Iron Curtain, the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union itself’, due for release in 2011) contends that “with their Soviet tour, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band opened the door that allowed this to come about.”

140 million viewers saw their one-hour performance on a Moscow Television show. Their 28 sold-out concerts caused scenes still talked today about.

During the tour (in Riga, Latvia), they crossed paths with Pete Anderson, already an underground music legend in his country. A friendship started between Pete and band member John McEuen that continues to this day, that now led to this recent historic event in their lives, one that could only be dreamed of when they met. It would have seemed then an impossible dream, but it has come about: Pete making a cameo appearance during the NGDB’s headline performance at Norway’s Seljord Country Music Festival, putting Anderson and the band together for what would have been impossible and illegal in the ‘70’s.

The importance of this circular path is best understood when one knows some of Pete’s journey, and the effects of American music on the lives of those in the Soviet Union:

When Pete started his music career performing Little Richard songs on stage in 1959 - it was an illegal activity. Although he was continually harassed by the KGB, shows stopped, had electricity turned off during shows, audiences dispersed, warned of arrest, and physically threatened continually.. he continued. His art and music developed, and the word spread - Pete Anderson became the underground Latvian rocker people sought out, both for his representation of American rockabilly music and his own growing list original songs..  

But.. he became too popular.

By 1972, after years of defying the authorities by performing and building up a large Baltic fan base, the KGB threatened to kill his newborn daughter if he didn't stop performing American music...at which time he went into depressed seclusion in the countryside outside of Riga, Latvia’s capital, playing and writing only for friends and very private parties.

One night two years later, he went where a college a band was playing the usual “approved” music. Recognized he was coaxed on stage to sing. Pete gave the performance he was known for, but after a couple of songs realized his mistake.  With thoughts of his wife, soon to deliver their 2^nd child, he quickly exited the building to head home to his family. The KGB met him outside and nearly beat him to death--to be revived in the hospital later that night.

With further threats to him and his family, Pete returned to his house, got lost in alcohol, and didn't sing in public again until the late 1980’s, when the Kremlin started to lose its grip and control over Latvia. Threats of prison and physical harm began to finally fade by 1989, and he was ‘allowed’ to make his first record (after 30 years!). His career “officially” began.

Pete is a now a music hero and star in the entire Baltic region, and freely headlines his own engagements.  He has made many music videos and albums, and continues his successful career today. In 2006, Latvia honored him with his own Postage Stamp – representing and honoring his impact as a cultural hero and great music artist.

The circle of music was be unbroken July 30 when Pete Anderson joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for a cameo appearance (during their classic version of Will the Circle Be Unbroken) as they headlined Norway’s Country Festival in Seljord. Pete, flying in from Latvia for this event, did something that would have been illegal, life threatening and impossible in an earlier era.

It is ironic that even prior to the 1970’s it was deemed by the KGB that American music was a capitalist plot that could cause great damage to and ‘overthrow’ Communism; in the same period, many in America declared Rock and Roll a communist plot to overthrow America. For once, the KGB was right on target.

At this current time, when America’s past influences in the world are often questioned and criticized, this is a great example of how American music has helped effect a great change socially and politically. It has been said that the Dirt Band helped create the first cracks in the Iron Curtain; that after their 28-concert sold out Soviet tour in 1977 other acts would follow. Although that took 7 years until then…  music eventually helped set them free.

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The show

July 31, 2010 Seljord, Norway

Pete arrived Seljord excited and ready to rock, dressed for a Buddy Holly album shoot, with a smile to match his excitement. When I met him at the hotel, Jimmy had been talking about hot cars and stuff American, and Pete fell right in to the rap, eating it up.

Later, as he watched the sound check, wondering what was going through his mind, he told me “It is like a dream, something I never thought possible. Playing my favorite music with a real American band”. He waited for the end of the set, when his turn would come.

A great festival audience and hot response led to the encores that would bring Pete out. After an appropriate introduction celebrating this event, one that would have put him in jail in another era, or brought personal harm to him and/or his family as it had, Pete came out with guitar and voice to sing on Will the Circle Be Unbroken. His contribution turned this encore of ours in to a response that heated the Norse audience even more, and led to being called out for a second encore when they would not quit. So, we didn’t quit either, and lit in to Jambalaya.

Playing rhythm guitar, Pete traded verses with Jeff, sang on the choruses, as if he had been doing it with us for years. They went crazy, that crowd… and after a show where people were singing back our own words for many songs as loud as the monitors, with rousing applause and screams. It was our best acceptance ever in Norway, especially for the new music from the current ‘Speed of Life’ album, they just got louder than ever… but we had been on almost two hours and at 1:00 a.m. it was time to call in the dogs, put out the fire, and head it on back to Bowlegs. (And, earlier in the set, that song went over like a hit!)

Thank you Pete, for your dedication and pursuit of American music, and giving us a new appreciation of that. Thanks to all those fans who gave us a career that allowed this to come about, for you are all part of it. And, especially thanks to all those in our past who fought for the freedoms we often take for granted, but seem to exercise every day, that made this dream a reality.

John McEuen, Aug. 1, 2010

Below are Pete’s music videos – the first two both filmed in secrecy while the Soviets still controlled Latvia. In the last two videos, just made, you will see his wife of ten years (a trained chemist, who threw out her test tubes and picked up a double bass) now backing Pete up.          

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1yBvJdGlhI&feature=related  "Good Rockin' Tonight" (1990)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w5g3D4ueGA&feature=related  "Jump, Jive & Wail" (1991)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEwMJ81JyCo   "Baby, Let's Play House"  (2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQDS3_AfDLk  "Shake, Shack a Dooby"  (2010)

Oh, What a Night!

I didn't know “sitting in” at Levon Helm’s 70th birthday party was going to remind me what music was about in such a powerful manner, but it did, song after song. There were enough musicians for two bands, but everyone graciously made room for each other’s solos and, although I felt like the guy on the lowest rung of the music ladder, they backed me like it was my ladder.

When Levon invited me up to take part in his birthday celebration concert at his barn in Woodstock (his always sold out ‘Midnight Ramble’ is a weekly ‘house concert’ there, to about 240 enthusiastic listeners) I was excited more than last year when the Dirt Band did it. I would have a chance to see if what I do solo would work well in front of his avid audience, an exciting challenge to take on.

Levon’s spirited attitude and obvious love of what he is doing draws you in, as he lays down the perfect feel for any song played. When not playing I stood next to his drums, and it was wonderful to hear them in his hands— they weren't loud, but musical.

Levon Helm has been one of my favorite music influences since he first opened that door to mixing up Americana acoustic sensibilities and singing with drums, piano, and mandolin; well, rock and roll in the way that I liked it. I think he saved the Dirt Band back when The Band’s Big Pink came out.

In 1968 the NGDB was in Baker, Oregon, for four long months of ‘work’ on Paramount’s Paint Your Wagon. Jeff and I listened to the just released Pink every day after our 12 hour set days. It was in the cards, I think, that when the NGDB disbanded after Wagon, and Jeff and I put it back together 6 months later, that the Big Pink album - with its half-time drum master showing the way - would give us a great viewpoint for some our new music.

Levon’s friendship and hospitality brought me back to that time, the ‘60’s haze, when I never thought I could even meet someone of his caliber, but felt close anyway.. and now we were playing together! (I had done that last when The Band played Wisconsin’s Mole Lake Bluegrass Festival, and I opened for them in 1990. That was a great night, happening not long after I had composed the music score for a film Levon was starring in, The Man Outside.)

I had turned in my best solo set of my career to one of the best crowds I had ever played for.  I had called in my buddy David Amram, one of America’s musical treasures (google him and you will see why), a few hours before the show to have him join me, and he knocked people out. Then it was their turn.

Amram back up to the stage when I was jamming with the Helm band with Helm at the helm, and, as usual, blew the room away

Even though there were enough musicians for two bands, everyone graciously made room for each other for solos. Donald Fagan was great as expected, and the 4-man horn section killed, as did the B-3 player, standup bass, guitar pickers and chick singers.

Somewhere around hour 2, the horn section started marching around the room during a Dixieland style song, and the place went nuts. It actually went nuts about every 15-20 minutes over this 3 hour set, with the rest just getting by with rousing approval and loud applause.

Bandleader Larry Campbell was equally masterful fingerpicking acoustic and searing electric guitars, as well as a variety of vocals in styles all over the Americana musicscape. AND, he played fiddle.. really did it right. He suggested we twin fiddle on one, and that I sing Circle Be Unbroken. . . and we did.

Double fiddles with Diggy Diggy Lo sung and played by Larry; a Circle/Sunnyside medley sung and played by me.. The Weight.. All with this incredible band behind me of stellar players. You know that if they are playing with Levon, they are stellar.

The room stood up mid-Circle and; I think the roof raised a bit when the girl took the lead at the end. It really was chilling and hot at the same time! Amram’s tin whistle solos got such a rousing response every time he took one I asked him after the show to ‘please play a little less.. you’re too hard to follow’… and of course we laughed about that.

Although I had played with the Band a couple of times, this was the most fun jamming since Bill Monroe joined me in a Swiss bar in 1993. But, that’s another story.

John McEuen

May, 2010