Sneaky Pete Is Gone - R.I.P.

rusty young (poco) talked about guys like buddy emmons, lloyd green and pete drake as being "professionals"--i.e. guys with incredible technique--while he, sneaky pete, red rhodes, jerry garcia, etc. were "non-professionals" who weren't in the same class as players. i always liked sneaky pete, who played with seemingly everybody--he was the most rock n' roll, least generic/twangy of the pedal steel guys.

Thanks for this

Saw him at Altamont with the Flying Burrio Bros.They were the highlight of that day for me.Will listen to him as long as I still breathe,and will miss him as well.

I hang my head for having missed this passing.
Depression mourning for the next month.
Tears.
Tears

Jaybo,

Fantastic guitar is...well, fantastic, but Pete was a) a pretty fair player himself and b) awfully influential in the manner noted by Musicbuff. I'm not sure comparisons here are apples to apples as Rhodes seemed to be an historical touchstone for the early country rockers while Pete was the flag bearer for the new generation. Similarly, Lloyd Maines feels like he was the point guy for the next generation "y'alternative" bands. Seams to me that each of these guys was a critical figure on the instrument at a different moment in time. Just MHO.

Either way, Pete will be missed.

Marty

His contribution to the sound of the "Flying Burrito Bros"
cannot be over-estimated, and the F.B.B. laid the foundation (w. the possible exception of the Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo")for country rock. Period. Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, Pete Kleinow, Chris Ethridge and whoever happened to be around on drums, burned intensely for a short time and left a permanent mark on music. I'll never forget the rush I felt the first time I put "Guilded Palace of Sin" on my turntable back in '69 and heard Pete's intro to "Christine's Tune". He played his pedal steel guitar heartbreakingly sweet or raucous with distortion. There were no other electric guitars on that album. Not too many kids at my highschool got it,but I was an instant fan. A true pioneer who shall not be forgotten.
RIP, Pete.

he was good, but no red rhodes

His contributions on the "Heart Like a Wheel" album are terrific.

Rest in Pe(te)ace.

Being an ex-studio guy I can only think, "That guy was on so much more then most people will ever know. The article is just touching the surface." Plus, I had no idea about the film work. GUMBY!! Forget Star Wars or the Terminator. GUMBY!!

Thank for the news and the link Onhwy61, very interesting stuff I didn't know in there (Gumby?!). I have to admit that no doubt I've heard Kleinow's work more than I really know or have paid attention to outside of the Burritos, but ain't that the way it often goes with session guys (especially, or at least in my case, concerning more traditionally 'non-rock' instruments such as steel). It seems Pete's work demands acknowledgement beyond merely being considered generic sweetening, so I'll try keeping a wider ear open for him.

This guy was to pedal steel what Vassar Clements was to the fiddle. He will be missed. Condolences to his friends and family.

Thanks for this. Rest in peace, Pete, and thanks for the music.