When Conan O'Brien took over The Tonight Show, he brought with him his Late Night band The Max Weinberg 7, rechristened Max Weinberg and The Tonight Show Band. Famously, Max was an erstwhile member of the E Street Band when Conan offered him the job as Late Night bandleader. He stayed loyal to Conan even when The Boss reformed E Street in 1999 and he had to balance his Late Night duties amidst touring. Before Max originally joined Springsteen in the mid-70s, he had played in a few other college and Jersey bands and first recorded his drumming as a member of the short-lived five-piece, Blackstone. The eponymous Blackstone came out in 1971 on Epic Records.
The single "Love, Love, Love" leads off the album with a debt to Led Zeppelin. The scream-singing vocals, dubious lyrics, a clever bass and emphatic drumming are all patterned on the hard rock quartet. The simple guitar and unambitious production are the only elements that aren't. There's an obvious difference in virtuosity as each band member either pales in comparison to or comes close to their musical models. Is it sacrilege to say that the young Max Weinberg nearly gives John Bonham a run for his money? By maximizing every fill, Max claims the song for his own. Only the solo gives away that he's still a click behind Bonham as it doesn't match the creativity of his fills. Of course, the song and the band couldn't just settle for being a less-than Zeppelin dupe, so that's why you add a keyboard (especially if you're also a fan of The Zombies.)
Only about a third of the songs scattered throughout Blackstone owes so much to Zeppelin. The rest of the tracks are a flowery, pop psychedelia dominated by lead singer Tom Flynn. The songs feel dated even though they're only two years removed from the late-sixties they evoke, while also harkening to the dim future of derivative corporate rock. If it's not clear already, the album lacks any identity or style of its own and suffers the unfortunate fate of being so unremarkable to be easily forgettable...except for the drumming.
Here is the discography for Blackstone:
Blackstone
Love, Love, Love (1971 single)
"Thinking" by Blackstone
Max Weinberg Leaves Late Night with Conan O'Brien for the First Time
The Max Weinberg 7 Are in a Groove
Max Weinberg Returns to Conan
Pass the Headphones!!
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