Original Foghat bassist Tony Stevens celebrates his 70th birthday today (September 12th). Their biggest song “Slow Ride” was on Fool for the City and was “borrowed” from a John Lee Hooker riff, but they changed the rhythm. It’s their most successful single, the only one to reach the Top 20. Drummer Roger Earl explains how it came about.
“It’s a John Lee Hooker riff played in like a straight 4/4 as opposed to a shuffle. It’s, you know, the boogie. We borrowed it. What did Peter Wolf say to me? Professionals steal and amateurs borrow. [Laughs] Thanks, Pete. Thank you, John Lee.”
