Chapter 15: Madison Sq Garden

What a crock of shit. It turns out, that the Stones had Prerecorded their 2 Songs in LA for the Ed Sullivan Show. It was to be Broadcast, Sun, Nov 23, 1969. They weren’t even at the Show that night, so in reality, their Tour was to resume, Mon, Nov 24, 1969, in Detroit, MI.

For Ed Sullivan, Mick Sang for real, but the Band faked it. It was stupid what we put up with back then. Remember how everyone Lip Synced on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.

In 1969 the Stones were #1 as far as bragging rights go. The Beatles were Breaking Up, so the Stones for this Tour started claiming, as they were introduced, “The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World, the Rolling Stones!”

I had talked Sam Cutler into spending Sunday Night in LA, Fly to Detroit, then after the Show Flying to Philly.

I had no desire to Ride around Detroit in 1969.

Mon, Nov 24, 1969

I had decided to dedicate each days Ride to a different Band member. Today, in LA, I Rode with Sam Cutler who was 26yo in 1969. He had been working with Pink Floyd, & was asked to be the Stones’ new Road or Tour Manager.

After the f/u called Altamonte in Dec, 1969, Sam would stay in the USA to handle the legal issues. He never left, as he befriended my pal Jerry Garcia, & would become the Dead’s Tour Manager from then on. Of course this meant he’d have potential run-ins with Bill Graham, but both made up pretty quickly.

As Tour Manager, he was responsible for EVERYTHING on the Tour. I wanted to pick his brain for better ways to Tour, as I wanted to lessen the Strain on the guys as much as possible. If Oakland was any indication, it could only improve. We had a good Talk & Ride. He said he was open to suggestions.

Sam had already worked with me, changing Hotels & when to Travel. After the 1st Week of the Tour, he saw my way being much better. He also loved Foos & Biking, saying both were the missing link for Stress Relief.

At 2pm we all Flew to Detroit, arriving in time for their Sound Checks. As Ralf, all the great Detroit Concerts were in Cobo Hall, but that wasn’t built yet.

The Olympia Stadium was a Red Brick Building, called the Old Red Barn. It was Built in 1927, & in 1969, the Detroit Red Wings still called it Home. It held 15,000. Tickets were as high as $8, high at the time.

Mick Jagger has said, that the Stones didn’t hit their Groove until Detroit, gaining momentum leading up to Madison Square Garden.

The Stones Show that Night was great, Raw Power. As I’ve said, Mick fed off that Power in the Audience. He found it intoxicating to Rile them up into a frenzy. All bands do that, but Mick perfected it.

After the Show, we flew to Philly. It was great to be On The Road Again, as that’s all I’ve known as Pug.

On the Plane Ride, we talked of the My Lai Massacre. It had happened on Mar, 16, 1968, but just hit the News that day. It would be another Stain on Americas Soul.

Tue, Nov 25, 1969

The Philly Spectrum was only 2 years old in 1969, the Home to the Flyers & 76’s. It held 19,000. It was near the Waterfront, as was our Hotel, so it was a great Ride that morning, Today I Rode with Tina!

Tina Turner was 30yo in 1969. She was Born, Anna Mae Bullock, changing to Tina Turner in 1960. She was Born in Brownsville, TN. Not TX. Her little community was called Nutbush, which she made famous in her Song, Nutbush City Limits.

She met her future husband, Ike in 1956, in an East St Louis Nightclub, the Club Manhattan. He & his band, the Kings of Rhythm mesmerized her.

She had sung in Church growing up with her 2 Sisters. They were trying to get into the business, so Tina asked Ike to let her Sing. At that time Ike only had Male Singers, so he blew her off. But while Ike was on break, she took the Drummers Mic & sang a B.B. King song, You Know I Love You. Ike heard her & the rest is history.

By the mid 1970’s though, Ike was heavily into Coke & slapped her around. She finally left him, reemerging in the 1980’s to huge success. But when they were together, they were a Tight Groove Band. Heavy Beat, with Tina Belting it out. She also had Legs that are in the Smithsonian.

We enjoyed Riding the Philly waterfront.

While we were Riding, I was telling her about Cognitive Therapy. I wanted her to be more confident within. Even at 30yo, she had some Childlike Qualities that allowed Ike to control her. She seemed to like the new Concepts I was telling her, asking me more & more. She also asked me to Ride with Ike. I had already planned on that, so I said sure.

We Rode in FDR Park, which was beautiful. It’s interesting though, the Philly A/P was just across the Schuylkill River, which made it awesome to get in & out of. Or did it make it worse?

The Show that night had an even tighter sound, as everyone was anticipating the 3 NYC Shows that Thursday & Friday. They weren’t holding anything back. Of course, the Philly Fanatics encouraged them. The Tickets were $6.50 & $7.50.

We flew to Baltimore after the Show, staying in the Inner Harbour.

Wed, Nov 26, 1969

In 1969, the Inner Harbour of Baltimore wasn’t the pristine place it was in Ralf’s Time. It was much more gritty. We enjoyed our Ride though. Today I Rode with Ike.

Ike Turner was 38yo in 1969. He was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as was Jackie Brenston, Ike’s Tenor Sax Man. They are the ones credited with the 1st Rock & Roll Song, Rocket 88. Pretty cool to be Bike Riding with him.

As we Rode, I asked him of his growing up years, as I was sure they were tough. He admitted it had made him a mean guy, even when he didn’t want to be.

With Ike I shared Cognitive Therapy, but I also resorted to using Mind Bending. I wanted him to stop abusing Tina NOW. I think I helped. I promised both Ike & Tina, that they could call anytime to refresh Cognitive info, or even to talk.

I had Typed up my memories of Cognitive Therapy, so I started to pass them out. Weird, as Ralf, I haven’t used the word “Typed” for years. My Lists were great Quick References though, to jog your memory.

Anytime anyone tries to Change Long Standing ways of Thinking, it takes WORK. It’s hard to stop the Madness! People in the Past were Burned at the Stake for going against the Norm too.

The Stones were Performing tonight at the Baltimore Civic Center. It opened in 1961, holding 14,000. The Show was at 7:30pm. Tickets were $5.50, $6.50 or if you were rich, $7.50.

The Stones would use one Song from Baltimore on Ya-Ya’s, it was, Love In Vain. The rest coming from the 3 Shows at MSG in NYC. That would be the next 2 nights.

Ali & I enjoyed working with Martin Scorsese & the USC-5. They were Pros, but no one would give them a chance. This was it! Martin said that I should keep them together & have them Travel with me when I went to Concerts. I would take him up on it, as it’s crazy no one thought to Film some Historic Concerts. The Concert for Bangladesh, being the one I’d love to see the most. This time, we’ll do it Righteous!

After Honky Tonk Woman, Mick grabbed a Basket of Rose Petals. He got excited & ended up in the Crowd. I had to help him back up on Stage.

The Stones only Sold 12,000 or so, out of the 14,000 Capacity, but it was still great.

After the Show, we Flew to LGA, in NYC. I was Hosting the Band at the St Regis. Cesar assured me everyone would enjoy their stay.

Late into the Night, we enjoyed the Rooftop Terrace. Keith Richards, Bill Wyman & Mick Taylor even serenaded us. Mick Jagger pulled out a Harp & Charlie started Drumming on an overturned Pail. Fun Times.

Thur, Nov 27, 1969. Thanksgiving

Back in the Big Apple Baby! This is what the Tour has been building to. The Stones were due to Play once tonight, & twice tomorrow at Madison Square Garden in NYC.

Madison Square Garden was built in 1968, so was almost brand new in 1969. It held 20,000, & was the Home to both the Rangers & Knicks. It would also host some of the most iconic Concerts in the years to come. It’s called itself the “Worlds most famous Arena.”

I had to plan ahead, as I wanted the CP5 to Ride with these guys, but there was no way 7am was going to work today. My CP5 friends said Noon would work while the Stones were in town.

We had a great time, the USC-5 Filming it all.

We Hosted a big Thanksgiving Dinner at our new 10th Floor Office & Terrace. It was in the same Heckscher Building as our 14th Floor HQ Office. It was the 1st time I’d seen it, well in 1969, that is. As Ralf, I had been lucky enough to check it out.

This time, although frayed around the edges, it wasn’t gutted to the walls, like I saw in 2018. Roger Lang had done a great job cleaning it up. He took my suggestion, & had Low Walled Cubicles, with some Glass Walled Conference Rooms along the North Wall. Very nice. There were also open areas that Folding Tables could be put up as Work Stations.

That’s where we set up the Tables for our Dinner. It was Almost December in NYC folks, & a mite nippy out on the Terrace.

We watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on TV, that was taking place, 2 & 1/2 Blocks West. We were at 5th Ave, & the Parade Traveled SB on Broadway, which at 55th St, was between 7th & 8th Ave at that point.

NBC had the Broadcast, & Lorne Green, Betty White & Joe Garagiola were the Hosts. Superman, Smokey the Bear, Bullwinkle & Snoopy the Astronaut were some of the Balloons. Yep, Snoopy was an Astronaut, due to the July 21, 1969, Moon Landing.

In Town were most of my Partners. David Geffen even brought our Sunset Tower Chef, Mario, to lead the Kitchen staff, as there was a bunch of us. He did it up right, too, with a number of different ways to Prepare the Turkeys. There were so many Turkeys needed, he couldn’t resist playing around. He probably was the 1st to Deep Fry one.

Ali’s Parents, Roger Lang, 45yo, was with his wife, Katy, 40yo.

Ali’s Brother, Michael Lang, 25yo, was with his MGF, Ticia, 23yo.

Bill Graham, 38yo, was there with his wife, Bonnie. They rarely lived together, but were good friends.

Agnes Nixon, 47yo, was with her husband, Bob, 48yo. Her new Soap Opera, was due to Premier on Mon, Jan 5, 1970. It was to be called, All My Children.

The Love Story contingent was there, as it was Filming in NYC & Boston. It’s been reported, that the Profits from Love Story, helped save Paramount Pictures Studios. Glad to help.

Producer Howard G Minsky, 55yo, was there with his wife, Sylvia, 51yo.

Director Arthur Hiller, 46yo, was there with his wife, Gwen, 53yo.

Writer Erich Segal, 32yo, was with his future wife, Karen, 30yo. In 1967, he Wrote the Screenplay for the Beatles’, Yellow Submarine.

Ryan O’Neal, 28yo was there, with his wife, Leigh Taylor-Young, 24yo. Ryan was Paid $25,000 for Love Story.

Ali McGraw, 30yo, was with her husband, Robert Evans, 39yo.

My Hollywood group was there in force. They had Chartered a Jet!

David Geffen, 26yo, was Holding Court, with Blanca, 22yo, at his side.

Grant Tinker was there, introducing me to Mary Tyler Moore. What a sweetheart! What we saw on TV was the real MTM too, no artifice.

Norman Lear at 47yo loved the Stones, so was in Heaven. His wife, Francis Loeb, 46yo, did too. She was reputed to be the model that the TV Character, Maude, was based on. She would get $100,000,000 in their later divorce.

Glen A Larson, 32yo, was with his wife, Carol. They were just as excited to be with such Music giants.

Garry Marshall, 35yo, was with his wife Barbara, 30yo. He went to Northwestern, so I enjoyed talking of his time there.

The 5 Movie Brats were there, as by then, all were old pals with the Stones, from the Foos, Lakers, Rams, Disneyland, Bike Rides, etc, in LA.

Martin Scorsese, 27yo, was with his wife, Larine, 27yo.

Francis Ford Coppola, 30yo, was with his wife Eleanor, 33yo.

Brian De Palma, 29yo, was there with his girlfriend, Mary, 25yo.

Steven Spielberg, 23yo, & his girlfriend, Sarah Miles, 28yo, were there.

George Lucas, 25yo, was with his new wife, Marcia, 24yo, a Co-Creator of Star Wars.

Barry Diller, 27yo, was there with his girlfriend, Penny, 24yo.

Then my NYC friends & Partners:

David Rockefeller, 54yo, was with his wife, Margaret, 54yo also.

Harry Helmsley, 60yo, was with the MGF I assigned to him, Harriet, 21yo.

Andrew Goodman, 62yo, with his wife, Nana, 59yo. Andrew helped create the Perfume, Love Potion Number Nine. Great Song! Andrew lived atop his Store in a 16-Room Penthouse. My kind of guy.

John Loring, 30yo, was alone.

Cesar Balsa, 46yo, was with his wife, Margarita, 37yo.

B-G, 35yo was there with Suki, 19yo & Yuki, 18yo. I got with B-G, as I had some ideas I wanted him to work on.

!st was to help me Invent Whirly Ball. As Ralf, I had played Whirly Ball in Seattle. It is a mixture of Bumper Cars, Basketball & Lacrosse. 2 Teams Play against each other. It’s fun as hell, slamming into your friends-or enemies!