Nicky Hopkins | |
|---|---|
 Hopkins in 1973 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Nicholas Christian Hopkins (1944-02-24)24 February 1944 |
| Died | 6 September 1994(1994-09-06) (aged 50) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1960–1994 |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | |
Nicholas Christian Hopkins (24 February 1944 – 6 September 1994) was an English pianist and organist. He performed on many popular and enduring British and American rock music recordings from the 1960s to the 1990s, including on songs recorded bythe Beatles,the Rolling Stones,the Who,the Kinks, theSteve Miller Band,Jefferson Airplane,Rod Stewart,George Harrison,John Lennon,Paul McCartney,Ringo Starr,The Hollies,Cat Stevens,Carly Simon,Harry Nilsson,Joe Walsh,Peter Frampton,Jerry Garcia,Jeff Beck,Joe Cocker,Art Garfunkel,Badfinger,Quicksilver Messenger Service andDonovan. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest studio pianists in the history of popular rock music.[1]
In 2025, Hopkins was selected for induction into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence Award category.[2]
Nicholas Christian Hopkins was born inPerivale,Middlesex, England, on 24 February 1944. He began playing the piano at the age of three. He attended Sudbury Primary School in Perrin Road[3] and Wembley County Grammar School,[4] which now forms part ofAlperton Community School, and was initially tutored by a local piano teacher; in his teens he won a scholarship to theRoyal Academy of Music in London.[5] He suffered fromCrohn's disease for most of his life.[6]
His poor health and repeated surgery later made it difficult for him to tour, and he worked mainly as asession musician for most of his career.[7] Hopkins's studies were interrupted in 1960 when he left school at 16 to become the pianist withScreaming Lord Sutch'sSavages until, two years later, he and fellow Savages Bernie Watson, Rick Brown (akaRicky Fenson) andCarlo Little joined the renowned blues harmonica playerCyril Davies, who had just leftBlues Incorporated, and became theCyril Davies (R&B) All-Stars.[5] Hopkins played piano on their first single, Davies's much-admired theme tune "Country Line Special".[8]
Hopkins was forced to leave the All Stars in May 1963 for a series of operations that almost cost him his life and he was bed-ridden for 19 months in his late teenage years. During his convalescence, Davies died ofleukemia and the All Stars disbanded.[5] Hopkins's frail health led him to concentrate on working as a session musician instead of joining bands, although he left his mark performing with a wide variety of famous bands.[9] He quickly became one of London's most in-demand session pianists and performed on many hit recordings from this period.[10]
Hopkins played with the Rolling Stones on all their studio albums fromTheir Satanic Majesties Request in 1967 through untilTattoo You in 1981, except forSome Girls (1978). Hopkins first session with a member of the Rolling Stones was on theA Degree of Murder soundtrack, withBrian Jones, in February 1967. Hopkins' first sessions with the Rolling Stones as a band were also in 1967, from May 17 to 22, where he contributed prominent piano parts on "We Love You" and "She's a Rainbow". Hopkins added further significant piano parts to "Sympathy for the Devil", "No Expectations", and "Salt of the Earth" (1968), "Gimme Shelter" and "Monkey Man" (1969), "Sway" (1971), "Loving Cup" and "Ventilator Blues" (1972), "Coming Down Again", "Angie", and "Winter" (1973), "Time Waits for No One" (1974), "Fool to Cry" (1976), and "Waiting on a Friend" (recorded 1972, released in 1981). When working with the band during their critical and commercial zenith in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Hopkins tended to be employed on a wide range of songs, including ballads, up-tempo rockers and acoustic material; conversely, longtimede facto Stones keyboardistIan Stewart only played on traditionalmajor keyblues rock numbers of his choice, whileBilly Preston often featured on soul- and funk-influenced tunes. Hopkins's work with the Rolling Stones is prominent on their 1972 studio album,Exile on Main St., where he contributed a variety of musical styles, often playing the main melodic part. Hopkins plays on 14 of the album's 18 tracks, giving him a greater presence than full time Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, who only contributed to nine of the songs.[11]
Along withRy Cooder,Mick Jagger,Bill Wyman andCharlie Watts, Hopkins released the 1972 albumJamming with Edward! It was recorded in 1969, during the Stones'Let It Bleed sessions, when guitaristKeith Richards was not present in the studio. The eponymous "Edward" was analias of Nicky Hopkins derived from studio banter withBrian Jones.[12] It was also incorporated into the title of Hopkins's instrumental song "Edward, the Mad Shirt Grinder", recorded withQuicksilver Messenger Service and released onShady Grove in December 1969. Hopkins also contributed to theJamming With Edward! cover art.
Hopkins was added to the Rolling Stones touring line-up for the1971 Good-Bye Britain Tour,[13] as well as the1972 North American tour[14] and the1973 Pacific tour.[15]
Hopkins contemplated forming his own band with multi-instrumentalistPete Sears and drummerPrairie Prince around this time but decided against it after the Stones tour. Hopkins failed to make the Rolling Stones'1973 European tour, possibly due to ill health. For the 1989Steel Wheels tour Hopkins was considered but the band settled forChuck Leavell and Matt Clifford instead, according to Hopkins this was due to insecurities regarding his frail health. After this, aside from a guest appearance in 1978, Hopkins did not play live on stage with the Stones again.[citation needed]
Hopkins was invited in 1965 by producerShel Talmy to record withthe Kinks. He played on four of the group's studio albums:The Kink Kontroversy (1965),Face to Face (1966),Something Else by The Kinks (1967) andThe Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968).
The relationship between Hopkins and the Kinks deteriorated after the release ofThe Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. Hopkins maintained that "about seventy percent" of the keyboard work on the album was his, and was incensed whenRay Davies apparently credited himself with most of the keyboard playing.[16] He was also angered that he was not paid for his session work with the group.[17]
Despite Hopkins's grudge against him, Davies spoke positively of his contributions in aNew York Times interview in 1995, shortly after Hopkins' death. Davies said that Hopkins would "only play when necessary" but still made important differences in the track once it was finally mixed. He also respected Hopkins because of his earlier work, such as playing on "Country Line Special".[9]
Hopkins was first invited to jointhe Who by Shel Talmy in 1965, while recording their debut albumMy Generation. His trademark licks and fills bounced effortlessly off the rest of the band and he received a rare songwriting co-credit for the riotous instrumental "The Ox". Due to the band breaking ties with Shel Talmy, he didn't record again with the band until the quirky single "Dogs" in 1968. However he was front and centre for theWho's Next album in 1971, contributing massively to "The Song Is Over" and "Getting in Tune". In addition, during those sessions he played on the single "Let's See Action" as well as "Too Much of Anything". His worth and repute among fellow musicians was such that Pete Townshend offered him a full-time role in the band, though he later couldn't remember saying this.[18]
Hopkins missed theQuadrophenia album, before making a full return in 1975 onThe Who by Numbers. He was also a key instrumentalist on the soundtrack forKen Russell's 1975 filmTommy; Townshend had wanted Hopkins to play on the original 1969 album.[18] Hopkins played piano on several tracks and is acknowledged in the album's liner notes for his work on arrangements for most of the songs.
In later years Hopkins always maintained a soft spot for the band, stating they were probably his favourite act to work with.
In 1966, Hopkins releasedThe Revolutionary Piano of Nicky Hopkins, produced by Shel Talmy.[10] His next solo project released wasThe Tin Man Was a Dreamer in 1973, under the aegis of producerDavid Briggs. Other musicians appearing on the album includeGeorge Harrison (credited as "George O'Hara"),Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones, andPrairie Prince. The album features a rare case of Hopkins singing lead vocals.[19]
His next solo album, entitledNo More Changes, was released in 1975. Appearing on the album are Hopkins (lead vocals and all keyboards), David Tedstone (guitars), Michael Kennedy (guitars), Rick Wills (bass), and Eric Dillon (drums and percussion), with back-up vocals from Kathi McDonald, Lea Santo-Robertie, Doug Duffey and Dolly. A third album,Long Journey Home, has remained unreleased. He also released threesoundtrack albums in Japan between 1992 and 1993,The Fugitive,Patio andNamiki Family.[citation needed]
Hopkins also played onSpace Jazz, the official soundtrack toScientology founderL. Ron Hubbard’s novel,Battlefield Earth in 1982.[20]
By the late 1960s, Hopkins was one of Britain's best-known session players, particularly through his work with the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. After he accompanied three ofthe Beatles onJackie Lomax's "Sour Milk Sea", he was invited to play an electric piano solo on the group's "Revolution", which he did in one take.[18] Further raising his profile, he contributed to theHarry Nilsson albumSon of Schmilsson, and recordings byDonovan.
Hopkins became discontented from just being a session musician, and wanted to tour with a band.[18] In 1968, he joinedthe Jeff Beck Group. Intended as a vehicle for formerYardbirds guitaristJeff Beck, the band also included vocalistRod Stewart, bassistRonnie Wood and drummerMicky Waller.[21] He remained with the ensemble through its dissolution in August 1969, performing onTruth (1968) andBeck-Ola (1969).[22] He composed the instrumental "Girl from Mill Valley" on the latter album.[23] He was reportedly to play inLed Zeppelin when the group formed, but declined the offer.[18] Hopkins also began to record for severalSan Franciscan groups, including theNew Riders of the Purple Sage, theSteve Miller Band andJefferson Airplane, with whom he recorded the albumVolunteers and also performed at theWoodstock festival. From 1969 to 1970, Hopkins was a full member ofQuicksilver Messenger Service, appearing onShady Grove (1969),Just for Love (1970) andWhat About Me (1970). In 1975, he contributed to theSolid Silver reunion album as a session musician.
In 1969, Hopkins was a member of the short-livedSweet Thursday, a quintet comprising Hopkins,Alun Davies (who worked withCat Stevens),Jon Mark, Harvey Burns and Brian Odgers. The band completed theireponymous debut album; however, their American record label,Tetragrammaton Records, abruptly declared bankruptcy[24][25] (supposedly the same day the album was released)[26] with promotion and a possible tour never happening.
In August 1975, he joined theJerry Garcia Band, envisaged as a major creative vehicle for the guitarist during the mid-seventies hiatus of theGrateful Dead. His increasing use of alcohol precipitated several erratic live performances, resulting in him leaving the group by mutual agreement after a 31 December appearance.[27] During 1979–1989, he was playing and touring with Los Angeles-basedNight, who had a hit with a cover ofWalter Egan's "Hot Summer Nights".
In addition to recording with the Beatles in 1968, Hopkins worked with each of the four when they went solo. He played on several tracks forJohn Lennon'sImagine, (1971) including "Jealous Guy", which drew praise from the other musicians.Yoko Ono later said Hopkins' performance was "so melodic and beautiful that it still makes everyone cry, even now."[18] He also played withGeorge Harrison andRingo Starr, making key contributions to their respective solo albums,Living in the Material World andRingo. He worked withPaul McCartney on the song "Bip Bop" from the Wings debut albumWild Life and on McCartney's 1989 albumFlowers in the Dirt.
Hopkins also performed withGraham Parker's backing bandthe Rumour after their keyboardistBob Andrews left the band.[28]
Hopkins lived inMill Valley, California, for several years. During this time he worked with several local bands and continued to record in San Francisco. One of his complaints throughout his career was that he did not receiveroyalties from any of his recording sessions, because of his status at the time as merely a "hired hand", as opposed topop stars with agents.[citation needed]
His precarious health, a consequence ofCrohn's disease and its complications, made touring very difficult, limiting him largely to studio work. Only Quicksilver Messenger Service, through its managerRon Polte, who went to great lengths to treat his musicians fairly, as well as with assent of the band's members, included Hopkins in an ownership stake.[29] Towards the end of his life Hopkins worked as a composer and orchestrator offilm scores, with considerable success in Japan.[citation needed]
In the early 1980s, Hopkins credited theChurch of Scientology-affiliatedNarconon rehabilitation program with curing his drug and alcohol addiction so he ultimately remained aScientologist for the rest of his life.[30] As a result of his religious affiliation, he contributed to several ofL. Ron Hubbard's musical recordings.[citation needed]
In 1993, Hopkins,Joe Walsh,Terry Reid,Rick Rosas, andPhil Jones put together an informal group called The Flew. They played one show at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. This was Hopkins's last public performance before his death.[31][32]
Hopkins died on 6 September 1994, at the age of 50, inNashville, Tennessee, from complications resulting from intestinal surgery related to his lifelong battle with Crohn's disease. At the time of his death, he was working on his autobiography withRay Coleman.[33]
Songwriter and musicianJulian Dawson collaborated with Hopkins on one recording, the pianist's last, in spring 1994, a few months before his death. After Ray Coleman's death, the connection led to Dawson working on a definitive biography of Hopkins, first published byRandom House in German in 2010, followed in 2011 by the English-language version with the titleAnd on Piano ... Nicky Hopkins (a hardback in the UK via Desert Hearts, and a paperback in North America via Backstage Books/Plus One Press).[citation needed]
On 8 September 2018, the Nicky Hopkins "piano" park bench memorial, crowdfunded throughPledgeMusic, was unveiled inPerivale Park near Hopkins' birthplace.[34]
The campaign offered the opportunity for pledgers to have their name inscribed on the bench and contribute towards funding a music scholarship at London'sRoyal Academy of Music, where Hopkins himself won a scholarship in the 1950s. Names that pledged in the campaign includeMick Jagger,Keith Richards,Charlie Watts,Ronnie Wood,Bill Wyman,Yoko Ono Lennon,Roger Daltrey,Jimmy Page,Hossam Ramzy,Johnnie Walker andKenney Jones. A quote about Hopkins byBob Harris appears on the bench.[35][36]
On what would have been Hopkins' 75th birthday (24 February 2019), the Nicky Hopkins Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music was created, and on 19 October 2019, a commemorative plaque on his childhood home, 38 Jordan Road,Perivale, donated by theEaling Council and Ealing Civic Society, was unveiled.[37][38]
In 2021, it was announced that a documentary about Nicky's life, calledThe Session Man, was in production.[39][40] The film's world premiere openedDoc'n Roll Film Festival 2023 atThe Barbican Centre on 26 October 2023[41] for which it was nominated for a Doc'n Roll Jury Award – Best Music Doc of 2023.[42] The film was also screened at the Berlin Independent Film Festival 2024 where it won a Best Low Budget Feature award.[43]
| Date | Film Festival | Award |
|---|---|---|
| October 2023 | Doc'n Roll Festival | Jury Award – Best Music Doc (nomination) |
| February 2024 | Berlin Independent Film Festival | Best Low Budget Feature |
| March 2024 | Los Angeles Indie Film Festival | Best Foreign Feature[44] |
| June 2024 | Kingston International Film Festival | Best Documentary[45] |
The Session Man was released in cinemas throughout Japan from 6 September 2024[46] and digitally released in the USA on demand from November 5, 2024,[47][48][49] and on DVD on 18 March 2025.[50]
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