Little Feat | |
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 Performing atStockholm JazzFest '09 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Members | Bill Payne Sam Clayton Kenny Gradney Fred Tackett Scott Sharrard Tony Leone |
| Past members | Lowell George Richie Hayward Roy Estrada Paul Barrere Craig Fuller Shaun Murphy Gabe Ford |
| Website | Official website |
Little Feat is an Americanrock band fromLos Angeles,California formed by lead vocalist and guitaristLowell George, bassistRoy Estrada (both formerly ofthe Mothers of Invention), keyboardistBill Payne, and drummerRichie Hayward in 1969. The band's classic line-up, in place by late 1972, comprised George, Payne, Hayward, bassistKenny Gradney, guitarist and vocalistPaul Barrere, and percussionistSam Clayton. George disbanded the group because of creative differences shortly before his death in 1979. Surviving members re-formed Little Feat in 1987 and the band has remained active to the present.[1]
Singer and guitaristLowell George met keyboardistBill Payne when George was a member ofFrank Zappa'sMothers of Invention. They formed Little Feat in 1969 along with former Mothers bassistRoy Estrada, and drummerRichie Hayward from George's previous band, The Factory. Hayward had also been a member of theFraternity of Man whose claim to fame was the inclusion of their "Don't Bogart That Joint" on the million-sellingEasy Rider film soundtrack. The name of the band came from a comment made by the Mothers' drummerJimmy Carl Black about Lowell's "little feet". The spelling of "feat" was an homage tothe Beatles.
There are three stories about the genesis of Little Feat. One has it that George showed Zappa his song "Willin'," and that Zappa fired him from the Mothers of Invention, because he felt that George was too talented to merely be a member of his band and told him he ought to go away and form his own band. The second version has Zappa firing him for playing a 15-minute guitar solo with his amplifier off. The third version says that Zappa fired him because "Willin'" contains drug references ("weed, whites and wine"). George often introduced the song as the reason he was asked to leave the band. On October 18, 1975 at the Auditorium Theater in Rochester,New York while introducing the song, George commented that he was asked to leave the band for "writing a song about dope".[2]
In any version, Zappa was instrumental in getting George and his new band a contract withWarner Bros. Records. Theeponymous first album delivered toWarner Bros. was recorded mostly in August and September 1970 and was released in January 1971.[3] When it came time to record "Willin'," George had hurt his hand in an accident with a model airplane, soRy Cooder sat in and played the song'sslide part. Lowell's accident is referenced on the cover art of the band's 1998 albumUnder the Radar. "Willin'" would be re-recorded with George playing slide for Little Feat's second albumSailin' Shoes, which was also the first Little Feat album to include cover art byNeon Park, who had painted the cover for the Mothers'Weasels Ripped My Flesh. Park's surrealist art would continue for all of Little Feat's album covers through to his death in 1993.
Sometime during the recording of the first two albums, the band members along with ex-Mothers of Invention drummerJimmy Carl Black ("the Indian of the group") backed soul singer Nolan Porter on his first album,No Apologies.
The first two albums received nearly universal critical acclaim, and "Willin'" became a standard, subsequently popularized by its inclusion onLinda Ronstadt's albumHeart Like a Wheel.
Despite good reviews ofSailin' Shoes, lack of commercial success led to the band splitting up, with Estrada leaving to joinCaptain Beefheart's Magic Band, although he has given other reasons for quitting the band, such as to get away from theLos Angeles pollution and the L.A. city life.[4]
In late 1972 Little Feat reformed, with bassistKenny Gradney replacing Estrada. The band also added a second guitarist inPaul Barrere, who had known George since they attendedHollywood High School inCalifornia, and percussionistSam Clayton (brother of session singerMerry Clayton and the brother-in-law of the jazz saxophonistCurtis Amy) and as a result the band was expanded from a quartet to a sextet. Both Barrere and Clayton added vocals on many songs, although all the band members provided backing vocals in various tunes.
This new lineup radically altered the band's sound, leaning toward New Orleansfunk. The group went on to recordDixie Chicken (1973)—one of the band's most popular albums, which incorporatedNew Orleans musical influences and styles—as well asFeats Don't Fail Me Now (1974), which was a studio-recorded attempt to capture some of the energy of their live shows (the name of the latter album pays homage to theFats Waller song).
In 1973, Payne, Gradney, Barrere, Clayton and George (incorrectly credited as George Lowell) collaborated with jazz drummerChico Hamilton on hisStax albumChico the Master, which is a strong showcase for the band's leanings toward funk and R&B. In 1973, Little Feat backed Kathy Dalton on herAmazing album on the DiscReet label produced byWarner Brothers.[5] Due to disappointing sales, the band disbanded a second time in late 1973. Payne joined theDoobie Brothers and Hayward joinedIke Turner.
They reformed in 1974, releasing their fourth albumFeats Don't Fail Me Now later that year.[6]In 1974, Lowell George, along withthe Meters and other session musicians, backedRobert Palmer on hisIsland Records debut solo releaseSneakin' Sally Through the Alley which opened with George's "Sailing Shoes." The whole band chipped in on Palmer's 1975 release,Pressure Drop, which contained another George composition, "Trouble". 1976'sSome People Can Do What They Like, Palmer's third opus, opened with the Bill Payne/Fran Tate composition "One Last Look", and later featured George's "Spanish Moon", although George and Gradney sat this one out. In March 1976, Little Feat served as the backing band on the first side ofAkiko Yano's debut studio albumJapanese Girl [ja], released on the Philips label.[7] The band remained based inLos Angeles due to doing session work on the side in addition to band activities.[8]
The release ofThe Last Record Album in 1975 signalled another change in the Little Feat sound, with Barrere and Payne developing an interest injazz-rock. Prior to the recording ofThe Last Record Album, drummer Richie Hayward had a motorcycle accident and the liner to theLP release ofThe Last Record Album was decorated with copies of his many hospital bills. Also present was evidence of a late change to the running order of tracks: the lyrics for Barrere's song "Hi Roller" were printed on the sleeve, but scored out, and the words "maybe next time" scrawled over them. Sure enough, "Hi Roller" was the first track on the subsequent albumTime Loves a Hero.
George continued to produce the albums, but his songwriting contribution diminished as the group moved into jazz fusion, a style in which he had little interest. In August 1977, Little Feat recorded a live album from gigs at theRainbow Theatre in London andLisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C.Waiting for Columbus is considered by many rock music critics to be one of the best live albums of all time, despite the fact that significant portions of George's vocals and slide work were over-dubbed later in the studio.[9] It was released in 1978, by which time it had become apparent that George's interest in the band was waning, as was his health.
Little Feat began working on a new album,Down on the Farm, before disbanding in 1979. In an interview with Bill Flanagan (for the bookWritten in My Soul) conducted eleven days before his death, George made it clear that he felt the demise of Little Feat was due to his having allowed the band to be run democratically, with the result that Payne and, to a lesser extent, Barrere, had a presence as songwriters and in production which was disproportionate to their abilities. George was particularly scathing about Payne's attempts at jazz/fusion, citing an instance when Payne jammed withWeather Report on a TV show and dropped "into one of his 'Day at the Dog Races'. I just got out of there as fast as I could. It was embarrassing". In the same interview, George stated that he planned to reunite Little Feat without Payne and Barrere.[10]
At this time Warner Bros. released George's only solo album,Thanks, I'll Eat It Here, for which he had signed a contract in 1975. The album was mostly a collection of cover versions that George had been working on as a side project for several years and, in his biographyRock And Roll Doctor, Mark Brend states that George had hinted he only signed the solo contract to obtain funds to finance Little Feat (and Bill Flanagan states inWritten in My Soul that George "didn't want his audience to assume a collection of other people's material marked the direction of Lowell George's solo career").
While touring in support of his solo album in June 1979, at the age of 34, George collapsed and died in his hotel room in Arlington, Virginia. An autopsy determined the cause of death was a heart attack.
The surviving members finished and releasedDown on the Farm in late 1979. Adouble compilation album of rare studio outtakes and live recordings,Hoy-Hoy!, was released in 1981. The album is an overview of the history and sound of Little Feat and includes a cover of theHank Williams song "Lonesome Whistle".
In 1981 and 1982, Barrere, Clayton, Gradney and Hayward performed several shows as "Barrere, Clayton, Gradney and Hayward" along with singer/guitarist Phil Brown.[11][12]
Barrere then released two solo albums, 1983'sOn My Own Two Feet (Mirage) and 1984'sReal Lies (Atlantic). Richie Hayward was the drummer onRobert Plant's 1985 funk and new wave flavouredShaken 'n' Stirred (Es Paranza). Payne has always been a popular and busy session musician, as well as a songwriter, and during the band's first hiatus performed on a variety of albums by many famous musicians includingJ. J. Cale,the Doobie Brothers,Emmylou Harris,Pink Floyd,Bob Seger,Linda Ronstadt,Jackson Browne,James Taylor,Bonnie Raitt, andStevie Nicks. He was a guest performer on Raitt'sSweet Forgiveness in 1977, which featured his composition "Takin' My Time."
In 1986, Hayward, Barrere and Payne were invited to play onBlue Slipper, the 1987 debut album byHelen Watson. They subsequently appeared on her second albumThe Weather Inside. The surviving former members of Little Feat then reformed in 1987 when Barrere, Clayton, Gradney, Hayward and Payne added songwriter/vocalist/guitaristCraig Fuller, formerly from the bandPure Prairie League, andFred Tackett on guitar, mandolin and trumpet. The band admired Fuller's previous work and were impressed when he toured with them in 1978 as part of the Fuller/Kaz band. They didn't require an audition, having played with him on tour, and thus, the new Little Feat lineup was formed. The initial release by the new lineup,Let It Roll, was a tremendous success and Fuller's presence proved to be a major factor. His strong vocals and songwriting abilities were showcased, co-writing 8 of the 10 songs and handling a large share of lead vocals. The first single, "Hate to Lose Your Lovin'", earned the band their first No. 1 hit on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. All Music Guide critic Stephen Erlewine stated "What's surprising aboutLet It Roll is not just that it works, but that it works smashingly." The LP garnered Feat a certified gold record status on February 14, 1989. On the heels of this success, previous Feat releases experienced a surge in sales. The 1978 live releaseWaiting for Columbus went platinum in November 1989.Dixie Chicken, originally released on January 25, 1973, went gold the same month. The band received more exposure than ever, including an appearance onSaturday Night Live. Concerts were booked nationally, and Little Feat played enthusiastic, sold-out shows.
The follow-up album,Representing the Mambo, released in 1990, proved to be the group's last album for Warner Bros., who were uncomfortable with the album's jazzier leanings. The third and final album by this lineup,Shake Me Up (1991), was released onMorgan Creek, as was the soundtrack of the 1992 filmWhite Sands which contained one song by Little Feat calledQuicksand and Lies, but this label folded soon afterwards and Little Feat moved from one label to another until the establishment ofHot Tomato Records in 2002.
In the fall of 1991, Clayton was forced to miss several tour dates due to ill health.
Fuller departed in 1993, stating that touring required too much time away from his family. He went on to join a re-formedPure Prairie League, who in 2005 released their critically acclaimedAll in Good Time, which heavily featured his songwriting, singing and acoustic guitar. Up until leaving PPL again in 2011, he performed about 40 shows yearly with them, as well as occasional shows with Little Feat in addition to performing solo shows.
Fuller was replaced byShaun Murphy in September 1993. Murphy had sung on all of the recent Little Feat albums and throughout 1993 she had toured as part ofBob Seger's band withFred Tackett and Bill Payne.
Murphy's first album with the group wasAin't Had Enough Fun. As well as having material specifically written for her, fans attracted to her hard-edged powerhouse voice, further albumsUnder the Radar andChinese Work Songs saw Murphy become an integral part of the group sharing lead vocals and writing with Payne and Barrere. Her rendition of Bob Dylan's "It Takes a Lot to Laugh" was first recorded in studio onChinese Work Songs and became a favorite in live appearances with Murphy. After recording five studio albums and performing over 1,400 concerts with the band, Murphy was dismissed in 2009, and the group pared down to a six-piece collective entity.
In 2008, the group releasedJoin the Band, an album featuring collaborations withJimmy Buffett,Dave Matthews,Emmylou Harris,Bob Seger,Béla Fleck,Brooks & Dunn,Chris Robinson,Vince Gill,Mike Gordon, andInara George.
In August 2009, Richie Hayward announced that he had recently been diagnosed with a severe liver disease and would be unable to work indefinitely.[13] A benefit concert was organized[14] and a website created where fans unable to attend could donate toward his treatment costs. Little Feat announced that their drum technician Gabe Ford would take his place.
Hayward married and was living onVancouver Island, British Columbia, with his liver cancer in remission as he awaited a transplant. On July 11, 2010, Little Feat played at the Vancouver Island Music Festival and Hayward was slated to play just a couple of tunes, but once he sat behind his kit, he finished out the night. Hayward had intended to return to the band in the event of recovery, but he died on August 12, 2010, from pneumonia and complications from lung disease.[15]
In June 2012, Little Feat released their first album of new material in nine years,Rooster Rag.[16]
In 2014, the bandLeftover Salmon announced that Bill Payne had joined with them as a permanent member. He left in 2015 to take up a permanent post inThe Doobie Brothers' touring band: this restricted his ability to perform longer tours with Little Feat. After this, the full band would perform around 10 dates per year, while Barrere, Tackett, Gradney and Ford would sometimes tour playing Little Feat material as a four-piece called Funky Feat.
In 1994, Paul Barrere had been diagnosed withHepatitis C and, in 2013, took a leave of absence from touring with Little Feat to combat the disease, and to remain close to his health providers. He later performed a few one-off gigs with Fred Tackett as an acoustic duo and recorded collaborations with longtime friend Roger Cole. In August 2015, it was announced that he was suffering fromliver cancer. In 2017 the band was joined for some shows by the Midnight Ramble Horns (Steve Bernstein, Jay Collins, and Erik Lawrence) who then augmented the band for the 50th Anniversary tour of 2018. They continue to often join the band on selected dates. The band then toured more sporadically during the next four years.[17]
Paul Barrere died on October 26, 2019.Scott Sharrard, who had filled in for Barrere during Little Feat's 50th Anniversary tour, was later brought on board as a full-time band member.[18]
On September 16, 2020, the band released a video rerecording of the 1975 Lowell George songLong Distance Love. The video introduced a new band lineup withTony Leone, known for his work withLevon Helm andPhil Lesh, joining on drums in place of Gabe Ford. Levon Helm's daughterAmy guested on backing vocals - she and Leone had previously played together inOllabelle.[19] A new song, the first in eight years, "When All Boats Rise", was released in late October 2020.
The band's latest studio album,Sam's Place, released in May 2024, is an album of blues standards, with percussionist Sam Clayton providing lead vocals on every song.[20] The opening track, "Milkman", was co-written by Clayton, Sharrard and Tackett, with lyrics provided by Clayton's wife Joni.[citation needed]
On March 13, 2025, the band announced that on May 9 they would release their first album of new material in 13 years, titledStrike Up the Band. A track from the album, "Too High to Cut My Hair", written by Sharrard and Tackett and sung by Sharrard, was released as a single the same day, along with a humorous video featuring group members at a hairdressing salon.[citation needed]
Some of the prominent musicians and bands to play and record the music of Little Feat includePhish,[21]The Black Crowes,The Byrds,The Bridge,Garth Brooks,Jackson Browne,Bob Dylan,Steve Earle,The Flying Burrito Brothers,Emmylou Harris,Taylor Hicks,Ron Holloway,Keisuke Kuwata,Nicolette Larson,Nazareth,Robert Palmer,The Radiators,Bonnie Raitt,Linda Ronstadt, Seatrain,John Sebastian,Richard Shindell,Carly Simon,Mick Taylor,Van Halen,Joe Walsh,[22]Bob Weir,Phil Lesh,Sam Bush,Coco Montoya,Vince Herman,Inara George,Stephen Bruton,Widespread Panic,Warren Haynes andGov't Mule,Blackberry Smoke,Jimmy Buffett,Anders Osborne,Tedeschi Trucks Band andGregg Allman.
In 2010, at Boardwalk Hall inAtlantic City, New Jersey Phish covered Little Feat's album,Waiting for Columbus, for their annual Halloween show. As a result of this concert and the distribution of its recording, the album gained recognition from a wider audience among younger listeners.[23] In 2018, at Peach Fest atMontage Mountain inScranton, Pennsylvania, the remaining members of Little Feat joined forces withmoe., the Turkuaz Horns and the Ramble Band Horns to recreate and pay homage to the band's classic live albumWaiting For Columbus.[24]
Little Feat's songs "Sailin' Shoes" and "Fat Man in the Bathtub" were featured prominently in the 2010Edward Norton filmLeaves of Grass.[25]
GuitaristJimmy Page stated that Little Feat was his favorite American band in a 1975Rolling Stone interview.[26]
Little Feat's musical style is marked by an eclectic fusion of genres, incorporating elements ofrock,blues,jazz,country, andfunk. Early albums likeSailin' Shoes introduced a blend of country rock with folk influences, whileDixie Chicken showcased a distinctive New Orleans-inspired funk sound that became a hallmark of their style.[27] Their music is also known for its complex rhythms and instrumental improvisations, influenced by bandleaderLowell George's bottleneck guitar work, a defining aspect of their early recordings.
Critics often compare their fan base to that of theGrateful Dead due to their devoted following and the band's turbulent lineup changes.[27] Rolling Stone has described them as a “cult band” with a sound that drew on the musical traditions of cities likeNew Orleans andMemphis, but with an idiosyncratic twist, blending Southern and swamp rock elements into a “zany South-West synthesis.”[28] By the late 1970s, They began incorporating jazz-rock fusion, evident in tracks such asDay at the Dog Races, reflecting a shift in their sound toward jazz influences.[29]
Their live performances are celebrated for their jam band qualities, often characterized by extended instrumental sections that capture the improvisational spirit of jazz while retaining aSouthern rock foundation.[30]Glide magazine noted thatDixie Chicken and its surreal cover art became iconic for the band, underscoring their fusion of music and visual artistry and cementing their status as a lasting influence inAmerican rock music.[citation needed]
Source:[31]
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| 1969 – 1972 | 1972 – 1979 | 1987 – 1993 | 1993 – January 2009 |
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| January – August 2009 | August 2009 – October 2019 | October 2019 – September 2020 | September 2020 – present |
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Since 2003 Little Feat has organised an annual fans' trip to Jamaica, where the full band plays several shows, often with guests, and various members perform solo and duo sets.
 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2021) |
| Year | Dates | Solo/Duo shows |
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| 1st Annual Featfan Excursion | Two band shows:
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| 2nd Annual Featfan Excursion | Two band shows:
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| 3rd Annual Featfan Excursion | Two band shows:
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| 4th Annual Featfan Excursion | Five band shows:
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| 5th Annual Featfan Excursion | Four band shows:
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| 6th Annual Featfan Excursion | Two band shows:
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| 7th Annual Featfan Excursion | Two band shows:
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| 8th Annual Featfan Excursion | Three band shows:
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| 9th Annual Featfan Excursion | Three band shows:
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| 10th Annual Featfan Excursion | Four band shows:
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