Gerald C. Matics -- Author

So I was all set to rant about directionless, pointless stories, but then something cool happened that I just had to write about first.

In my last post, I gushed a little about a new review of Dark Distortions I that mentions "Enthralled" favorably, but I said I wouldn't be going out to buy a Porshe to celebrate.  That made me think of an old (circa 1985) interview in a magazine tribute to Eric Clapton, and I remembered (and wrote about) a quote from J.J. Cale about how he went out and bought a Cadillac when he heard Clapton singing his song "After Midnight" on the radio.  The quote was so memorable it just kind of stuck with me all these years.

As it turns out, though, I misremembered the quote.  I discovered this when I received this comment on the post from a gentleman named Rocky Frisco:

I was playing with Cale at the time and I'm pretty sure that was a Lincoln.

Well, knock me out!  I discovered that Rocky actually went to high school with Cale, and not only has he played with Cale for years -- including at last year's Crossroads Guitar Festival, which was hosted by none other than E.C. -- but he's a writer as well.  He's a really interesting, multifaceted guy, from what I've learned about him.

But it still left the question about what car J.J. actually bought.  I was still sure it was a Cadillac, so I hunted down the magazine article before e-mailing Rocky back to gently confirm it.  Here's the actual quote:

Eric Clapton actually helped me break into some real bread. I was just playing guitar in bars, and all of a sudden I heard "After Midnight" on the radio. I said, "That's my tune. Watch out!" Went out and bought a Chevrolet.

-- from Guitar Player, Special Issue: The Eric Clapton Story, July 1985

I think he was being modest.  I remember clearly that it was a Lincoln.  He got his teeth fixed, too.