Another legend is no more and the rock world is in shock. The death on September 3 of Walter Becker, co-founder of the band Steely Dan, marks a huge loss. Across India, fans paid tributes on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Formed by guitarist Becker and keyboardist-vocalist Donald Fagen in the early 1970s, Steely Dan was an ideal example of a cult band. It perhaps didn't have as many followers as the Beatles, Pink Floyd or the Eagles, but those who followed them were totally into their music.
Their style blended rock with jazz, rhythm n' blues and pop, and their albums featured a long line-up of session musicians, thereby adding to their eclectic sound. Becker and Fagen had met at Bard College, New York, in 1967. After hearing Becker play electric guitar at a cafe, Fagen was so impressed he approached him with the idea of playing in a band. Both had many common interests and began writing songs together.
Initially, Becker and Fagen played with a few local bands. However, their songwriting was quite complex and after a few years, they decided to form their own group. Their first album Can't Buy A Thrill was released in 1972, and the songs ‘Reelin’ In The Years’, ‘Do It Again’ and ‘Dirty Work’ became instantly popular.
A string of successful albums followed – Countdown To Ecstasy , Pretzel Logic , Katy Lied , The Royal Scam , Aja and Gaucho . Songs like ‘Rikki Don't Lose That Number’, ‘Boddhisatva’, ‘Black Friday’, ‘The Royal Scam’, ‘Green Earrings’, ‘Josie’, ‘Kid Charlemagne’, ‘Deacon Blues’, ‘Third World Man’ and ‘Babylon Sisters’ attracted a cult following.
There were a few notable things about Steely Dan. One is that both Becker and Fagen were shy and reticent, and were totally focused on their music. Secondly, they preferred to be in the studio rather than go on tour. This caused a bit of friction with the other members. Third, they kept changing their instrumentation pattern and thus had many different musicians play with them. Popular jazz artistes like keyboardist Joe Sample, guitarists Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour, saxophonist Michael Brecker, trumpeter Randy Brecker, drummer Steve Gadd and multi-instrumentalist Victor Feldman have played with them.
Sadly, during the making of Gaucho in 1980, the two main Steely Dan partners had differences. Trapped in drug addiction and other personal issues, Becker quit the band. Yet their earlier albums continued to sell well.
The two reunited in the early 1990s and interestingly released the live recording ‘Alive In America’ in 1995. Their 2000 comeback studio album Two Against Nature was warmly received and won a Grammy for Album of the Year, beating the likes of Eminem and Radiohead. Their final release was Everything Must Go in 1993. It received mixed reviews though Fagen felt it was under-rated.
Like the Doors, Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Eagles, Steely Dan created a huge and lasting impact with only a handful of studio releases. Each album was tight, and their sound was unique and versatile. Clearly, the music world will miss the genius of Becker.
The author is a freelance music writer
