Warm Classic Rock Interviews with Famous Music Legends of the '60s '70s '80s - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR - CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL's Doug 'COSMO' Clifford on Tensions, Triumphs & Timeless Tunes

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL's Doug 'COSMO' Clifford on Tensions, Triumphs & Timeless Tunes

04/13/23 • 52 min

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Warm Classic Rock Interviews with Famous Music Legends of the '60s '70s '80s - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

The history of the iconic rock band CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (CCR) spans from humble beginnings to their rise to fame and eventual breakup. Best known for a string of top chart hits, CCR has left a lasting impact on the music scene, inspiring fans and musicians alike. Throughout their journey, the band faced numerous challenges and internal conflicts, contributing to the bittersweet nature of their legacy. Even so, the band's music, characterised by its blend of southern rock and roll influences, remains cherished and celebrated today, demonstrating their enduring influence in the music world.

During a chat with founder and drummer, DOUG 'COSMO' CLIFFORD, we talk about the success of Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR), originally formed in 1958 and achieving success only after a decade of playing together. The band reached its peak in the early 1970s with fourteen consecutive top ten singles and five consecutive top ten albums. CCR didn't sound like anything else at the time, and Cosmo credits their success to the roots of rock and roll.

Comprised of John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Cosmo Clifford, CCR weathered several name changes before experiencing their meteoric rise in popularity. Cosmo and I discuss various turning points, triumphs, and challenges the band faced during their time together, painting a vivid picture of CCR's incredible journey and what lay behind many of their evergreen hits.

Doug Clifford reflects on the band's career and the difficulties they faced due to internal conflict. Tom Fogerty and Stu Cook had a strained relationship with lead singer John Fogerty due to his poor business acumen. The band ultimately disbanded when John gave the ultimatum that he would only sing one third of the songs and the other members would have to do the other two thirds.

After Creedence Clearwater Revival disbanded, Tom and Stu started a production company and a remote recording vehicle and rented it out to other bands. They later formed Credence Clearwater Revisited, but had to change the name because John was not a part of it.

Despite John suing them, they still won and the whole ordeal was a waste of money. He talks about how the fans were the biggest winners in the end, because they were still able to listen to the band's music.

He also mentions how the death of Tom Fogerty in 1990 put an end to the hope of the band reuniting for one last show. Doug wishes he had done things differently, such as getting an entertainment lawyer and a manager to help mend the tensions between Tom and John. He concludes by recommending the book A Song For Everyone: The Story of Credence Clearwater Revival as the best one so far for the band, as it focuses more on the positives than the negatives.

"Music, for me, has always been medicine". - Doug Cosmo Clifford

00:01:05 - Doug Cosmo Clifford's Background,
Sandy and Doug discuss his new album, "California Gold," and his record label. Doug shares how he came up with the album and how he got Bobby Whitlock to join him. He also talks about how he and Bobby wrote the songs together.
00:18:22 - Credence Clearwater Revival's History, Sandy and Doug discuss the band's history.
00:21:01 - Credence Clearwater Revival's Beginnings, Doug shares the story of how Tom Fogerty brought them into the studio to record a demo
00:22:15 - Getting Started

00:27:25 - Woodstock Festival
00:31:00 - Staying Sober, CCR's success was largely due to the fact that they were sober while other bands were high on drugs.

00:33:00 - Drumming, Cosmo is considered one of the world's best drummers, and his technique involved using martial arts techniques with his wrist to get power.
00:39:35 - The End of CCR
00:41:40 - Overcoming Challenges
00:48:30 - The End of an Era

00:49:28 - Band Legacy

Would you like to suggest a guest for this show?

Contact me through the website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

To learn more about Doug Clifford https://dougcosmoclifford.com/

"Music, for me, has always been medicine". - Doug Cosmo Clifford

00:27:25 - Woodstock Festival
00:31:00 - Staying Sober, CCR's success was largely due to the fact that they were sober while other bands were high on drugs.

00:49:28 - Band Legacy

Would you like to suggest a guest for this show?

Contact me through the website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

To learn more about Doug Clifford https://dougcosmoclifford.com/

Previous Episode

TERRI NUNN on BERLIN's Legacy, Motherhood, Music and Regrets

Singer songwriter and actress TERRI DUNN is best known for being one of the creators and the front person for the 80s band BERLIN. One of the female pioneers in an industry so heavily dominated by men, Terri tells us how difficult it is to be a woman in the music industry due in part to the amount of traveling required. She says that the pandemic allowed her to spend more time with her daughter, who had become depressed and she is very grateful for the opportunity to rekindle their relationship.

Terri Dunn is a woman who has survived the music industry for 45 years and this week she shares the genesis of the band and the music itself.

Terri tells us the band grew out of a group called The Toys, formed in 1978 in Orange County, California, by John Crawford (bass guitar), Dan Van Patten (drums), Chris Ruiz-Velasco (guitar), and Ty Cobb (vocals). After a few shows, the band changed its name to Berlin, discharging Cobb as lead singer in the process. After a brief stint with Toni Childs as lead singer, Terri Nunn joined the band after answering an ad through the Musicians Contact Service in Hollywood in 1979. Despite its name, Berlin did not have any known major connections with the capital of Germany; the name was chosen to make them seem European and exotic. They were inspired by the keyboard work of Kraftwerk, Devo, Sparks and The Screamers.

The band’s first single, 'A Matter of Time,' was released in 1979 and the group appeared on television for the first time. Nunn left the group later that year to pursue an acting career forcing the band to replace her.. The band released the 1980 album ‘Information', without her but the band struggled to sign with a mainstream label so by later that year, Berlin had effectively broken up.

Terri Nunn rejoined the band as singer in 1980 and they released a double A-sided single, 'Tell Me Why' / 'The Metro'. The single was intended as a one-off, since Crawford was by then focusing on his new band and regarded Berlin as a side project. However, the single was a success, helping to finance the EP album, Pleasure Victim.

In 1984, the band released their next album, Love Life, and the single 'No More Words', whose subsequent video saw Terri Nunn and bandmates re-enact a Bonnie and Clyde-style car chase and shoot-out, became their first top-20 hit. 'Take My Breath Away' (from the movie Top Gun) became their best-selling single in 1986 and a huge international hit, but also their last big hit.

The band's sound was innovative at the time, incorporating synthesisers in a way that hadn't been heard before in America. This innovation caught the attention of MTV in 1982, providing Berlin with a larger platform to showcase their music and garnering more significant attention. The success of the band was undoubtedly influenced by Terri's captivating presence in their videos, drawing in fans and solidifying Berlin's prominence in the music scene.

During our conversation Terri delves into her experiences joining Berlin and how opportunity and passion intertwined. Grateful for the chance to be part of such a revolutionary musical project, Terri discusses auditioning for John Crawford under false pretences and the importance of following one's dreams to overcome challenges and explore new opportunities.

Now, after more than 40 years apart, the original trio has reunited and are making music again.

I wanted music so much, it scared me. - Terri Nunn

For more information about Berlin and Terri Nunn head for the band's website https://www.berlinpage.com/

To contact me with feedback, comments or suggestions for other interviewees, go to my website https://abreathoffreshair.com.au

I hope you enjoy this week's episode - a conversation with Terri Nunn from 80s band Berlin.

Next Episode

TREX drummer TONY NEWMAN - " I can't believe I survived!"

You may not instantly recognise the name Tony Newman but he’s a British drummer with a huge pedigree; perhaps best known for his work with the legendary '70s band T.Rex.

Tony started his music career in the early 1960s, playing with various bands in London. He quickly gained a reputation as a versatile and talented drummer, and in 1969 he was asked to join T.Rex, which was then led by the iconic glam rock musician Marc Bolan.

T.Rex's music was known for its catchy melodies, distorted guitar riffs, and whimsical lyrics that often drew on fantasy and mythology. Bolan's charismatic stage presence and flamboyant fashion sense, which included glittery costumes and feather boas, helped to make the band one of the defining acts of the glam rock movement.

Newman played on T.Rex's classic albums "Electric Warrior" and "The Slider," which are considered to be some of the greatest albums of the glam rock era. He was known for his dynamic, hard-hitting drumming style, which helped to drive the band's energetic sound.

After leaving T.Rex in 1973, Newman continued to work as a session musician, playing with a wide range of artists including David Bowie, Jeff Beck, and Donovan. He also played with the power pop band the Rubinoos in the 1980s, and with the blues rock band the Animals in the 1990s.

In addition to his work as a musician, Newman also became a successful music producer and engineer, working with artists such as Rory Gallagher and the Jam.

Today, Tony Newman is living in Las Vegas. He is still active in the music industry, and continues to perform and record with a variety of artists. He is considered to be one of the most respected and influential drummers of the glam rock era, and his contributions to the music of T.Rex and other bands continue to be celebrated by fans and musicians alike.

Tony joins us this week to recount some of the highs and lows of his music career and tells us how he’s more surprised than anyone that he managed to survive the excesses associated with the most outrageous period in rock and roll history.

I hope you'll enjoy the conversation and as always if you'd like to get in touch with me with feedback, comments or suggestions for other rockers you'd like to hear from - send me a message through the website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

I'd be very grateful if you could rate and review the podcast too? Or share it with your friends?

Remember A Breath of Fresh Air is always THEIR LIVES THEIR STORIES THEIR MUSIC