The New Barbarians – Outlaws, Gunslingers and Guitars

Rob Chapman, Voyageur Press. 2016

That Old Black Magic Again
The Barbarians were always more of a myth than an actual band. Rumors and whispers of a Rolling Stone’s tour without their lead vocalist plagued WRIF-FM “Home of Rock’n’Roll” in my hometown of Detroit. The core of the New Barbarians centered around the 70’s tour-alumni of the Stones: Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Ian McLagan (keyboards) and Bobby Keys (saxophone). The fact that they had enticed Jazz-fusion bassist Stanley Clark and the Meter’s Drummer, Zigaboo Modeliste into the band only added to the mystery. Was this the end of the Rolling Stones?

The First Barbarians
Ron Wood invited some of his music-industry friends to join him at the Gaumont State Theatre on July 14, 1974 in support of his first solo recording I’ve Got My Own Album to Do. That night both Keith Richards and Ian McLagan, as well as former Faces vocalist Rod Stewart joined Wood on stage. Wearing an amazing feather-wing jacket, the band played most of the tracks from his album with the musical telepathy Ron had been seeking. The sound just clicked.

The audience could hear and see a very special synchronicity being born – and this one-off show became legendary among fans of guitar based crunch-rock. Whatever magical forces were at play for this to happen, the stage was set for the birth of the Barbarians. By 1975, Ron Wood had officially replaced Mick Taylor as the Stone’s new guitarist. A new chapter was born.

Decline of the West
In 1979, news of a rock-star being busted for drugs still had the power to shock Middle America. As music fans, we often read about the revolutionary fury of the Sex Pistols. Not to take anything from Rotten and company – but in fact, the Pistols remained relatively obscure in middle of the United States. It was the Rolling Stones that captured the attention of those wholesome teenagers in the heartland and the news of Keith Richards’ drug-bust in Toronto, Canada, scared many parents still suspicious of rock music. Worse still – the details of “high-quality heroin with a street value of $4,000”triggered their biggest fears about the lifestyle attached to this music. Of course, Keith said it was just for ‘personal use’.

Some Girls
One date at the center of the new barbarian universe is June 16,^, 1978, being the release date of the last truly classic Rolling Stones album Some Girls. The band had finally awoken from their mid-seventies drift (Black & Blue / It’s Only Rock’n’Roll) with a batch of explosive songs and a fresh, rejuvenated attitude a decade ahead of their time. Significantly, the record solidified the Richards/Wood guitar-alliance and sparked the last truly creative period for the Stones.

And what was hinted at on the studio record, ignited during the Some Girls tour that summer with electrifying live performances across the USA (check out ‘Live in Texas 78’ if you have any doubt). While their fans embraced this period, the new partnership seemed to destabilize the old Jagger/Richards orthodoxy. Richards’ long junkie nap was over and a potentially harmful schism was opening within the band. There was now a noticeable distance between Mick’s Studio 54 disco flirtation and the crunch rock Keith and Woody created together. While this conflict was great for the band’s creativity, it strained the old internal political order. In public interviews, Keith and Ronnie often referred to their vocalist simply as ‘Jagger’ at the time.

When the Devil Comes Around
Ron Wood’s latest solo album kept many from the Rolling Stones camp busy through the first part of ’79. Ronnie called on all his old friends from the Stones and Faces to help record what would become his best-selling solo album Gimme Some Neck. A real manifestation of the sound he so admired and loved – early, primitive rock’n’roll, played loud and aggressively – crunch rock. It’s what happens when you gather together high-caliber, talented musicians for the purpose of creating shambolic rock music.

When the devil comes around
He’s gonna be knock-knock-knock-knocking
Knocking at your front door
You gotta go out and greet him
Greet him with a smile
Sayin; “Devil, I don’t worry no more”

(‘Worry No More’ – Ron Wood)

Keith was declared free of all drug charges by October of ’78 – here’s nothing a good, motivated and highly paid attorney can’t do. Richards was free, somewhat healthy and ready to keep the party going with the Stones. Only ‘Jagger’ had no intention of touring. At the time, Keith expressed his feelings about his old partner’s unwillingness to tour to the British Melody Maker: “I was put out and frustrated”.

Get Out of Jail Free
Gimmie Some Neck had done well enough that a tour for the album seemed a real possibility for Wood. The questions was – who to play with? Speculation about the participate ignited the rumor mill – Jeff Beck, Neil Young, David Bowie, even Boz Scaggs were mentioned. The music press was hungry for stories and scandals about the Rolling Stones and any potential split within the band. Ultimately, Wood decided to work mostly with players that had a close sympathy for the music on the record, with a few remarkable exceptions. Quietly the band started tour rehearsals with Neil Young providing the band with the appropriate name: “You guys are a bunch of barbarians”. The name just stuck.

The judgement against Keith Richards included a unique provision to play a benefit concert for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. A charity gig and Keith’s get-out-of-jail free card. It was decided that the New Barbarian’s should begin life on Sunday, April 22, 1979 by opening for the Rolling Stones at the Oshawa Civic Center in Ontario, Canada. Two shows – one in the afternoon and one in the evening. It was the beginning of a short-lived but fascinating chapter that truly began as magically as any Stones fan could have hoped to experience.

Who the fuck is Mick Jagger
There were only 10,000 seats for the pair of shows on April 22^nd. Nobody was really sure what was going to happen or even who these Barbarians were. Anticipation? The crowd was wired, everyone waiting for something they had never seen before.

The first song played was the excellent Breathe on me from Wood’s 2^nd solo album. An odd choice that had hardcore fans roaring with delight, while those less familiar wondered who these Barbarians were. By all reports, it was an amazing night of rough, shambling crunch-rock, that peaked with Keith Richards taking center stage to a lone white spot-light and strumming the opening chords of Prodigal Son, with Jagger eventually appearing behind him to sing the second verse.

Ronnie Wood – Evil Genius
From April 22^, 1979 – January 16, 1980 – The New Barbarians rolled through the American heartland. I think it’s worth mentioning that this band was almost completely Ron Wood’s gig. He was the ring leader, ‘The Evil Genius’ who charted this diverse group from town to town. The vast majority of songs played were taken from Woods solo albums. It was Ron’s idea to recruit Stanely Clark and Zigaboo Modeliste. Unfortunately, Ron Wood has been often been relegated to the role of auxiliary player within the Rolling Stones. To his credit, he has smiled and played his role well. And became a wealthy man, as a result. Nevertheless, his legacy deserves attention.

Outlaws, Gunslingers and Guitars is a classy, well documented acknowledgment of Ron Wood’s talent and pays a fitting tribute to the legacy he created. The book is an open window into a forgotten chapter of rock music. Full of amazing unseen photographs and stories from every step of The New Barbarians’ brief flash. From The Charity Fundraiser in Canada to co-headlining Knebworth with Led Zeppelin. Chapman makes the case that the New Barbarians did two thing well = making great rock music and having a really good time.

“I can’t even remember much of it, it was so much fun”, said Keith.

He should know.

By Shawn Ciavattone

(Special note; it’s a testament to my hometown that the New Barbarian’s played only one city with multiple nights. April 24 & 26 at the legendary Cobo Area in Detroit, Michigan)