Music Trivia -- Smoke on the Water, and the Montreux Casino (1 Viewer)

pltrgyst

Royal Flush
Supporter
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
11,388
Reaction score
19,283
Location
Lakewood Ranch, FL
From Nolan Dalla's "Van Morrison Master Class, Part 8":

"Smoke on the Water" begins with one of the greatest guitar riffs in rock history.

"Dun, dun, dun
dun-dun, dun-dun
dun, dun, dun, dun-dun...."


Then the rat-tat-tat of drum cymbals come in, accompanied by a thundering bassline, which then launches into vocals that, until this writing project, I'd never really contemplated before.

I doubt many rock fans reading this who likely know every note of the song are quite as familiar with the backstory which led to the unusual lyrical narrative. Word-for-word, the true story is told of what happened during a deadly fire that broke out during a rock concert inside the casino ballroom at Montreux, Switzerland.

In December 1971 British rockers Deep Purple arrived on the shores of Lake Geneva to record a new album. The entertainment complex was part of the Montreux Casino.....

"We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile
We didn't have much time."


The night before recording was set to begin, Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention were playing at the casino. The scene got really wild. Someone in the crowd fired a flare gun into the stage cover, which suddenly burst into flames. The scene turned into chaos.

"Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground."


Deep Purple watched the bizarre scene from their hotel room. The entire casino complex and entertainment venue burned to the ground. Frank Zappa's band also lost all their equipment in the fire. Witnessing the surreal experience, "Smoke on the Water" somehow materialized out of the ashes and the rest, as they say, is history.

"Smoke on the water,
a fire in the sky."


The entire casino and entertainment complex was gutted by fire. Deep Purple's recording plans were ruined. With no other option, they set up a makeshift recording studio in the hotel and laid down most of the tracks for what would become their most successful album, titled Machine Head.

The impromptu song wasn't expected to do much and was a reluctant addition to the album. It became Deep Purple's biggest hit. Today, "Smoke on the Water" is honored by a sculpture along the shores of Lake Geneva.
 
A great story they tell in that song made for they’re most well known song. Machine Head, I played the crap out of that album (yes vinyl). Also had several of their other albums; Made in Japan, Burn, stormbringer, one with a symphony orchestra. Can’t remember them all. They were a great band!
 
This song was the inspiration for these chips. I'm a big fan of Zappa so this is the closest FZ/gambling tie-in I could think of.

Also got to see Deep Purple in 2018 and their stage show had images of the headlines the day following the casino fire.

IMG_20160818_220253.jpg


IMG_20180829_225010_1.jpg

I assume this is Casino Montreaux in the background.

IMG_20180829_221137.jpg
 
Deep Purple, Zappa/Mothers, The Who, Black Sabbath, Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Zepplin, ELP, and Yes were all hard rock music staples in my youth - along with Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Chase, and Maynard Ferguson (yeah, I was a horn player).

Although much of Zappa's work was unappreciated pure musical genius, I particularly enjoyed the rock opera 'Billy the Mountain' from the Just Another Band from L.A album. Epic stuff.
 
Deep Purple, Zappa/Mothers, The Who, Black Sabbath, Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Zepplin, ELP, and Yes were all hard rock music staples in my youth - along with Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Chase, and Maynard Ferguson (yeah, I was a horn player).

Although much of Zappa's work was unappreciated pure musical genius, I particularly enjoyed the rock opera 'Billy the Mountain' from the Just Another Band from L.A album. Epic stuff.
Most of those same bands/artists for me as well. A friend of mine from years ago was a drummer, and a good one. He even taught at the percussion institute, blah, blah. Years ago, Zappa was looking for a drummer for one of his tours. My buddy auditioned, didn’t get the gig. He said that those were some of the toughest charts that he ever had to read. Zappa was a really good musician. Also knew someone that roadied for him. His name was Buzz. Mmm?
 
Not sure where to post this (I am also a Zappa fan introduced to him years ago on Joe's Garage also on vinyl). I saw Deep purple at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit a lifetime ago as well.

Anyway check out these song lyrics and poker reference in Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette written by Merle Travis and Tex Williams in 1947 (trivia it was the first country song to be #1 on the pop charts a million years ago). Also way ahead of the Surgeon General's warning lol!

Now, I'm a fellow with a heart of gold
With the ways of a gentleman I've been told
A kind of a guy that wouldn't even harm a flea
But if me and a certain character met
That guy that invented the cigarette
I'd murder that son of a gun in the first degree.
That ain't 'cause I don't smoke myself
And I don't reckon they'll injure your health
I've smoked 'em all my life and I ain't dead yet
But nicotine slaves are all the same
At a pheasant party or a poker game
Everythin's gotta stop when they have that cigarette.
Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate that you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette.
Now at a game of chance the other night
Ol' Dame Forson wasn't doin' me right
Them kings and queens just kept on comin' 'round
Well, I got a full and I bet it high
But my plug didn't work on a certain guy
He just kept a raisin' and a layin' that money down.
Now he'd raise me and I'd raise him
I sweated blood I had to sink or swim
He finally called and he didn't raise the bet
I said ace's full pal how about you
He said, "I'll tell you in a minute or two
But I just gotta have another cigarette."
Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate that you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette.
--- Instrumental ---
Now the other night I had a date
With the cutest gal in the fifty states
A highbred uptown social little dame
She said she loved me and it seemed to me
That things were like they oughta be
And hand in hand we strolled down Lover's Lane.
She was, oh, so far from a chunk of ice
And our smoochin' party was a goin' real nice
So help me and I think I'd've been there yet
But I give her a hug and a little squeeze
And she said Jim excuse me please
But I just gotta have another cigarette.
Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate that you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette.
Gotta have another cigarette
Y'all keep pickin' if you want to but I'm gonna light one up
(Puff-puff) now boy that's real coughin'...
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom