Matters inside the Wrecking Crew apparently aren’t about to be rebuilt.
Last week, Carol Kaye, the revered and ground-breaking bassist heard on scores of pop hits since the Sixties, posted a since-deleted comment about her upcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In it, she took a shot at the director of a documentary on the “Wrecking Crew,” the gaggle of legendary studio musicians (including Kaye, drummer Hal Blaine, keyboardist Don Randi, guitarist Tommy Tedesco and others), who were given the nickname after concerns from older mucisians that the group was going to “wreck” the music industry. Now, director Danny Tedesco has responded.
In November, Kaye was slated to receive a Musical Excellence Award at the annual Hall of Fame ceremony alongside pianist Nicky Hopkins and producer Thom Bell. But in her post, Kaye, who never liked the “Wrecking Crew” nickname, said she planned to decline the induction and seemed to point to Tedesco and his doc as a contributing factor to the Rock Hall’s selection process. “People have been asking: NO I won’t be there. I am declining the rrhof awards show (and denny tedesco process)…..turning it down because it wasn’t something that reflects the work that Studio Musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s Recording Hits.”
In his lengthy response, Tedesco wrote that he has “never personally responded to any of Carol Kaye’s comments over the last 17 years about her issue with my documentary film. While calling her “a trailblazer,” he said that “it may be time to explain to the folks who don’t know the background of Carol’s anger.”
Tedesco contends that Kaye’s comments were based on a fallout between her and Blaine, who died in 2019. “I used to joke that it was like having divorced parents that you cared for but made sure to never mention them to each other,” Tedesco wrote in his post, adding, “I kept Hal and Carol separated as long as possible until their relationship blew up at a screening at the AFM Union Hall. But prior to that, Carol sent me two emails in support of the film.”
In reference to Kay’s mention of his documentary, Tedesco wrote, “I guess all publicity is good, even if it’s a slight about me personally. I’m actually honored! But I’m confused because I’m not sure what the ‘Denny Tedesco Process’ is? I have absolutely nothing to do with the RRHOF. I’m a filmmaker. I can’t even play an instrument!”
As per legend, the term “The Wrecking Crew” derived from a diss Blaine overheard about the way he and the new group of studio musicians in the Sixties were willing to work for less than older musicians: “These guys are going to wreck the business playing this rock & roll shit.” Although the name wasn’t used during their time playing together, it soon became attached to the musicians and was cemented with Tedesco’s acclaimed documentary, which included interviews with many of those musicians.
Kaye herself, though, was never happy with the tag, writing in her post, “[Y]ou are always part of a TEAM, not a solo artist at all …. there were always 350-400 Studio Musicians (AFM Local 47 Hollywood) working in the busy 1960s, and called that ONLY …. since 1930s, I was never a ‘wrecker’ at all….that’s a terrible insulting name.” In his retort, Tedesco also noted that, in April 2008, Kaye wrote to him saying, “Denny, don’t worry I won’t complain about the title anymore, it seems to be a catch-word, so I’ll just live with it, you were right.”
Ending on a conciliatory note, Tedesco added, “I’m very proud of The Wrecking Crew documentary. It brought fame and knowledge about the musicians who played on some of the most incredible pop music of all time. Those songs continue to be heard today. The only difference now is that listeners might know who played guitar, bass, drums, or piano on the track. I’m not even angry; I’m sad. I wish we could enjoy what we have at this point in our lives and not get crazy over a nickname that is taken out of context.”
