The Meters
Encyclopedia
The Meters are an American
funk
band based in New Orleans, Louisiana
. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977. The band played an influential role as backing musicians for other artists, including Lee Dorsey
, Robert Palmer
, and Dr John.
While The Meters rarely enjoyed significant mainstream success, they are considered, along with artists like James Brown
, one of the progenitors of funk
music and their work is highly influential on many other bands, both their contemporaries and modern musicians working in the funk idiom.
The Meters' sound is defined by an earthy combination of tight melodic grooves and highly syncopated New Orleans "second-line" rhythms under highly charged guitar and keyboard riffing. Their songs "Cissy Strut" and "Look-Ka Py Py" are considered funk classics.
, the group's frontman, launched a solo career around the New Orleans area in the mid-1950s while still in high school. The Meters formed in 1965 with a line-up of keyboardist and vocalist Art Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli
, bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste. They were later joined by percussionist/vocalist Cyril Neville
. The Meters became the house band for Allen Toussaint
and his record label
, Sansu Enterprises.
In 1969 the Meters released "Sophisticated Cissy" and "Cissy Strut", both major R&B chart hits. "Look-Ka Py Py" and "Chicken Strut" were their hits the following year. After a label shift in 1972, the Meters had difficulty returning to the charts, but they worked with Dr. John
, Paul McCartney
, King Biscuit Boy
, Labelle
, Robert Palmer and others.
In 1974 Paul McCartney invited the Meters to play at the release party for his Venus and Mars
album aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California
; Mick Jagger
of The Rolling Stones
was in attendance at the event and was greatly taken with the Meters and their sound. The Rolling Stones invited the band to open for them on their Tour of the Americas '75
and Tour of Europe '76
. That same year, the Meters recorded one of their most successful albums, Fire On The Bayou
. From 1976 to '77 they played in The Wild Tchoupitoulas
with George & Amos Landry and the Neville Brothers.
They appeared on Saturday Night Live
on March 19, 1977, during the show's second season
. The band broke up later that year.
After the break-up, Neville gained fame as part of The Neville Brothers
, Modeliste toured with Keith Richards
and Ron Wood
, while Nocentelli and Porter "became in-demand session players and formed new bands." After touring with Richards and Wood, Modeliste gave up playing drums for several years, disgusted (in retrospect) with the terms of the contract the Meters had signed with producers Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn.
became Bug Music).
Around the time that the suit was partially settled, Porter created the Funky Meters with drummer Russell Batiste and guitarist Brian Stoltz "to play and update the band's music"; they were joined by Neville and Nocentelli for some dates, though not by Modeliste.
in San Francisco; by this time Modeliste wanted to make the reunion a permanent one, but the other members and their management teams objected. It wasn't until Quint Davis
, producer and director of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, got them to "put aside their differences and hammer out the details" and headline the Festival in 2005. Modeliste prepared for a return to New Orleans, buying property there in June so he could be closer to the rest of the group; about two months later, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the band members dispersed, and no permanent reunion was achieved.
The original Meters continue to perform at various one-off concerts such as the 2011 Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival
in San Francisco, California
.
After Neville's return to the Neville Brothers, Porter and the other Funky Meters members formed Porter Batiste Stoltz.
In 2010 and 2011 Modeliste visited Europe to play at Scandinavian Festivals, and other special concerts with European bands such as The COALMINERS, who specialise in New Orleans influenced music.
In June 2011 The Original Meters along with Allan Touissant and Dr. John played the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The six men performed Dr. John's album "Desitively Bonnaroo".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
band based in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977. The band played an influential role as backing musicians for other artists, including Lee Dorsey
Lee Dorsey
Lee Dorsey was an African American pop/R&B singer during the 1960s. Much of his work was produced by Allen Toussaint with instrumental backing provided by the Meters.-Career:...
, Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer may refer to:*Robert Palmer , English singer-songwriter; known for "Bad Case of Loving You ", "Addicted to Love" and "Simply Irresistible"...
, and Dr John.
While The Meters rarely enjoyed significant mainstream success, they are considered, along with artists like James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, one of the progenitors of funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
music and their work is highly influential on many other bands, both their contemporaries and modern musicians working in the funk idiom.
The Meters' sound is defined by an earthy combination of tight melodic grooves and highly syncopated New Orleans "second-line" rhythms under highly charged guitar and keyboard riffing. Their songs "Cissy Strut" and "Look-Ka Py Py" are considered funk classics.
The 1960s and 1970s
Art NevilleArt Neville
Art Neville is an American singer and keyboardist from New Orleans.-History:Neville is a part of one of the most famous musical families of New Orleans, the Neville Brothers...
, the group's frontman, launched a solo career around the New Orleans area in the mid-1950s while still in high school. The Meters formed in 1965 with a line-up of keyboardist and vocalist Art Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli
Leo Nocentelli
Leo Nocentelli in New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the founding members of the New Orleans funk band, The Meters. He has been credited for popular funk songs such as "Cissy Strut", "People Say" and "Hey Pocky Way"...
, bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste. They were later joined by percussionist/vocalist Cyril Neville
Cyril Neville
Cyril Neville , is a percussionist and vocalist who first came to prominence as a member of his brother Art Neville's funky New Orleans-based band, The Meters...
. The Meters became the house band for Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern...
and his record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Sansu Enterprises.
In 1969 the Meters released "Sophisticated Cissy" and "Cissy Strut", both major R&B chart hits. "Look-Ka Py Py" and "Chicken Strut" were their hits the following year. After a label shift in 1972, the Meters had difficulty returning to the charts, but they worked with Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, King Biscuit Boy
King Biscuit Boy
King Biscuit Boy was the stage name of Richard Alfred Newell a Canadian blues musician. He was the first Canadian blues artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.....
, Labelle
Labelle
Labelle is an American all female singing group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the Philadelphia/Trenton areas, the Ordettes and the Del-Capris, forming as a new version of the former group, later changing...
, Robert Palmer and others.
In 1974 Paul McCartney invited the Meters to play at the release party for his Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars is the fourth album by Wings. Released as the follow-up to the enormously successful Band on the Run, Venus and Mars continued Wings' string of success and would prove a springboard for a year-long worldwide tour...
album aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
; Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
of The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
was in attendance at the event and was greatly taken with the Meters and their sound. The Rolling Stones invited the band to open for them on their Tour of the Americas '75
Rolling Stones Tour of the Americas '75
The Rolling Stones' Tour of the Americas '75 was a 1975 concert tour originally intended to reach both North and South America. The plans for concerts in Central and South American never solidifed, however, and the tour covered only the United States and Canada.-History:This was the Stones first...
and Tour of Europe '76
Rolling Stones Tour of Europe '76
The Rolling Stones' Tour of Europe '76 was a concert tour of Europe that took place in Spring 1976.-History:Tickets were in high demand; on 1 April the promoters announced that they had received more than one million applications in the mail for tickets for three shows at London's Earls Court;...
. That same year, the Meters recorded one of their most successful albums, Fire On The Bayou
Fire on the Bayou
Fire on the Bayou is the sixth album by the funk band The Meters.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Bass guitar - George Porter, Jr.*Congas - Cyril Neville*Drums - Joseph Modeliste*Guitar - Leo Nocentelli*Keyboards - Art Neville...
. From 1976 to '77 they played in The Wild Tchoupitoulas
The Wild Tchoupitoulas
The Wild Tchoupitoulas were originally a group of Mardi Gras Indians formed in the early 1970s by George Landry. With help from local New Orleans musicians The Meters, The Wild Tchoupitoulas recorded an eponymous album, which featured the "call-and-response" style chants typical of Mardi Gras Indians...
with George & Amos Landry and the Neville Brothers.
They appeared on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
on March 19, 1977, during the show's second season
Saturday Night Live (Season 2)
Saturday Night Live aired its second season during the 1976–1977 television season on NBC. The second season started on September 18, 1976, and ended on May 21, 1977....
. The band broke up later that year.
After the break-up, Neville gained fame as part of The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
, Modeliste toured with Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
and Ron Wood
Ron Wood
Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
, while Nocentelli and Porter "became in-demand session players and formed new bands." After touring with Richards and Wood, Modeliste gave up playing drums for several years, disgusted (in retrospect) with the terms of the contract the Meters had signed with producers Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn.
1980s and 1990s
In 1984, Modeliste convinced his fellow bandmates to join him in a lawsuit against Toussaint and Sehorn; by 1989, all but Modeliste had settled out of court "winning back some of their publishing rights and masters, and received a small cash amount." Modeliste didn't settle, and as of March 2010, his lawsuit continues (though a 1996 sale by Sehorn meant the defendantDefendant
A defendant or defender is any party who is required to answer the complaint of a plaintiff or pursuer in a civil lawsuit before a court, or any party who has been formally charged or accused of violating a criminal statute...
became Bug Music).
Around the time that the suit was partially settled, Porter created the Funky Meters with drummer Russell Batiste and guitarist Brian Stoltz "to play and update the band's music"; they were joined by Neville and Nocentelli for some dates, though not by Modeliste.
2000s
In 2000, a "big offer" enticed all four original Meters to reunite for a one-night stand at the WarfieldThe Warfield
The Warfield, also known as The Warfield Theater, is a 2,300 seat music venue located at 982 Market Street, San Francisco, California. It was built as a vaudeville theater, and opened as the Loews Warfield on May 13, 1922.-History:...
in San Francisco; by this time Modeliste wanted to make the reunion a permanent one, but the other members and their management teams objected. It wasn't until Quint Davis
Quint Davis
Quint Davis is an American festival producer and director based in New Orleans. He is best known as the producer of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival founded by George Wein. Davis has been involved in the production of the event from its start in 1970. He is the CEO of Festival...
, producer and director of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, got them to "put aside their differences and hammer out the details" and headline the Festival in 2005. Modeliste prepared for a return to New Orleans, buying property there in June so he could be closer to the rest of the group; about two months later, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the band members dispersed, and no permanent reunion was achieved.
The original Meters continue to perform at various one-off concerts such as the 2011 Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival
Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival
The Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival is a music festival held annually in San Francisco, California at Golden Gate Park. The first edition occurred August 22–24 in 2008, and included over 60 musical acts from around the world, as well as several art installations...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
After Neville's return to the Neville Brothers, Porter and the other Funky Meters members formed Porter Batiste Stoltz.
In 2010 and 2011 Modeliste visited Europe to play at Scandinavian Festivals, and other special concerts with European bands such as The COALMINERS, who specialise in New Orleans influenced music.
In June 2011 The Original Meters along with Allan Touissant and Dr. John played the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The six men performed Dr. John's album "Desitively Bonnaroo".
Discography
- The MetersThe Meters (album)The Meters is the first album by the funk group The Meters.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Art Neville - organ, keyboards*Ziggy Modeliste - drums*Leo Nocentelli - guitar, vocals*George Porter, Jr. - bass guitar...
(1969), Josie - Look-Ka Py Py (1970), Josie
- Struttin'Struttin'Struttin' is the third album by the funk group The Meters, released in 1970 on Josie Records. The first single was the song "Chicken Strut".-Track listing:-Personnel:*Arthur "Art" Neville: organ, keyboards, vocals*Leo Nocentelli: guitars...
(1970), Josie - Cabbage AlleyCabbage AlleyCabbage Alley is the fourth album by the funk group The Meters. It is their first album for the Reprise label after leaving their Josie Records when it went bankrupt in 1971.-Track listing:...
(1972), Reprise - Rejuvenation (1974), Reprise
- Fire On The BayouFire on the BayouFire on the Bayou is the sixth album by the funk band The Meters.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Bass guitar - George Porter, Jr.*Congas - Cyril Neville*Drums - Joseph Modeliste*Guitar - Leo Nocentelli*Keyboards - Art Neville...
(1975), Reprise - The Best of The MetersThe Best of The MetersThe Best of the Meters is an album from funk group The Meters.-Track listing:#"Cissy Strut"#"Here Comes the Meter Man"#"Sophisticated Cissy"#"Look-Ka Py Py"#"Funky Miracle"#"Chicken Strut"#"Tippi-Toes"...
(1975), Mardi Gras, Virgo - Trick BagTrick BagTrick Bag is the seventh album by the funk group The Meters.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Art Neville - keyboards, vocals*Ziggy Modeliste - drums*Cyril Neville - percussion, vocals*Leo Nocentelli - guitar, vocals*George Porter, Jr. - bass guitar...
(1976), Reprise - New Directions (1977), Warner Bros.
- Good Old Funky Music (1990), RounderRounder RecordsRounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
- Funky MiracleFunky MiracleFunky Miracle is an album from funk group The Meters on the Charly Records label containing re-issued material-Track listing:Disc One#"Look-Ka Py Py"#"9 Till 5"#"Cissy Strut"#"I Need More Time"#"Pungee"#"Ease BAck"#"Cardova"#"Yeah You're Right"...
(1991), Charly - Uptown Rulers: The Meters live on the Queen MaryUptown Rulers: The Meters live on the Queen MaryThe Meters live on the Queen Mary is a live album by the funk group The Meters recorded on March 24, 1975 during a Venus and Mars party hosted by Linda & Paul McCartney.-Track listing:#"Gary Owens Introduces The Band"#"Fire On the Bayou"#"Africa"...
(1992), Rhino - Live At The Moonwalker (1993), Lakeside
- Fundamentally Funky (1994), Charly
- Funkify Your Life: The Meters AnthologyFunkify Your Life: The Meters AnthologyFunkify Your Life: The Meters Anthology is an album from funk group The Meters.-Track listing:Disc 1#"Cissy Strut"#"Here Comes the Meter Man"#"Live Wire"#"Sophisticated Cissy"#"Ease Back"#"Stormy"#"Look-Ka Py Py"#"Pungee"#"Thinking"...
(1995), Rhino - KickbackKickback (album)Kickback is a collection of rare and unreleased material from the funk group The Meters.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Arthur "Red" Neville, Ziggy Modeliste, Leo Nocentelli, George Porter, Jr.; except where indicated#"Big Chief"...
(2001), Sundazed - Fiyo at the Fillmore, Volume 1 (2003), Too Funky
- Zony MashZony MashZony Mash is an album of vintage rarities and non-album B-sides from funk group The Meters.-Track listing:#"Zony Mash"#"I Need More Time"#"The Look Of Love"#"A Message From The Meters"#"Stretch Your Rubber Band"#"Soul Machine"...
(2003), Sundazed
External links
- Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Petition to induct the Meters into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Reissued original Meters catalog from Sundazed MusicSundazed RecordsSundazed Records is a record label based in Coxsackie, in the Catskills of New York. It specializes in obscure and rare recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s.Label founders Bob Irwin and his wife Mary started the label in 1989...
- Leo Nocentelli official site
- George Porter, Jr. official site
- Joe "Zigaboo" Modeliste official site
- Cyril Neville official site
- The funky Meters official site