This is an apostrophe podcast production. Beatology.

Beatology.

Today we talked to Earl Slick, one of the great rock guitarists and one of the most in-demand

session men.

He played with David Bowie for years, from the Diamond Dogs Tour to Young Americans,

to Station to Station, to many later albums.

But today, we talked to Earl Slick about his time with John Lennon.

He was one of the two lead guitarists on Lennon's last two albums,

Double Fantasy and Milk and Honey.

Earl was born in Brooklyn, New York.

He lived there until he was around 12.

Then his father bought a house on Staten Island.

But Earl hated it there and still considers himself a Brooklyn boy.

His parents didn't play any instruments, but there was always music in the house.

His father was a cop with crazy hours, but on his days off, he played Glenn Miller, Tony Bennett, and Sinatra, bands from the 40s.

Earl's mother, who also grew up in Brooklyn in the 30s and 40s, listened to country music,

specifically Patsy Klein, and that's where the guitar bug got into Earl's ear at a young age.

But in 1964, his world changed. Where were you, Earl,

on February 9th, 1964? Where were you? I was in my parents' house, sitting on the couch,

staring at the TV, waiting for it to turn 8 o'clock when Ed Sullivan came on to see the Beatles.

It's exactly where it was.

And how did that affect you?

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