Interview with Canned Heat's Harvey Mandel, Bob Dylan's Grammy guitarist

When Bob Dylan played at The Grammys Sunday night, bandmates Sku Kimball, Donnie Herron, and Tony Garnier joined the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons to perform a raucous version of "Maggie's Farm."

Missing were George Recile and Charlie Sexton, but someone else was brought in - Harvey "The Snake" Mandel.

Mandel has been playing almost as long as Dylan, starting off with Charlie Mussellwhite in 1966, and going on to play with Canned Heat ("Let's Work Together"), John Mayall, Barry Goldberg, and the Rolling Stones (Black and Blue), among others.

"Yeah, I got a call Saturday morning (the day before the Grammys), flew into L.A. that day," Mandel told me over the phone. "It was literally that morning that I got contacted. It was very exciting, much better than watching it on TV."

The way Mandel heard it, albeit second hand, "for some reason, Bob said, 'We need one more guy'." Mandel's name came up, and Dylan's "people" tried to get in touch with "The Snake".

"That's as far as I know.

"They contacted one of my collaborators from my website. I was in Colorado and they didn't know how to get in touch with me. They left a message and I followed up. Bob Dylan's people wanted me to know that he wanted me to play on 'Maggie's Farm' at the Grammys. Next thing I knew,  i was flying to L.A., and everything started to happen."

This was the first time Dylan and Mandel collaborated. "We travel in the same circles, but never played together before. Barry Goldberg and I do shows, and he played with Dylan. I play with Canned Heat, and they knew Dylan, I'm sure. John Mayall, The Rolling Stones. We'd met before, he knew who I was.

"We never played together before. I'm surprised, but that's how it works out sometimes."

Once Mandel flew into L.A., it was time to get down to business. "There wasn't really a rehearsal, really just a run-through. What you saw on TV was the same as the run-through, except there were producers and people twisting knobs. All we did was play. It was over in two minutes, no going over anything."

From the beginning, Mandel knew he would be playing "Maggie's Farm", which is comprised of only three chords.

"I already knew it was a simple song. When I got there I asked if it was in the key of G like on the record, but either Stu or Tony said, 'No, it's in E'.'"

While he didn't get to speak with Dylan after the performance, Bob let Mandel know he was pleased.

"While we were putting our equipment away, he definitely waved, and gave me the 'good look.' By the time I got everything packed, I think he took off. But he gave me the vibe that he was happy. It was exactly what he asked for."

Mandel got to watch the delayed telecast back at his hotel room. "It was exciting. I got about a million phone calls and more people emailed me - a crazy amount - than over anything I've done in years."

"I didn't even have to be there, but it was an honor to play the Grammys, and I always wanted to play with Bob. I hope that it leads to more real playing, not just part of some 30 man entourage."

Mandel appeared on The Rolling Stones'  album, Black and Blue, playing lead guitar on "Hot Stuff" and "Memory Motel," but didn't get a chance to say hello to Mick Jagger while at the Grammys.

"Unfortunately not. It's weird in the Staples Center, it's even bigger than it looks. There are hundreds of dressing rooms, and everybody is surrounded by security. You only see people if you happen to bump into them.

"Bob's was a secret dressing room behind all the others. You had to be escorted in."

The entire experience reminded Mandel of when he was invited to play with the Stones in 1975.

"I was at home. Mick Jagger called me at midnight. At first I thought someone was goofing on me, but after a while I could tell it was really him.  He said, 'I'd like you to fly to Germany tomorrow.' The next day, I'm on my way to Germany.

"It was the same with Bob. At first I thought I was being goofed on again, but then I did some investigating, and forged ahead immediately." 

So, the big question is - Are you the new guitarist in Bob Dylan's band, or was this just a one-off gig?

"At the moment, it's just a one-off. I have plans to tour with Canned Heat again starting in June. We only play in the warm weather. We don't like the cold."

Website: http://www.harveymandel.com/

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