“When I got to the audition,” says Kendall, “I
had spent several days working on the material
and was quite well prepared, but I was not prepared
for what I heard next. Barry counted off
a song and off we went. When the three of them
started singing harmony together, I couldn’t
believe how incredible it sounded. I was
absolutely gob smacked by the sound of their
voices. I had never heard anything like it and
knew at that instant that I had to be part of it.
After running through about three songs, they
all agreed that it sounded better than the old band. They said, ‘See you
tomorrow,’ and drove off in their respective Rolls Royces and Bentleys.
That was it, and to this day I have never been told that I got the job.
“I played on all the records and live gigs, as well
as TV stuff. That is me playing the ‘Stayin’ Alive’
lick, although several people lay claim to coming
up with it. Dennis Bryon, the drummer on those
sessions, says it was me, Maurice used to say it
was him, and my recollection is extremely hazy
due to my drug and alcohol abuse. At the time they
wrote ‘Stayin’ Alive,’ we were mixing a live album
at the Chateaux, in France. Their manager, Robert
Stigwood, flew in and explained that he had the
rights to a movie about Saturday night in New York,
and asked them to write some songs for it. To be
honest, though, none of us thought the film would
do much.
“The best part of the gig was playing with three
superbly talented and gifted songwriters and
singers for all those years. Getting to play amazing
shows all over the world with fantastic
musicians, and laughing our asses off most of the time. They were three
very, very funny dudes.”
For more of Kendall’s remembrances, go to guitarplayer.com.