An interview with Doug 'Cosmo' Clifford on Creedence Clearwater Revival's trials and tribulations
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- Опубликовано: 12 апр 2023
- The history of the iconic rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) spans from their humble beginnings to their rise to fame and eventual breakup. Best known for a string of top chart hits, CCR has left a lasting impact on the music scene, inspiring fans and musicians alike. Throughout their journey, the band faced numerous challenges and internal conflicts, contributing to the bittersweet nature of their legacy. Even so, the band's music, characterised by its blend of southern rock and roll influences, remains cherished and celebrated today, demonstrating their enduring influence in the music world.
During my interview with Doug 'Cosmo' Clifford, one of CCR's founders and sole drummer, I delve into the band's background, and learn that the band originally formed in 1958 and achieved success only after a decade of playing together. Comprised of John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford, CCR weathered several name changes before experiencing their meteoric rise in popularity. Doug and I discuss the various turning points, triumphs, and challenges the band faced during their time together, painting a vivid picture of CCR's incredible journey.
As the 60s crashed into the 70s, few American bands could match the fevered output, unified vision, and consistent hit-making ability of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Despite hailing from California, bandleader John Fogerty rooted his imagination in the Deep South, fusing vivid Southern imagery with a distinctive brand of rock & roll that combined swamp pop, blues, R&B, and country. Viewed as outliers in the Bay Area's overwhelmingly psychedelic music scene, CCR's punchy roots rock delivery, blue-collar work ethic, and comparative sobriety helped them quickly surpass their peers and become one of the most prolific and popular bands in the country. In 1969 alone they produced three major albums, headlined the Woodstock Festival, and introduced iconic songs like "Proud Mary" and "Fortunate Son" into the cultural lexicon. The latter of the two went on to become one of the defining protest songs of the Vietnam War, followed closely by "Run Through the Jungle" and "Bad Moon Rising."
Their creative and commercial success peaked with 1970's Cosmo's Factory, a solid chart-topper. Like many great bands, CCR's star burned brightly for a relatively short period before in-fighting and contention led to their breakup in 1972.
The band's members had been friends at school and began playing together as the Blue Velvets. They later became a quartet with the addition of John's older brother, Tom Fogerty. They then went through a name change calling themselves the Golliwogs but it didn't last long. The name Creedence Clearwater Revival stuck.
The group released their eponymous debut album in 1968. It gave them their first hit in "Suzie Q," and a few months later they released Bayou Country, their breakout second album. In 1969 they added two more Top Five singles to their growing clutch of hits. They also toured relentlessly and were one of the headlining acts at the Woodstock Festival. Same year they released their fourth album, Willy and the Poor Boys. "Fortunate Son" became one of the defining anthems of the anti-war movement.
They kicked off 1970 with the double A-side of "Travelin' Band" and "Who'll Stop the Rain,". "Up Around the Bend" and "Run Through the Jungle," appeared a few months later as the group headed to Europe for their first international tour. With four more hit songs already on the charts, "Lookin' Out My Back Door" and "Long as I Can See the Light" helped turn the band's fifth album, Cosmo's Factory, into a massive success, sitting at number one for a nine-week stint in late 1970.
A very disgruntled Tom Fogerty left the band in 1971 because John was being totally controlling. After he left, John reluctantly agreeing to cede some creative control to his remaining bandmates. However, even this attempt at democracy was somewhat heavy-handed; rather than simply allowing Cook and Clifford a little more artistic input, he insisted that each member now write and sing his own material to be split evenly on future albums. The growing frustration over the band's direction continued to mount and finally CCR called it quits. For an impressive five-year period, they had performed at the top of their game, leaving behind a deep catalogue of studio albums and hit songs, all of which fell under the ownership of Fantasy Records.
Tom Fogerty died in 1990. Cook and Clifford launched the Fogerty-less Creedence Clearwater Revisited with various guest singers in order to take the old catalogue on the road. A proper reunion never materialised.
To learn more about CCR check out my interview with Doug Cosmo Clifford. You'll find it through the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au or on all major podcast platforms. 
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Hate to remind you that If it wasn't for Fogerty's "control" there wouldn't be any hit songs and we wouldn't even have heard of a band called CCR. He wrote and arranged the songs, played lead guitar and sang the songs.
Exactly! These guys completely screwed John over by selling out their rights behind John’s back. To me, John was CCR.
A band with different people is always better than an one man band. You need good songs, thats true, thats John.
Those guys toured for years as creedence Clearwater revisited and made money off johns songs again!
Fogerty was/is the franchise. No amount of back stabbing will ever change that. You and Stu should have toured all these decades with John..and made even more money. You guys are pathetic..
I agree, John had all the talent and without strong leadership, CCR would have just floundered for years. But, as Doug rightly says, he didn't have a head for business. Releasing 3 albums in ONE year instead of spacing them out over several years was ridiculous. Not re negotiating a new contract after Bayou Country when they had leverage, big mistake. And while the other guys were pretty much not a factor in terms of creativity, they never tried to be more than they were and John never came close to the success he had playing with Doug, Tom and Stu.
What a great drummer and a great person. I love CCR and I enjoy listening to all four members of CCR. John, Tom Fogerty, Doug, and Stu. The four were Creedence Clearwater Revival. The sound was the four of them.
We all love you Doug! Love the honesty in the interview. You have been & still are an inspiration. ( my one time drummer & dear friend finally gave in & gave me your first album. Great music. Thank you. We love you Doug!!! Aloha from Maui!!!
In the 1980’s I was a dj for WCSL radio in Cherryville, NC. We were playing records by Southern Pacific. I arranged a telephone interview with Stu Cook formerly of Creedence Clearwater Revival. He called. It was a fun, excellent interview. He started by saying, “Welllllll, Bob, I used to play bass guitar for a little rock and roll band called CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL!” I bought and loved all of CCR’s recordings.
A long road, Doug, from crowds enjoying your humor at Portola Middle School lunch time. Enjoyed watching you practice with John and Stu as a Blue Velvet. Then on to CCR performance at The Forum. Glad to hear of your continued life journey. Warm greetings, thanks for the memories.
I hope he sees your comment here. How lucky you were to watch these guys go through their formative years. I'm so glad you enjoyed my interview with Doug!
@@sandykayepresents-abreatho9146 Doug was the most charming extrovert, John the quiet one. They were in same high school club. When they performed at school, John apologized for the absence of the lead singer, Tom. Ran into John twice since.
I miss the good 'ole blue eyed soul brothers CCR, it's good to see "Cosmo" is blessed. ❤
Great drummer ❤❤❤
There would have been NO CCR without John Fogerty!!! Just like springsteen theres a reason why bruce springsteen is in front of E Street Band!
I cut my musical teeth on Creedence. This band was a case of the total sum of the band being greater than the individual values of each member. I’ve read accounts of Doug, Stu, Tom and John’s experiences in the band. CCR’s demise was due to a confluence of ego and greed. That being said - thanks for all the music, Cosmo!!
I agree with you
Excellent interview. I would love to also interview Doug, and was wondering how to contact him, as there is no contact information on his website. Thank you!
I'm afraid this interview was set up via the publicist. I don't have direct contact details, Sorry.
I spoke to him years ago about writing a book on the band and he is a very private person. He shared some great input, but he did not like being contacted. I think it was professional privacy more than anything.
Bobby Whitlock has a great voice ,I think he could replace Peter Cetera of CHICAGO if he was called upon to do it.
all three sold there rights to the record company they did not want nothing to do with creedence clearwater and know that they cant do any thing else they go back to ccr
Revisited is a joke. Just ripping off Fogerty.
1)Since John was boycotting Zaentz and not playing his old songs, at least Doug and Stu kept the music alive. 2)John only started playing his songs again to undermine Revisited. 3)If they are "ripping off" Fogerty, then every cover band is ripping off the original creator. Ridiculous.
@@frogger1952 they don’t call themselves a cover band. They pretend they are the real thing.
@@yeti2352 Well, they WERE both members of the actual CCR so they are at least half of the real thing. Fans of the original know what's going on so its not like they are perpetrating some scam. Everyone knows John has nothing to do with CCRv and Tom is no longer with us.
Unfortunately, Doug was diagnosed with Parkinsons and can no longer play.
I knew he had parkinsons and he talks about that duirng the interview but didn't know he was now unable to play What a shame!
@@sandykayepresents-abreatho9146 😥
doug and stu are in it for the fame money, it was never about music for them
No, they practiced really hard to meet up to Johns expectations, creedence was a really tight live unit because of it. And as far as songwriting goes, its a talent youre born with, you can hardly blame them for that