Creak Your Booty

By CHUCK CRISAFULLI

July 17, 1997 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Think back, if you can, to the summer of 1977 and try to remember what a summer night out on the town was like back then. Perhaps you were squeezed into the anatomically correct confines of a pair of Jordache jeans and followed the disco commands of “Shake Your Booty” and “Get Down Tonight.” Maybe you went the rougher rock route--Frye boots, flared cords and “Take the Money and Run” or “Life’s Been Good” blasting out of the conversion van’s 8-track player. Maybe you were mellow, in ponchos or peasant dresses, humming along to “Snowbird.”

Here it is the summer of ‘97, and most ‘70s survivors have probably set aside their rolling papers and gotten into mutual funds. Hot pants have given way to relaxed fits. And this summer, as the collective booty-shakers of the ‘70s are likely to be gobbling Zantac rather than contraband, today’s kids will be out on the town, partying all night to the popular sounds of . . . KC & the Sunshine Band? Steve Miller? Joe Walsh? Anne Murray?

Yes, a time warp of sorts seems to have settled upon a large number of L.A. concert venues this summer. While some of the more outlandish--and unfortunate--aspects of ‘70s fashion (platform shoes, anyone?) have been creeping back into hipness on younger bodies over the last few years, this summer, an incredible number of the older, original bodies are back up on stage, cranking up the hits again, often for a new generation of fans.

Summer concert-goers will have the chance to check out a boggling number of bands that either began or had their greatest successes in the ‘70s. In addition to those above, there are Boston, Supertramp, Hall & Oates, Boz Scaggs, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chicago--even the Village People coming to town.

Most of the performers have never really gone away and some of the music has lived on in odd ways apart from its creators: The hits of KC & the Sunshine Band have become particular favorites of advertisers (remember those beer-guzzling ants?), and “Y.M.C.A.”--once a coded paean to gay sex--is now emphatically belted out at sporting events.

But the sheer number of ‘70s-spawned acts bringing the old hits through town this summer is a pop phenomenon of sorts, which can’t simply be explained away as a bout of nostalgia. These performers and their music are demonstrating some remarkable staying power. They are--ahem--stayin’ alive. So, the question comes to mind: What’s it like to be a ‘70s star turned ‘90s headliner? We asked a cross section of performers representing various ‘70s sounds: rock (Steve Miller and Joe Walsh), pop (Anne Murray) and disco (Harry “KC” Casey of the Sunshine band.)

Miller, 53, was a fixture on the San Francisco scene of the late ‘60s, and in the ‘70s broke through to massive international success with such albums as “The Joker,” “Fly Like an Eagle” and “Book of Dreams.” He most recently contributed guitar work for Paul McCartney’s new solo release.

Canadian-born singer Murray, 52, had her first success with “Snowbird” in 1970, and had a No. 1 single in 1978 with “You Needed Me.” She also had Top 40 hits with covers of the Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me” and the Monkees’ “Daydream Believer.” She has recorded and toured continually for 29 years.

Casey, 46, founded the Sunshine Band in 1973, and in 1976 racked up a string of No. 1 hits that included “Get Down Tonight,” “I’m Your Boogie Man,” “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty” and “That’s the Way (I Like It).” The re-formed Sunshine Band has been touring extensively over the last five years.

Walsh, 49, was a member of the James Gang in the early ‘70s, and a member of the Eagles from 1975 to 1982. As a solo act, he had a Top 10 album in 1978, “But Seriously, Folks.” He was a part of the 1994 Eagles reunion tour, and is touring this summer with his own band.

Question: Do you feel much different on stage now than you did when you started?

Miller: I’ve never considered myself a rock star or a celebrity. I’ve always been interested in playing music, and frankly my sound is the best it’s ever been, the production value of my tour is the best it’s ever been, and my band is playing the best it ever has. I’m enjoying what I’m doing right now more than I’ve ever enjoyed it, and I’d like to do it forever--I’d like to become the George Burns of rock ‘n’ roll.

Murray: The difference for me is that everything’s much more relaxed. I don’t have anything to prove, so it’s a lot more fun to sing. I was so nervous and forced for all those years, and I didn’t really appreciate the fans. Now I do, and I can say I’ve enjoyed the last 10 years of my career much more than the first 19.

Casey: I feel like I’m a little more knowledgeable than the first time around when everything was new and fresh and wild. But I’m still a nervous wreck before every show.

Walsh: One nice thing is that people who come to hear me are familiar with the material. It was tough when nobody knew what I was doing. Now I don’t have to sell ‘em on it, and the crowd knows the songs better than I do.

Q: Who’s coming to your concerts these days?

Miller: In the ‘80s I discovered that I still had a really young audience. It’s grown off of classic rock radio. The last time we surveyed the audience, it was 60% female, mostly between the ages of 15 and 22, which is pretty much where it’s been all along. We get a few original fans, but if we had to count on them, we’d be in clubs playing to 300 people a night.

Murray: I see some new faces out there, but mostly my audience demographic would be 35 to 75. And it goes a little higher every time we play Florida. I can tell when the real die-hard fans are out there because they start yelling for songs from albums that sold three copies.

Casey: Amazingly, the crowds don’t really look that different. It’s younger people dressing the way we used to. I’m usually up there looking out thinking, “What year is this?”

Walsh: Much to my amazement, I get people bringing their kids. I see a lot of young faces, so no matter how sick I am of a song, it’s brand-new to somebody so I better play it the best I can.

Q: Do you prepare for shows differently now?

Miller: I do a lot of things I didn’t do when I was younger--like rehearse. In 1976, I probably woke up at 2 in the afternoon, chugged a couple bottles of beer, plugged in the guitar and did a show. Now I approach a tour like an aerobics class. Before this tour started, I was running uphill for six weeks, doing vocal exercises every day and working on my chops.

Murray: In the early days, I wasn’t physically fit, and I didn’t take care of my voice. I just went out and did it. Now, I do stay fit and I feel like my voice has gotten stronger, but I have to be careful to warm it up before a show.

Casey: There’s some better mental preparation. I’m in a much better frame of mind now. In the early days, if anything went wrong, I’d go bananas. I was a crazy nut, screaming at everybody as soon as I got off stage. I’ve learned that’s not necessary. It’s not worth getting that emotional if the crowd’s having a good time.

Walsh: I work with a vocal coach. And I’ll rehearse with a band for a week. I never have to relearn the songs--I know them too well, and if I knew I was going to be playing them this long, I might have written something else.

Q: How wild were you when you were on the road in the ‘70s, and what’s it like after a show these days?

Miller: I actually started back in the ‘60s, and things were definitely pretty crazy for a while. But I stopped smoking and drinking early on--I figured out I couldn’t do all that and have a career. Nowadays, the last thing I want to do is party after a gig. It sort of feels like we’re a basketball team in these nonstop playoffs, and we can’t break training. So, after a show, the band sits around and eats a big salad. Croutons is about as crazy as it gets. Yes, folks, I’m no longer the Gangster of Love--I’m the Boy Scout of Rock.

Murray: I don’t think I ever had the “party” image, but it was all a big party when I started out. I saw it all, and experienced most of it. Now, after a show, I usually go back to my hotel room, watch ESPN “Sportscenter,” knock back a caffeine-free diet cola and some melba toast and go to bed.

Casey: I never did party that much the first time around--I was the vegetarian health nut. These days, the biggest challenge isn’t finding the best party--it’s getting enough sleep.

Walsh: I can’t do what I used to do, which involved craziness, alcohol, other substances, groupies, hotel damage, partying in general and staying up all night. I wouldn’t change a thing back then, but now after a show I watch the Discovery Channel and fall asleep.

Q: Is there anything you wore in the ‘70s that you absolutely would not wear on stage now?

Miller: We could start with the 4-inch-heel silver platform boots and the leather cape. I might put those back on and run through the bedroom just to get a laugh, but you won’t see them on stage again.

Murray: Ugh! I went through the sequins, the spangles, the gowns. My manager wanted me to be a real babe, and he dressed me up just like my mother did when I was little. Now my hair’s about an inch long and my clothes are loose--finally, I’m in my comfort zone.

Casey: Let’s just say I cringe at almost every photo of me taken that decade. We don’t wear the platforms or the flares anymore. Our coats are still flashy--a little sparkle still seems OK. But most of the show I end up in a tank top and black jeans.

Walsh: I’ve got my bell-bottoms buried in my equipment locker somewhere. If they get popular enough again, I’ll put ‘em back on and save some money.

Q: Are you ever surprised to be still out there playing after all these years?

Miller: Yes and no. I always looked at the older jazz guys like Les Paul, and I wanted to have a long career like them, so on that level, no--I’m not surprised. But when I sit down and think, “Why would kids buy music recorded 20 years ago? Why would a 15-year-old kid right now be totally digging ‘Space Cowboy’?” That, I can’t figure out. That’s a pretty nice surprise.

Murray: Not surprised--just very, very satisfied.

Casey: It would have to surprise anybody. I’m just glad that people are still able to enjoy it. And when we’re up there, I’m just amazed--because I feel like I haven’t ever gotten past 1975. I don’t need to take my trip with drugs anymore--I’m time-traveling every time I get up on stage.

Walsh: I’ve been full circle. I’ve been rich a couple of times and famous a couple of times. These days I really just want to work at my craft and play my music for people, and I’m really fortunate that there are people who want to hear it. I just can’t believe I lived this long. That takes some getting used to.

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Reeling in the Years on the Concert Stage

Looking for a bit of ‘70s nostalgia? Pick a concert, any concert:

Steve Miller Band: Friday, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, $30-$15, (714) 855-6111.

Hall & Oates: Friday, Greek Theatre, $37.75-$14.75, (213) 665-1927.

Boz Scaggs: Saturday, Greek Theatre, $42.50-$15, (213) 665-1927.

“Disco Explosion,” Village People, KC & the Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang and more: July 24, Greek Theatre, $48.25-$20.25, (213) 665-1927.

Styx: July 24-26, Universal Amphitheatre, $55-$25, (818) 622-4440.

Anne Murray: July 25, Greek Theatre, $28.50-$15, (213) 665-1927.

Joe Walsh: July 29-30, House of Blues, $25, (213) 848-5100.

Eddie Money: July 30-31, Galaxy Theatre, $12.50, (714) 957-1133.

Dan Fogelberg, Aug. 3, Greek Theatre, $45-$15, (213) 665-1927.