Matchbox Twenty Pay Tribute To The Late Sam Phillips


By Paul Cashmere

Matchbox Twenty will perform a rarity tonight at their Sydney concert. A song they recorded for a tribute to Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records who passed away today in Memphis at the age of 80.

Matchbox Twenty participated in the Good Rockin' Tonight, A Tribute To Sun Records project in 2001. "Sam helped us and kinda produced for us. Matt Serletic (I think was there) and Ahmet Ertegun (head of Atlantic Records). It was a magical day, perhaps one of the greatest day I personally had with the band" Adam Gaynor tells Undercover News.

The line-up for Good Rockin' Tonight included the Who's Who of Rock and Roll. Elton John, Plant and Page, Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan are just some of the huge names who joined Matchbox Twenty on the album.

They recorded the song 'Lonely Weekend' for the project, a cover of an old Charlie Rich tune recorded originally at Sam's Sun Records studio in Memphis."Jerry Lee Lewis stopped by and played 'Lonely Weekend' with us as well. I was SO stoked" Adam says.

For Adam Gaynor, Sam Phillips was a legend. "That Sam could tell a story and was a living metaphor. He was quite the character and seemed to lose NONE of his spunk over the years" Adam says. "Rest in Peace to ya Sam. Tonight in Sydney we are doing a tribute for you.... 'Lonely Weekend'.

Matchbox Twenty's recorded 'Lonely Weekend' for the Good Rockin' Tonight album in 2001.