Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band
Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band | |
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Origin | New York, New York, U.S. |
Occupations | House band |
Years active |
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Labels | Hip-O (as The Max Weinberg 7) |
Past members |
Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band was the
During The Max Weinberg 7 days, the band included Jimmy Vivino on
The band's final regular appearance on Conan was on the show's last hour-long episode on October 4, 2018. With the show switching to a half-hour format, it was announced the band would not be returning in 2019. They appeared on four special episodes recorded at
History
The Max Weinberg 7
Rosenberg and Pender had played with The Miami Horns, and had a long joint history with Weinberg from touring or recording together with Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Little Steven, Gary U.S. Bonds, and Darlene Love. In the early 1990s Weinberg and Pender were also in a band together called Killer Joe, which also featured Jimmy and Jerry Vivino. The Vivino brothers were experienced New York session musicians and had been members of various Broadway pit bands. They recruited the final two members of the band, Healy and Merritt, who had played together in various bands such as Jimmy Vivino & The Black Italians and The Vivino Brothers Band.[2] Fill-in James Wormworth was also a member of the Vivino bands, but was initially left out of the ensemble because there was no need for two drummers.[3]
Members of the band have participated in skits on Late Night, particularly
Weinberg was often involved in short, awkward, and/or humorous banter with O'Brien. O'Brien often made jokes about Weinberg's supposedly perverse sexual habits. Rosenberg is often the butt of jokes for both his healthy sized mustache and his often awkward demeanor on air, and his sexual orientation is occasionally questioned by O'Brien through monologue jokes and other comedy bits. O'Brien often has Rosenberg participate in potentially humiliating skits, such as dressing up his mustache in Christmas lights, or shaving it off. Additionally, Rosenberg provided the
The show often features a performance by a musical guest (a band or a solo artist) at the end, and some or even all members of The Max Weinberg 7 perform as backup musicians for the guests when needed, such as Weinberg performing the drums for the last half of the
Weinberg has, in the past, taken long leaves of absence to tour with the E Street Band. During his absences, he has typically been replaced by James Wormworth, and the band is led by Jimmy Vivino, then referred to as "Jimmy Vivino and The Max Weinberg 7".
The band plays an eclectic selection of music on the show, including frequent performances of songs by The Clash, one of O'Brien's favorite bands. Examples of songs by The Clash performed by the group include "Police on my Back", "The Magnificent Seven", "Rock the Casbah", "Spanish Bombs" and "Train in Vain".
The band will often play a song to match a holiday or event ("My Funny Valentine" on Valentine's Day), or sometimes play a song that is irrelevant to the event, causing O'Brien to question their choice of song ("Paint It Black" during Christmas).
The band's song "R.C.4" featured in the film Bewitched (2005).
Members of the band performed with
Max Weinberg and The Tonight Show Band
When O'Brien relocated to Los Angeles to become host of The Tonight Show, The Max Weinberg 7 relocated with him, and added an eighth member, James Wormworth, on percussion.[4] Jimmy Vivino and Weinberg reworked the Late Night theme into a "less manic" The Tonight Show theme.[5] The backdrop used for the bandstand depicts the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building set within a Los Angeles skyline, in recognition of the Late Night roots.[5]
As part of his preparation for the move, Weinberg consulted with Doc Severinsen, the Tonight Show band leader during the Johnny Carson days.[4]
As was the case on Late Night, Weinberg temporarily left the Tonight Show on occasion to tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Jimmy Vivino took over as bandleader in this instance, and Wormworth moved over to drums. Ronnie Gutierrez was also brought in to cover for Wormworth on percussion. In the open, announcer Andy Richter referred to the group as "The Tonight Show Band", and the graphic was changed to acknowledge Weinberg's absence.
Also, as a result, a skit was born that whenever Weinberg appears on his last show before leaving, O'Brien would note that Weinberg deserves a 'proper send-off' and the band would start playing, as suddenly his pedestal would begin to drive itself outside the studio with Weinberg still playing. The pod would then move into the streets of Los Angeles where usually something absurd would happen such as Weinberg being pulled over or hit by a speeding truck.
The band left The Tonight Show along with O'Brien after O'Brien's last show as host, which aired January 22, 2010.[6]
The Legally Prohibited Band
In April 2010, Conan O'Brien began his The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour. While the rest of the group was part of the tour under the moniker The Legally Prohibited Band, Weinberg was not,[7][8] though he did appear at the tour's New York stop.[9] Weinberg later revealed that he had undergone complex open heart valve repair surgery two weeks after the conclusion of The Tonight Show and had taken three months to recover from it.[10]
Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band
It was initially unknown whether Weinberg would be joining O'Brien when
On October 19, 2010, it was announced that the new band name for the Conan show would be Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band.[14]
Weinberg made a cameo appearance in a monologue bit on the October 28, 2014 episode of Conan, briefly "filling in" on drums for regular drummer Wormworth, who had "gone missing" in the middle of the episode.[15]
On October 4, 2018, with the announcement of the show’s switch to a half-hour format, it was announced that The Basic Cable Band would no longer appear regularly on the program. Members did reunite for four special episodes at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019,[16] and for the show's final eight episodes (as Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Four) in June 2021.
Discography
Albums
- The Max Weinberg 7 (Hip-O Records, 2000)
Members
Final lineup:
- Scott Healy – keyboards, occasional guitar
- Mike Merritt – bass guitar
- Mark Pender – trumpet, acoustic guitar, vocals
- percussion, vocals
- Jerry Vivino – saxophones, flute, clarinet
- percussion
Past members:
- Max Weinberg – drums, bandleader
- Ronnie Gutierrez – fill-in percussion
References
- ^ Katherine Schaffstall (October 4, 2018). "'Conan' Airs Last Hourlong Episode, O'Brien Pays Tribute to Longtime Band". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- ^ Merritt, Mike. "Biography". MikeMerritt.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ^ a b c Schaeffer, Christian (2010-09-22). "Jimmy Vivino Talks Johnnie Johnson, Conan O'Brien, and St. Louis' Role as a Rock & Roll Breeding Ground". Riverfront Times. St. Louis. Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ a b Steinberg, Jacques (June 5, 2009). "For TV Band, Jet Lag Is Part of the Job". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
- ^ a b "Conan's 'Late Night' Theme Being Adapted for 'Tonight'". TVWeek. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
- ^ "Conan O'Brien, NBC Seal 'Tonight Show' Exit Deal". Fox News. 2010-01-20.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (2010-03-11). "Coco Coast to Coast: Conan O'Brien announces his national tour (Updated)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
- Rolling Stone. Archived from the originalon April 17, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
- ^ Bleyaert, Aaron (2010-06-02). "Thank You Radio City!!". teamcoco.com. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
- ^ a b Buckman, Adam (2010-10-07). "Max Weinberg: Open Heart Surgery Influenced My Decision To Leave Conan". Fancast. Archived from the original on 2010-10-10. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- Today.com. TheWrap.com. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
- ^ Greene, Andy (2010-09-24). "Max Weinberg Officially Splits With Conan O'Brien". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ EW.com. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ Gillin, Joshua (2010-10-20). "Anne Hathaway discusses nudity in new movie with Jake Gyllenhaal". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on 2010-10-23. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ^ Max Weinberg Returns To CONAN - CONAN on TBS
- ^ Jay Allen Sanford (2019-07-17). "No Comic-Con pass, no problem". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2019-07-20.