At one point, guitarist Harvey Mandel appeared to be in line to join the Rolling Stones during the immediate post-Mick Taylor era. They ended up going another way, but Mandel didn’t leave empty handed. For one thing, Mandel is featured on two tracks, “Hot Stuff” and “Memory Motel,” from 1976’s Black and Blue.
“At home one night, about three or four in the morning, I got a call from Mick Jagger. He said, ‘We’re in Munich, Germany; we want you to come play a couple of songs. Leave tomorrow.’ The idea was I’d be a replacement for Mick Taylor, playing the slick guitar. But there was a whole argument in the studio. Keith [Richards] wanted Ron Wood, because he wanted to keep it all English. Mick was leaning towards me, because he wasn’t looking for another guitar player onstage, leaping around and doing crazy stuff. Unfortunately, I lost out.”
“When I got the call to do Black and Blue, I was taken to the fancy hotel, getting ready to sleep and, all of a sudden, tap-tap-tap on my door, there’s Mick Jagger in his bathrobe,” he adds. “For a split second, I thought, ‘How far will I go to become a Rolling Stone?’ Anyway, that’s my funny Rolling Stones story.” – Harvey Mandel
But now, Harvey is battling for his life, again! The cancer he had in 2013 was arrested and in remission. Until last year, when the cancer came back with a vengeance. Facing several more grueling surgeries, Harvey needs your help to afford the required surgeries and rehab. Please visit Harvey’s go fund me page and contribute whatever you can. It will mean the future for Harvey:
