Flash: I live in Los Angeles, and playing in my own band [Jazz & Blues). Also playing as session guitarist for local blues,R&B, and Gospel artists. My group has just returned from a three week Asian tour. I also occasionally work as producer, mainly for Asian Blues, Jazz, and R&B artist.

I understand that "Thunder" Higuchi is still quite active as well. Are you guys doing anything together?

Flash: It was lucky enough for me to play with him for that Asian tour. From now on I want to play with him as often as possible.

Creation was quite popular in your part of the world prior to Felix joining the band. How did it come about that you wound up playing with him?

Flash: In '73 Creation toured with Mountain as the opening act, and on this tour Felix and I became close and he liked our music too. In '75 Felix came to Japan for a Summer Rock festival. That was the first time we played together with his Special Band named "The World Rock Festival Band." Around that time, Creation was about to make our 2nd album for EMI , and we asked him to produce our next record. He gave us the green light. The band flew to the States, and while we were rehearsing at Felix's Nantucket home, things has changed to another dimension... which was the new project "Felix Pappalardi & Creation." After two month of rehearsal we went to the Bearsville studio to cut the album.

How did you guys and Felix manage to pull it off, given the distance between you?

Flash: At the time our agency and record company were fully supportive of our over- seas activities. Also Felix liked Japan so much! So either we go to the States or Felix comes to Japan. That worked well.

Did the distance limit or have any effect on your ability to do concerts?

Flash: Physically it didn't. However, mentally there was a few. Especially when I played his hit tunes in the States. I tried to play appropriate licks in order to fit its original record, e.g., Nantucket Sleighride and Imaginary Western were typical.

Felix was known for being, shall we say, "in charge" in the studio. What was it like recording with him?

Flash: It was like everything was already done in rehearsal room. Meaning Felix gave us every essential advice and direction from the day one to the end. But what still impressed me was his studio skills. It was like magic!

How much input did you and the rest of the band have in the process of recording the Creation album with Felix? Who wrote the songs and who decided what made it on, what got left off and so forth?

Flash: I prepared and wrote about 10~15 songs for this record, and after we arrived at his home we (Felix, Gail & Me) selected materials again, had discussions almost every day and worked together to decide songs. Also around that time('75~76 ) the music scene was changing from '60's flavored Hard Rock to more Rhythm oriented music. Simply said, funk and new types of Jazz were on the market. Also, Felix was so curious about Reggae music. Incidentally, even though I like our album, I like his "Don't Worry, Ma" album a lot.. we can see his reggae influence, or at least his more rhythm oriented side on that record. He recorded Albert King's "As The Years Go Passing By" on that album. That was the song he picked up from my traveling cassettes collection. And we played that song many times together live. Also I remember he said Chuck Rainy was his favorite bassist. Except Jack Bruce. I guess to him Jack was more like his brother.

Were you happy with the final outcome of the album?

Flash: Oh, Yes!

What are your memories of Felix as a person? Any good stories to tell?

Flash: He didn't like swimming...He was listening Bach while we were driving from Bearsville to NYC all the way through, only Bach Bach Bach...when something is wrong, he always said, "I'm gonna call my UNCLE "...He didn't like Jeff Beck...He didn't like triplets fill-in for 4/4 beat...He thinks shuffle beat never gets along with Rock music, only works with Blues.

He took me to Electric Ladyland while Chick Corea was recording his "Return to Forever" album. He said them two are family. One time we all visited his Nancket friend,I forgot his name...but he is a docter and excellent Jazz pianist too. Out there Felix played bass for those complicated BeBop lines so well. We were all amazed. Only one guy didn't appreciate that kind of music, and that was Mr. Laing. He smashed the drummer's kit...and then the party was over.

Looking back, how has that whole experience effected your career?

Flash: I started to play guitar when I was thirteen, soon I got to digging the Blues, then began to play more original music. It was so called Hard Rock (Blues oriented). But from all the experiences with Felix: He gave me more visions, more musical piers and literally he taught me how to arrange the music scores, Contemporary Music Theory, or how to get along with beautiful ladies back stage! (LOL)...Well, I don't know what people may think about this but to me Gail was also a very good person and always good to us. They loved each other so much in their way. That's how I see it.

Although I am playing different types of music now (Jazz & Blues), Felix is always my only teacher. And perhaps he is the reason why I'm still playing and still wanna be better than yesterday. Truly, He is my precious, unforgettable friend. He put his Soul into the music and Love into the music and still lives on even today in my guitar play. I know some people care about the style of music or try to categorize, but who can say a rose is more beautiful than a lilly...