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David Letterman was late night's music champion – and these are his best guests David Letterman was late night's music champion – and these are his best guests
(34 minutes later)
Related: David Letterman: the late-night prankster who became a comedy godfatherRelated: David Letterman: the late-night prankster who became a comedy godfather
David Letterman’s departure from late-night TV is also a loss for the music industry. Throughout his career, Letterman has tempered his salty comedic side with a genuine, grin-inducing love for music, one evidenced by the bookings on both his NBC and CBS shows. Here, in chronological order, are 11 musical guests who stood out during Letterman’s lengthy time behind the host’s desk.David Letterman’s departure from late-night TV is also a loss for the music industry. Throughout his career, Letterman has tempered his salty comedic side with a genuine, grin-inducing love for music, one evidenced by the bookings on both his NBC and CBS shows. Here, in chronological order, are 11 musical guests who stood out during Letterman’s lengthy time behind the host’s desk.
James Brown (12 July 1982)James Brown (12 July 1982)
Before Letterman appeared on the late-night scene, it was fairly free of pop music; Tonight’s bookers only brought musicians on occasionally, and tended to stick to a few known names (Steve Lawrence and violinist Itzhak Perlman). Letterman was slow to add musical guests to his regular repertoire, but once he got going he got going, as this fiery three-song set by the Godfather of Soul shows – so kinetic that Letterman hastily canceled the night’s last guest. The fleet-footed Brown and his on-a-dime band tore through There Was a Time, Sex Machine and Cold Sweat.Before Letterman appeared on the late-night scene, it was fairly free of pop music; Tonight’s bookers only brought musicians on occasionally, and tended to stick to a few known names (Steve Lawrence and violinist Itzhak Perlman). Letterman was slow to add musical guests to his regular repertoire, but once he got going he got going, as this fiery three-song set by the Godfather of Soul shows – so kinetic that Letterman hastily canceled the night’s last guest. The fleet-footed Brown and his on-a-dime band tore through There Was a Time, Sex Machine and Cold Sweat.
REM (6 October 1983)REM (6 October 1983)
Letterman’s late-night slot during his NBC years also allowed him a little more leeway as far as booking guests who he simply found interesting, a trait that would continue as he moved to CBS and that would particularly shine once the internet’s ever-hungry content coffers demanded not just a song or two, but a full-on show in order to satisfy their needs. In 1983 he booked a little-known quartet from the “fine college town” (and musical hotbed) Athens, Georgia, for their network television debut, which included a performance of “a song too new to be named”. That band would go on to be one of the alt-rock era’s most important acts, and the song – “So. Central Rain” – wound up being one of the highlights of REM’s early catalog. (Thirty-one years later, REM bassist Mike Mills, who was backing up 3 April 2014 musical guest Joseph Arthur, announced Letterman’s departure from late-night TV when he tweeted about Letterman dropping the “R-bomb” during that night’s taping.) Letterman’s late-night slot during his NBC years also allowed him a little more leeway as far as booking guests who he simply found interesting, a trait that would continue as he moved to CBS and that would particularly shine once the internet’s ever-hungry content coffers demanded not just a song or two, but a full-on show in order to satisfy their needs. In 1983 he booked a little-known quartet from the “fine college town” (and musical hotbed) of Athens, Georgia, for their network television debut, which included a performance of “a song too new to be named”. That band would go on to be one of the alt-rock era’s most important acts, and the song – “So. Central Rain” – wound up being one of the highlights of REM’s early catalog. (Thirty-one years later, REM bassist Mike Mills, who was backing up 3 April 2014 musical guest Joseph Arthur, announced Letterman’s departure from late-night TV when he tweeted about Letterman dropping the “R-bomb” during that night’s taping.)
Darlene Love (16 December 1986)Darlene Love (16 December 1986)
In 1986 Letterman brought the soul belter Darlene Love on to his show to perform her 1963 track Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) with his band, which recreated Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” production for a charming performance that would become a holiday staple for Letterman on both NBC and CBS. (Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer had been performing with Love at the New York cabaret the Bottom Line.) Love’s performance of what Letterman that year called “that very first rock’n’roll Christmas hit ever” became a year-in-year-out holiday tradition, with a different crew of backup musicians and singers accompanying her each time she took the stage. Love performed the song on TV one last time last December, joined by strings, horns and fake snow.In 1986 Letterman brought the soul belter Darlene Love on to his show to perform her 1963 track Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) with his band, which recreated Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” production for a charming performance that would become a holiday staple for Letterman on both NBC and CBS. (Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer had been performing with Love at the New York cabaret the Bottom Line.) Love’s performance of what Letterman that year called “that very first rock’n’roll Christmas hit ever” became a year-in-year-out holiday tradition, with a different crew of backup musicians and singers accompanying her each time she took the stage. Love performed the song on TV one last time last December, joined by strings, horns and fake snow.
Sonny & Cher (13 November 1987)Sonny & Cher (13 November 1987)
When Cher appeared on Late Night with David Letterman in late 1987, she had just released her self-titled 18th album, which – thanks to stormy, rock-leaning tracks like the Michael Bolton-penned I Found Someone and the Jon Bon Jovi/Richie Sambora track We All Sleep Alone – introduced her to the MTV generation and brought her back to pop radio. But Letterman wanted Cher to go back to the old days, specifically the days when she and singer-turned-politician Sonny Bono were hosting variety shows and singing about their love. (They had divorced in 1975.) Cher, who had called Letterman an “asshole” the year prior, seemed reluctant to reprise their love-above-all hit I Got You Babe at first, but once she started singing, the old magic came back.When Cher appeared on Late Night with David Letterman in late 1987, she had just released her self-titled 18th album, which – thanks to stormy, rock-leaning tracks like the Michael Bolton-penned I Found Someone and the Jon Bon Jovi/Richie Sambora track We All Sleep Alone – introduced her to the MTV generation and brought her back to pop radio. But Letterman wanted Cher to go back to the old days, specifically the days when she and singer-turned-politician Sonny Bono were hosting variety shows and singing about their love. (They had divorced in 1975.) Cher, who had called Letterman an “asshole” the year prior, seemed reluctant to reprise their love-above-all hit I Got You Babe at first, but once she started singing, the old magic came back.
Pulp (5 April 1996)Pulp (5 April 1996)
Letterman’s move to CBS coincided with the alt-rock explosion, and he eagerly booked up-and-coming bands that were able to benefit from his slightly earlier time slot. His guest roster during that decade often nodded toward the Lollapalooza lineup – Sonic Youth, Radiohead, Tori Amos and even the reconstituted Sex Pistols showed up – but bless him for being the first American talkshow host to bring Pulp, then riding high off the class-strife anthem Common People, to television. Jarvis Cocker’s commanding performance is a sight to behold, with his wiry energy filling the screen.Letterman’s move to CBS coincided with the alt-rock explosion, and he eagerly booked up-and-coming bands that were able to benefit from his slightly earlier time slot. His guest roster during that decade often nodded toward the Lollapalooza lineup – Sonic Youth, Radiohead, Tori Amos and even the reconstituted Sex Pistols showed up – but bless him for being the first American talkshow host to bring Pulp, then riding high off the class-strife anthem Common People, to television. Jarvis Cocker’s commanding performance is a sight to behold, with his wiry energy filling the screen.
Madonna (3 November 2000)Madonna (3 November 2000)
In 1994 Madonna appeared on Late Show and made waves for asking Letterman to sign a pair of underwear she had brought along, telling him that money had “made [him] soft”, dropping the F-bomb 14 times and eventually refusing to leave the set. The appearance drew in eyeballs and sparked headlines. (The next year, Madonna told then-Spin publisher Bob Guccione Jr that Letterman was in on the joke.) Six years later, around the release of her album Music, Madonna returned to the show for the first time since that notorious interview, and neither party shied from discussing it, although they did cut down the shenanigans enough so that Madonna could run through her then-recent single Don’t Tell Me – unplugged, at that. In 1994 Madonna appeared on Late Show and made waves for asking Letterman to sign a pair of underwear she had brought along, telling him that money had “made [him] soft”, dropping the F-bomb 14 times and eventually refusing to leave the set. The appearance drew in eyeballs and sparked headlines. (The next year, Madonna told then Spin publisher Bob Guccione Jr that Letterman was in on the joke.) Six years later, around the release of her album Music, Madonna returned to the show for the first time since that notorious interview, and neither party shied from discussing it, although they did cut down the shenanigans enough so that Madonna could run through her then-recent single Don’t Tell Me – unplugged, at that.
Warren Zevon (30 October 2002)Warren Zevon (30 October 2002)
The wry singer-songwriter Warren Zevon was one of Letterman’s first and most frequent musical guests, appearing on the show for the first time in September 1982 (he performed Excitable Boy and Overdraft) and leading the show’s house band when leader Paul Shaffer was unavailable. In 2002 he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and told that he had months to live, and his subsequent appearance on Late Show was full of gratitude toward Letterman (who he called “the best friend my music’s ever had”), performances of his songs, and reflections on mortality that included his No 1 lesson about what’s important in life: “How much you’re supposed to enjoy every sandwich.” Last month, as part of the run-up to Letterman’s final show, Late Show had Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires pay tribute to Zevon with a cover of his track Mutineer. The wry singer-songwriter Warren Zevon was one of Letterman’s first and most frequent musical guests, appearing on the show for the first time in September 1982 (he performed Excitable Boy and Overdraft) and leading the show’s house band when leader Paul Shaffer was unavailable. In 2002 he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and told that he had months to live, and his subsequent appearance on the Late Show was full of gratitude toward Letterman (who he called “the best friend my music’s ever had”), performances of his songs, and reflections on mortality that included his No 1 lesson about what’s important in life: “How much you’re supposed to enjoy every sandwich.” Last month, as part of the runup to Letterman’s final show, the Late Show had Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires pay tribute to Zevon with a cover of his track Mutineer.
Beastie Boys (14 June 2004)Beastie Boys (14 June 2004)
The iconic New York hip-hop trio first appeared on Letterman’s show in 1992, and their raunchy reputation back then inspired Dave to pronounce during his monologue that he didn’t “want no trouble, OK?” (Apparently a few years prior, despite not appearing on the show, their presence in 30 Rockefeller Center had included their “terrorizing Sue Simmons”, then anchor of the local news show Live at Five.) Twelve years later, all grown up, they showed the Late Show audience how even though they were older and wiser they still owned the five boroughs’ streets; their performance of the 2004 track Ch-Check It Out opened in a subway entrance and wound its way to the Ed Sullivan Theater, with Letterman greeting them like old friends once they eventually made their way to his desk.The iconic New York hip-hop trio first appeared on Letterman’s show in 1992, and their raunchy reputation back then inspired Dave to pronounce during his monologue that he didn’t “want no trouble, OK?” (Apparently a few years prior, despite not appearing on the show, their presence in 30 Rockefeller Center had included their “terrorizing Sue Simmons”, then anchor of the local news show Live at Five.) Twelve years later, all grown up, they showed the Late Show audience how even though they were older and wiser they still owned the five boroughs’ streets; their performance of the 2004 track Ch-Check It Out opened in a subway entrance and wound its way to the Ed Sullivan Theater, with Letterman greeting them like old friends once they eventually made their way to his desk.
Paul McCartney (15 July 2009)Paul McCartney (15 July 2009)
After moving to CBS in 1993, Letterman and his crew set up shop at the Ed Sullivan Theater, the Manhattan landmark that had become a hub for TV tapings. One of those tapings was, of course, the Beatles’ 1964 debut on US television, which fueled Beatlemania on this side of the pond and became an iconic moment in American pop-cultural history. Forty-five years later, Paul McCartney returned to the theater for a chat with Letterman – and he then took to the top of the theater’s mighty marquee to play a few songs for a traffic-choking crowd. During what wound up being a mini concert, he ran through the chugging Get Back and a track from his cacophonous project The Fireman, as well as the McCartney II chestnut Coming Up and the Wings classic Band on the Run.After moving to CBS in 1993, Letterman and his crew set up shop at the Ed Sullivan Theater, the Manhattan landmark that had become a hub for TV tapings. One of those tapings was, of course, the Beatles’ 1964 debut on US television, which fueled Beatlemania on this side of the pond and became an iconic moment in American pop-cultural history. Forty-five years later, Paul McCartney returned to the theater for a chat with Letterman – and he then took to the top of the theater’s mighty marquee to play a few songs for a traffic-choking crowd. During what wound up being a mini concert, he ran through the chugging Get Back and a track from his cacophonous project The Fireman, as well as the McCartney II chestnut Coming Up and the Wings classic Band on the Run.
Related: David Letterman retires: the top 10 list of top 10 lists about The Late ShowRelated: David Letterman retires: the top 10 list of top 10 lists about The Late Show
Future Islands (2 March 2014)Future Islands (2 March 2014)
Letterman was absolutely delighted by the kinetic performance of frontman Samuel T Herring during Future Islands’ network television debut, punctuating his monologues with clips of Herring’s dance moves multiple nights after these Baltimore warehouse-scene veterans captivated the Ed Sullivan Theater – and, eventually, YouTube viewers – with Seasons (Waiting On You). It helped too that the song was (and is!) pretty great, tempering its new wave lushness with Herring’s singular marriage of impassioned balladry and guttural bellowing.Letterman was absolutely delighted by the kinetic performance of frontman Samuel T Herring during Future Islands’ network television debut, punctuating his monologues with clips of Herring’s dance moves multiple nights after these Baltimore warehouse-scene veterans captivated the Ed Sullivan Theater – and, eventually, YouTube viewers – with Seasons (Waiting On You). It helped too that the song was (and is!) pretty great, tempering its new wave lushness with Herring’s singular marriage of impassioned balladry and guttural bellowing.
Bob Dylan (19 May 2015)Bob Dylan (19 May 2015)
The final announced performance hosted by Letterman, on his penultimate show Tuesday night, was by Bob Dylan (the Foo Fighters are rumoured to be the last tonight). The similarly irascible poet laureate of boomer rock, Dylan offered up his take on the old standard The Night We Called It a Day, which he also performed on his 2015 album Shadows in the Night. Dylan first appeared on a Letterman-hosted late-night show in 1984 when he was backed by members of the LA punk band the Plugz, although he hadn’t appeared on the Late Show since 1993. The lyrics to Day are appropriately bittersweet for a late-night show’s final trips into the wee hours: “The moon went down, stars were gone/But the sun didn’t rise with the dawn/There wasn’t a thing left to say/The night we called it a day”. The final announced performance hosted by Letterman, on his penultimate show on Tuesday night, was by Bob Dylan (the Foo Fighters are rumoured to be the last tonight). The similarly irascible poet laureate of boomer rock, Dylan offered up his take on the old standard The Night We Called It a Day, which he also performed on his 2015 album Shadows in the Night. Dylan first appeared on a Letterman-hosted late-night show in 1984 when he was backed by members of the LA punk band the Plugz, although he hadn’t appeared on the Late Show since 1993. The lyrics to Day are appropriately bittersweet for a late-night show’s final trips into the wee hours: “The moon went down, stars were gone/But the sun didn’t rise with the dawn/There wasn’t a thing left to say/The night we called it a day”.