December 31, 2007

Goldmine Magazine Features The Four Seasons!

December 31st, 2007

The latest edition of Goldmine Magazine, the record and CD collectors’ magazine, has an extensive cover story on Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, which includes incredible photos and interviews with Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito!

Here’s a preview of the Goldmine interview with Frankie Valli:

GM: Having seen the Jersey Boys play, what struck me was how the story was even more important than the music.

FV: Yeah, you’re right. Jersey Boys isn’t a jukebox musical. The first forty minutes of the play there’s no Four Seasons music. We were doing cover songs. We’re telling the story of four guys who ended up getting together. Guys who lived in the ghetto and worked their way up to become successful and who had lots of problems, guys not getting along with each other, financial problems, breaking up and going on. The play ends when the whole group broke up totally and I had my first shot being out alone. The next time you see the guys together is at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

GM: What are your memories of being together again for The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies?

FV: It was the first time we’d been all together in many many years. There’s a line in Jersey Boys where Tommy talks about inviting me to a party in his room afterwards and we never really did connect. After the play opened on Broadway, Nicky (Massi) had already died. It seemed that Tommy and I buried the hatchet. But the feeling of closure has never really locked in for me. It wasn’t like I was looking for anybody to say, “Hey, thanks man! Wow!” But some acknowledgement of something that you don’t have to do (pauses)…I’m not very surprised that didn’t happen.

GM: You did reconnect through the years with Nick Massi.

FV: Yeah. I loved Nick so much. I’d always ask him, “Why did you leave?” And he said, “I can’t be out there.” If we had to see a lawyer he’d say, “I don’t wanna go, you guys handle it and tell me about it later.” He wasn’t that kind of a reality guy. He lived in the framework of music. His life was all about that. Music. Girls. Sitting in a bar having drinks. But I know he was proud of The Four Seasons legacy.

3 Comments »

  1. I so admire Frankie’s candor in this interview, even with the most direct questions. His exact quote is “I’m not gonna sit here and make things up.”

    Frankie notes that he and Bob Gaudio own all the masters of their recordings (and were perhaps the first do to so). He talks about his hearing decline and restoration, his meeting and spending time with all four of the Beatles, and explains his choices for his “Romancing the ’60′s” CD. Most impressive, though, was his and Bob’s show of generosity in circumstances in which they clearly were not obligated, both in regards to the Four Seasons and to “Jersey Boys”.

    Actually, in reading the article, the part I enjoyed most was his discussion of his role on the Sopranos, and his rationalization of his being OK with getting “whacked.”

    Thanks for all you’ve given your public, Frankie. Happy and Healthy New Year.

    Comment by Howard Tucker — December 31, 2007 @ 7:10 pm

  2. Great interview. Read it twice, there’s a lot of information there. Sometimes we get out on a limb here speculating about things and repeating rumors, so it’s a good thing to hear it straight from Frankie Valli. Reading how Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons interacted with others in the recording business from every corner was the best part of the interview. Between this and the inteview a few weeks ago with Bob Gaudio, and the Tom DeVito and Joe Long interviews, the whole story comes together. If only Nick Massi were still here to see all this and do an interview, too.

    Comment by Ted Hammond — December 31, 2007 @ 7:16 pm

  3. That’s just a fantastic interview. Thank God Frankie was relentless in pursuing his chosen field. I would have loved to have been present during one of their early recording sessions and watched the collaborative efforts of these talented individuals. Interesting at the end of the interview where he says he hoped his music acted as a tranquilizer. I have always told people that going to Jersey Boys is a stress reliver for me. After a hectic day at work, I enjoy go to Jersey Boys for a few hours and escape to that wonderful world.

    Comment by LindaL — January 1, 2008 @ 4:09 pm

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