Stu Cook was doing laundry in Oregon, miles away from his home in Austin, Texas, when he checked in with The Herald.
The famed bassist for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Creedence Clearwater Revival plans to play at the Evergreen State Fair with original CCR drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford on Wednesday.
The two men, along with three newer faces, make up Creedence Clearwater Revisited, a group that plays CCR hits, recapturing some of the glory of “Fortunate Son,” “Proud Mary” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain.”
It’s a worthwhile pursuit for Cook, even if it does mean using a washing machine several states away from home.
“The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat,” Cook said. “The energy exchange between the band and the audience, and back again, is pretty much what keeps every entertainer going.”
Cook and Clifford served as the rhythm section for Creedence Clearwater Revival. Teaming with brothers John and Tom Fogerty, the Bay Area group helped create the genre of swamp rock. It also had a remarkable run of success. From 1968 to 1972, CCR released seven albums that produced 13 singles in the Billboard Top 10.
However, the thrills of victory led to other agonies. The group didn’t have a manager, Cook said, so the young men’s egos ran rampant.
“Things got tangled up and nobody was happy,” he said. “We didn’t have a mentor.”
Most of the members embarked on solo careers after disbanding, with John Fogerty, lead singer and songwriter, earning by far the most success. His albums, such as 2007’s “Revival,” still hit the Billboard charts.
Clifford and Cook reformed as Creedence Clearwater Revisited in 1995. The group planned to play some private shows and call it a day, but soon its concert schedule was full. This year alone, the group is playing about 70 dates.
The group’s success led to a live album, 1998’s “Recollection.” The track list closely mirrored CCR’s own greatest hits collection, “Chronicle, Vol. 1.” In September 2007, “Recollection” finally went platinum, signifying the shipment of 1 million copies.
While people still clearly love CCR’s music — how else to explain the live album’s success? — the original band can never fully re-form. Guitarist Tom Fogerty died in 1990. However, Cook didn’t rule out playing with John Fogerty again. There had been bad blood between the songwriter and rhythm section for years, but Cook said he’s basically over it.
“We’re well on our way to the end of the road, so let’s not make a big deal out of the past,” the 63-year-old Cook said. “We’ve got today and hopefully tomorrow to live. What’s done is done.”
Meanwhile, Cook will keep hitting laundromats and playing shows — not that he needs the money at this point.
“Oh man, everybody’s rich beyond their wildest dreams if they just look around,” he joked. “It’s a labor of love. We could all make ends meet without this.”
Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com.
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