photography by Zaebo Pasca, 1971

Cat On A Hot Tin Rough

"We drove out to White Sands, New Mexico. It was a photo shoot ostensibly intended for an album, but later I discovered that there was no new album. All the same it was an astounding day. Deep, electric, awkward. Benmont kept referring to himself as 'Old Chief What's-His-Name.' Also, 'Whale Bones,' talking about a beach at the end of existence, talking about 'The Whale Road.' At the end of it, a new moon on the rise, Benmont looked at me and said, 'I'm just glad a cat's got nine lives, you know what I mean?' I will never forget that."