John Fogerty was at his prime when he wrote Creedence Clearwater Revival's biggest hits, says CCR drummer Doug "Cosmo" Clifford.
With a late '60s classic rock catalog that includes "Proud Mary," "Born On the Bayou," "Bad Mood Rising," "Green River," "Down on the Corner" and "Fortunate Son," Creedence made simple, honest, no-frills kind of music.
"It was good, solid stuff," says the 63-year-old Clifford, who keeps on rollin' through those swamp rock tunes under the moniker Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
Clifford and original CCR bass player Stu Cook formed the Revisited band in 1995 -- two years after Fogerty infamously refused to play with them when Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- and the two still play around 75 shows a year, including a stop this weekend at the Yakama Nation Legends Casino outdoor arena in Toppenish.
The CCRevisited lineup also includes multi-instrumentalist Steve Gunner, lead guitarist Tal Morris, and lead vocalist/rhythm guitar player John Tristao. (Tristao, undoubtedly, has to prove himself each night as a fit replacement for Fogerty.)
"The singer was the difficult part," says Clifford.
Ten singers sent in tapes and four were asked in for a live audition. Tristao -- the former frontman for the one-hit '60s pop band People -- landed the gig.
Still, "We don't try to imitate John Fogerty," says Clifford. "We are not a cover band. Fifty-percent of the (original) band is here."
CCRevisited plays at 8 p.m. Saturday at Legends, 580 Fort Road.
Tickets cost $20-$40 and are available through the Legends Casino gift shop, 877-726-6311, ext. 5271, or Ticketmaster, 453-7139, www.ticketmaster.com.
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