When Steely Dan’s Walter Becker thinks back to the hazy ’70s that was the band’s heyday, the singer-bassist-guitarist has very little recollection of Ohio.
"I remember doing a gig in Columbus during the ’70s,” laughed Becker, calling from New York City. "We were rowdy and hoolies at the time. A roadie and I bashed in a wall at the hotel and to my great surprise, they later wanted us to pay for the repair. It was an experiment in what later we realized was a Joe Walsh-type of thing.”
He quickly added, "But I wouldn’t compare myself to the master.”
These days Becker and his longtime musical partner Donald Fagen have found great pleasure in rediscovering Steely Dan’s past, which includes radio hits "Do It Again,” "Reelin’ in the Years,” "Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” and "Hey Nineteen,”
Specifically, the platinum-selling 2001 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum-inductee outfit is now touring with consecutive shows performing two of its more creative albums — "Aja” and "The Royal Scam” — in their entirety. Local fans will get a chance to hear the former jazzy album Monday and the latter rocking effort Tuesday at the University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall.
