Podcast Transcript
Speaker 1:
Welcome to Takin’ A Walk, an excursion to converse, connect, and catch up at a cool location with some of the most interesting people you can find. Here’s Buzz Knight.
Buzz Knight:
So this is part two of Takin’ a Walk here at Fresh Pond with my friend Steve Sweeney, and we’re having a great day here, great walk, great conversation. Lot of amazing dogs around here.
Steve Sweeney:
Yeah, we’re just sitting here and this dog decided to rest next to us. It’s so cool. And he’s breathing pretty heavy.
Buzz Knight:
He’s got a big coat.
Steve Sweeney:
Why don’t we walk again? We’ve been sitting on the bench.
Buzz Knight:
Do you have a dog, Steve?
Steve Sweeney:
I’ve got two of them and they’re not happy that I’m here without them, believe me.
Buzz Knight:
Oh, what kind of dogs?
Steve Sweeney:
I’ve got two Goldens, they’re my third and fourth Goldens, and they’re wonderful. Zorba and Layla. Now, Layla is the greatest rock and roll song of all time, and then Zorba is my favorite book, Zorba the Greek.
Buzz Knight:
That’s cool.
Steve Sweeney:
And the movie with Anthony Quinn, Mikos Kazantzakis.
Buzz Knight:
That’s awesome.
Steve Sweeney:
I love to read. That’s one thing I love to do. And I like to read actual books, I don’t like Kindle and all that.
Buzz Knight:
There’s something called Shortform that takes books and reduces 300 pages to 10. I don’t think you’d be a fan of that.
Steve Sweeney:
But that’s all plot. When you read the book, you get into the feeling of the place, and the language, and the characters, the dialogue.
Buzz Knight:
Do you remember the first time you read Catcher in the Rye?
Steve Sweeney:
Catcher in the Rye was first year in college, but the book I think that really influenced me the most, I think I was only 12, was Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and I can remember weeping at the end of it. And that feeling of not wanting a book to end, it was great. And I remember when I was a kid, seven, eight, there used to be this series called Chip Hilton, who was a sports guy and played all these sports, and you have those dreams. That’s why I picked Fresh Pond, when I was young I can remember being right over a spot to our left and looking at the clouds, lying down, looking at the clouds. You know how you do that?
Buzz Knight:
Yep.
Steve Sweeney:
And I said someday I want to go to Montana. And I did, Glacier National Park up there. So this was a place that I had a lot of dreams, and then in my height of my addiction, came up here and did cocaine, and it was so obscene because here we are in this beautiful natural spot. But anyway, that was in the past.
Buzz Knight:
When was the moment that said I got to get on the straight and narrow? I mean did you have [crosstalk] moment?
Steve Sweeney:
There was a lot of them, but there was a moment, I worked at Nick’s Comedy Stop, and across the street was this bar called Dominic’s, and the time it was the combat zone, not the theater district. So it just hit me. It’s like when you were in Sedona, it hit you. And sometimes you just know. Your mind keeps talking, what’s the logical sense of this, but that feeling of knowing. And it really hit me, I can’t stop. I’m on my third beer, I can’t fucking stop. And it scared the shit out of me and I knew I was killing myself, so anyway.
Buzz Knight:
So the first time you met these Farrelly guys, can you remember that?
Steve Sweeney:
Yeah, there was a guy named John Dennis. Remember John Dennis?
Buzz Knight:
Sure, yeah. Radio guy, TV guy.
Steve Sweeney:
He invited me to play golf, and I played with Bobby and Peter, and we hit it off right away. The ’80s was a big time for stand up, and Peter knew me, and Bobby knew me, and we’re great friends now. And Peter wrote me a text, I wish you could frame text, he said, “Thank you for this movie, this stellar job.” And he said, “You’ve inspired me for a lot of years.” And I don’t know how I did that because he inspires me. He’s the most generous person and absolutely brilliant, if you saw Green Book and all the comedies, and he’s going in a different direction. That to me is very inspiring when somebody takes their life and just follows their own path and goes in another direction as a serious director. And he’s worked with everybody. And so I look back on my career, I worked with Denzel Washington, John Travolta, I was friends with George Carlin, Peter Falk. I don’t mean to bother you. You remember Peter Falk?
Buzz Knight:
Sure.
Steve Sweeney:
Tell you a quick story, I did a movie, it’s on on-demand, called the Money Kings. So it was originally called The Big. So I would be doing that movie during the week and then on weekends, I’d come back to the [Kowloon]. So we’re shooting this in New York and Peter said to me at the end of the shooting, “You know, I’ve known a lot of people, met a lot of people in my business, but I got to tell you, you by far, by far, Sweeney, you are the most fucked up human being.” It was beautiful. When I look back on it, I look on it as a fan. I did The Equalizer with Denzel and one night we got to talk, and we were having a conversation like you and I are having a conversation. So I’m pretending I’m just having a conversation, in the back of my mind I’m saying I’m fucking talking to Denzel Washington. You know what I mean?
Buzz Knight:
Yeah. [crosstalk].
Steve Sweeney:
I guess it’d be like talking to Springsteen or something because they become so much a part of your life, and then you meet them and they want you to be normal. You know what I mean?
Buzz Knight:
Yeah. I’m going to tell a story about-
Steve Sweeney:
Give me an example of that in your life. You’ve met a lot of famous people.
Buzz Knight:
Yeah, well I’m going to give you an example that falls under the category of regrets.
Steve Sweeney:
Okay.
Buzz Knight:
And I don’t really have tremendous regret. I’m grateful for my life and what I have, and I’m probably not grateful enough in some moments, but I try to practice gratitude, but I do have a regret. We went to see Bob Dylan many years ago. This is Bob Dylan. I mean it’s fricking Bob Dylan. And right before the show, the label guy says, “We’re going upstairs.” There’s about nine of us that were at dinner. “We’re going to go see Bob.” It’s like no. So we go up there and Bob was introduced to us, and he makes eye contact only then, when he met us, and then no eye contact after that. But he does say to us, “Anyone want to do a shot of whiskey?”
Steve Sweeney:
Oh really? Oh, good for him.
Buzz Knight:
No-one did it. We were petrified because we were saying that’s the voice of a generation. I don’t want to have a shot. Everybody was afraid. So I kid with people saying that’s my only regret, and I can’t think of really many others. I wish I did the shot with Bob, but for all I know would’ve made a babbling fool of myself and embarrassed myself in front of the voice of a generation.
Steve Sweeney:
I know, we’re very lucky. But he’s a very private guy and I can understand why. I saw him on 60 Minutes, Ed Bradley was interviewing him, and he said, “Even up here in Woodstock,” he said, “No-one leaves me alone.” He said, “They come to the door,” and you can look it up on 60 Minutes. They asked many things about organic farming, and Ed Bradley says, “Well, what do you know about organic farming?” And he says, “Not a thing,” but he said he goes into a restaurant and it’s so weird because half the people are trying to say is that him? Is that not him? It’s hard [crosstalk].
Buzz Knight:
It’s got to be. Oh my God, it’s got to be incredibly hard. Did you get to check out the Beatles special?
Steve Sweeney:
No, I want to. It’s funny because I’m addicted to the Beatles and all that, and when they broke up, John Lennon, to me, came off as so bitter and such a prick, and pissing on all the years they did. And then I always liked Paul anyway. And it turns George has a dark side and the whole thing. So I love the Beatles. It’s weird seeing them as human beings, isn’t it?
Buzz Knight:
Yeah.
Steve Sweeney:
I didn’t see it. Did you see it?
Buzz Knight:
Yes, I absolutely loved it.
Steve Sweeney:
Oh good.
Buzz Knight:
And you see them as people in a different way.
Steve Sweeney:
They grew up together, they were all buddies
Buzz Knight:
Yeah. And what’s cool about the special is they were filming, for this two week period, pretty much everything. And there’s some people who say, “Well, they’re mugging for the cameras and they’re not really in a natural way,” but the cameras were rolling constantly, so you do see some darkness, some bitterness, some struggles. But one of the great things about the special, and there’s many, is we were always led to believe at that point that things were really nasty then. And you know what? They were still-
Steve Sweeney:
Fooling around.
Buzz Knight:
… fooling around. They clearly enjoyed being with each other.
Steve Sweeney:
Well, what is she doing? She’s just sitting there on the fucking speaker, Yoko.
Buzz Knight:
She’s just knitting, she’s reading the newspaper. There’s almost a bit you could do.
Steve Sweeney:
I mean but why is she there? George said that.
Buzz Knight:
I don’t know, it feels like she just had to be there because John was there and John needed-
Steve Sweeney:
John was making a statement.
Buzz Knight:
… a security blanket. It was a statement. But it didn’t seem to affect their collaboration.
Steve Sweeney:
Well, Ringo, I saw in an interview, and he said to John, he said, “What the fuck is this? This is creeping me out. We never have anybody here.” And then according to Ringo, John explained it, and then it was okay. And Paul always puts a good spin on everything, and he said he was glad they became friends again. But Paul was on Howard Stern or something and he called up Yoko, and he said, “I think John would want us to be nice to each other,” whatever. And she said, “Well, don’t do me any favors.” And so he said, “I saw her as cold and pushy.” Then of course, being Paul, he changes around, “Now I don’t see her that way.”
Buzz Knight:
Right. Paul wants to get along with everybody now. Although did you hear he called the Rolling Stones a blues cover band?
Steve Sweeney:
I think that was blown out of proportion too.
Buzz Knight:
I do agree. Sound bite.
Steve Sweeney:
Yeah. I mean if you say a thousand sentences and they take one.
Buzz Knight:
Yeah, I agree.
Steve Sweeney:
I mean we take our heroes so seriously, but I always liked Paul because he seemed to keep it together, and he explained on Howard Stern, he was trying to tell him, “We could lose all our fricking money here with these lawyers and everything.”
Buzz Knight:
Yeah. Who were some of your other favorite-
Steve Sweeney:
I love Mark [Knopfler]. I buy every one of his solo albums and the first listening, I remember this, when I was on the air you brought in Sailing to Philadelphia, and we played that song, one song. And usually with his albums, you listen two or three times. Sometimes the first time you hear something, you love it, but with his albums, they grow on you, and grow on you, and grow on you. Are you a Mark Knopfler fan?
Buzz Knight:
Love Mark Knopfler, absolutely. I agree with you too, it’s like a fine wine, if you will. It’s amazing.
Steve Sweeney:
Now, I like Van Morrison, I’m a huge fan, but I’m usually disappointed in his last maybe five albums. I don’t know, my favorite album of Van is Hymns to the Silence, which is not everybody’s favorite. It’s a double white album, it’s got the Chieftains on it, and it’s great. So I like Mark, I like Van. I love that the Stones are still doing it. I mean I can’t believe Mick Jagger’s 80 and he’s fucking running around the stage. To me, that’s inspiring.
Buzz Knight:
I think music is so amazing, if you think about it, because it’s this unifying force, it pulls at your heart and you could be crying at something that it’s so beautiful, or touching, or evokes a memory, or it just lifts you up if you’re in a down moment. It’s an amazing elixir.
Steve Sweeney:
Do you find yourself listening to the same stuff all the time?
Buzz Knight:
I do at times, but I go through cycles. I just recently went through a big Steely Dan cycle.
Steve Sweeney:
Oh, I love Steely Dan.
Buzz Knight:
And got my wife really interested in it. She was never really a big Steely Dan fan, and I mean it’s amazing the fact that you can get your Sonos and play your music through there. And this idea of Spotify or Apple, it’s like going to Tower Records and picking anything out.
Steve Sweeney:
I got a recommendation for you.
Buzz Knight:
Yeah, love it.
Steve Sweeney:
They’re a country band but they do covers, they’re called The Mavericks.
Buzz Knight:
Oh yeah. Saw them play once.
Steve Sweeney:
This guy has got a voice that is otherworldly. It reminds me of Roy Orbison. And they do a version, it was right after one of those terrible shootings we have, of How Can you Break a Broken Heart by Bee Gees. And they do Hungry Heart. And their whole band is just about joy, like George [Thorogood], it’s just a show. Well, it’s been fun talking to you.
Buzz Knight:
Oh my God, Steve, this has been really tremendous. Let’s just close on this. So we’ve been taking a walk here in Fresh Pond. Any other places you like taking a walk? And could be in Boston, it could be anywhere.
Steve Sweeney:
Well, I’ll tell you a town that’s always had mystic resonance for me, Lincoln. Lincoln to me, I was living here in Cambridge, Cogswell Ave, go out there and say this is the country. Lincoln reminds me of Vermont or whatever, it’s a beautiful walk. Lincoln, Mass, up by the [deCordova] Museum or just the downtown, you’ve been there.
Buzz Knight:
I love it. Yeah, that’s nearby where I live.
Steve Sweeney:
Yeah, it’s beautiful. And then, of course, when you get older, all you’re thinking about is how much would it cost to live in this fucking place? You know what I mean?
Buzz Knight:
Oh yeah, especially now.
Steve Sweeney:
But yeah, walking is a wonderful thing. There’s a wonderful book, I forget what it’s called, but it’s walking on the Appalachian trail. You know that guy, the travel writer?
Buzz Knight:
Yep.
Steve Sweeney:
Yeah.
Buzz Knight:
Well, Steve, thank you for taking a walk. I appreciate your generosity.
Steve Sweeney:
, a good walk, right?
Buzz Knight:
Exactly. So it’s nice to reconnect, and I wish you well, my friend.
Steve Sweeney:
And you know what? We are just getting started. That’s how I feel. I feel like I’m just getting started.
Buzz Knight:
Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for the friendship.
Steve Sweeney:
All right, buddy.
Buzz Knight:
Good health.
Speaker 1:
Takin’ A Walk with Buzz Knight is available on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
About The Author
Buzz Knight
Buzz Knight is an established media executive with a long history of content creation and multi-platform distribution.
After a successful career as a Radio Executive, he formed Buzz Knight Media which focuses on strategic guidance and the development of new original content.
