Joe Butler and Steve Boone look back on an amazing Lovin’ Spoonful legacy

Two founding members of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Lovin’ Spoonful explore the sixties folk rock quartet’s formation in New York City, earning their stripes in sweat-drenched clubs, the pitfalls of playing one-nighters in the twenty-tens, if they ever grow weary of the same setlist, cross-generational audiences, sweet Georgia influences, and a dose of good time jug band music. In the accompanying still all is definitely well for drummer-backing vocalist Joe Butler, rhythm guitarist-songwriter-frontman John Sebastian with protruding muttonchops, bassist Steve Boone in a copper turtleneck sweater, and cigarette-cradling, cowboy hat-wearing lead axeman Zal Yanovsky in 1967, possibly taken in New York City’s Greenwich Village. Photography by Henry Diltz / Corbis via Getty Images

The day before the Lovin’ Spoonful headlined an outdoor concert at the Sasser Flea Market & Antique Mall in Sasser, Georgia [about 20 minutes northwest of Albany], on September 18, 2010, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers sat down to chew over their long career with Albany TV station Fox 31 News on the since-cancelled Good Day live program.

Original members Steve Boone [bass, songwriter] and Joe Butler [drums, rhythm guitar, and lead vocals after John Sebastian’s exit] represented the innovative swingin’ sixties quartet during the morning appearance with host China Sellers.

Recalling their formation, Boone said, “There were two members who were folk music guys [Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky], while two of us [Joe and I] were from rock bands in Long Island. We hooked up in New York City in early 1965, and six months later we were out touring with our first hit record.”

Butler, clearly the outgoing spokesman for the Spoonful, quickly admitted, “It’s always fun to play, and it’s probably more fun than we deserve. But the traveling isn’t such fun. It’s heaven to be with people and get their reactions. We’ve been lucky, having airplay right along. It’s a cross-generational thing. There are kids — 12-year-olds, 8-year-olds — mouthing the lyrics. That is always very satisfying.”