What could be more novel than a 73 year old legendary rocker who has a voice that can nail the notes of Robert Plant and simultaneously master guitar licks with a prosthetic hook? That’s right, he plays with a hook. Spotlight on Hoppy Niles, lead singer and guitarist for Uncle Zep, OKC’s premier Led Zeppelin Tribute Band who will headline the Saturday main stage at this year’s Paseo Art’s Festival.
In 1982, Chicago’s Night Rock News Poll ranked Hoppy the top guitarist in the windy city. He and his band at the time, PinUps, would open for greats such as Three Dog Night, Etta James, Joe Walsh, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon and even Cheech and Chong to name a few. He would have a chance meeting and conversation with his idol, Robert Plant, as well as a three hour kick back in a hotel room with a buck naked Johnny Winter. But for drugs, he would have signed with a major label and potential stardom. Instead, for nearly six decades, Hoppy formed several successful bands and played with scores of musicians throughout the West and Midwest to eventually return home to Oklahoma where he lives to date.
Spending a summer afternoon in Hoppy Niles’ Warr Acres home was like boarding a time machine on a retro trip through the revolution of classic rock and roll. When I turned the corner into his living room it looked more like a rehearsal studio, with three electric guitars on stands in front of two amps with his fireplace as the back drop. Another guitar is sitting upright in a leather recliner facing his TV—all symbolically apt for a man whose life in music was not just a past time but rather a passion that defined him.
Niles lost his hand at age five in a gruesome meat grinder accident at his father’s grocery store in Guthrie. He adapted to living with a hook and never let it stop him from pursuing his childhood interests. By high school, he lettered in basketball, football and baseball where he learned to throw left handed and played first base for the varsity team. He also enjoyed music and learned to play trumpet and was taking piano lessons when he heard a high school rock band practice. With eyes fixated on the guitar, it was love at first sight, inspiring him to acquire a cheap acoustic. Within a few months, his parents knew he was serious and bought him a Fender Jaguar electric. “Between two-a-days in football, I sat in a recliner and practiced all day, every day,” said Niles. Only a year later in 1964, he and Guthrie high school buddies formed his first band; the Sin-Sa-Shuns.
College bound to OSU, Hoppy would form a new band, Captain Hook and the Pirates, who would quickly gain local celebrity status. The only way to hear music in the mid sixties was AM radio or on vinyl; occasionally, either at a Catholic church, in an armory gym or at the State Fair, a teenager was lucky enough to hear a cover band. At the time, none was better at replicating radio hits than Captain Hook and the Pirates with Hoppy playing lead guitar.
“When the heavier stuff hit--Hendrix, Zeppelin, Iron Butterfly—my new band, Marble Phrogg, went heavy,” he reflected. After fraternity gigs throughout Oklahoma and a stint playing clubs in Texas, the band recorded their first album in Tulsa. “A contract was signed for distribution. We heard the recording and didn’t like it, but It was too late. The record had already gone to print.” Hoppy held up the sealed album that includes ten cover songs and two originals. According to Goldmine Magazine, the self-titled album is considered one of the top 100 most valuable albums with copies going for $1,000 and up. A re-release of the vinyl record is forthcoming.
“After two years at OSU, two of our band members went to Vietnam, and I headed to Wichita where I started another band.” In 1973, he moved to Denver, and though not knowing a soul, he pulled together talent for another band which included importing a player from Chicago. “Phil Beeman convinced us that there was more work for a band in Chicago. We moved, and he was right. We became Angel then PinUps, and our popularity exploded.”
While in Chicago for twelve years, he married and had two sons which he eventually single parented. He also had serendipitous encounters with two of his idols who would become rock legends. “Our band, Angel, was to play at an exclusive rock club one winter, but it snowed three feet and nobody could come. As crazy as it sounds and through even crazier circumstances, Robert Plant showed up—Zeppelin was playing in the city. We shared a drink at the bar where he asked questions about my band and what cover songs we played. When I told him that we played some Zeppelin tunes, he asked which ones. In mentioning, the Rover, he started reciting the lyrics aloud, and I realized that I had been singing the wrong lyrics. I had learned the song by dropping the needle on the record over and over, but the words were hard to understand. So, face to face, I was corrected by Plant himself.”
In Chicago, Niles shared that there were some clubs that stayed open until 6am. So, if bands played early gigs, they would often go to other clubs to party. Texas guitar shredder, Johnny Winter was in town. Following their gig, the limo driver took the drummer, Bobby Torello, to the Night Gallery north of Chicago where Hoppy was playing. They befriended and ended up at Niles’ apartment. “I had this geometric shaped white, Paul Hammer guitar that was sexy, but I hated playing it. Bobby said that Johnny would love to see it. We took the guitar to Johnny’s hotel room.” Hoppy continued that Johnny answered the door stark naked, and his girlfriend was naked too. Winters, albino and legally blind, was enthralled with Hoppy’s prosthesis. “He held my hook an inch from his eyes and was examining it...he put on red underwear only when we took a Polaroid.” He showed me the picture from his scrapbook.
Sitting on Hoppy’s couch with Pierre, his soft and silent rescue poodle lying between us, Niles shared how a big opportunity to sign with Atlantic Records in 1991 was in the works. Atlantic heard one of their original songs and was impressed enough to sign a deal if the band could submit three more songs. Niles’ voice trailed off with regret as he confessed that drug involvement prevented them from providing the songs.
With Hoppy’s move to OKC in 1987 came more bands. One Arm Bandits took form, and once again, Niles was back in the local limelight and playing gigs with the same fervor that motivated him his entire journey. One Arm Bandit found themselves playing more and more Zeppelin songs because of crowd response. They were booked to play the Water Stage at the OKC Festival of the Arts, but their set had a time limit. A band member suggested they play all Zeppelin tunes, and the show was a massive hit. Uncle Zep was born.
Uncle Zep celebrates their ninth year together with band members Rick George on lead guitar, Steven Walker on drums with his twin brother, Stanley Walker on keys and guitar, and bass player and vocals, Edgar Cruz. Edgar, who has a long standing solo career in OKC, is the newest member. Hoppy speaks of his band with humble adulation and gratitude. He brags on each one and is specific about their attributes and the powerful dynamic that each brings to their performances.
If you are fortunate enough to see Uncle Zep at the Paseo Art Festival May 28, your eyes will probably be drawn to the Jedi Knight aura of the living legend, Hoppy Niles. Both the strength and clarity of his voice and the skill of his guitar playing will certainly amaze you. You might smile; you might even dance. Without a doubt, you will witness a modern rock and roll icon.
Written By: W. Clayton Scott
Photo of Hoppy Niles, Uncle Zep
