When oc W 5 OU Cavett DVD captures legends By MICHAEL GILTZ TALK show legend Dick Cavett can't play an instrument, can't really sing and never really lis tens to rock 'n' roll.</p><p> But rock stars loved him. "Dick' Cavett: Rock Icons" (Shout; $39.98) is the fust in a se ries of DVD boxed sets that pres ents complete, uncut episodes of Cavett's E..mmy-winning talk show.</p><p> It's filled with performances and interviews with rockers like Jeffer son Airplane (just back from Woodstock), Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Sly & The Family Stone, George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and others. "I don't know why they all agr~.e;dj:Q. ,come "()Ii my show," says " Cavett, who once hit the cover of Time but admits he was so clue less about the rock lifestyle (ie. drugs) that his staff had to expl.ain what the paraphernalia the rockers left behind was used for.</p><p> One hilarious interview finds a nervous and very fey David Bowie stroking a cane and sniffing very loudly throughout his interview.</p><p> Cavett insists he was naive about the goings-on behind the scenes of these shows, which were taped in a Brojldway house iri the early '70s just around the corner from the Ed Sullivan Theatre (where David Letterman's "Late Show" is taped today). "Does sniffing indicate coke? I'm so innocent.</p><p> I could never really tell," says Cavett. "I knew some thing was operating besides them selves, but I never knew quite what it was or how to spot the variety of available drugs. . .. " .</p><p> But tellingly, what Cavett re~ members most about Bowie was an unexpected and poignant response to a question about his mother (Bo wie's father had already died). "I think she has a day job," said Bowie.</p><p> And how does she explain her son to friends? "I think she pre tends I'm not hers," he says. tfter laughing a bit nervously, Bowie adds, "We were neVer that close, particularly.</p><p> We have an under standing." Coming next month is a set de-Old TV pearl: Janis Joplin with her favorite interviewer, Dick Cavett. voted to frequent guest Ray Charles and, in November, one de voted to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.</p><p> Sly Stone mumbled mo.&.t of his answeI'S" ~di1ririg their chat,kept saying "I like you," to Cavett and got bored.</p><p> Grace Slick tried to remain above it all by calling Cavett "Jim." (He responds mock angrily, "You've got to learn my name, Miss Joplin!" Everyone laughs: Cavett never pretended to be hip, but he wasn't a pushover either.) But one disc in this first set is de voted to perhaps Cavett's most im portant and memorable musical guest of all: Janis Joplin, who loved doing the show.</p><p> And no wonder: Cavett brought out the sweet, funny and delightful person she truly was.</p><p> Whether she's extolling the vir tues of F.</p><p> Scott Fitzgerald or eng aging in a surreal battle of wits with Raquel Welch, Joplin shined with Cavett.</p><p> On one show, Cavett jokes that he's up on all the latest lingo. "Yeah," says Joplin. "I can tell you're a real swinger by the shoes you're wearing." Cavett barely drank but Joplin once got him stoned on a joint big enough to impress Cheech & Chong.</p><p> Cavett returned the favor by taking Joplin out to a fancy New York restaurant.</p><p> Cavett rni.sses Joplin still.</p><p> Watching ' episode after episode of Cavett -filled with fascinating guests, witty and informed conver sation and terrific music -you re alize we miss Cavett, too.</p><p> VI ~ .., 0. ~ » c: 1.0 ~ N 9 N C) C) U'I ::s '< '0 o ~ (') o 3
