The Martians (4)

Recording - producing duo The Martians (aka Stars In The Sky) were the Kessel Brothers (Dan and David), the sons of Spector's hero, the guitarist Barney Kessel. This is how Dan and David were part of the troupe of musicians Spector invited in 1973 to the Lennon sessions of Rock'n'Roll. Both in their early twenties, Spector had known them since infancy. They were like family. When Spector was in London, working with Lennon and Harrison, he had sent the boys postcards and souvenirs – Apple wristwatches, notes written on the Beatles' stationery. Both played guitar, Dan also played drums. On the first night of the Lennon session, Spector's drummer Jim Keltner was late arriving. 'So I volunteered to play the drums,' Dan remembers. 'The other musicians were wondering who I was and what was going on. Phil said, "This is Barney Kessel’s son, and if Barney Kessel’s son says he can play the drums, he can play the drums.” At the end of the session Spector invited the brothers back the following evening. ‘He said, “And bring your instruments,” ’ David remembers. ‘We said, “OK.” And then he said. ‘You do play, don’t you?” Over the next seven years the Kessel brothers would play on all of Spector’s sessions, help him with pre-production, be privy to his business deals and be his most constant companions. Spector dubbed them "The Three Musketeers".