rushbo

[quote name='6feet7' timestamp='1474313553' post='3137086'] OK. I'm going to say it then. I don't like the Beatles. But I also don't like anything any of them did individually afterwards either. Whatever their influence I just don't get it or them. [/quote] Fine and dandy...with any Art, it's subjective - I have a real problem with Dylan, Van Morrison and The Doors. I'm in the demographic that generally worships them, but me..nah. The Beatles are important from a contextual point of view because they rescued an American Art form - Rock and Roll - and sold it back to America, just as it was looking like it was all about to fizzle out. Their music was only one part of their appeal as they were the full package to our American cousins - as good looking as Fabian, as quick witted as Jerry Lee Lewis (but without the, er...baggage...) safer than that hip-swinging son of the devil, Elvis and they were exotic - British with that "cute" accent. What the Beatles also had was the ability to generate (in my opinion) absolutely timeless Pop classics at the drop of a hat. Without that, they'd have lasted about as long as Frankie Avalon. They were at the forefront of Pop/Rock music in the sixties - a time of incredible change. Their skill was knowing when to change and by how much - so "Love Me Do" became "Paperback Writer" then "Strawberry Fields Forever" and finally "Come Together". As the world changed, the Beatles were one step ahead, responding to trends, but setting them as well. "Would The Beatles be as successful (or influential) if they'd have been formed in the 70's, 80's or 90's" is a nice, dinner table debate. Guess what I'd say?

I saw it last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. How much it adds to the story is debatable. but it's a great movie and I would urge even the sceptics to try and see it when it eventuality gets streamed/Netflixed and DVD'd to death. My "take away" was just how good a live band they were, even in a hail of teddy bears and Jelly Babies. I guess playing for six or seven hours a night, seven days a week in German clubs can really sharpen you up... After the film ended came the best part for me - the showed all thirty glorious minutes of the enhanced Shea Stadium gig. Absolutely superb. Paul trying to keep it together, Ringo knocking seven shades of something out of his kit and John and George goofing off. Yet it all sounds incredible. Still relevant? Yeah. They were accidental pioneers, breathing new life into a declining dance craze. The degrees of separation between them and the current crop of skinny white boys toting guitars increases with every generation, but that's a hell of a shadow they've cast. Their legacy will outlive all of us. It's OK to say "I don't like the Beatles", but to deny their influence and colossal importance is foolish.

It looks filthy. How many basses get to this state as a result of "normal", regular playing?

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1469899486' post='3101911'] Don't think so...I'm sure the word 'plastic' was in there somewhere. [/quote] Plastic Factory. I spent a fortune in there on REM/Church/Paisley Underground stuff there in the late 80's/90's...

I saw them at Brum Uni (I think....) as part of a package tour. They were ace. It's prompted me to dig out that "Resident Alien" CD I haven't played for years. There were some fantastic bands in the 90's, that didn't get the attention they deserved - Belltower, Headswim, Nyack, Kinky Machine...the list goes on.

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1473767854' post='3132906'] Powerbelly. Busby was the singer (he always seemed to know everyone) and we rehearsed at Arcadeia. What about you? [/quote] Ah....I remember Powerbelly. My wife was a fan...."Rock Helicopter" is spoken about in hushed tones, chez Rushbo. I was in indie darlings Little Red Schoolhouse. We were never chauffeured by our manager whilst drunk, but we did manage to squeeze an album out of Cherry Red Records. Happy days...

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1473759531' post='3132776'] (Some years later after crossing paths at various pub gigs I actually joined the bigger boys band and we tried to conquer the world. We failed. But we did give West Bromwich and the surrounding areas a good kicking. We played at places like The Jug of Ale in Moseley, JB's in Dudley, The Robin in Brierley Hill. We had songs played on local radio, we were interviewed by radio stations and newspapers. Our manager drove me around all the time so I was constantly drunk. It was by far the best time of my life and the guys in the band are like brothers to me to this day.) [/quote] What was the name of the band? We may have been fellow travellers...

When it comes to Art - I like a lot of really "out-there" stuff - Dali, Pollock, Kandinsky...it's all good. But I'm incredibly conservative when it comes to basses. I have no doubt that these are beautifully crafted instruments, but the designs just don't work for me at all. There's something about a P Bass, or a R*kenb*cker that floats my boat in exactly the same way that these don't. Chacun a son gout, eh?

Yeah, I've Tru Oiled a couple of necks and got good results. Its a pretty straightforward process. I found that a really fine sanding after the oil had cured on the neck really helped to get a nice, satin finish with no stickiness.

Really nice work.

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1472382060' post='3120646'] Loada bowlacks, I was watching a programme with Kilburn and the high roads on it, vocalist with Polio, 1 legged drummer, guitarist was a dwarf , not sure about the rest of em but fantastic band. [/quote] Yeah, but did you read the original wanted ad: "Polio ridden vocalist seeks uniped percusionist and vertically challenged guitarist for Pub Rock band. No timewasters".

I don't see a problem with those sorts of ads...at least everyone will be absolutely clear from the outset what to expect. Musical dexterity isn't everything in a band either. I'm sure we've all been in a band with a technical incredible player who gets on everyone's nerves and causes conflict due to the fact that they're also an unpleasant human being. My vote would always go to the inexperienced musician who is driven to improve his or her skills and really contribute to a band above the complacent muso. Ads like these (says he generalising wildly) tend to be from younger, start up bands, who already have a rather idealised manifesto. As you get older, it tends to be more about the boot capacity of your car and whether you can get a regular babysitter rather than the colour of your Converse trainers...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1472075798' post='3118395'] Volume would not be a reason to quit a band. Bass players are always going to deal with volume issues in rock bands as long as there are still guitar players. No gigs, that would be a reason to quit. [/quote] I would say that putting your hearing at risk and having to deal with guitarists who consistently back pedal regarding volume and then refuse to moderate their stage levels are reasons to quit a band. If the band isn't the OPs sole/primary source of income then (in my opinion) he should walk. Your hearing is precious and it sounds like the guitarists are consistently ignoring his views.

[quote name='GisserD' timestamp='1471869877' post='3116510'] Enjoy! [attachment=226063:15 Bass Track.zip] [/quote] He needs to get that thing to the Edinburgh Fringe and start wowing the Derek Bailey crowd...

The Indie-Discotastic sounds of Something Happens' finest moment... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PBzmpT0yQE"]https://www.youtube....h?v=6PBzmpT0yQE[/url]

I've broken about five strings at gigs since I started playing in the mid eighties. Flatwounds seem to be a bit more resilient, in my experience. ...but here's a cautionary tale. About a lifetime ago, I saw the La's (supporting All About Eve - now there's a mismatch, right there...) and John Power snapped a string on his P Bass. A replacement was handed to him by his attentive roadie and off he went. Thirty seconds later, he'd popped a string on that one. too. Fortunately, his roadie had just finished re-stringing the first bass and Mr Power was able to continue without further string snappage. The moral: either have a super-on-it roadie or take a spare of everything.

I have the luxury of a spare bass, so it comes with me to every gig. I've broken about five strings at shows since I started gigging in 1986, so some people might think that carting another instrument about is a waste of effort. I would disagree. It takes seconds to swap basses - certainly less time than it takes to change a string. I have also had the strap button come away from the body of my bass at a gig, so the spare was pressed into service on that occasion, too. I gig a lot (for a weekend warrior anyway), so, in my opinion, it makes sense to have back-ups for as many things as possible - I have a Behringer BDI 21 in my gig box along with spare leads, mics blah blah blah. Fortunately, that's the only bit of spare kit I've never had to use. I keep my basses well maintained, but there are circumstances you cant foresee, so I bring back-ups. For me, it's insurance - the mild inconvenience of having one extra thing to bring to a gig is out-weighed by the piece of mind. And, if I'm doing a two set gig and I'm feeling saucy, I might give the back up a run out too....

Any love for Something Happens? "Stuck Together With God's Glue" is a superb album.

Great interview. Thanks for sharing.

Adam Clayton is guilty of playing really simple lines in a successful band. Mark King is guilty of playing complicated lines in a successful band. These things seem to annoy people. I don't know why. They both seem to fit beautifully into their bands. Everyone is braver and louder and more forthright on the internet than they are in person.

Didn't Carol Kaye play them all?

Do I get a balloon if I get the answer right?

I don't get the hatred...I think it's ok. I've played it a few times with big bands and small ensembles and always enjoyed it. I've listened to the original version and I don't find the bass part particularly offensive. I guess it's one of those tunes that's only popular with the public...