peteb

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1323887951' post='1468341'] I say this all the time, but studying music at University has to be one of the silliest ideas going these days. It's a lovely thing to do if you have no aspirations to own a house or get a job, but in the real world, a music degree is as much use to an employer as as a wad of used toilet paper. You might enjoy indulging your hobby for a couple of years but beyond university and the meagre pickings of the music world you'll not have much to show for the colossal debt you've accrued. [/quote] Sorry, but that’s b0ll0cks mate! It is very true that the age of the session musician has diminished to the point of being almost irrelevant, but there is still a demand for music only now it is in entirely different ways The one guy I’ve known who has become a millionaire from actually playing music was always a very good but uninspired player (no where near the best), but has made his money from composing music for computer games. Guess what – he’s got a music degree! Another guy I know makes a decent living from composing background music, jingles, etc – again he has studied music I don’t think that it matters too much when it comes to live work, thru having that background can’t hurt! However, the piece of paper you get from a music degree is in itself pretty worthless! To be honest, it is certainly true that you may struggle to make a good living just from playing life and all my mates who do play for a living have to supplement their income by teaching, freelancing for PA companies, etc I think that it is a given that in taking a music degree you are committing yourself to actually making a living from music as it is not going to help you get a job in the same way as a History (or other non-vocational) degree will….. To the OP – good luck, it ain’t an easy way of making a living!

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1323551090' post='1464562'] One more for Guy Pratt, plus Beyond The Bass Clef by Tony Levin. However, the best 'muso' book I've ever read (and I've read a few) is Rhinos Winos & Lunatics by Deke Leonard, brilliant and hysterical. The prequel to this, Maybe I Should Have Stayed In Bed is also wonderful. [/quote] Much as I appreciate the sheer talent of Mr Hughes, I'm pretty sure that Guy Pratt's book will be a much better read! Been trying to get hold of Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics, but whenever I see it on Amazon it's always going for a small fortune! PS. to the OP, I would strongly recommend the Guy Pratt book for a holiday read - it's laugh out loud funny.....

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1323479342' post='1463908'] So what intellectual process did you go through to arrive at this conclusion? I don't have a choice about making music. I HAVE to do it, or I wither and die. I tried it once. Don't misunderstand me, I get a lot of joy from writing and playing, but I get plenty of pain too. Music without humanity is just machine or language operation, or manipulation for financial gain. [/quote] There is no intellectual process, playing music is what I do and always have done and to an extent is what defines me It can bring with it a certain amount of frustration when you cannot achieve what you think that you are capable of, but the main reason for playing is for the joy of doing so (a few quid at the end of the night doesn't hurt) Most of the best players I have met in many years of being in bands are the least precious about the process of making music!

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1323477832' post='1463900'] I read it recently Pete. People have all sorts of complex motives for making music. Some people do it to get shagged, some do it as a political tool, some do it to heal themselves. You surely can't advocate only one facet of motivation, or tell people to stop feeling how they feel and expressing their feelings through music. Life isn't all KISS and Westlife mate, where would we be without music that came from the pain and beauty of what is to be frail and human? Music teaches us about what it is to be human, whether that's Son House, Miles Davis, or Stravinsky. [/quote] I kind of agree, but the principle motive for making music should be for the sheer joy of doing so - be it pop, metal, jazz, classical , blues or whatever.....

All I am trying to say is that playing music should be a positive thing that one should take joy in and should not be over intellectualised I don’t know if you have read the Bill Bruford autobiography (as referenced in the Robert Fripp thread), but just compare his rather joyless outlook on playing music to that of Roy Haines, the veteran jazz drummer, who he seems so in awe of and who was still touring at the age of 83, purely for the love of it………….

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1323473566' post='1463864'] Pete mate, with all respect and despite the compliment, that is such an unkind and ignorant statement that I'm having a hard time understanding why would make it, assuming you have read all the posts on this thread. [/quote] I don’t mean to upset you or anyone else, but I think that you and others are expecting too much from music, despite it’s obvious importance to your life (and to mine for that matter) The one time that I had anything like serious problems in my life, it had a negative impact on my playing (despite being a bit of a refuge), simply because it affected my concentration levels. I think that you should enjoy playing music simply for what it is rather than projecting any other problems you may have into it…… edit: that this a general statement and is not especially meant to relate you

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1323467410' post='1463810'] I only ever think, after 30 years of playing, that I let myself and music down, when I don't make magic happen through laziness, lack of ability and understanding, or through self-loathing. [/quote] To be honest mate, I think that you (and a few others here) ought to stop over-thinking things and just f**kin play and enjoy it – this particularly applies to yourslf as you obviously (unlike some of the others) can actually play!

When I was in a fairly typical British rock/metal band back in the 80s, I played a black Guild Pilot (mainly to stand out from herd who were using pointy headstock Charvels) Great sounding and looking bass but not the easiest to play! I would go for the aforementioned pointy Charvel, unless you can afford a Spector (the bass I really wanted back then but couldn't afford)!

I've just got a Jazz in lake placid blue with a RW board / white scratchplate Always liked that combination....

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1323353242' post='1462358'] Another agreement here. What puzzles me about Bruford's autobiog is there is absolutely ZERO affection for any of his colleagues - just dry observations about the record industry. Very public school. [/quote] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]I actually found Bruford quite annoying![/font][/color] [color=#222222][font=Arial]There he was, having pretty much hit the jackpot as far as being a rock musician goes, in a well regarded band with great players, great music and a number 1 album! As someone said in the Chris Squire thread, it must have been a blast being on the Yes tour bus at that time with Squire and Rick Wakeman in tow![/font][/color] [color=#222222][font=Arial]Yet, all he can do is moan about Squire being always late and that the manager is supposedly a bit of a cockney wide boy![/font][/color][/size]

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1323028010' post='1458465'] Sadly, my memory of Sweet is from 1989 (ish), somewhere in Europe, dragging Brian Connolly from his bed while the rest of the entourage (bands and crews) are on the bus waiting to get to the airport. [/quote] My mate's dad used to play in a band with him, I think around about that time He had a bit of a drink problem himself, but nothing compared to Connolly's by all accounts.....

You can get the John East knobs from Bass Direct - they look pretty classy! [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/East_Knobs.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/East_Knobs.html[/url]

Played a pub in the centre of Leeds to a room full of Norwegian Leeds United supporters who had come over for the Millwall game. There were also quite a few blokes in LUFC suits & ties - the younger ones were obviously players but didn't recognise any from the first team Our Nordic friends were obviously well lubricated but were a great audience. We even had one guy try to book us for a blues club somewhere in the north of Norway for next year!

[quote name='lonestar' timestamp='1322928795' post='1457430'] Yep that sounds a pretty good summing up of the book to me Pete. I always like the idea of listening to very avant garde, technically brilliant, out there music as practised by both of these two but when I listen to solo Fripp projects and Bill Bruford's later output I find myself asking what it is that people actually find to like in such "challenging" music. [/quote] I think that we may be in agreement here!

[quote name='lonestar' timestamp='1322927832' post='1457411'] I'd suggest reading Bill Bruford's biography if you want the reall measure of 'The Owl" as Bill refers to him; not altogether affectionately. [/quote] I have unfortunately! Fripp is painted as rather a malevolent, unpleasant sort of a fellow and Bruford comes across as possibly the dullest man alive!

Personally I think that some people tend to over-intellectualise things!

I was going to suggest the iGig, which is excellent I got the iGig in preference to the Mono (which also looks great), mainly as it has more storage space

It's a fashion thing - top line Warwicks are terrific basses but not as popular as they once were and people are part exing them against more fashionable models.....

Yep - saw it there and asked Jon about it! No hardware on it at that time if I remember correctly, but looks like it's gonna be very nice indeed.....

Was it left-handed??

Greetings from just down the road (Bingley)! What colour jazz is Jon building for you? Just been over to his workshop and wondered if I saw it half finished!