Pete Academy

These days I always try to say 'I don't like something' rather than 'it/he/she's crap!' Doddy told me about a converation he had with a guitar teacher. The teacher cited Flea as being probably the world's best player, only because Flea was probably the only bass player he'd taken notice of. In the land of the blind, the manic slap player is king.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='616366' date='Oct 4 2009, 11:37 AM']You saw EWF in 1976? Respect Sir.[/quote] The album 'That's The Way Of The World' had just come out and was number one in the US chart. 'Shining Star' was number one in the US singles chart. I thought: I need to hear this album. It blew me away. I heard they were coming over with my favourite band, Santana. I saw them at Manchester Apollo. EWF opened the show - about 13 of them on stage. The energy was unbelievable. At the end of the show the drumkit rose up and spun round, with the drummer strapped in and still playing. Everyone in the crowd was awestruck. Santana came on with a pared-down band - 6-piece - I can't remember who was playing bass, but Leon Chancler was on drums. They just couldn't match the atmosphere EWF had created. Plus, Carlos was having trouble with his Boogie combo and kicked it a few times. I went to Liverpool the week after and watched the same amazing show again.

Robert Trujillo has always been a monster player but it wasn't until he joined Metallica that he became really famous. Victor needs to join a band like U2 top raise his profile.

Glastonbury 2000 Acoustic Tent, Big Chill Festival, Echo Arena. Watching Earth, Wind and Fire open for Santana in 1976. Santana just couldn't follow it.

Are you sure you've had a really in-depth listen to his playing? The way he fills out a guitar/bass line-up is quite brilliant IMO. You can buy a book of the Stadium Arcadium album, where the bass and guitar tracks are isolated. Take a listen to this and then have a re-think on your opinion. Flea readily admits his playing has matured since his furious slap days, and I agree with this.

I still think 'Blood Sugar' is one of the best albums ever, and is a bass tour-de-force. 'Mellowship Slinky' is amazing...and bloody hard to play!

Great stories....I'm envious!

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='615968' date='Oct 3 2009, 07:06 PM']Sounds pretty scary!! We played at Horatio's Bar on Brighton Pier a couple of years ago and there's a karaoke bar next door which is known for being full of very tuneless people who's real talent is boozing.. Two very pissed guys came into the bar after their karaoke performance and started hassling us from the minute we started playing. They kept asking for particular songs, asking to have a go on the drums, the guitar, bass etc, etc.. As well as really winding us up, their constant interjections started to wind the rest of the audience up as well. Even though they tried to use our gear during the break without asking us, we somehow managed to get through to the last few songs without anything kicking off...Until one of the two guys picked up our guitarists spare guitar, fell backwards and banged into the amp!! Then all hell broke loose; our keyboard player & guitarist were fighting one of the two guys, members of the audience came up and started rucking with the other guy - it was mayhem! The keyboards went over, one side of the PA fell, a cigarette machine in the corner also went over... Funniest bit was when our guitarist's missus got involved.. In the end, three security blokes finally intervened and kicked the two tw*ts out and we resumed and somehow finished the gig, even playing an extra half-hour at the manager's request and for some extra cash! Looking back, it was something that could have been avoided if the security guys had got involved earlier.. Not surprisingly, we've not been back since![/quote]

I hear loads of stories of bands playing gigs where they've been fighting or the audience have...some proper punch-ups. I've never actually witnessed anything bad at any of my gigs (maybe I've just been lucky). Anyone had experiences?

If we play a gig where there is another band playing, I always contact the band/bassist beforehand to check if it's OK to use their gear.

My mate has just bought an 80s japanese-made jazz for 300 quid. Sorry, but it's too expensive for a Korean-made Fender.

Nearly Dan are due to play The Globe in Cardiff next Saturday. I was about to advertise the gig and went on their website. Having been directed to Ticketline, it says the gig is sold out. I'm trying to confirm this but keep getting an answer machine. Does anyone near there know if this is true, or has a number for the venue? The number on the website seems to be defunct. We'll be chuffed if it is sold out!

My 1983 Steinberger is still for sale, but I want £2000.

My Old School.

[quote name='The Funk' post='613543' date='Oct 1 2009, 08:19 AM']At the Jazz Café a year and a half ago. First gig at a decent venue and second gig with the new line-up. [/quote] Funk by name, Funk by nature.

Our guitar player also plays bass in a long-running local band. One bank holiday some years ago, a venue held an all-dayer with quite a few bands on. Our man was playing in the afternoon with one band and then closing the evening with his regular bass gig. By the time the evening gig came, he was slaughtered. He played the first song in the wrong key, then afterwards took off his shirt and proceeded to call the rest of the band 'a load of b@stards!' Didn't remember a thing the next day.

After the soundcheck we always try to get to a local pub for a couple of pints.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='613336' date='Sep 30 2009, 09:57 PM']Never too pissed to play. Often too pissed to play competently. Was once (rightly) ticked off by a very well-mannered drummer: "It's unprofessional to have two people in the band talking to the audience. That's the frontman's job. And telling the punters that our guitarist makes Carlos Santana look like a c**t is [i]just not on[/i]."[/quote]

I knew I wouldn't be alone in this.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='613289' date='Sep 30 2009, 09:17 PM']Oh loads of gigs where I couldn't even see my hand infront of my face, too many to count. I remember one where I borrowed someone's guitar rig (our guitarist couldn't make it so I played guitar and our singer played my bass, we shared vox), he had a huge pedal board set up and I'd accidentally stepped on half of them before I even played a note, couldn't see well enough to figure out which ones were on or off, so just went ahead and played the set. Afterwards a punter came up to me and told me it was the best guitar playing he'd ever heard. I can't play guitar for toffee even when I'm sober. I remember another gig I ended up stage-diving to my own band, I think I'd given my bass to some girl to play. Later on I needed stitches in my forearm but can't remember what happened. And there was another gig during quite a long mini-tour where we had one song that had quite a long breakdown in the middle with not much happening on the bass, and I'd sat down for it for fear of falling down if I didn't, and I managed to fall asleep. [/quote] Love it!

Sorry guys, I'm on a roll here. I don't take drugs, but during a 35-year career I've done quite a few gigs fairly pissed. However, I've always got through it...apart from one in particular: It was a funk band doing a private party in a marquee. We were due on at 9.30pm but it was delayed until 11pm. The drinks were free, and there was a certain punch being served, called 'Spiny Norman' - a mixture of many alcoholic beverages. Anyway, by the time we were due on, I was leathered. I couldn't get up out of my seat. A band member carried me to the stage. I put my bass on and then almost fell onto my stack and through the tent. The band kicked in ( a Barry White number). I started playing about 2 bars behind and with all the wrong notes, whilst leaning on my stack. I carried on throughout the whole set in the same manner. At the end of the gig someone came up and congratulated the band on a great performance! Cue more stories.

[quote name='silddx' post='613219' date='Sep 30 2009, 07:55 PM']That and Peg are my fave tunes on Aja, but they're all marvellous. I'm going to have to check you lot out if you play in London! Cheers.[/quote] Jazz Cafe in January, I think.

[quote name='silddx' post='613187' date='Sep 30 2009, 06:48 PM']Black Cow is fantastic![/quote] Cheers, mate. The Zappa tune is awesome.

Do these count? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRy6efeugNk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRy6efeugNk[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li91cHx10dM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li91cHx10dM[/url] (BTW, this is the Live Over America version)

[quote name='lonestar' post='612782' date='Sep 30 2009, 09:37 AM']Just seen this on Partysounds and thought of you: MOTLEY CRUE TRIBUTE BAND 'THE DIRT-PUBLIC ENEMY NO 1' NEED A BASSIST ASAP, GOOD EQUIPMENT AND TRANSPORT ESSENTIAL. Cambridgeshire East Anglia Standard: Semi-Pro[/quote] Ooh, not sure I could keep up these days.