I got to meet FLEA!

[Matt Till]

I've thought about it (fame) and it would drive me nuts. That's one thing that is great about being the bassists, you can kinda blend into the background. That's one thing that flea never chose to do. He has always jumped around like an idiot, wore outlandish clothing, and basically screamed for attention. Now he's sure as hell got it. Me? I get sick of people I know telling me I'm such a great bassist. My instant reply: I'm not, if you want good bass, check out ________. So fame is not for me. I can only imagine having legions of fans telling me I'm the worlds greatest bassist on a daily basis (no pun intended). Flea doesn't seem like an ego maniac to me, just someone who likes to have fun. But being road weary and night after night of fans and fakes following you around has just gotta suck. It depends on the kind of person you are.


I take it Brad has had some scuffles in the past as well.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally posted by StupidMatt
I've thought about it (fame) and it would drive me nuts. That's one thing that is great about being the bassists, you can kinda blend into the background. That's one thing that flea never chose to do. He has always jumped around like an idiot, wore outlandish clothing, and basically screamed for attention. Now he's sure as hell got it. Me? I get sick of people I know telling me I'm such a great bassist. My instant reply: I'm not, if you want good bass, check out ________. So fame is not for me. I can only imagine having legions of fans telling me I'm the worlds greatest bassist on a daily basis (no pun intended). Flea doesn't seem like an ego maniac to me, just someone who likes to have fun. But being road weary and night after night of fans and fakes following you around has just gotta suck. It depends on the kind of person you are.

Exactly, Matt. It's the old "be careful what you wish for" thing. I can say in all honesty that while I wouldn't necessarily mind a successful music career I'd still like to be one of those guys that can still go down to the Piggly Wiggly for some donut holes every once in awhile.

I take it Brad has had some scuffles in the past as well.

I just remembered where this is coming from... the Ed Roman/Lakland/Sadowsky thread last month. That was one weird thread.

>>> Ed Roman... bass savant

Let it go, Slugworth... let it go

[lump]

I've never really understood the whole fan/celebrity thing (no offense to those who do). Just because someone is famous doesn't mean they are any more valuable as a human being than I am. And once I buy their product (CD, movie, concert ticket, whatever), as far as I'm concerned the deal is closed. I trade my money for their art. As long as they give me the show I paid for, they don't owe me anything else. And if I were famous, I would still see it the same way.

Now get the hell out of my dressing room.

[Edit because when I proofread, my brain fills in words that aren't really there.]

[dhuffguitars]

I will still always have a warm spot in my heart for Flea since he is the person that made me interested in basses, just as Carl Thompson is for me in making basses. I always knew in the back of my mind that if I did ever meet Flea I might meet the Flea I did that night.

Even after Mike Watt introduced me to him, and he said that he had seen my work on watt's website he still seem standoffish. I got my pic, met him and that chapter is closed.

I hold no hard feelings, and I probably did initially approach him at the wrong time and that was my fault. The door was open, and opportunities seldom happen twice...

[KeithPas]

Quite a while ago I got Billy Sheehans email address and emailed him. It was'nt to tell him how great he was, I was joking with him about his bassplayer column and the guy that wrote in saying he was having problems with his "G" string. He emailed me back and was really cool.

[DigMe]

Back in college I got on this kick where I was trying to find famous people's email addresses using the email address finder from yahoo and I emailed a bunch to see if they would write me back. The only one I can remember is Tim "Herb" Alexander. He never wrote me back...neither did anyone else.

However, I did email Rufus Reid once and he wrote me back. So did Paul Richards from the California Guitar Trio.

brad cook

[Jay]

You kids are silly.

I took an online test once that was supposed to determine the age of one's inner child; mine is 45. Strange.

Nice diversion though. I was going to shut down this thread like a speakeasy, but you folks turned it around. If you wanna bash each other, go for it in PM, k?

[Hategear]

Originally posted by Brad Johnson
Most of this thread smacks of a high school mentality.

And you're doing your part, adding to it, Brad. You're obviously very bitter about something.

Yes, I would like to be famous -- someday. I'd like to experience the constant adulation for myself, before deciding it's a total nightmare. I guess you've already been there and done that, huh?

EDIT: Fellow moderators, have no fear -- I'm done with this thread.

[Fuzzbass]

Originally posted by Jay
If you wanna bash each other, go for it in PM, k?

One of your fellow moderators wasn't paying attention, so I'll repeat this for him.

[FiXeR]

Originally posted by dhuffguitars
I will still always have a warm spot in my heart for Flea since he is the person that made me interested in basses.

I hold no hard feelings, and I probably did initially approach him at the wrong time and that was my fault.

Amen. Our mistake not his. I feel the same way.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally posted by Hategear
And you're doing your part, adding to it, Brad. You're obviously very bitter about something.

Why don't you show me the thread you're reading. It certainly isn't this one.

Right, I'm bitter because I didn't get an autograph and because of that I want to negatively label famous people. I'm complaining about what someone owes me. *** OMG LOL

Please. What does it sound like I'm bitter about?

Yes, I would like to be famous -- someday. I'd like to experience the constant adulation for myself, before deciding it's a total nightmare. I guess you've already been there and done that, huh?

Cool, I hope you get everything it entails.
As for me...

No, I haven't been there and done that. I make decent money playing music when I want to and while I sometimes do move in the same circles I couldn't care less about being a star and basking in the adulation of people who think they know me and that I somehow owe them something. That's pretty childish IMO... and pretty much the way most fans are.

I've also never been homeless but that doesn't make me so dense that I can't EMPATHIZE with someone who is. Obviously you'd have to experience it before you could do that. Just as obvious, you can't even imagine a downside to all of that fame. There's a lot of that going on in this thread.

EDIT: Fellow moderators, have no fear -- I'm done with this thread.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally posted by lump
I've never really understood the whole fan/celebrity thing (no offense to those who do). Just because someone is famous doesn't mean they are any more valuable as a human being than I am. And once I buy their product (CD, movie, concert ticket, whatever), as far as I'm concerned the deal is closed. I trade my money for their art. As long as they give me the show I paid for, they don't owe me anything else. And if I were famous, I would still see it the same way.

Same here, lump.

Now get the hell out of my dressing room.

[Edit because when I proofread, my brain fills in words that aren't really there.]

[Niall]

I just saw RHCP last night, Flea sounded amazing, and i was very impressed with Mike Watt. I've been trying to find some stuff by the minutemen so i could compare it, becuase i thought the minutemen were more punk...but what an amazing bass player