John Wetton interview (late 1970s)

[StanFan]

I know there are lots of John Wetton fans on these forums (myself included), so I'd thought I'd post this interview I stumbled across. It's part 1 of 4. The rest are in the guy's profile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2IuV_onpps

There are quite a few good interviews in his profile. He used to host an old cable show in the 70s and 80s. Some of the most interesting interviews I've seen in months (especially for a King Crimson fan).

[Jeramaya]

Excellent find. Thanks for posting. I've always wondered about this period of Crimson, what they thought about it, how it was constructed, etc.

[thumbslapper]

wow, that just led me to a 4-hour youtube journey
going from the wetton interview (awesome) to a '81
interview with adrian belew, to more king crimson
stuff.

the wetton interview was great, but it was funny how
he said "Bill (bruford) is a great rock drummer but not
a very good jazz drummer", i got a good laugh out of that.

i always thought wettons tone with KC in the mid-70's
was awesome - going thru that ampeg got a great
growly sound, he wasn't afraid of distortion at all..

-carl

[StanFan]

Originally Posted by thumbslapper

the wetton interview was great, but it was funny how
he said "Bill (bruford) is a great rock drummer but not
a very good jazz drummer", i got a good laugh out of that.

I wonder if he's changed his mind since then.

[tkozal]

Well, at the time, Bruford would probably agree.....if you have read his interviews...

[alanbass1]

I remember seeing John when he toured with Uriah Heep on their High and Mighty tour and have been a fan ever since.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by StanFan

I wonder if he's changed his mind since then.

If he has it may have as much to do with Bill actually improving as a jazz drummer over the years. Listen to Bruford's feeble attempt to swing on Jamaaladeen Tacuma's "Sparkle" circa 1979 versus the most recent Earthworks recordings and you realize that, while Bill Bruford may have always identified with jazz drummers, he couldn't always play like the best of them. Or even like the most average of them.

That's one of the things I like best about Bruford, btw: He's always learning.

[PhR]

Originally Posted by thumbslapper

w

i always thought wettons tone with KC in the mid-70's
was awesome - going thru that ampeg got a great
growly sound, he wasn't afraid of distortion at all..

-carl

He used Hiwatt with KC.


See the maple-necked Jazz Bass as a spare. I wonder if he ever had to use that during a Crimso gig in case of a broken string 'cause his attack was so hard.

I recall reading an interview from Melody Maker issue (1976) where he says he used (on Uriah Heep tour) Ampeg SVT heads and some cabs (not 8x10") and also a Hiwatt stack behind them for the high end. He also mentions that black Jazz Bass and a Rick 4001 but says he prefers the Precision 'cause the others had "too many knobs".

[matrok]

Thanks for posting those links.