Funny "buff guys play bass" story...

kesslari · #1 05-07-2010, 10:22 AM

Back in the day (late 1980'1) I used to hit the weights pretty hard, and was significantly bigger than I am now. Not huge, but bigger. I was living in Venice CA and training at Gold's Gym (it was a few blocks from my house) - THE Gold's Gym, where all the bigtime pro bodybuilders trained.

When I graduated Musician's Institute I stayed in LA, had a gig teaching there for the summer session, and was gigging with some of the instructors. For the opening night of every semester they would do a faculty concert to really wow the students. I was on the gig playing fusion with this really amazing guitarist from Hawaii, Wes Matsuda, with Gary Garbatini on drums. Anyway, Wes was a tiny cat - 5'1", and probably 100 lbs soaking wet. So next to him I must have looked pretty big (at 5'11''), especially to someone looking up at a 4 foot high stage at from the audience. We do the concert, and it goes really well.

Next day I'm at the gym, and this freaking enormous guy comes up to me. Huge as in he literally played Conan at Universal Studios tour. He looks at me and says "um... did you play a concert at Musician's Institute last night?" I say yeah, and he says the usual about great show, etc... then he says "you look, um, different"... I ask what he means, and he hems and haws, doesn't really want to say. I push, because I'm curious.
Finally he says, "man, last night I thought you were HUGE, I thought Jesus Christ, Lou Ferrigno has a brother who plays bass..."

I know, no pics, no buff bassist, I don't have many photos from back then but here's one. Different guitarist (also a brilliant player - Marcus Deml).

JimiLL · #2 05-07-2010, 10:26 AM

Nah dude you look good... bass is supposed to have more muscle!!!

I too find out that I am one of the only musicians around who likes to hit the weights. Im 6-0" and 220bs..... I play next to a guy who is about 4" shorter and at least 70 lbs lighter than me.

Cant wait to see those pictures

kevbassman · #3 05-07-2010, 10:26 AM

Great story..thanks for sharing.

macaroni tony · #4 05-07-2010, 10:59 AM

Ha....that's a funny story. I get the "buff bass player" comments too; what people don't know is, it's all fat.

Rickett Customs · #5 05-07-2010, 11:04 AM

Heh, You're wearing the "gun show" shirt too

NKBassman · #6 05-07-2010, 11:32 AM

Reminds me of the last couple of times I saw Savoy Brown. The bassplayer (can't remember his name, but awesome bassist and super cool guy) was f'ing huge compared to the rest of the band! His biceps were probably the size of my head.

Also, he played a Lakland that sounded like God. Just FYI.

macaroni tony · #7 05-07-2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kesslari

Is that a Fishbone shirt, or is it just wishful thinking on my part?

BigOldHarry · #8 05-07-2010, 11:58 AM

Years ago I noticed that bassists were usually bigger guys than everyone but drummers - I've always figured it was the mass of the gear we had to schlep, but might also be the attraction to *big* notes...

Porkbun · #9 05-07-2010, 12:02 PM

Yeah that sounds about right

waleross · #10 05-07-2010, 01:22 PM

Great thread !!!! See you all at the gym, I 'll be the one curling 100lb. dumb-bells.

funkingroovin · #11 05-07-2010, 02:38 PM

Anyone up for some 12oz curls?

Infernal Affair · #12 05-07-2010, 03:02 PM

That always reminds me of those Michael Polinko Bowflex commercials.

For some reason when I think of stereotypes, the bass player is either the buffest or the fattest person in the band. I'm neither usually.

kesslari · #13 05-07-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickett Customs

Heh, You're wearing the "gun show" shirt too

Yeah, I was young and into it...

Quote:

Is that a Fishbone shirt, or is it just wishful thinking on my part?

Hard to remember, it was close to 20 years ago. Probably not, but I'm not positive. It was black, I can tell you that...

Matt Dean · #14 05-07-2010, 04:18 PM

I'm not big by body builder standards, in fact, I'm just a skinny guy... but I hit the weights on a weekly basis as a strategy to stave off the effects of old age.

M0ses · #15 05-07-2010, 04:40 PM

I also work as a lifeguard. It's a requirement to look good.

jive1 · #16 05-07-2010, 04:45 PM

I'm a buffed bass player.
You can say I'm quite polished.

Zombbg4 · #17 05-07-2010, 05:04 PM

Is anyone else puzzled that the super body builder was at a fusion gig??

Great story btw, pics from down in the seats would've been gold.

cardboardJoe · #18 05-07-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

I'm a buffed bass player.
You can say I'm quite polished.

at least certain parts of you are............

kesslari · #19 05-07-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombbg4

Is anyone else puzzled that the super body builder was at a fusion gig??

Great story btw, pics from down in the seats would've been gold.

He was an incoming student - bodybuilder-guitarist. Nice guy, too.
I WISH I had photos of that gig, especially from the audience perspective. As I said, Wes (the guitarist) was a tiny, tiny guy. Brilliant guitar player.

Marco A. Mayer · #20 05-07-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kesslari

He was an incoming student - bodybuilder-guitarist. Nice guy, too.
I WISH I had photos of that gig, especially from the audience perspective. As I said, Wes (the guitarist) was a tiny, tiny guy. Brilliant guitar player.

He looks bigger than you in that pic.