Interviewing Bassists Stories part 2

[AuntieBeeb]

Originally Posted by MouseRat

I like the butts.

...and I cannot lie.

Etc, etc.

[One Drop]

{quote removed by mod}

Something for you here?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by One Drop

Something for you here?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

I was going to post a link to that myself, but thought it might be too... argumentative.

Instead, I'll post a link to a great piece of art that illustrates the sort of material I use to keep me in my current state of happiness. I figured out that what I've done is similar to diversifying my investment portfolio. In the past, I relied on a small number of things--"Carmen," playing the bass, my career in music journalism--to bring me a large return. These days, there are literally thousands of things that make me happy by tickling my fancy and moving me, in small increments. Diversifying your portfolio is a safer strategy that protects you from massive loss.

In this video, the combination of the object sent aloft, the two poignant and brave little flags, the camera work, the music, and the fact that this was done by a Saudi--a member of a culture not known for its lightheartedness and whimsy--makes this pretty much perfect. It says so much about the human condition in a funny, weird, inspiring, yet hugely profound way. Arguing is part of the human condition, too, but I'm not here to argue. I'll leave that to others.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e3d_1358361963

[Vince Klortho]

Tom : check out this video. It's a pretty cool cover of a Gentle Giant song.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by MR PC

LOL! You tell me that you've got a gun rigged to my computer, and then claim you aren't here to argue, it's just part of the human condition. You are going to leave that bit to others....sounds a bit like Adolph delegating responsibilities to the SS, wouldn't you agree Tom?

Eh? Telling you that nobody forces you to watch the videos I post here isn't arguing; it's a fact. You are under no obligation to watch or read anything I post here. I also made it clear that what I post here is simply music I find uplifting. I've been unable to determine why you have a bug up your exhaust pipe, but I also don't care. You're incapable of understanding what I write, so your opinion of me or what I like is completely without value to me.

And you'd better look up Godwin's law. And how to spell Hitler's first name.

Since you've compared me to a Nazi, here's a video from a band that's totally misunderstood. I love this track, not only because it's an artistic masterpiece but also because people attribute motives to the band that are diametrically opposed to the the statement the band is making. I find it hilarious that people would be so dense, but impenetrability is also part of the human condition. For some of us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHeEaV4j5Ak

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Vince Klortho

Tom : check out this video. It's a pretty cool cover of a Gentle Giant song.

They're great! An Israeli progressive cover band. They chose the studio version of the song rather than the live version, which I understand. The live version is a beast to master.

I'll get it in the next life.

[Arthritic_Tom]

{quote removed by Mod}

Send me your address by PM and I'll give you a free copy of the book. It explains in detail how I engineered my own loss of my career by refusing to face reality. I reveal all my shortcomings myself. You don't have to do any detective work. I'm 100 percent upfront about my myriad failings.

And if you look back over the thread, you'll see that I didn't "go ballistic." I engaged you quite politely until it was clear that you just wanted to fight over opinion, which is the stupidest possible way people can waste time. What, precisely, is the function of arguing over opinion? Nothing you say is going to convince me that what I find to be tasteful non-wankerism is, in fact, nothing but wanking. My tastes just happen to be different from yours. There's room enough for all of us. If you don't like it, fine, but you go off the rails when you claim that I'm trying to prove that one player is "superior" to another. I don't think in those terms. You do, but I don't. You're projecting your own mindset onto me.

I'm absolutely positive that if you "double-checked" what I wrote about many of my interviewees they'd deny my version of events, since many of them come off in an unflattering light. And the phrase "tabloid caper" doesn't mean what you think it does.

If I were into tabloid writing, I'd include all the names of the artists I interviewed, as well as the details of my personal life. In fact, I conceal far more than I reveal because the book is an art project, not a "tabloid caper."

The book was not written with you in mind. Still, if you want a free copy, send me a mailing address and you'll get one. I don't expect you to like the book; in fact I predict you'll hate it.

So what? Most people hate my favorite music, art, and writing.

But I like it, and the right people like it, too. That's all I care about.

[KPJ]

It's all just bytes on the internet - does any of it really mean anything?

That said, ***** seems to enjoy being an internet tough guy. I've seen similar behavior from him/her in other threads. Don't know what the point is.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Yes, that's right. My close collection of one fan leaped to my rescue by posting a video of an Israeli band to discredit your extremely penetrating and insightful comparison of me to Hitler.

Thank you, O fan of mine! Without you I'd be helpless! Being so rightfully compared to Hitler left me speechless, slack jawed, stunned, and without a response, and then the red emergency light began blinking in the AIPAC war room: "ALARM! ALARM! EXECUTE PLAN 27-A! PROTECT THE TABLOID CAPERER!"

And you saved me by posting a video of an Israeli band, to keep my persecutor from continuing on his path of exposure. My Hitlerian tendencies have been concealed.

In gratitude for your quick reaction, my beloved fan, I post this, our anthem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7fB06S8Bq8

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by KPJ

It's all just bytes on the internet - does any of it really mean anything?

That said, ***** seems to enjoy being an internet tough guy. I've seen similar behavior from him/her in other threads. Don't know what the point is.

Actually all of it means something.

The good, positive, beautiful stuff adds to our storehouses. We draw on these things in times of need.

The flame warring means something, too, but never what the instigator thinks.

I don't take any of it personally. I knew when I let you bastards talk me into getting back into this Godforsaken racket I'd become a target. But I've been ******* with by the best. ***** doesn't bother me in the least. He has no idea how to really mess with people.

I'll make it easier for him: PM me your e-mail address only, *****, and I'll send you an Amazon gift certificate to buy the book. That way you don't have to reveal your address or even your real name.

Let's see if he has the stones take me up on my offer.

[Arthritic_Tom]

{quote removed by moderator}

Actually, I didn't need any legal advise[sic], since I didn't write anything defamatory.

Why would you taking a peek at my worthless book be at Thunes's expense? What's it going to cost him having your giant mind apply itself to the book?

[Arthritic_Tom]

How utterly bizarre!

One of my favorite movies is Transylvania, with Asia Argento, about an Italian woman who follows her Transylvanian boyfriend back to his home after he abandons her in London. She gets lost, pregnant, and goes insane. Spectacular film.

What struck me was that the music, art, and clothing were nearly identical to Mexican music, art, and clothing. Everyone wore big, black cowboy hats, played in bands with huge brass sections, and celebrated a sort of Day of the Dead, like in Mexico, with tons of skull imagery.

Well, a Talkbass member just sent me a bunch of links to videos of Romanian and Moldavian bands. He tells me that they mix elements of folk and traditional music with rock. (The Romanian band I linked before, Kamarad, he says is more Turkish than traditional Romanian.)

Moldavian band Zdob si Zdub:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WReABTpqv0I

Mexican-American band VooDoo Glow Skulls:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSwV4Y6WoV8

Time for me to explore Moldavian pop music. And that looks exactly like all the Mexican weddings I've seen.

[Vince Klortho]

I LOVE the Voodoo Glow Skulls. Several years ago I was running the sound for a show they played and I spent a lot of time talking with them. They are really great guys and their music is terrific. I love ska-core. That was the last show on their tour so I gave them a care package for their long trip home of about 1000 miles. They gave me two t-shirts in return and I still wear them proudly today.

The Modavians are pretty cool too. I seem to remember mention of Moldavians in Ghostbusters.

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

Send me your address by PM and I'll give you a free copy of the book. It explains in detail how I engineered my own loss of my career by refusing to face reality. I reveal all my shortcomings myself. You don't have to do any detective work. I'm 100 percent upfront about my myriad failings.

And if you look back over the thread, you'll see that I didn't "go ballistic." I engaged you quite politely until it was clear that you just wanted to fight over opinion, which is the stupidest possible way people can waste time. What, precisely, is the function of arguing over opinion? Nothing you say is going to convince me that what I find to be tasteful non-wankerism is, in fact, nothing but wanking. My tastes just happen to be different from yours. There's room enough for all of us. If you don't like it, fine, but you go off the rails when you claim that I'm trying to prove that one player is "superior" to another. I don't think in those terms. You do, but I don't. You're projecting your own mindset onto me.

I'm absolutely positive that if you "double-checked" what I wrote about many of my interviewees they'd deny my version of events, since many of them come off in an unflattering light. And the phrase "tabloid caper" doesn't mean what you think it does.

If I were into tabloid writing, I'd include all the names of the artists I interviewed, as well as the details of my personal life. In fact, I conceal far more than I reveal because the book is an art project, not a "tabloid caper."

The book was not written with you in mind. Still, if you want a free copy, send me a mailing address and you'll get one. I don't expect you to like the book; in fact I predict you'll hate it.

So what? Most people hate my favorite music, art, and writing.

But I like it, and the right people like it, too. That's all I care about.

Wow, scary to watch unfold the same behavior you describe that you attract, in real time. I think people like that are so unaware of their own selves they can behave that way without even realizing how revealing it all is. Don't lower yourself to the level needed to engage such moth to the flame shenanigans- the light will burn them up before they get to see anything from it.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Vince Klortho

I LOVE the Voodoo Glow Skulls. Several years ago I was running the sound for a show they played and I spent a lot of time talking with them. They are really great guys and their music is terrific. I love ska-core. That was the last show on their tour so I gave them a care package for their long trip home of about 1000 miles. They gave me two t-shirts in return and I still wear them proudly today.

The Modavians are pretty cool too. I seem to remember mention of Moldavians in Ghostbusters.

Jorge Casillas is one of the fastest, most accurate pick-wielding bassists on earth.

Vince, as my one fan and as part of the vast conspiracy that created the phony tabloid writer-character Arthritic Tom, I ask that you prepare another video response for me, since I just expressed an opinion, which is evil and forbidden, and at any second I will be exposed as being worse than Pol Pot and Stalin combined.

I'll need your help in fighting off these effective attacks that endanger all that you and I and Operation Arthritic Tom have accomplished so far. Only a few weeks more, and our covert mission will have succeeded.

Don't let me down!

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by One Drop

Wow, scary to watch unfold the same behavior you describe that you attract, in real time. I think people like that are so unaware of their own selves they can behave that way without even realizing how revealing it all is. Don't lower yourself to the level needed to engage such moth to the flame shenanigans- the light will burn them up before they get to see anything from it.

Now you know the life I've led for fifty long years.

As I said, ***** is not the audience for my book or my posts. You are.

He hasn't taken me up on my offer of a gift certificate, so that tells me he just wanted to screw with me.

I can honestly say that such people don't bother me anymore. I've learned to live with permanent ringing in my left ear, and I've learned to live with being assaulted. We must play with the cards we're dealt in life. I can block out the ringing in my ear, and I don't take the *****s of the world personally. I symbolize something or someone to him, something or someone that has nothing to do with me. It's his issues that are in play here, not mine.

This is the blessing of Meniere's disease. Since I can't travel, that means no book tours and no personal appearances. I dreaded personal appearances. My greatest fear was that someone would murder me at a book signing. I knew in my bones that it was going to happen. I was once approached by a madman who asked me why everywhere he went, he saw me. I can't describe the fear I felt, knowing that this unleashed lunatic was gearing up to possibly taking my life because of his delusions. I talked my way out of it, but it was a damn close-run thing, as Wellington said about Waterloo.

Now I know I won't be murdered at a personal appearance, because I won't ever make any personal appearances. That which I initially took as a huge liability--this stupid, pointless, incurable disease--has brought me peace of mind and allowed me to pursue my craft without worrying that it might someday cost me my life.

Marilyn Monroe said, "I'm always running into other peoples' unconscious." That's why I don't take it personally. I'm putting myself out there with the full knowledge that I'll attract extreme negativity and irrational hostility. It comes with my specific territory.

And, as always...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TooRq3wfODQ&t=2m44s

[Vince Klortho]

Here you go Tom : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrJhpfgdpaA

We Represent !

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Vince Klortho

Here you go Tom : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrJhpfgdpaA

We Represent !

I miss the horns!

There's just something about horns and bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou5kU7JfK-w

[Profania_bass]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

I'm fascinated by folk music incorporated into modern pop. The undisputed master is Azis of Bulgaria.

No jokes here Tom, I used to know this guy. I lived in BG for almost four years. He's every bit what you see here

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Profania_bass

No jokes here Tom, I used to know this guy. I lived in BG for almost four years. He's every bit what you see here

Cool! He's one of my musical idols. When you aren't as busy, you'll have to tell me how you knew him and what you were up to in Bulgaria.

I lost the ability to play the bass before I got on the Internet. It's weird because even fifteen years after I last played, when I hear a really great song like some of the Balkan folk-pop, I still think, "I gotta learn how to play that."

Once a bassist, always a bassist, I guess.