Interviewing Bassists Stories Pt. 3

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

Scott also seems to be having a great time on stage, and his black P bass kills!

Don't know if you saw this in the other thread, but here's the black P-bass in action last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlmFW21ypME

What's amazing to me is that he's lost absolutely none of his skills, even after not playing with a band for such a long time.

[Jawbone]

Unfortunately, there's an awfully lot of hate in the world and tactlessly it does spread into the rank and file of TBers every now and then. For the most part I find this crowd to be extremely humble and passionate about music and the bass in general. Most are honest and gracious in their responses and opinions. (Matter of fact I loved your explanation of “opinions” in one of the responses).

Thanks for the honest apology – but personally it wasn’t necessary. Now get back to the typewriter and get the draft manuscript written bro!!!

Peace out!

[Wwolof]

Oh, it's written all right. I mean write. Right?

I've read it.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Wwolof

Oh, it's written all right. I mean write. Right?

I've read it.

I think it's written all right.

Aw, to hell with that! It's written GREAT! I'm proud as a broody hen clucking over her eggs.

Or proud as a bass with a bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvUjKSTH3Mg

[morebass4me]

Tom, I just wanted to let you know that you are one of the most amazing and interesting authors I have ever read. I love reading, and will read pretty much anything i can get my hands on. One of the things I love most is seeing each authors voice and how different they can be, but I have to say you have one of the most compelling voices I have ever read. I couldn't quit reading your first thread, I was enthralled by each new story, and it's only now, several months after the fact, that I have finally been able to work up the courage to say anything about it.

So I guess I just want to say thank you for sharing your voice here, I have pre-ordered Ghosts, and I look forward very much to reading it!

[bass12]

I'm glad to see that this book of yours is coming to fruition, Tom. Congratulations.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by morebass4me

Tom, I just wanted to let you know that you are one of the most amazing and interesting authors I have ever read. I love reading, and will read pretty much anything i can get my hands on. One of the things I love most is seeing each authors voice and how different they can be, but I have to say you have one of the most compelling voices I have ever read. I couldn't quit reading your first thread, I was enthralled by each new story, and it's only now, several months after the fact, that I have finally been able to work up the courage to say anything about it.

So I guess I just want to say thank you for sharing your voice here, I have pre-ordered Ghosts, and I look forward very much to reading it!

Wow! Thanks so much. That's what every writer wants to hear.

I know you'll love the book. I was able to get into areas that are outside the subject matter of this forum while keeping true to the issue at hand: bass playing.

Since I stopped writing about music in 2002, I had to figure out a way to keep the stories about music and the bass going up to 2012, which is when the book ends. I decided to use flashbacks, saving some of the best music material for the latter part of the book.

I once wrote a massive, unpublishable fiasco of a novel called The Mermaid Lamp, about the L.A. music scene. I did tons of research about L.A., which I thought would enrich the novel. Since I can't ever publish the thing (I'd die of embarrassment), I'll share some of the information in it:

L.A. is the bomb capital of the U.S. The L.A. County Sheriff Department's bomb squad is the most experienced in the country.

L.A. is the bank-robbery capital of the world.

L.A. is the car-chase capital of the world.

The L.A.P.D. SWAT originated MOUT (military operations on urban terrain) and taught the U.S. military these tactics. That's why all our soldiers do what they call the "Groucho walk" when they advance with their rifles pointed at the target. It's an invention of the L.A.P.D. SWAT.

The L.A.P.D. and L.A.C.S.D. invented nearly all less-than lethal technology, including bean-bag shotgun rounds, pepper balls fired by paintball guns, telescoping batons, sounds guns that make rioters nauseated and crap their pants, stink balls, and heat-ray guns.

Seventy percent of the nation's penile implants are performed in L.A.

Two hundred languages are spoken in L.A., but the courts can handle only about 80.

I created a band (Jayne the Baptist), wrote song lyrics, made up an antique dealership, and ran an independent publicists' firm. Reading it today, the prose is fine but the story is laughable. I didn't know what made a good story at that point. After it garnered about 90 rejection notices (I'm nothing if not persistent), I was going to throw away everything to do with it, but my brother persuaded me to keep it.

I'm glad he did. Without it I wouldn't have been able to write my memoir. The Mermaid Lamp is full of stories I'd blocked out, as well as word-for-word reconstructions of conversations, interviews, fights--everything.

It's amazing that this giant piece of crap ended up being worth its weight in gold, proving that most things have value and worth at the proper time and under the right circumstances.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by bass12

I'm glad to see that this book of yours is coming to fruition, Tom. Congratulations.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[miles'tone]

Wow that Dude slapping the white bass is awesome! I totally agree with your point about his artistry. I've never really been drawn to learn slap bass further than the couple of licks I know but seeing that guy makes me want to do that! You can tell he means what he's playing.

Regarding Scott Thunes P-bass I read in an interview that it's a '65 but the mag I read it in is notorious for typos so you may well be right Tom. Any ideas what strings he favours?

"The Mermaid Lamp" is a great title Tom regardless of the fact you didn't get it published. The bright lights of L.A. drawing all comers to them only to smash their lives across the rocks of Hollywood.

Well, that's what I read into it anyway.

[Drucocu]

Tom,

Book ordered! I stumpled upon this thread yesterday, and made me curious, I'm still reading on page 30 of the first thread, hilarious and Entertaining as nothing else EVER on TB.
Me, having played in switzerlands biggest export Metalband, its a joy to read how the music industry hasnt changed a bit the last 20 years.

Looking eagerly forward to your book, thank you

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by miles'tone

Wow that Dude slapping the white bass is awesome! I totally agree with your point about his artistry. I've never really been drawn to learn slap bass further than the couple of licks I know but seeing that guy makes me want to do that! You can tell he means what he's playing.

Regarding Scott Thunes P-bass I read in an interview that it's a '65 but the mag I read it in is notorious for typos so you may well be right Tom. Any ideas what strings he favours?

"The Mermaid Lamp" is a great title Tom regardless of the fact you didn't get it published. The bright lights of L.A. drawing all comers to them only to smash their lives across the rocks of Hollywood.

Well, that's what I read into it anyway.

Wow! Very nice interpretation of the title of my failed novel! That's really excellent.

I'm trying to persuade Scott to give me answers on his bass. We must be patient. To one of my questions, he said the following:

"Tell him it was forged in the fires of Mt. Doom, and if anybody else plays it, it sounds like a toy piano, ala The Twilight Zone."

When I pleaded with him to be reasonable, he said this:

"Tell him to come back tomorrow, with a witch's broom!"

He usually answers, but he likes to build up tension, like any good performer.

As for the slapper, I agree. My brother Tim was a singer, and he told me that all it takes to be great is to really mean it. That's why I love Suzanne Vega, with her tiny little voice. She means every syllable, and she can be mesmerizing.

I won't link specific videos, but if you search "fastest bass player" on YouTube, you'll see a lot of technically adept people who have no feeling at all. That Russian slapper guy means it, so it's artistic.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Drucocu

Tom,

Book ordered! I stumpled upon this thread yesterday, and made me curious, I'm still reading on page 30 of the first thread, hilarious and Entertaining as nothing else EVER on TB.
Me, having played in switzerlands biggest export Metalband, its a joy to read how the music industry hasnt changed a bit the last 20 years.

Looking eagerly forward to your book, thank you

Thank you! I promise you'll like the book. It'll be worth your investment. I appreciate it very much.

Swiss metal! Is your band on this list?

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Poohka...s_metal_bands/

[Drucocu]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

Thank you! I promise you'll like the book. It'll be worth your investment. I appreciate it very much.

Swiss metal! Is your band on this list?

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Poohka...s_metal_bands/

Yepps, #4, but I quit with my twin brother about 4 years ago.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Drucocu

Yepps, #4, but I quit with my twin brother about 4 years ago.

Now I have more music to look up. Thanks very much. I'm completely unfamiliar with the Swiss music scene, so this is a good place to start.

I hope you're still playing music.

[Drucocu]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

Now I have more music to look up. Thanks very much. I'm completely unfamiliar with the Swiss music scene, so this is a good place to start.

I hope you're still playing music.

Never stopped, it's my life juice!

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Drucocu

Yepps, #4, but I quit with my twin brother about 4 years ago.

Man, this is honestly some of the most unusual music I've heard. Swiss folk-metal sung in Gaulish? With bagpipes made of goatskins and goat heads?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZYKqVA7Eho

Thanks for leading me to it. I would never in a million years have guessed that this sort of fusion had been attempted.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Drucocu

Never stopped, it's my life juice!

Are you in a band now?

[Drucocu]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

Are you in a band now?

PM on it's way, this thread shouldnt be about me :-)

[MartinG1957]

Hi Tom
Just saw this thread and from a skim through Im glad to add my voice to the many others who say that you have nothing to apologise for.
I have followed both threads since day 1 and as you know played a small part in "helping" out when it was asked for - personally never crossed my mind that what you were talking about was anything other than absolutely genuine and pulled up with great honesty and I don't doubt a lot of pain in some instances from the depths..
I was dismayed when I saw the "gentleman" involved taking the line and attitude that he did in the posts and the language used was certainly not what I've come to expect from this great community -personal attacks of that nature are not acceptable - on this occasion I'm glad that the mods chose to take a hand and close (hopefully temporarily) for review and sincerely hope that the person involved is dealt with appropriately.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

A note about the other thread - its status is exactly what the last post says: Closed for review. Obviously, things were getting out of hand and derailing the thread. I closed the thread so that things wouldn't get worse, and when Thor has the time, he'll clean it up and reopen it. My suggestion would be to let go of talking about what went wrong (since mentioning other members only fans the flames) and move forward with whatever would have been going on had the first thread not turned so unpleasant.