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Interviewing bassist stories

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#301
Spaldo said:
Holy crud, i think i'm bearing witness to something pretty awesome here!
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It would be even better if Mr. Thunes would state his case about what I got wrong about his playing.

We had this same argument in the original two interviews, and I still don't understand what I'm missing. I get that praise is revolting; I hate it myself. I much prefer abuse. Or indifference.

But!

All I want to know is what is the problem in saying that someone has a unique approach to playing the bass? Let's substitute "Abner Flixniddle" for the name "Scott Thunes." Is there a gat-dang problem in saying that Abner Flxniddle has a unique approach to playing the base, and that approach, his voice, is what makes him great?

I'm not saying Abner is a technical genius; I'm saying that his playing is different enough to make him one of a kind. You can't mistake him for others. And to me, that makes him one of the greats.

How could somebody possibly object to that statement? Note: I'm not asking Abner himself. I'm asking Scott Thunes to comment on my statement that Abner Flixniddle is great because he's original. Why is that a problem?

Paging Scott Thunes. Mr. Scott Thunes. To the white courtesy phone. Some bizarre cucumber-muffin hybrid is on the line.
 
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#302
suchow said:
Absolutely brilliant thread Tom, just spent a few hours reading it top to bottom. Thanks so much for sharing... simply fascinating stuff.

I can't even imagine the frustration you must have experienced at BP after putting so much time and work into interviews that they ultimately killed. What a shame. Anyway, our gain for your behind-the-scenes take on all of it... what you've passed on here is priceless.

Rick
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Thanks very much. I appreciate it. For you, a tidbit from my killed article why so few women play the bass. This bassist was the angriest of all that I asked the question. Plus, she would only communicate with me by fax. I sent her the questions; she faxed the answers. We did it about five times, as I recall.

The excerpt:

"There are plenty of women bassists. You can't judge what's happening out in the field by a single survey in one magazine. The women bassists out there might not even read this magazine. Maybe part of the problem is that some isolated music journalists aren't aware of the control women have over money. Subscriptions to magazines may be in men's names, but it's the women who hold the reins on the money, something car dealers know all too well! This discussion is pretty surprising to me. I was never asked this back in my day... It didn't matter to the record company if you were a man, a woman, or a purple people-eater; if you got them a hit, they paid and respected you well."
 
#304
miked51 said:
i just want to clarify something. i didn't leave my p-bass at the altar. i burned it when i learned thunes was playing again. in protest, not homage.
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Speaking of being left at the altar, suddenly I don't rate responses.

Can you answer my question? What the hell is wrong with saying someone is great because they have a unique approach to the bass? Have I unwittingly violated some cultural taboo, like "You're never supposed to touch a Hmong on the head"? I never got a straight answer 200 years ago when I first asked the question, and I'm not getting one now.

Any ideas?
 
#305
yep_scottthunes said:
Two things: I'm playing around California (also sporadic ventures across the US) with 20 year veterans of rock, the Mother Hips. I really love what we're doing and look forward to many more gigs with them. Please come see us play. We're awesome rock and roll. I use a 1965 Precision bass I got from an ex-girlfriend. Also, I was recently given (traded a '72 Gold Top Les Paul Signature Bass for it, actually) a 1990-era A/E Precision, fretted. I use that a lot. It's truly an amazing instrument.
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At least post a link so people can hear what you're talking about.

Mother Hips - Been Lost Once - 2012-02-03 - YouTube

Well, since you've killed the thread, I'll say good night, all.
 
#306
This is the most interesting, entertaining thing I have read in a long time. I just read this entire thread front to back with only a few brief pauses to check out your books and to look into a few of the musicians you mentioned that were unknown to me. This thread has been insightful and quite educational. Great writing. Thank you for sharing. I envy your personal experiences and look forward to reading more in the future.
 
#307
Tom, Thank you for taking your time to write what you have. The Thunes interview from years ago is one of the few my feeble brain has retained. It would be an honor to meet you someday.

And Scott, You are a brilliant musician, sir. Loved your daughters vid!

Now get back to more stories.
 
#309
dhsierra1 said:
seems to me it's not commercialization so much as just getting these stories and parables out there for more people to see than just the few bassists who are on TB and have happened to catch this thread :hmm:

You mentioned feeling uplifted inexplicably by these stories as have I and obviously a lot of others so there's something pretty special here. With so much garbage and negativity published and praised today, here's a gift of uplift ;)

Peace :cool:
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Hey Tom it's way past my bedtime, I'll sure be reading your stories until you run out, that will be a sad day.

The quotedcomment is dead right.

You have great skills of observation and reportage. I like your style. Please do something with it to get to a wider audience than just us bass players.

I vaguely recall a comedy film "Get Shorty" with Danny DeVito. Maybe something in that vein would make you some good bucks, you deserve it.
 
#311
This thread has got me turned all around.

I usually find out more about the person from first hearing their music (Trent Reznor as an example, I heard Broken, wanted to find out more about the man, why he was so "broken.")

But from finding out about, and reading the man's own thoughts (Mr. Thunes) I want to hear what kind of music he makes, how expressive he his behind his bass. I am going to find that CD that Tom keeps telling us to buy (never pass on good advice!) and try to expand my horizons a bit.

Thanks Tom and everyone for inspiring a young, hate filled guy to do better!

:)
 
#312
This thread has inspired me to buy the CD and book referred to throughout the ongoing anecdotes and conversational exchanges. Here I am in Scotland in the United Kingdom, being motivated by your postings.

However, the main focus for me has been the reinforcement of the knowledge that we only have a limited amount of time in which to make a mark. This doesn't mean "making it big", it simply means trying my best to excel at whatever faces me in life. Thanks Tom, and Scott, for providing this.
 
#313
i was fortunate enough to catch this thread right at its birth, so ive been able to follow along as it has all unfolded.

i dont have much to add, except i watched the mother hips video that was posted, this one-

Mother Hips - Been Lost Once - 2012-02-03 - YouTube

i would almost chew my own arm off to get to see a band like this, with this much talent, play anywhere within reasonable driving distance of my house. i loved it.

scott really is a great bassist, the whole band is just great.
 
#314
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and following this thread. Thank you to all those who have contributed. I do want to bring up a point, though. I see an interesting parallel between Tom and Scott. Each is supremely gifted and yet, never received the respect and admiration they so richly deserve. From my perspective, the two of you are more similar than either of you may be comfortable admitting. Tom's penchant for turning a phrase is not unlike the ability of Scott phrase a bass line. The TB community has been richly blessed by being able to witness and experience each of you in this forum. Now, off to Amazon.....
 
#317
Tom - this is really excellent. Inspiring, depressing, though-provoking stuff all intermingled along with your personal story.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
 
#318
hodgy said:
The lead singer has a beard. So "Hippie Band". Just like Kenny Rogers. OK, I'll give you 'Rock Band', because the Mother Hips does rock. I'm just put off by the hippies in the audience.
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Generally, the audience at my band's pub shows feature heavy frat boy representation. No one in the band would have gone near that kind of crap when we were in school, and we would take great exception to being labelled as a frat boy band.

I think I'm speaking sense when I say that the audience is possibly the *least* important factor, here...
 
#320
Another L.A. story:

The bassist told me that his band hated opening for No Doubt because Gwen Stefani was too flat chested.

"She had no t*ts at all. None! How could she even appear in public looking that way? No-t*t b*tch. Disgusting."

He also told me he hates watching women eat.

"How can you eat with a woman? You’re sitting there watching as she’s going 'Mlymm, mlymm, mlymm,' chewing like a cow. How are you supposed to get it on with her later?"

I wanted to ask him how he ingested his own food. Did he insert it directly into his stomach, like James Woods did with his gun in Videodrome? Did he liquefy it and suck it up like a housefly? Or did he just stuff it up his butt?

Maybe he had a toothed anus, like something out of The Naked Lunch.
 
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