• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Interviewing bassist stories

Status
Not open for further replies.
#341
DiabolusInMusic said:
Wait... people made these types of video before youtube??

That is the real shocker here haha.

Keep 'em coming Tom.
Click to expand...
I actually rented a video camera on a tripod! It was gigantic. I wanted to capture my best attempt at my favorite song while I still had the ability to play, and I came pretty darn close.

Do they even rent video cameras anymore? No idea.
 
#342
Arthritic_Tom said:
I want the opportunity, for once in my life, to be told by a master of ANYTHING, what he thinks. In fact, I demand that opportunity. This is the equivalent of having the chance for Christopher Hitchens tell me what he thinks about my writing.
Click to expand...

Tom, the reason that I wrote that is because I admire your writing and your thoughts. My intent is to as helpful as I possibly can through my words.

You never did answer as to why Mr. Thune's validation is so important to you.

I only ask this because my life experience has taught me that viewing myself through the judgements of others is not a good road to take. It's a road that leads to inevitable disappointment or worse.

It's my humble opinion (remember I'm just some nameless and faceless guy on the internet) that you'll be much happier when you can learn to live comfortably in your own skin so to speak.
 
#343
NWB said:
You never did answer as to why Mr. Thunes validation is so important to you.
Click to expand...
Actually, I answered your question in detail.

And you're misapplying the term "validation." I'm not asking to be "validated" by Thunes; I'm demanding that he tell me his opinion.

As I explained, if he refuses, fine; if he says it sucks, fine.

He recent return to music has proven to me once and for all that he is a master at his art. I've never had the opportunity to have a master in anything give me his opinion on something I did. The nature of my relationship with Scott is that I can demand this as rudely and inconsiderately as I have, and he can as rudely and inconsiderately refuse to cooperate.

And we'll both be fine with it.

What I have here is an opportunity to see beyond the usual borders of experience. It's like standing outside a door that shows you what lies beyond this life. You have to open it, even if it means you find out there's nothing behind it.

I was damn sure before, but now I'm 100 percent convinced (sorry, Scott) that Scott Thunes is one of the greatest bass players ever, and I want to know what he thinks about my own playing.

I'm not asking him to "validate" anything. Believe me when I tell you, whatever he does or says is going to be fine with me. I can't explain my relationship with him. But it works.

So don't worry about me. I understand that you're trying to be helpful, but this is going to have a happy ending one way or another. Thunes of all people knows that his opinion of my playing isn't going to change anything. I can't play anymore, and I don't view him as a bassist; I view him as a man who plays the bass.

I wouldn't ask anyone else. I'm only asking him, because I know he understands, and despite all my Tiger Beat fawning, he's going to do what he wants to do, as he always has.

He and I both know that. So whatever happens is the right thing. There is no possible disappointment, anger, or resentment headed my way. Seriously.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FergusonRJ
#344
A short break from Thunesdrama:

I interviewed a bassist from another country. I won't identify which. His manager was from the same country; she sat in on the interview. At some point she said to me, "Are you a musician?"

"Yes. I play the bass."

"I don't believe you," she said. I was nonplussed--a weird word because it exists only in the negative. Nobody is ever "plussed."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Because musicians have creativity. They have fire in their eyes. You don't have anything like that. Your eyes are dull."

And then we continued with the interview.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FergusonRJ
#347
Arthritic_Tom said:
A short break from Thunesdrama:

I interviewed a bassist from another country. I won't identify which. His manager was from the same country; she sat in on the interview. At some point she said to me, "Are you a musician?"

"Yes. I play the bass."

"I don't believe you," she said. I was nonplussed--a weird word because it exists only in the negative. Nobody is ever "plussed."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Because musicians have creativity. They have fire in their eyes. You don't have anything like that. Your eyes are dull."

And then we continued with the interview.
Click to expand...

At my latest job I was dumbfounded at somebody not believing I was in the Military because I was "too quiet." All I could think about was Dr. Strangelove: "You don't think I'd go into combat with loose change in my pocket, do you?"

Otherwise, people seem to associate and recognize my technical traits much more often than my creative ones so don't feel bad. And the fact that there will always be people who talk out of their butt doesn't hurt.
 
#348
hodgy said:
I'm just being goofy about the 'hippie band' quote. I should learn to use smilies or lolz or whatever the kids are using these days.

I just re-read the 'Requiem' interview again and here's an example of how Tom's original interview with Scott has been integrated into my life:
At one point in the interview Scott breaks down some bass theory in a couple of basic sentences that make so much sense in such a simple way, then says something along the lines of "I just gave away $2000 worth of bass lessons."
I've been using that line with my bass students and bass players in my bands for the past 10+ years and I'd totally forgotten who I'd stolen it from in the first place. Makes sense now.
Click to expand...

Ah. Sorry about that.

Now I wish I'd kept my old Bass Player issues. I'd love to go hunt down that interview...
 
#354
Manndreas said:
Ouch! :p

I've spent the entire afternoon reading the entire thread and it's been very entertaining. :) Now I need to get a hold of your book.
Click to expand...
Thank you.

You know what? I hadn't read it since 2001. I've reread it in the past few days, and since I'm only human, I'm once again experiencing pangs that it was never reviewed in Bass Player, and that Sam Goody's and the Guitar Center turned down my request to carry it, and that those @#$%ers at the Zappa convention didn't even buy one copy of it, etc., etc.

It's a good book. It's very funny. The description of what happened when I met Scott Thunes contains some of the best writing of my career. Almost nobody cared.

You should know that all of you here are playing a part in keeping me from descending into rage and self-recrimination again, so thank you. I'm now able to re-examine this period with mild sorrow rather than the volcanic, murderous, self-hating rage I felt and didn't even know I was feeling for ten years.
 
#356
Arthritic_Tom said:
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.
Click to expand...

Ah! A Cronenberg fan I presume? (I too am a huge fan)
 
#357
hamertek98 said:
Gentle Giant "Mobile" bass cover - YouTube

Very cool! I enjoyed it. What say you Scott?

The pc screen I'm on now is small. Who's face is on the pick-guard?
Click to expand...
For sheer visual impact and no other reason, it's Billy Graham, taken from a large-format LOOK magazine from the early 1940s.

Thanks for pressuring Thunes. He just sent me an e-mail with all sorts of fake, mealy mouthed excuses: "Oh, I have to pick up my kids from school, and I have to mow the lawn, and I have to go shopping and prepare dinner, and I have to--"

Yeah, sure. Keep it up. Like anyone believes you! Look at those swollen knuckles, Mr. I Have a Life Outside the Talk Bass Forum! Turning down a poor, groveling arthritic just because of your kids? C'mon!
 

Attachments

  • Graham.jpg
    Graham.jpg
    39.1 KB · Views: 333
#359
Martin89 said:
At my latest job I was dumbfounded at somebody not believing I was in the Military because I was "too quiet." All I could think about was Dr. Strangelove: "You don't think I'd go into combat with loose change in my pocket, do you?"

Otherwise, people seem to associate and recognize my technical traits much more often than my creative ones so don't feel bad. And the fact that there will always be people who talk out of their butt doesn't hurt.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your service. All three of my flamethrower books are dedicated to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.

Drop me a PM. I want to send you something.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FergusonRJ
#360
Thanks for the bass pic!

I'm un-employed right now. I can bus Scott's kids, mow the lawn, run errands AND cook for Mr.Excuses. C'Mon Scott! I did send him a message. And Tom, you have/had serious chops. Looking forward to reading your book.

Best, DeWayne
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back