Interviewing Bassists Stories part 2

[Arthritic_Tom]

LOL - Yes, you figured Twitter out just fine . Personally I'd not (and don't) bother with it...

Well, just so everybody knows, I'm not going to be using social media to do anything except talk about my career, music, art, the questions raised by my memoir, etc.

No politics; no social issues; no religion. That's why I deleted my YouTube account and reuploaded my "Mobile" video under my real name. I wanted people to be able to enjoy the music without being distracted by five years of flame wars that I instigated because I was in a constant state of rage.

When you read the memoir, you'll see how being an aggressive, incessant commenter on blogs got me into one of the worst jams of my life.

Besides, I think it's incredibly inconsiderate for me to ask people to shell out hard-earned money for my book, and then I turn around and foist my political or social views on them, or I denigrate their religious views.

I want everyone of all political, social, and religious stripes to enjoy my book, so I'm keeping my yap shut about everything except music, art, and the human condition.

 

[PerlNinja]

Mother. Of. God.

I've gone through both of these threads in one sitting. I think I started around 7pm and it's now nearly 4am. Not done yet either and I doubt I'll be seeing my pillow before 7am, just can't get away from it.

Great stories, great insights, and just plain out funny things coming by every page.

Will definitely be buying your book one way or the other when it arrives! And out of curiosity Tom, you said you discovered rock and roll in the Netherlands, where did you stay? I'm Dutch by origin (although now living on the other end of this ball of dirt we call earth) and always curious to know what it was like for visitors - no matter if it was a decent number of years ago

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

And out of curiosity Tom, you said you discovered rock and roll in the Netherlands, where did you stay?

Rijswijk. Abraham Lincolnlaan.

And thanks for your kind words.

I discovered Led Zeppelin on the flight over to the Netherlands, and once there I bought a transistor radio and listened to Radio Caroline all the time.

 

[PerlNinja]

Rijswijk. Abraham Lincolnlaan.

And thanks for your kind words.

I discovered Led Zeppelin on the flight over to the Netherlands, and once there I bought a transistor radio and listened to Radio Caroline all the time.

Okay that's funny since I lived in Rijswijk for a while on the Lorentzplein, used to come down past the Abraham Lincolnlaan on my bicycle on my way to work - although that was much, much more recent

I do remember Radio Caroline, my mom used to listen to it as well and always lamented their going off air at some point, I'm still classified by many as "a young whippersnapper" (although at 35 I'm not really feeling it) and in my younger (*cough*) days I wasn't... well let's just say that I've been going green since before it became a hipster trend

I just got done reading that thread, and as predicted it's about 7am now; I hope Ghosts & Ballyhoo will be in print soon, I'm an avid reader but lately I haven't gotten excited about any new books, this changed as of, oh, a few hours ago.

I'm rambling but I think it's okay since I'm sleep deprived...

One thing I'd like to add is that reading your stories and the things you've had to deal with over the years was a good way of taking a look at my own life and things that have been going on in it, and just like you did, realising you have to face the music (pun not necessarily intended but it's here just because I can) at some point - so for that: thanks!

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

Okay that's funny since I lived in Rijswijk for a while on the Lorentzplein, used to come down past the Abraham Lincolnlaan on my bicycle on my way to work - although that was much, much more recent

I do remember Radio Caroline, my mom used to listen to it as well and always lamented their going off air at some point, I'm still classified by many as "a young whippersnapper" (although at 35 I'm not really feeling it) and in my younger (*cough*) days I wasn't... well let's just say that I've been going green since before it became a hipster trend

I just got done reading that thread, and as predicted it's about 7am now; I hope Ghosts & Ballyhoo will be in print soon, I'm an avid reader but lately I haven't gotten excited about any new books, this changed as of, oh, a few hours ago.

I'm rambling but I think it's okay since I'm sleep deprived...

One thing I'd like to add is that reading your stories and the things you've had to deal with over the years was a good way of taking a look at my own life and things that have been going on in it, and just like you did, realising you have to face the music (pun not necessarily intended but it's here just because I can) at some point - so for that: thanks!

You're quite welcome. Your message has made my day.

Now get some sleep! And have some patat met for me.

 

[Martin89]

Excellent! Thanks a lot, Martin.

It's the Facebook angle that freaks me out. I look at it and think, "What is it?"

And I still can't figure out Twitter. When I go to a Twitter page, I can't understand how the exchanges are going. To me, it just looks like one lonely person typing all these endless messages to himself.

Perfect for me!

Not a problem. I can walk you through those one's pretty easy, pretty manageable necessary evils. Twitter exchanges are all about who follows you or looks for the same tag as you. The page looks lonely but each tweet is sent out to those following them, sometimes directly to their phone via text message(hence the 140 character limit). I can help you link this too facebook so you only have to update one and you can have both types of interactions (facebook is more traditional forum-type comments). Just hit me up when ever you want to get something going.

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

Not a problem. I can walk you through those one's pretty easy, pretty manageable necessary evils. Twitter exchanges are all about who follows you or looks for the same tag as you. The page looks lonely but each tweet is sent out to those following them, sometimes directly to their phone via text message(hence the 140 character limit). I can help you link this too facebook so you only have to update one and you can have both types of interactions (facebook is more traditional forum-type comments). Just hit me up when ever you want to get something going.

Will do! Thanks so much. I hope you're patient.

If it looks like I'm hopeless, just tell me and I'll take a class or something.

 

[TBrett]

Thank you very much.

The book has evolved quite a bit since this project began. To my absolute shock, one of the people I wrote about was so impressed with what I put in the book (he's one of the few I mentioned by name) that he wrote a song he said was directly influenced by me.

The song is so amazing that I had to include a review of it, some of its lyrics, and its title, "God Only Guards the Tool Shed," in the Lessons Learned chapter of the book.

What it means is that some higher force provides us our tools and makes sure they're always there for us, but it's up to us to use them properly and maintain them.

This musician has also taken a tape I did right before my hands crapped out and turned it into a song that I'll post on the Web site I plan to put up.

The piece I wrote is called "Ode to Bill Laswell and Pino Palladino," and it includes absolutely everything I learned in my twenty years of playing. I use my fingers, a pick, two-handed tapping, flamenco raking, chords, thumb slapping, and droning open strings for a sitar effect. Since my hands were just about done when I recorded it--which I did just so I could have it--there are mistakes.

This musician--who's one of the most technically accomplished bassists alive--has taken my bass line and drums and rerecorded all the parts himself, added other instruments, and turned it into a song. I haven't heard it yet, but I'm sure it'll be amazing.

So all sorts of exciting things are still happening.

I was trying so hard to get caught up on this thread without commenting - and I was severely tempted a couple of times, believe me - but I just couldn't let this one go. That is so very, very exciting, Tom!!!! I can't wait to hear both the musician's own song and the one recreated from your work. I love the way this thread has inspired so many in different ways. And I love hearing about all the good stuff that's coming at you.

As I posted previously, I, too, was inspired by part 1 of this thread to write a song. Participating in the thread (even though I was usually a few days behind while it was evolving) was a really positive and encouraging experience for me on all sorts of levels. So I'm really delighted to hear that another artist was also moved to create something(s) from this.

We're doing a final clinic on the arrangements for our song tomorrow. If the practice recording (live off the floor, nothing fancy) is half decent, I'll post it. If not, we'll have one posted soon.

Okay, back to reading...

 

[TBrett]

I prefer dead-tree books, too, but half of all titles sold now are e-books.

Don't worry about real books going away. They won't. The main reason book sales are down is because most books published now are crap, just like most movies and TV shows are crap.

People got tired of shelling out $25.00 for a piece of crap, so they embraced the cheaper e-book form. That way if they don't like the book, they're not out so much money.

I blame publishers and literary agents for this. Also, publishers began forcing the writer to do more and more in an effort to maximize profits. Publishing houses fired all their editors and told us writers we have to edit our own manuscripts, which can cost as much as $2000.

Who can afford to pay that? So the number of good manuscripts coming in got reduced even more, and in desperation the publishers did what the music industry did and started going for novelty acts--like another book about how to be the sexiest whore you can--and placing more and more pressure on the writer to "succeed" in shorter and shorter amounts of time. It's a death spiral.

Literary agents, for their part, demand bigger and bigger advances, so their own cut will be bigger and they'll have bragging rights. All anybody talks about is how that hot new young writer got a seven-figure advance.

Well, the publishers will never recoup that money, so to make up for it they refuse to take chances on anything and stick with crap, like self-help books, get-rich-quick books, young-adult vampire books, and "chick lit," and the book-buying public says, "Who needs this?" and turns to e-books, especially great works in the public domain you can download for free.

And the publishers and literary agents say, "How'd it happen? It's so unfair!"

Just like mainstream film & TV. And music, at certain levels of the industry. Utter lunacy.

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

I was trying so hard to get caught up on this thread without commenting - and I was severely tempted a couple of times, believe me - but I just couldn't let this one go. That is so very, very exciting, Tom!!!! I can't wait to hear both the musician's own song and the one recreated from your work. I love the way this thread has inspired so many in different ways. And I love hearing about all the good stuff that's coming at you.

As I posted previously, I, too, was inspired by part 1 of this thread to write a song. Participating in the thread (even though I was usually a few days behind while it was evolving) was a really positive and encouraging experience for me on all sorts of levels. So I'm really delighted to hear that another artist was also moved to create something(s) from this.

We're doing a final clinic on the arrangements for our song tomorrow. If the practice recording (live off the floor, nothing fancy) is half decent, I'll post it. If not, we'll have one posted soon.

Okay, back to reading...

Here's Stephen Jay's "God Only Guards the Tool Shed."

 

[TBrett]

Here's Stephen Jay's "God Only Guards the Tool Shed."

Wow. Really interesting piece, both in the content/composition and arrangement. Thinking I'm gonna have to listen to it a bunch more times to really appreciate it.

Awesome!

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

Wow. Really interesting piece, both in the content/composition and arrangement. Thinking I'm gonna have to listen to it a bunch more times to really appreciate it.

Awesome!

It's a very unique song. I've never heard anything quite like it. It's an uplifting dirge, which seems impossible, but Jay has managed to pull it off.

It's both celebratory and mournful at the same time.

 

[Blueszilla]

After listening to this and other things you´ve posted featuring Stephen Jay, I have to agree he is a most talented individual. Lots of cool ideas wrapped in there.

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

After listening to this and other things you´ve posted featuring Stephen Jay, I have to agree he is a most talented individual. Lots of cool ideas wrapped in there.

Here's how to slap an eight-string. Let's see all you slapping studs do this!

 

[AndyU]

Finally made it to the end of both threads after a three-day bender. The dishes are piling up and the kids are starting to smell, but it was totally worth it. Good luck, Tom, and I'll certainly be reading the book when it comes out.

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

Finally made it to the end of both threads after a three-day bender. The dishes are piling up and the kids are starting to smell, but it was totally worth it. Good luck, Tom, and I'll certainly be reading the book when it comes out.

I don't want smelly kids on my conscience!

But thanks so much.

I'm turning the manuscript in by the end of the week, so my end of it is finished.

 

[TBrett]

And the waiting begins in earnest...

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

Another Stephen Jay tour de force: Telenergy."

Ever heard anything like it before?

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

All right, all you bassists.

THIS is why I asked Stephen Jay to blurb my book.

First check out this video to see what a Moroccan gimbri is. It has a broomstick-like neck, and a boat-shaped body with a skin top. As soon as the guy starts singing, it's insufferable, so you've been warned.



Broomstick neck and NO FRETS, but perfect intonation. Holy crap.

 

[Robdrone]

Hey Tom! I can't wait for the book! I really dig your writing style, as well as your humility. It seems the more I found out about you, the more we seem to have in common. I too am a left handed bass player. I was born with arthritis in my knees, and I from time to time am plagued with spells of vertigo.

It's funny I was several pages into this thread before I realized that you, and the bass in your avatar were left handed. I'm usually the first person to notice if someone is left handed. When watching a band play live I pick out the lefties instantly. The first time I saw Obama pick up a pen I noticed it, and I used to pride myself on being able to scan the guitar wall in a music shop for lefties within 30 seconds. Granted they are almost always junk if they're lefty, but you probably know that better than I do by now.

Luckily for me, my arthritis hasn't gone for my hands yet, and I'm thankful for every minute I get until it does. I hope it takes it's sweet time.

Now that I've exhausted this entire thread I have to say I found it inspiring, introspective and uplifting. All I can do now is buy a copy of "In Cold Sweat" and patiently wait for "Ghosts...". Thanks for sharing with us!

One more thing... Do you still have that Stingray, and will you sell it to me?