Interviewing Bassists Stories part 2

[Arthritic_Tom]

I ordered "In Cold Sweat" from Amazon, and it is on the way. I am looking forward to reading it. I have enjoyed your stories in the first half of this thread, including the contributions by Scott Thunes.

Thank you. If you like In Cold Sweat, you'll Love Ghosts and Ballyhoo, because it includes many more stories not specifically related to the bass.

It also fleshes things out. For example, I've included the transcript of the exact moment Ms. Porny Writher admitted to me that she didn't play the bass on the CD, which caused me to abort the interview.

Good times!

 

[Downunderwonder]

With her permission?

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

With her permission?

Of course not! Since I don't identify her, and since it's my tape, I can do whatever I want with it.

Truth be told, she was a creep, so I don't care what she thinks.

 

[RoadRanger]

LOL

Note to self: don't piss off AT

 

[stambroker]

When I'm a mighty, famous bassist and I'm interviewed for Bass Player magazine, I'm going to make things awkward and sing your praises, Tom.

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

LOL

Note to self: don't piss off AT

She was an arrogant, languid bore who told me that women play the bass differently than men, and when I asked to her explain the difference, she couldn't. I then asked her about the CD, and whether or not what she played on it expressed her female approach to the bass, and only then did she admit that she didn't play on the CD.

I wasn't trying to trap her. She and her record company and the publicists tried to lie and tell the world that she played on the CD. It was only when I tried to get her to actually back up her statement that we can hear the difference between a man's playing and woman's that she got all flustered and spilled the beans.

You ought to hear what a famous bassist told me about her and how she prepares for shows. I didn't include it in the book because it was completely off the record, but it's totally in character with how she came across in the interview with me.

 

[kevin_lindsay]

You can't leave us hanging in that statement!! So, what did she do to prepare?

 

[RoadRanger]

You ought to hear what a famous bassist told me about her and how she prepares for shows. I didn't include it in the book because it was completely off the record, but it's totally in character with how she came across in the interview with me.

Well, since you're not gonna identify her and it's just between you and me and a thousand doorposts here maybe you can tell us "off the record" .

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

You can't leave us hanging in that statement!! So, what did she do to prepare?

It was seriously off the record.

Let's just say that it wasn't yoga.

 

[stambroker]

It was seriously off the record.

Let's just say that it wasn't yoga.

Pilates?

 

[kevin_lindsay]

You're such a tease Tom! Hahaha

Can't wait to get your book when it's in print

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

You're such a tease Tom! Hahaha

Can't wait to get your book when it's in print

Soon. It goes to the editor by Thursday, I think.

 

[kevin_lindsay]

It really is amazing how quickly this is coming together. Let's hope the editor is equally enthusiastic and has the final draft ready for publication real soon

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

It really is amazing how quickly this is coming together. Let's hope the editor is equally enthusiastic and has the final draft ready for publication real soon

He absolutely promises me that he'll finish way ahead of the deadline.

 

[Chebass88]

I received 'In Cold Sweat' yesterday, and flipped to the Scott Thunes section first (I'm a huge Zappa fan). What a great interview. It is fantastic to have additional insight into the 1988 tour (I also just ordered 'Zappa the Hard Way' for additional stories about the tour). I particularly enjoyed the raw honesty Thunes demonstrates, with the objective to be true to himself and his voice, and having difficulties when trying to force himself be something else. Thank you for publishing this.

Mr. Thunes - thank you for performing this interview with Tom Wictor. I enjoyed reading your thoughts, and admire your courage to make the choices you have made. Thanks!

Chebass88 (ian)

 

[Brian Fox]

Tom,

Though you were no longer writing for Bass Player when I was hired in 2004, I'm certainly still a fan of your work. Looking forward to reading your book.

Sounds like some of my predecessors might have killed some good stories of yours. That was before my time, so I can't really speak to that. But I'm glad people are getting the chance to read some of it here.

I know this thread is about things that happened years ago, but if you or anyone else would like to contact me directly about the magazine in its current incarnation, please feel free to hit me up at [email protected].

Regards,
Brian

 

[RoadRanger]

Wow - is this thread getting "Twilight Zone" or what?

 

[MouseRat]

I'm just going to throw this out there: I will order a subscription to Bass Player Magazine the same day Tom is hired back on as a writer.

 

[Texan]

I'm just going to throw this out there: I will order a subscription to Bass Player Magazine the same day Tom is hired back on as a writer.

Ditto!

 

[Arthritic_Tom]

I'm just going to throw this out there: I will order a subscription to Bass Player Magazine the same day Tom is hired back on as a writer.

After you read my memoir, you'll understand that it'll never happen.

Not because I slagged the magazine, but because I'm done trying to fit in where I don't belong.

I explain it in the chapter titled Lessons Learned. It's called the "Lost Lemur Effect." It would simply never work, because my entire ethos is different from that of 99 percent of people in the music industry.

Wherever I end up, it's going to be with my own kind or with nobody. I can't make any more compromises, because in the end it didn't get me anywhere anyway.