Now I know…

[ajkula66]

While I'd never claim that Mick Karn was a major influence on my playing, my teenage mind was severely shaken when I first heard Japan. Definitely a unique musician.

 

[jerry]

While I'd never claim that Mick Karn was a major influence on my playing, my teenage mind was severely shaken when I first heard Japan. Definitely a unique musician.

Talented cats! David Sylvian and Richard Barbieri projects also have spaces on my CD shelfs.

 

[tim gueguen]

Could someone please inform me regarding the bass Karn played in this concert performance vid? Thanks in advance. Killer post BTW.

It's a Wal. He started playing the Wal towards the end of Japan, which replaced the fretless Travis Bean he'd been playing. It was Karn's playing on Japan's live album Oil on Canvas that led David Torn to recruit Karn.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Is there an example of his playing on something more melodic or mainstream?

 

[ardgedee]

Is there an example of his playing on something more melodic or mainstream?

He did some session work. Here's his bass on a Kate Bush track

You can see what Invalid Link Removed through Discogs.

 

[Michedelic]

Is there an example of his playing on something more melodic or mainstream?

Mainstream? What’s the point of that? He strove to be the creative antithesis. He was always melodic, but there’s a wider range of melodicism than what’s found in lowest common denominator Western music.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Mainstream? What’s the point of that? He strove to be the creative antithesis. He was always melodic, but there’s a wider range of melodicism than what’s found in lowest common denominator Western music.

You've got a point. That is what I was thinking while listening to that clip. I'd really rather hear him doing the kind of music he loved. My ears weren't really getting anything from hearing his style played outside of context though, or isolated.

 

[ThomAudubon]

It's a Wal. He started playing the Wal towards the end of Japan, which replaced the fretless Travis Bean he'd been playing. It was Karn's playing on Japan's live album Oil on Canvas that led David Torn to recruit Karn.

Thank you..

 

[Watchootognbout]

He played bass on trumpeter Mark Isham's tune "Grand Parade"

 

[tindrum]

He played bass on trumpeter Mark Isham's tune "Grand Parade"

I’ve been a HUGE Karn devotee since the 80s and this has always been one of favorite examples of his playing. It’s not as “out there” as many but it’s so supportive of the track but it adds a it’s own distinctive flavor. That’s hard to accomplish.

 

[tindrum]

What was that about Percy Jones?
Jones was definitely an inspiration for Karn; the Japan band certainly absorbed alot from Brian Eno(let alone Roxy Music), so it goes with the territory. Karn’s move from a Travis Bean bass to a Wal is telling as well, but he was no imitation.
I’m happy that I got introduced to the band when Gentlemen Take Polaroids came out. Had I heard their early stuff first, when they were a dismal New York Dolls/Bowie wannabe outfit(although learning on the job), I wouldn’t have paid attention past it. But the amazing musical transition happened on Quiet Life, which I went back to, and Tin Drum, whew, that was from another planet.
A bunch of people I had met who were into Be-Bop Deluxe/Bill Nelson turned me on to them, and wouldn’t you know it, Karn would eventually play on a Nelson solo album.
And Karn, like Giblin, played with Kate…

Speaking of Bill Nelson featuring Mick Karn stop what you are doing now and look up the Nelson track “Glow World”…..OMG Mick just goes off on this one and it’s glorious!

 

[Michedelic]

While I was on another thread concerning Sunn Coliseum Bass heads, it occurred to me that, while he was a poster boy for Wal basses, there’s not much discussion about the amps he used. Through out his time in Japan(at least the second half), he used an early “silver and black” Coliseum, with a later Sunn 4x12”, with the projector horn baffle(the type John Entwistle used in the late 70’s)…

Of course he eventually moved to Trace Elliot by the 90’s. I was so fortunate to have seen a rare performance of the Polytown trio, a short promotional set that took place at the old Virgin Megastore in West Hollywood, and at that time he had a TE 4x10 combo stacked on top of a 1x15 combo. There was a bit of a meet and greet afterwards, Torn and Bozzio engaged in conversation, but Karn just drifted off somewhere.

 

[Bob_Ross]

at that time he had a TE 4x10 combo stacked on top of a 1x15 combo.

When I saw Karn with Mark Isham's band in the late 80s he was using a G-K 800RB head (with a Digitech DSP128 in the effects loop) driving a pair of Trace Elliott 4x10 cabs. But I assumed some or all of that rig was rented backline.

 

[ElectroVibe]

What's a good track that he played on from Japan?

 

[tindrum]

What's a good track that he played on from Japan?

Boy where to start….. Here are a few of my favorites..

-Visions Of China
-Cantonese Boy
-Still Life In Mobile Homes
-Methods Of Dance

 

[ElectroVibe]

Boy where to start….. Here are a few of my favorites..

-Visions Of China
-Cantonese Boy
-Still Life In Mobile Homes
-Methods Of Dance

Thanks. I love Visions of China so far. They should have been more popular.