Percy Jones Instructional Video

[Les Fret]

It was in the Quad which was not really that large. I don't think I was more than 25 feet from the stage but we all did a lot of "floating" around that day. There were a couple of other names on the bill besides the Dixie Dreggs and Eric Johnson but I went for John McLaughlin and The One Truth Band.

Was Eric Johnson playing in the Dregs? Or just on the same bill?

 

[Spupilup]

I thought he did. This was 1979 so I became aware of who he was after the concert. I knew the Dixie Dreggs and Steve Morse and he and Johnson were friends. Again, not something I was aware of until later. I've been looking to see if I can find either a poster for the show or a notice of the concert.

Please keep in mind, this was around 44 years ago and I at the age of 19, was partying at the show.

 

[Spupilup]

Okay, this was a lot easier than I thought. A listing for the concert in the school newspaper. The show consisted of Pure Prairie League, Wet Willie, The One Truth Band with John McLaughlin, Eric Johnson and Dixie Dreggs. I have absolutely no recollection of the performance of PPL or WW. I do remember being in awe of McLaughlin and the band, digging the Dreggs and, since I wasn't familiar with Johnson, was pretty floored by his playing.

I thought he played with the Dreggs, maybe it was for just a song or two but, like I've already said, baked and 44 years ago.

 

[Les Fret]

Okay, this was a lot easier than I thought. A listing for the concert in the school newspaper. The show consisted of Pure Prairie League, Wet Willie, The One Truth Band with John McLaughlin, Eric Johnson and Dixie Dreggs. I have absolutely no recollection of the performance of PPL or WW. I do remember being in awe of McLaughlin and the band, digging the Dreggs and, since I wasn't familiar with Johnson, was pretty floored by his playing.

I thought he played with the Dreggs, maybe it was for just a song or two but, like I've already said, baked and 44 years ago.

View attachment 5178724

Ok thanks! Cool line up!

 

[Jeff Scott]

I just came across this.

 

[Jeff Scott]

 

[DavidG]

Percy was/is the #1 fretless influence for me. Like many here, I heard Percy before hearing Jaco and it changed everything. Who knew you could slide a harmonic?! My tastes eventually led me to Mick Karn and Pino, and John Giblin (with Kate Bush. OMG!) (and Jaco too!).
No joke, Percy built his own effects in the early days, especially flangers and envelope filters. Mix that in with his technique (He plays hard. He really beats those harmonics out of that bass!), and his eventual discovery of Wal basses and you get that amazing sound on those Eno and Brand X records (the first Brand X album is probably a Precision).

Of course, Percy is still at it at 75. Saw him at ShapeShifter in Brooklyn with PAKT in 2021. He played a 5-string Wal (he has also been using a custom Ibanez with only a piezo in the bridge in recent years. See above).
Here is a sample of what they are up to:


More recent stuff:


and one super old nugget (before he got the Wal):

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Percy... Mix that in with his technique (He plays hard. He really beats those harmonics out of that bass!)...

I can attest to that. At that above pictured gig where Tunnels and Rare Blend did together, before the show, Percy and I were comparing basses and amps (he really liked the SWR BB II I had). When I played his custom Ibanez the first thing I noted and asked him about was how high the action was (pretty much, 1/2" off the fingerboard at the heel end of it. He said that is what gives him his sound, not to mention hand pain!

Maybe that is what is shown in this photo I posted earlier.