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Percy Jones: Sad Interview

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,359
120,793
Metro St. Louis
#1
Percy Jones is featured in the latest issue of Bassics, the one with Rhonda Smith on the cover. His interview focuses on his current band Tunnels, but it is very sobering. Percy says he has never gotten any royalties from the first five Brand X cds. He only ever got one $2,000 check, and he had to sign away his publishing to get it. The company eventually ended saying he owed them $250,000. Finally, he also says that he has not been able to earn a living in music for years, and helps his wife in her jewelry business.

It is very sobering to realize that such a great musician cannot make ends meet even though he possesses such great skills.:(
 
#4
Thanks for the link, Jauqo. I'm not surprised that percy is a big Alphonso Johnson fan. He and Alphonso are the two really overlooked giants of fretless bass. I also see he liked Michael Henderson too, Henderson went on to play some awesome fretless in a pop context on his solo cds. Of course, he likes Anthony Jackson! Genius has to recognize it's own kind.:)
 
#6
Does that surprise you? How many copies did you think Brand X sold anyway?

You are aware that advances paid by record companies often get used to put the band on the road. Then if the albums sell poorly the band is in debt to the record company.

Songwriting royalties are payable immediately of course, but the idea of signing away the publishing to pay other debts is quite common.
 
#7
brianrost said:
Does that surprise you? How many copies did you think Brand X sold anyway?

You are aware that advances paid by record companies often get used to put the band on the road. Then if the albums sell poorly the band is in debt to the record company.

Songwriting royalties are payable immediately of course, but the idea of signing away the publishing to pay other debts is quite common.
Click to expand...

+1

As far as music for a living, look at Allan Holdsworth's career.
:hmm:
 
#8
Dr. Cheese said:
Thanks for the link, Jauqo. I'm not surprised that percy is a big Alphonso Johnson fan. He and Alphonso are the two really overlooked giants of fretless bass. I also see he liked Michael Henderson too, Henderson went on to play some awesome fretless in a pop context on his solo cds. Of course, he likes Anthony Jackson! Genius has to recognize it's own kind.:)
Click to expand...

Not to reignite the "why do you play fretless" thing but Alphonso, Percy, Henderson and Lamont Johnson were my earliest influences. So here's one more fretless player named Johnson:rolleyes:

:bassist:
 
#9
brianrost said:
Does that surprise you? How many copies did you think Brand X sold anyway?

You are aware that advances paid by record companies often get used to put the band on the road. Then if the albums sell poorly the band is in debt to the record company.

Songwriting royalties are payable immediately of course, but the idea of signing away the publishing to pay other debts is quite common.
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm a naive guy who mainly sits by my computer slapping along to cds for fun.:cool: I have been in bands, and have even been paid, but mainly I am an amateur and fan, so I guess the reality of how hard music can be for even a great musician is eye-opening.:eek:
 
#11
PhR said:
They must have sold quite a lot for a jazz rock band 'cause they had Phil Collins on drums. Well, at least more than National Health, Gilgamesh etc.
Click to expand...


I doubt Phil joined for the money... he was already in Genesis. And I doubt Brand X sold a lot of records judging by the number of folks who are completely unfamiliar with them. More than who?
;)
 
#12
Brad Johnson said:
I doubt Phil joined for the money... he was already in Genesis. And I doubt Brand X sold a lot of records judging by the number of folks who are completely unfamiliar with them. More than who?
;)
Click to expand...

I meant they must have sold a lot more than their contemporaries (British jazz-rock bands like the aforementioned National Health, Gilgamesh, Soft Machine, Isotope etc.) because they had Phil Collins on drums. He had a "name" that an average listener knew, the others were more known to musos, to put it bluntly.
 
#14
Rano Bass said:
Brand X were never a comercial band so that doesn't surprises me, "music for musicians" rarely makes players rich.
I read they had a chance to get bigger support from their record company if they added a singer and made more accesible songs buy they declined and only Phil Collins was up for it.
Click to expand...

They did release a few tunes with Phil singing and it even got a bit of radio airplay. John Goodsall says the same thing about never getting any money from that band.

Regarding National Health, Pip Pyle came out with his band to San Francisco a few years back, he drew about 10 people :rollno: I'm glad I got a chance to see him though.
 
#15
On his last Tunnels tour, I think he had an SWR workingmans rig.
That made me think, he didnt have that much money.

I think now he gets royalties from Bukeyball records, for his tunnel's stuff.
Hopefully he gets a few bucks from that.

I know one thing, that Affirma Ibanez bass, hes playing sure looks cool
 
#16
I didn't post this as a pity party for Percy Jones. He is not rich, but as far as I know, he has his health, and he is still making the music he loves. He can still record and do some touring. I just think that his situation is something that younger musicians should know about. Music is a hard field for making a living, especially when one is playing the music of one's heart, and not doing the familiar standards or top forty material.

For a bit of perspective, I imagine that Jaco's family would trade royalty checks for a healthy Jaco who could only record and tour part time.
 
#17


I first saw this link on Rockabilly Bass.
I'm sure this has been posted here too.
Seems to me, with today's technology and ease of information exchange...it's easier than ever to follow this advice.
 
#19
Well it's great to see Percy's name in a post here. I have been a fan of his since the 70's and as far as influences go for me, he is the king. :)

I have met him several times and he is an incredibly humble man, and to me a national treasure, no wait international treasure.
And all is true that is being said here, he does make money now thanks to Marc and Buckeyball. By all means buy Tunnels stuff, it really is wonderfull and I own all of his stuff. I even have the pleasure of being in the audience for a live track on the Tunnels Live "The Art of Living Dangerously".

It's a shame when great musicians can't even eek out a living, when people like K-Fet can have a lucrative life and so called "music career".
Someday taste will reign supreme. :)
Dirk
 
#20
:D
Dr. Cheese said:
I didn't post this as a pity party for Percy Jones. He is not rich, but as far as I know, he has his health, and he is still making the music he loves. He can still record and do some touring. I just think that his situation is something that younger musicians should know about. Music is a hard field for making a living, especially when one is playing the music of one's heart, and not doing the familiar standards or top forty material.

For a bit of perspective, I imagine that Jaco's family would trade royalty checks for a healthy Jaco who could only record and tour part time.
Click to expand...

Good point. Percy seems well spirited from what I have read. Who knows, perhaps his playing would be less inspired now if he were doing better financially? Maybe, a part of him wouldn't have it any other way? All I know is I love his playing. I also love Mick Karn's playing and as long as there is some pity going around he needs some too because he is worth more than he makes.:bawl: Oh yeah, and probably most of us reading this too!:D
 

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