Thunderbird Club

[TerribleTim68]

Joe Bonamassa comes to mind. Amazing guitarist... hardly known. While I wouldn't say he has struck out, he could've been a legend had he surrounded himself with a capable singer/songwriter and some steady band mates.

interestingly enough, Joe started out in the early 90s in a band called Bloodlines, which featured several heavyweight rock offspring (Berry Oakley Jr., son of the Allman Brothers Band bassist,Robby Krieger’s son Waylon and Miles Davis’ son Erin). If you've watched a lot of interviews with Joe (as I have, love the guy) he has said that the band struggled to go anywhere and they even brought in a vocal coach to help them learn better melodies and such. The vocal coach stated "The only one in this band with any vocal talent is Joe." That same vocal coach worked with Joe when he left the band, and could be credited with making him the singer he is today.

 

[Glenn Johnson]

Happy Thanksgiving to all the wonderful Thunderbird Club members!

Disclaimer: the above only applies to Thunderbird Club members who celebrate Thanksgiving, and is in no way meant to be an affront to those members who might find Thanksgiving ( in any way, shape or form ) offensive. If any Thunderbird Club members DO find my Happy Thanksgiving wishes offensive, I do apologize in advance, and assume no liability for such offence.

 

[TerribleTim68]

He has his own signature guitars, headlines large venues and has a net worth of around $20,000,000. Must be nice to be ‘hardly known.’ Pretty sure the cat’s out of the bag with that dude ...

I do not agree. He has played all over the world, amassed a small fortune... in the context of what we were discussing, still virtually unknown.

To be fair, he rarely plays "large venues". His whole business model is to play smaller, more intimate clubs and charge more for tickets. So while he has played a few large venues, it's not his mainstay or his bread and butter. I'm also gonna echo @Larry V here and say, in the context of everyday musicians, virtually unknown. Stop anybody on the street and ask them what they think of Joe Bonamassa, 99% of them will look at you funny and say "Who?"

 

[JJR58]

Happy Thanksgiving to all the wonderful Thunderbird Club members!

Disclaimer: the above only applies to Thunderbird Club members who celebrate Thanksgiving, and is in no way meant to be an affront to those members who might find Thanksgiving ( in any way, shape or form ) offensive. If any Thunderbird Club members DO find my Happy Thanksgiving wishes offensive, I do apologize in advance, and assume no liability for such offence.

And the same to all from me. And no offense here.

 

[Glenn Johnson]

Time for an avatar update. . .

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Joe Bonamassa comes to mind. Amazing guitarist... hardly known. While I wouldn't say he has struck out, he could've been a legend had he surrounded himself with a capable singer/songwriter and some steady band mates.

Sorry, by "strike out" I meant "head out".

And yes, there are exceptions who do well, but most would like do even better with the right band.

Clapton, Baker, and Bruce were going places, anyway, but Cream was a JATO for them.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

To be fair, he rarely plays "large venues". His whole business model is to play smaller, more intimate clubs and charge more for tickets. So while he has played a few large venues, it's not his mainstay or his bread and butter. I'm also gonna echo @Larry V here and say, in the context of everyday musicians, virtually unknown. Stop anybody on the street and ask them what they think of Joe Bonamassa, 99% of them will look at you funny and say "Who?"

And then you say, "No, that's Pete Townshend."

 

[GBassNorth]

The ramblings of a miserable old man. Never got over Hendrix upstaging him. He's just putting others down to build himself up. Not surprised one bit.

Your opinion pretty much sums it all up for me as well.

Pete has always had an ego bigger than he deserved. I've never really considered him a stellar guitarist or a phenomenal vocalist, just a better than average player with lots of stage presence. His trademark windmills and vertical jumps, "outta control rage" instrument smashing and bad boy attitude were his legacy for me, not his guitar licks which I can hear being played equally well on any given day by teenagers at Guitar Center.

I remember reading an article years ago that was comparing the after song guitar destruction mayhem Townsend and Hendrix were doing at the time. The author stated that JH burning his guitar on stage created a surreal almost sensual experience vs PT smashing his guitar on stage, which was more like witnessing a violent rape. No doubt about it, Pete was upstaged by a better player who also put on a better show. I think that still eats at his ego.

He is not the only one in that band that rambles miserably. I heard Daltry dissing McCartney on the Howard Stern show years ago. Pure jealousy if you ask me.

I've never been a huge follower of The Who for reasons unknown. I like plenty of their songs, am entertained with Pete's on stage antics and Daltry's rambling vocals, always was in awe of the huge talent and complete originality in John's style of playing, and even kinda liked Keith's off timing beat. All that said, I've just never bought many of their albums. A best of The Who LP would scratch every itch I have for them.

 

[Gaolee]

He has his own signature guitars, headlines large venues and has a net worth of around $20,000,000. Must be nice to be ‘hardly known.’ Pretty sure the cat’s out of the bag with that dude

I did jump over to that Townsend article. Isnt that pretty much the way he’s always acted? Personally, I find it entertaining. It is show biz after all. I don’t even think his views were ‘wrong,’ if someone else said it. Even if it’s true, it’s just kinda gross to come out and say it, but again, he’s always been like that. Lots of amazing artists are unlike able people, but it doesn’t diminish the art, to me at least

John Lennon was insufferable from a number of accounts of what he was like. That doesn't diminish his music.

 

[Engle]

He has his own signature guitars, headlines large venues and has a net worth of around $20,000,000. Must be nice to be ‘hardly known.’ Pretty sure the cat’s out of the bag with that dude

I did jump over to that Townsend article. Isnt that pretty much the way he’s always acted? Personally, I find it entertaining. It is show biz after all. I don’t even think his views were ‘wrong,’ if someone else said it. Even if it’s true, it’s just kinda gross to come out and say it, but again, he’s always been like that. Lots of amazing artists are unlike able people, but it doesn’t diminish the art, to me at least

It’s true a lot of great artists are unlikeable. We tend to project what we want them to be and then we are disappointed when we find out otherwise There’s a danger in reading autobiographies. The Anthony Kiedis book put me off RHCP for years.

 

[Glenn Johnson]

John Lennon was insufferable from a number of accounts of what he was like. That doesn't diminish his music.

John Lennon was a jerk to his own son. Paul was more of a father to Julian than John ever was. That said, John had more talent in his pinky toe than Pete Townsend, as did Paul AND George. IMHO

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'm your Huckleberry
View attachment 3611189

Ouais merci!.... mine are over 9k miles away and i’m jonesing BAD....

 

[fasterpussycat]

This is all quite amusing. So many people on TalkBass, especially in Thunderbird Club, rate Entwistle so very highly, and then Pete comes out and says words to the effect 'he was sh1te to play with'.

JAE's been dead 17 years and doubtless died with a smile on his face. It's not as if he can give two, is it?

 

[Engle]

This is all quite amusing. So many people on TalkBass, especially in Thunderbird Club, rate Entwistle so very highly, and then Pete comes out and says words to the effect 'he was sh1te to play with'.]

JAE's been dead 17 years and doubtless died with a smile on his face. It's not as if he can give two,

We’re gonna to natter about it when someone insults our bass-idol

No JAE doesn’t care, but PT is being crass.
I don’t think it’s cool to speak ill of the dead publicly.
Could very well be JAE would have said something similar if the situation was reversed

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Happy thanksgiving from Avignon to all!!!

 

[dagrev]

The EpiBird 5er is on her way to a new home in Arizona. I won't be posting any more pics of her after this. We just didn't quite gel. Wishing the new owner well.
View attachment 3610619

It was the superfluous string that was the problem.

 

[dagrev]

I was just reading this related article...
THE WHO's PETE TOWNSHEND On KEITH MOON And JOHN ENTWISTLE: 'Thank God They're Gone'

Never was a big Townsend fan, even less so now. You'd think he'd show a hint of respect for the dead and a degree of humbleness for himself, but nope, guess that's a lofty expectation for Pete.

+1
Whatever Pete is, he thinks he that and then some from what I've read.

 

[dagrev]

interestingly enough, Joe started out in the early 90s in a band called Bloodlines, which featured several heavyweight rock offspring (Berry Oakley Jr., son of the Allman Brothers Band bassist,Robby Krieger’s son Waylon and Miles Davis’ son Erin). If you've watched a lot of interviews with Joe (as I have, love the guy) he has said that the band struggled to go anywhere and they even brought in a vocal coach to help them learn better melodies and such. The vocal coach stated "The only one in this band with any vocal talent is Joe." That same vocal coach worked with Joe when he left the band, and could be credited with making him the singer he is today.

I believe I saw Joe or his manager talking once that someone said during that time of the super group that he (Joe) would never make it. Well out of that group.....he did OK it seems! And his current bassist (Rhodes) plays a Lull Tbird and old Epi Embassy most of the show!

 

[dagrev]

Happy Thanksgiving to all the wonderful Thunderbird Club members!

Disclaimer: the above only applies to Thunderbird Club members who celebrate Thanksgiving, and is in no way meant to be an affront to those members who might find Thanksgiving ( in any way, shape or form ) offensive. If any Thunderbird Club members DO find my Happy Thanksgiving wishes offensive, I do apologize in advance, and assume no liability for such offence.

I choose not to be offended and choose to be thankful!

Best Thanksgiving wishes and and an enjoyable Thanksgiving to all!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

This is all quite amusing. So many people on TalkBass, especially in Thunderbird Club, rate Entwistle so very highly, and then Pete comes out and says words to the effect 'he was sh1te to play with'.

JAE's been dead 17 years and doubtless died with a smile on his face. It's not as if he can give two, is it?

Today's Rolling Stone explains what Entwhistle was getting at. It makes sense.