Saw Pat Metheny play with his trio in DC. It was a very small club, and after the show I went upstairs to the bathroom before we left. Who else is standing in the hall way - Pat! By himself. So I said hi, shook his hand, and told him that I really enjoyed the show, etc... He was SUPER cool, really normal, seemingly quite guy. Then some guy came by with a bunch of CD jackets for him to sign, so I quitely excused myself. But it was nice to be face to face with such greatness.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Your Brush with Greatness?
- Thread starter grooveguru
- Start date
Last summer, my wife and I went to see my bass instructor play for an R&B band in west-end Toronto. Before the show, we were speaking on stage and he said to me "Don't turn around now, but Geddy Lee is standing 10 feet behind you". Apparently Geddy is pretty skittish and doesn't like a lot of attention. My wife and I stood next to him at the bar as the band finished setting up. As he got up to leave, the only thing I could think to ask him was:
"Are you done with that bar stool"?
"Yeah!" he says... smiles and walks away.
Arrrgh! That's all I could think of!?!? Oh well, he's probably tired of every amateur bassist in the world wanting to ask him a thousand questions.
PS: If any of you bump into Geddy at a bar, he likes dark beer.
"Are you done with that bar stool"?
"Yeah!" he says... smiles and walks away.
Arrrgh! That's all I could think of!?!? Oh well, he's probably tired of every amateur bassist in the world wanting to ask him a thousand questions.
PS: If any of you bump into Geddy at a bar, he likes dark beer.
It was 1978, we where gigging at a club in Burbank. The place had a practice space a couple of doors down.
There was this "Loser" band practicing there that all the musicians used to make fun of called "Quiet Riot." They wore funny clothes, like leopard skin strech pants and fluffy hair.
After our gig this Quiet Riot band was loading up at the same time we were and I began talking to this blonde little short guy wearing spandex pants and a bright pink shirt.
I thought he was way more talented then the rest of the band and asked him why he played with them and why he was into their fruit-cake image.
His name was Randy Rhoades.
He did eventually dumped that wierd band and made a name for himself.
There was this "Loser" band practicing there that all the musicians used to make fun of called "Quiet Riot." They wore funny clothes, like leopard skin strech pants and fluffy hair.
After our gig this Quiet Riot band was loading up at the same time we were and I began talking to this blonde little short guy wearing spandex pants and a bright pink shirt.
I thought he was way more talented then the rest of the band and asked him why he played with them and why he was into their fruit-cake image.
His name was Randy Rhoades.
He did eventually dumped that wierd band and made a name for himself.
Said hey to Robin Zander and Rick Nelson (Cheap Trick) at the fair where they were playing that night. Tom Petersson was not around.
I met Bootsy at the Nashville NAMM show a couple of years ago. He was very cool and said "on the one!" "keep the funk alive!" Got my picture made with him, too. I spoke briefly with Jeff Berlin once. Despite what I had heard otherwise, he was very nice. It ain't much, but its all I got!
Oh yea. I was at a Doobie Brothers concert in Columbus, GA and was not even 5 feet from Tiran Porter. I was only 15 and too shy to say anything! Man, that was a loooong time ago!
Oh yea. I was at a Doobie Brothers concert in Columbus, GA and was not even 5 feet from Tiran Porter. I was only 15 and too shy to say anything! Man, that was a loooong time ago!
Here's a weird one. I've "met" Tony Levin three times in the last 15 years.The first time I introduced myself to him, 5 years later...a producer friend introduced me to him, then 5 years later...I complained to him about having to stand during one of the Tony Levin Band shows. So what does he do...gets me front row seats!! Not only is he a well-respected musician, but he is a decent, well-respected PERSON in my eyes.
We had Jeff Lorber Fusion play a concert at my college. As they were packing up their gear I asked Danny Wilson if it was true he had only been playing for one year at the time they recorded Water Sign. He grinned, shrugged his shoulders, and changed the subject. Anybody who hasn't heard Toad's Place, Tune 88 or Water Sign from this album needs to hear them, then they'll understand why I asked. His groove was definitely tight.
Peace,
James
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
got a cool pic of me and stanley clarke with my doubleneck - talked to him briefly, very cool guy.
i was walking around the namm show with the doubleneck on and chuck rainey came up to me to talk to me about it, that was really cool.
i've talked to steve bailey a bunch of times, he's played a few of my fretlesses before a few times when he's come to the conklin booth.
i talk to bill dickens some at every namm show, he's always around the conklin booth for a while, so he's available.
got a chance to talk to chris squire, jon anderson and allen white from yes a few times at various namm shows.
talked to terry bozzio a few times at various namm shows as well.
met a bunch of great luthiers at various shows.
i was walking around the namm show with the doubleneck on and chuck rainey came up to me to talk to me about it, that was really cool.
i've talked to steve bailey a bunch of times, he's played a few of my fretlesses before a few times when he's come to the conklin booth.
i talk to bill dickens some at every namm show, he's always around the conklin booth for a while, so he's available.
got a chance to talk to chris squire, jon anderson and allen white from yes a few times at various namm shows.
talked to terry bozzio a few times at various namm shows as well.
met a bunch of great luthiers at various shows.
Non bassists that I met:
Ike Willis, Frank Zappa's guitar player.
Almost met Frank himself but I did make him something in high school woodshop, 1978, which I personally handed to him at a concert in NYC. Years later when he was very ill I called Barking Pumpkin Records just to wish him well and I asked the woman on the phone about this plaque that I had given Frank. She tels me to hold on and when she gets back on the phone she tells me verbatum what I had engraved on the plaque which she was holding in her hand. I thought that was cool.
Also, opened for, met, talked to Fred Norris from the Howard Stern show at least three times. Even got him a gig.
Ike Willis, Frank Zappa's guitar player.
Almost met Frank himself but I did make him something in high school woodshop, 1978, which I personally handed to him at a concert in NYC. Years later when he was very ill I called Barking Pumpkin Records just to wish him well and I asked the woman on the phone about this plaque that I had given Frank. She tels me to hold on and when she gets back on the phone she tells me verbatum what I had engraved on the plaque which she was holding in her hand. I thought that was cool.
Also, opened for, met, talked to Fred Norris from the Howard Stern show at least three times. Even got him a gig.
first off, I have to put Jaco. it was the last tour, with Hiram Bullock and Kenwood Dennard, and I'd seen 6 sets. I had to borrow money from everyone I knew to see them, but it was worth it. I was terrified, but the woman I was with pushed me, saying, 'When are you going to get this chance again?' it was hardly genial, but it was a major rush meeting my then-idol.
also on the list are Geddy Lee, Jimmy Haslip, Louis Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Nick Feldman (of Wang Chung), Terry Battle (of Herbie Mann's band), Curtis Robinson Jr. (when he was in Buddy Rich's band), Doug Lunn (from the Fire Merchants and Andy Summers' band), Stu Hamm, John Patitucci, and Billy Sheehan.
I was fortunate to be a BIT student when Jeff Berlin, Steve Bailey,Gary Willis, Jim Lacefield, Tim Bogert, and Alexis Sklarevski were teaching there. I got some class- and hang-time with them all. Ernest Tibbs (currently on faculty) and Patrice "P-Bass" Jones of En Vogue fame were also players in my class.
Roberto Vally (Spyro Gyra, Boney James, Randy Crawford, Bobby Caldwell) and Steuart Liebig (BLOC, Michael Penn, solo artist) are friends, too.
oh, and Scott Thunes (Zappa) was in the audience with Chad Wackerman, John Goodsall, and Chester Thompson the night of my first professional gig!
I've been very lucky!
from the low end,
Stew
also on the list are Geddy Lee, Jimmy Haslip, Louis Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Nick Feldman (of Wang Chung), Terry Battle (of Herbie Mann's band), Curtis Robinson Jr. (when he was in Buddy Rich's band), Doug Lunn (from the Fire Merchants and Andy Summers' band), Stu Hamm, John Patitucci, and Billy Sheehan.
I was fortunate to be a BIT student when Jeff Berlin, Steve Bailey,Gary Willis, Jim Lacefield, Tim Bogert, and Alexis Sklarevski were teaching there. I got some class- and hang-time with them all. Ernest Tibbs (currently on faculty) and Patrice "P-Bass" Jones of En Vogue fame were also players in my class.
Roberto Vally (Spyro Gyra, Boney James, Randy Crawford, Bobby Caldwell) and Steuart Liebig (BLOC, Michael Penn, solo artist) are friends, too.
oh, and Scott Thunes (Zappa) was in the audience with Chad Wackerman, John Goodsall, and Chester Thompson the night of my first professional gig!
I've been very lucky!
from the low end,
Stew
I forgot to mention that one of my old bands was in the same rehearsal studio with the Chili Peppers when they were auditioing players for Mother's Milk.
I was rehearsing in a different studio with a different band at the same time and got to listen to DEVO and the early workout of Mr. Big. *MAJOR* fun!!
the actor Steven Bauer was trying to launch a music career at the time and we'd see him around some, too.
wacky or what?
ever at the low end,
Stew
I was rehearsing in a different studio with a different band at the same time and got to listen to DEVO and the early workout of Mr. Big. *MAJOR* fun!!
the actor Steven Bauer was trying to launch a music career at the time and we'd see him around some, too.
wacky or what?
ever at the low end,
Stew
Did anyone actually talk to these bassists about Bass at all? I mean, when I met the guy from Lostprophets, we talked about it for 15 minutes, the guy from Fenix TX didnt gimme the chance, but i doubt he had anything interesting to say about it.
sim
sim
I've met Roscoe Beck, Dave LaRue, Jeff Berlin and the cool bassist of The Rippingtons, but I just can't think of his name for which I am very sorry. All were very nice and it was a huge thrill to meet them...all after concerts.
Also, once I wrote to Micheal Manring to praise his work an album of his and he actually wrote me back and thanked me! That was a huge surprise.
Also, once I wrote to Micheal Manring to praise his work an album of his and he actually wrote me back and thanked me! That was a huge surprise.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
2 lessons with Michael Manring.
5+ Lessons with Kai Eckhardt.
Met and talked wit Benny Rietveld.
Talked Briefly with Rufus Reid.
Had my bass autographed by Victor Wooten.
5+ Lessons with Kai Eckhardt.
Met and talked wit Benny Rietveld.
Talked Briefly with Rufus Reid.
Had my bass autographed by Victor Wooten.
I met Glenn Browne, a much sought after bassist in Jamaca, who was a personal friend of Bob Marleys. i also met Rob Thomas, the old Weather Report percussionist
As far as bassists go:
Jason Newsted - backstage at one of the Seattle shows for the Black Album tour. Jason is a really nice guy. Rapped with him for probably 20 minutes about stuff.
Tony Levin - after a Tony Levin band show a few years ago. Got to chat for a few minutes, mostly about playing with Funk Fingers and diffirent techniques to use.
Eddie Jackson (Queensryche) - I was really good friends with his little sister; we went to school together. I hung out with him so many times I can't even remember...
Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival) - My band opened for Creedence Clearwater Re-Visisted in Las Vegas last November. Got to meet Stu and chat with him when they were done with soundcheck as we were preparing to sound check. He hung out and listened to us for a bit. Nice guy.
Bryan Beller (Mike Keneally Band, Steve Vai, etc) - I've known Beller now for years, extremely good bassist and overly humble about his greatness.
Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) - He's tall. Really, really tall. I met him backstage at the Metallica show as well.
Tom Fowler (Frank Zappa) - Met him before a Banned From Utopia show.. basically Zappa's band after Frank died.
Jeff Ahmet (Pearl Jam) - complete and utter jerk. I met him at a Seattle Seahawks game. He was with (then drummer) Dave Abris...(however you spell it). Dave was a fantastically pleasent person and I talked with him at great length about a lot of stuff. REALLY cool guy. Jeff seemed annoyed by my presence and was generally a complete a%#hole.
Christian McBride - at a Guitar Center of all places... I actually was noodling around on a bass and he listened to me for a while and finally started talking to me. I had no idea who he was when I was playing, as I didn't know what he looked like... I don't think I would have been playing "Donna Lee" and "Teen Town" in front of him if I had knew who he was...
non-bassists or whole bands...
Wierd Al Yankovic and his band - They love a band that I used to be in (Travis Shredd & the Good 'Ol Homeboys). I have hung out backstage with them on numerous occasions and took them out drinking after one of their shows. Al and drummer Bermuda actually came to a TS show in Seattle one time; that was cool stuff.
James Hetfield - obviously met him the same time I met Jason. James was cool.
Pee Wee Ellis & Fred Wesley (James Brown) - Met these two after the Pee Wee Ellis band (feat. Fred Wesley) got done playing. Talk about meeting some funk legends, that was really cool.
Wynton Marsalis - got to meet him (and play trumpet for him... good god) after a Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra show in Seattle. He's a great cat man.
The Mike Keneally band - met everyone in the band and talked with them after a show in Seattle. Talk about good people.
I'd met Mike several times before that and talked with him at great length about all kinds of stuff.
Non-musicians, but still famous
Wayne Gretzkey (the Great One), Keifer Sutherland (actor), Cam Neely (hockey player), Tom Arnold (actor), the Hansen Brothers (from Slapshot), Russ and Jeff Courtnall (hockey players).
Jason Newsted - backstage at one of the Seattle shows for the Black Album tour. Jason is a really nice guy. Rapped with him for probably 20 minutes about stuff.
Tony Levin - after a Tony Levin band show a few years ago. Got to chat for a few minutes, mostly about playing with Funk Fingers and diffirent techniques to use.
Eddie Jackson (Queensryche) - I was really good friends with his little sister; we went to school together. I hung out with him so many times I can't even remember...
Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival) - My band opened for Creedence Clearwater Re-Visisted in Las Vegas last November. Got to meet Stu and chat with him when they were done with soundcheck as we were preparing to sound check. He hung out and listened to us for a bit. Nice guy.
Bryan Beller (Mike Keneally Band, Steve Vai, etc) - I've known Beller now for years, extremely good bassist and overly humble about his greatness.
Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) - He's tall. Really, really tall. I met him backstage at the Metallica show as well.
Tom Fowler (Frank Zappa) - Met him before a Banned From Utopia show.. basically Zappa's band after Frank died.
Jeff Ahmet (Pearl Jam) - complete and utter jerk. I met him at a Seattle Seahawks game. He was with (then drummer) Dave Abris...(however you spell it). Dave was a fantastically pleasent person and I talked with him at great length about a lot of stuff. REALLY cool guy. Jeff seemed annoyed by my presence and was generally a complete a%#hole.
Christian McBride - at a Guitar Center of all places... I actually was noodling around on a bass and he listened to me for a while and finally started talking to me. I had no idea who he was when I was playing, as I didn't know what he looked like... I don't think I would have been playing "Donna Lee" and "Teen Town" in front of him if I had knew who he was...
non-bassists or whole bands...
Wierd Al Yankovic and his band - They love a band that I used to be in (Travis Shredd & the Good 'Ol Homeboys). I have hung out backstage with them on numerous occasions and took them out drinking after one of their shows. Al and drummer Bermuda actually came to a TS show in Seattle one time; that was cool stuff.
James Hetfield - obviously met him the same time I met Jason. James was cool.
Pee Wee Ellis & Fred Wesley (James Brown) - Met these two after the Pee Wee Ellis band (feat. Fred Wesley) got done playing. Talk about meeting some funk legends, that was really cool.
Wynton Marsalis - got to meet him (and play trumpet for him... good god) after a Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra show in Seattle. He's a great cat man.
The Mike Keneally band - met everyone in the band and talked with them after a show in Seattle. Talk about good people.
I'd met Mike several times before that and talked with him at great length about all kinds of stuff.Non-musicians, but still famous
Wayne Gretzkey (the Great One), Keifer Sutherland (actor), Cam Neely (hockey player), Tom Arnold (actor), the Hansen Brothers (from Slapshot), Russ and Jeff Courtnall (hockey players).
Earlier I listed only bass players, but here are some non-bass players I've met.
Pat Metheny
Mike Stern
Scott Henderson
Dweezil & Ahmet Zappa
Herbie Hancock
Micheal Brecker
Lyle Mays
Nana V. (percussionist w/Metheny)
Adrian Belew
I'm sure there's more I can't think of right now..
Pat Metheny
Mike Stern
Scott Henderson
Dweezil & Ahmet Zappa
Herbie Hancock
Micheal Brecker
Lyle Mays
Nana V. (percussionist w/Metheny)
Adrian Belew
I'm sure there's more I can't think of right now..
eric atkinson
"Is our children learning "Is our teachers teachin
Jason newsted, victor and the band,sting,robbie kregor of the doors,all original memers of skynard,crosby, future man was stoned eating nachos! Ohhh the guys from outfield three dog night,kansas, black oak ar,allmond brothers, dave mathews band,
well that all i can think of now! Ohhh the best of all was lita ford!hehe she really isnt that good looking up close!
well that all i can think of now! Ohhh the best of all was lita ford!hehe she really isnt that good looking up close!
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
Stradi custom build commission thread - The Inception of Nightwing- Latest: RichterScale
