Groove must be felt…Rhythm is inherent…Tying it all together and locking in
Some of his work includes: • Playing on the track “L.A. Woman” by Mike Verge & Friends (which includes Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, and mixed by the legendary Jack Douglas) for the movie This Thing Of Ours - it will be in both the DVD trailer as well as the soundtrack
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Q&A: 1. What led you to become a bass player? I heard Led Zeppelin's "The Lemon Song, and was hooked. Motown and R&B also played a big part. 2. What were your expectations? I just wanted to play in front of a big crowd, and hear nothing but a loud roar. 3. What bass players influenced you the most? John Paul Jones, James Jamerson, Bob Babbitt, Tom Hamilton, Peter Cetera, Paul McCartney and John Entwistle were who I listened to when I first took up the instrument, and I still do. 4. What was your first gig like? It was at a Men's Club (Tom Caruso's Celebrity Room), I was 16. Playing my first gig was great, but seeing naked women wasn't too shabby either! 5. How have things changed since then? There are no naked women at the gigs....Seriously though, there are less bands and hardly enough places to play anymore. There once were a number of clubs where the main attraction was live music. Now there are bunch of restaurants that have bad acoustics and clueless owners, and have a stage thrown into the corner where they put bands at night. 6. Would you change anything that you've done throughout your music career? Playing at weddings and doing gigs with anyone from Elvis impersonators to Top 40 cover bands definitely made me a more well rounded player....but I'd like to have some of that time back so I could have focused on more important things. 7. How would you best sum up your personality? If you run out of gas at 3AM, I'd be there immediately to give you a ride......then I'd break your balls all the way to the gas station. 8. Who do you credit for helping you most along the way? I was lucky enough to meet Michael Bean back in 1988, and asked him to give me lessons. Words can't even describe his impact. He brought me to another level immediately, and remains a mentor and big influence. He is as good a teacher as he is a person. 9. There are good bass players everywhere; why should anyone hire you? I make it a point to show up for whatever situation I'm hired for as prepared as possible. If it's a studio gig, I show up with the songs already charted out; if it's a fill in gig, I chart everything out in advance and my goal is to make you feel as though there isn't a substitute back there, 10. What advice would you offer a young bass player who just started? I just happen to have much to say on that subject....I learned from my own mistakes as well as those that others made.... A. Network with as many musicians as you can. You can never have enough resources, whether it's playing tips, finding a place looking for bands or a band looking for players.....This is a tough business, you never know who will be there to hold a door open (or slam it) for you in the future. B. Don't automatically dislike other bass players because they play the same instrument as you, is "better" than you, or is in a "rival" band. You can learn a lot by getting together with them, and probably show a few things to help both of you improve. C. Learn to walk before you try to run. Billy Sheehan is unbelievably fast, but he started off by playing it slowly. D. Practice hard, and make it count. Spend more time working on the things that you don't do well, but leave time to expand on the things that you already are comfortable with. And when you find yourself frustrated and ready to smash your instrument into tiny splinters of wood, put it down (gently) and do something non-musical for a while. You'll be shocked at how much easier things will come when you have a clear mind. E. Don't assume that a female musician is inferior. Music is an art, and anyone can be an artist. F. Listen toLed Zeppelin 2, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, and the Four Tops Greatest Hits, and be humbled by the melodic bass of James Jamerson and John Paul Jones! 11. Where do you see yourself ten years from now? I hope I won't have to beg for gigs like I do now. 12. As you said, this is a tough business. People see the glorious side....tell us about the other side. When you see a live band, you see the results from a lot of rehearsal and likely a lot of arguments, differences of opinions, and in some cases, hard feelings. As a hired sideman, there are too many ways for you to end up disappointed, you need to always stay focused on what's ahead. There are a lot of other good bass players looking for work, and they might get hired to replace you if you aren't up to the challenges. You have to stay on top of your game and not worry about what you can't control. Gear Listing: Basses: (All with Rotosound Strings) Amplifiers: Miscellaneous: |
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