Began playing guitar in 1969 and
Cello in 1971.
Playing music in a band seemed like a great way to get girls! In truth,
I've found that the drummer (or sometimes the lead singer) gets the girl
- mostly. With the exception of basic classical training on the Cello,
I am completely self taught - although I find you learn something from
every one you see. It took many days and nights playing by ear. Learning
riffs from Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Johnny Winter, Yes, Emerson Lake
& Palmer, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent,
Rush and many others. It took every bit of cash I could muster to get
front row tickets as the shows came to town. Watching close up, you learn
a lot. Probably one of the best performances I remember was from Weather
Report with Jaco Pastorious as he flew through the bass. It was then,
at that moment, I gave up the guitar and started playing the bass full
time, which was a good thing since I have big hands and could never really
hit high notes or complicated chords.
I like to think of the bass as an instrument of "color" or "hue".
Music is sort of like painting. You need a background, something that
creates a foundation - the deep blue of the sky or the sea, the gloden
glow of a sunrise or the redness of the sunset. Bass is a color - it adds
richness and depth. Without it, things are bland. Bass is also physical.
I've experimented with many styles of music - Hard Rock, Rock and Roll,
Techno Rock, Country, Bluegrass and more. Sometimes I play rythym guitar,
slide, banjo or double bass.
Blues You Can Use!
Links to other
band members
Link to
Band Page
I guess, I 've been drawn to music by the notion of creating a mood or the expression of feelings, all extremes from anger, aggression, sadness, happiness and bliss.
But sometimes the best thing that happens, is after you play your best, someone you've never met comes up the stage and says, "Thanks, that was great." That's what makes it all worthwhile.
