h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Great stuff!!

A Bass player who not only keeps impeccable timing but who also trains the Marshall Arts. A person after my own heart.

Liked the Strangers site. I'm presuming that the bassist in the photos is you. Nice P-Bass but I cant tell what the 5 string is, looks pretty cool though.

When I get some more gigs I'll post them on the gig guide. You know how it is, working full time trying to get a little something together playing like Crowded House, Sting an some harder stuff.

Considering writing an entry on history of rock bass. John Entwistle Jack Bruce, McCartney (or as Sting calls him 'The Guv'nor), JPJ, Geddy Lee, Sheehan, Sting through to Ament, Wimbish, Flea et al. Love to hear your thoughts.

Keep Bustin'

NFAF-REEK

A big cheers Dude. I'm sorry it's taken so long to get back to you, but I don't have as much time to dedicate to H2G2 as I once did.

The 5 String is a Seibass, built by Mr Martin Petersson of The Gallery in Camden North London. A fine, fine instrument. I am probably the least capable Bass player in the world, that owns one of these!! What a claim to fame.






Bassman.

How have you been getting on with the entry??



Bassman

It's coming along, gradually... I will send you some of my ideas to get your thoughts as I go if that's ok. I'm at the moment going through some back issues of Bass Player and doing some searching on the net to add to my basic ideas, but time is a rare commodity.

Played any cool gigs lately?


F-Reek

New year's eve was the last. Packed pub fancy dress, what more could a chap ask for?



Bassman

And what sort of stuff were you guys playing?

My last was just before Christmas, I actually played a Carols by Candle light in an outdoor amphitheatre. 1000+ people it was very interesting. Highlight of the night was a 3 minute intro to Little Drummer boy with 2 latin percussionists, and they let me do a slap solo for the whole intro. The crowd went wild, and hardly anyone noticed me completely lose the plot when the lighting guy fired up the follow spot right into my eyes....

So who's playing do you get into most?

F-Reek

In no particular order (Or possibly as I discovered them)

Jean Jacques Burnel (The Stranglers)

The intro to Hanging around did it for me!! That was probably THE song that made me want to play. (Along with the rest of Rattus Norvegicus)

Bruce Foxton (The Jam)

Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)

Chris Squire (Yes)

Pete Trewavas (Marillion)

John Whetton (Asia) Iknow he'd been around for years, but the first Asia album was superb.

Geddy Lee (Rush)

Mark King (level 42)

Flea (The Red Hot Chili Peppers)



Bassman

An excellent selection indeed. But no Billy Sheehan? I get he's not really been a proper bass player for some time now. I don't really know if I like the whole 'lead bass' thing that much. I'm a big Mike Anthony fan. I kind of grew up on Van Halen and Pink Floyd.(it's a shame these days that kids are forced to grow up on musical fluff - unless their big brother has some cool music) What made me want to play originally was the David Hungate line in Boz Scaggs' 'Lowdown'. That was the coolest thing I'd ever heard and ironically I was to play it hundreds of times in clubs.

Mike Anthony is a hero. If you ever get the chance to see on of the live VH video's check out his 'Ultrabass' solo. It starts with him setting up a deckchair, chugging about half a bottle of Jack Daniels and then just making weird noises and thumping his bass with his fist for about 5 minutes. Legendary stuff.

After noting your cool basses on you website, the most notable thing is that it seems there is a photo with you wearing shorts onstage!

I thought this sort of thing only happened in Australia. In my book this puts you right next to Mike.


NFAF-Reek

Shorts on stage - it's a thigh thang!

When yours are as big and solid as mine (Were unfortunately) you just have to make the most of them.

Billy Sheehan is awesome, I've seen the Mr Big live vid, a little over the top for my taste.

Just off to buy a cordless drill!!



Bassman

I'm totally hip with the thigh thang. I'm 6'4" and 105kg, sporting 28" thighs (12 years of rugby and squats). A bass player should have thighs like tugboats, and baby better have back.

After seeing the Mr Big live vid (I actually own it) I did actually try screaming into my pickups. It's really hard to explain what you were doing when someone stumbles upon you doing that sort of thing.

I kept waiting for Paul or Billy to get their hair caught in the drill. Now that would be excitement....


F-Reek out

I've found as my hair is getting longer, that it gets caught in the strings - especially when putting one Bass down and picking the other up

We have a rule when we're gigging, be ready for the next song withing 15 seconds - or else. It's a little hard to achieve if you're stuck to a guitar by the scalp!!



Bassman

I wish I was 6' 4"



Bassman

It has its ups and downs.

I used to hate being taller thatn people at school, but now it's good in business and at play because people seem to acknowledge a physical presence.

And I constantly have to reach stuff that is on high shelves for people....

NFAF

It's strange that, would you ever ask a short person to get something for you from a low shelf?

If I was 6'4", I'd probably be in the same bad proportion that I am now - that would be just my luck.

I played a custom made Bass Guitar one time, made for a guy who was 6'7". The scale length was so long I could only just play the first fret with my arm outstretched and the elbow locked. Most uncomfortable. The whole instrument was in proportion, so weighed in at about 15 - 18 LBs, a monster.



Bassman

I had a Warwick Streamer II 6 string (the neck through with the wide fingerboard - seriously you could land a plane on the neck) and it weighed about 15 pounds, double truss rod and all. First couple of nights I played it (I used to play the bar in the Brisbane Sheraton Hotel 4 nights a week - about 4x45min sets a night) I went home dying.

What is beefing me at the moment though is that all of the little black plastic knobs on my TRB5($3,500 for a bass and you get plastic knobs) are breaking and.... I can't believe you guessed it, you can't get replacements, no matter how big I am...

What's the news, seen any good gigs lately. I was out of town last weekend and missed Jamiroquai at 'Vibes on a Summer's Day'.

Drat and Double Drat....

NFAF

Saw 2 terrible pub bands this weekend, the first was in one of the venues I often play. They were called Seamus O'Blivion and the Megadeath Morrismen. The guy singing (?) really shouldn't be allowed to wear those green spandex trousers - I think an act of parliament should be passed!!

The second were a Glam Rock band - I think called the Grimleys. They played all the big glam songs from the 70's - badly.



Bassman

I have heard some weird/cool band names in my time (notably, 'Psychotic Turnbuckles', 'The Hardons', 'Chocolate Starfish', and my own "Ten Zen Men') but Seamus O'Blivion and the Megadeath Morrismen takes the cake. Unfortunately however the right outfits do not a rock band make.

Which brings me to my next point. Those lads up at the Chaps Club seem like a boffing old group of fellows who'd rather fix bayonets and charge stark naked at Fritz than sit on the sideline with the wheezy boys and a note from matron. Are the Chaps pretty closed ranks or is there space for an old boy to pop in for a stiff one and blaze away about the good old days in Rhodesia when a good house mary cost a shilling a month and you always beat the natives in ruggers...

TF (my new moniker)

You sound like a decent sort of chap. Don yer best regimental tie and come on over. Speaking of fixing bayonets, we're having a spot of trouble with some travelling types on the green at the 9th hole, so grab yourself a weapon and pile in.... this is so much more personal than beating the natives at Rugger dontyerknow.

Stiff upper lip, bag yerself a gippo or two, then it's back to the club for a stiff drink and one or two of chef's crumpets for tea.



Bassers

TOP HO!! I'll have Winston fetch my shooting irons and join you on the 9th toot sweet.

TF

Good Show.



Bassers