Rockers Unite to Oust Bush

Rollong Stone ^ | November 26, 2003 | DAMIEN CAVE

[nobdysfool]

"I thought, 'Why am I, a country singer who has never been involved in politics publicly, the one asking questions?'"

We have all been wondering the same thing....

We have also been wondering why you, Nastalie Mains, a Country Singer with no political involvement or experience, would think that your observations carry any weight. Being a singer does not qualify you for the role of political pundit, any more than driving a car qualifies you to overhaul its engine. Stick to what you know. You'll appear more intelligent that way.....

It is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt....

[nobdysfool]

For as long as I can remember, the bass and drums were sort of the backbone of the music. I feel that the Bill Bruford/Chris Squire team of Yes began to redefine it, but it was completely broken by Lee/Pert. While they still do "groove" together, in a lot of cases, the drums become more of an upfront instrument, rather than being used for fills. And his "style" and pacing is something else. There are fills he does that have always impressed me and I can only describe as "falling down the stairs! lol

I would suggest that you give a listen to Cream, especially their live work. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker did a lot to redefine the "rhythm section" away from just supportive to voices in their own right. As for "falling down the stairs", I think Ginger pretty much nailed that on his recorded drum solo "Toad" from the "Wheels of Fire" album. Nothing against Neal Pert or Carl Palmer, they are both excellent drummers.

My personal favorite has always been Mitch Mitchell, from the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He incorporated Elvin Jones' style of "circular drumming" to good effect in that band. Sometimes Mitch's playing and fills were a "wash" of sound as a backdrop to Jimi's playing, and it was Noel Redding who nailed down the time and meter on bass. Noel had his moments too, and was a pretty good bassist for a guy who was actually a guitar player!

I'm a bassist who started out on drums, and picked up guitar later on. I learned bass by listening to Cream, Hendrix, and the Beatles. The one other major influence on my bass playing was Phil Keaggy, who taught me a lot about moving bass lines, getting around on the neck, and hand position, as well as a melodic approach to the instrument. He's even more unsung as a bassist than he is as a guitarist, and he's one of the world's best guitarists. If you don't know who he is, Google him and check out some of his work!

[the invisib1e hand]

that's funny...I'm a closet guitarist who's played drums...I have it my mind to get around to bass eventually -- I think when I finally do I will be able to do some of the composing/recording that I want to...but I wanted to acknowledge Phil Keaggy, who, in turn (as you know) acknoweldges Paul McCartney.

The older I get the more I appreciate, am floored by, the Beatles. Who even comes close?

[Tymesup]

Travis Tritt, at a concert in Lake Placid last summer, sang Sweet Home Alabama. When he got to the line "Does your conscience bother you", he inserted Clinton. He then mentioned Hillary, too.

At a Brooks and Dunn concert this summer in Allentown, their finale was Only in America. They had four servicemen parade on to the stage. The crowd went nuts.

Springsteen, in contrast, did 41 Shots, about the tragic death of Amadou Diallo in New York. He has not done a song about the reduction in the NYC murder rate from 2,400 to 600 a year, largely attributable to the New York Police Department. 1,800 people saved a year for two years is already more than 3,000 on 9/11, now that I think about it.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Henley's pro-pedophile song? I must've missed that one. What was it?

[TheDon]

SHUT UP AND SING!

[the invisib1e hand]

totally lost interest in springsteen when 'born in the USA' came out -- and that was for musical reasons, I was a liberal college student then. Even then, when I realized the cover was him pissing on the flag, I thought it was sick.

That awful song "I'm on fire", which I actually heard recently in a grocery store, sealed it for me.

Then when I grew up, I realized that, like most American leftists, he bites the hand that feeds him.

He's a moron, and a long, long, way from the Tenth Avenue freezeout or Rosie's house.

[the invisib1e hand]

i agree with the first half.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Bun E. Carlos...he's the real deal.

[TheDon]

Wow! I didn't know you had the time to read FR, you've been so busy lately! :^)

[the invisib1e hand]

Cheap Trick was another band that I didn't appreciate until much later.

I still have fond memories of when I lived in the 'burbs of Chicago, listening to WXRT, circa 1978-9. What a great station.

[the invisib1e hand]

LOL.

peace out.

[Choose Ye This Day]

I love Cheap Trick--I've seen them seven times, I think. Always put on a good show, and their sound remains the same. It is different now that Bun E. has given up cigarettes. I'm used to seeing him behind his kit in a thick nicotine haze.

If you get a chance, check out their "Silver" DVD. Good concert.

[the invisib1e hand]

this reminds me, I think Alice Cooper may be conservative.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

LOL! I did too. The woman is amazingly great...but she has issues.

The Judy Garland of our time raising her own little Liza Minnelli possibly. But actually, I think Frances will end up either a heroin addict or a staunch conservative. Or both! At differing times. She already has different values than mother, she rides horses with the Schwartzenegger kids in competitions and is supposedly very good. There's also rumors of her having a possible learning disorder.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Michael J. Fox? Since when? He always claimed in interviews how left leaning he was.

[hocndoc]

I booed and heckled Crosby, Stills, and Nash last year, when they criticized DeLay for blocking campaign finance "reform." The I wrote a letter to several newspapers (my hometown was the only one to publish it) about the gall of these men using my money fo fund their inappropriate forum to criticize my Legislator's attempts to protect my right to spend my money on any forum *I* choose.

Yaaaay, DeLay!!


If you like their music, and it won't ruin your enjoyment, go to the concerts prepared to boo them down when they politicize the event. Then demand your money back!

[archy]

John Cougar Mellencamp (not relevant except in those small venue type things of hardcore fans. Burned through a lot of women and children)

And his piano player on the FBI's ten most wanted list for his international kiddyporn business dealings....

[archy]

The best part of that battle of the bands was that we blew the circuits during our second song... IIRC, we played ... Stairway to Heaven ....

Y'all slip a drum solo in there, sparky?

[archy]

There was a 16 y/o who played for a band called Style Council who played like a tornado, as well.

Not familiar with them, but I do remember another 16 y/o drummer that I first heard a long time ago... Simon Phillips.

Mark

Memphis guitarist Shawn Lane was 15 when he was on the road touring with Black Oak Arkansas. He just passed away here in Memphis last month.