"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -- Hunter S.Thompson.
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL..PART. 3................family,fishing,Kronenbourg,enjoying continued good health,red wine,soho,indian/thai/italian/caribbean/chinese/spanish food,SUSHI!!!(with sake of course),super sudoku,breathing,saturday mornings,Jimmy Cobb's ride cymbal,my Brompton,wearing headphones,the Boulevard club,cooking,snorkelling,my bass guitars,everything Miles Davis ever played,t-shirt-jeans-no socks,gigging outdoors,Branksome Chine,seafood,lingerie,the bi-annual meetings of A.R.S.E (Association of Rhythm Section Employees),my jerk chicken,being funky with Hamish Stuart's band,bowls of cereal,being fourteen with Pugsley,getting stick from Polly Victoria Pearce,my double basses,Homer J Simpson,Moe Szyslak,ironing,Colmans english mustard,being with Litsa,playing double bass in my dad's big band,small stages,big stages,dim sum,rocking out with Keith Airey,sun-worshipping on Shell bay,the Fender Rhodes electric piano,garlic,strong coffee,the lilac tree in my back garden,Frankie Howerd,a swift half,Anjelica Huston,chilli squid in salt and pepper,Dorset apple cake,King George V playing fields,Robert Crumb,lamb stew,Vicky/Mandy/Kimbo/Debski,sunday lunchtime drinking in different towns/villages/cities/countries/planets,the seaside anywhere in the world,tapas in Barcelona,Amsterdam with Ralph Salmins,twiglets,playing at the 606 with Ianto,bantering with Hartley,the Square and Compass in Worth Matravers,Paul Whitehouse,being in my nuddy,mini cheddars,Derek and Clive,the Carnegie deli,scotch bonnet chillies,espresso martinis at the Groucho with wifey,the annual red arrows display over Studland bay,The Addams family,Keith Floyd,Newmark!,easy,free parking anywhere,shoes,shoes,shoes,Hunter.S.Thompson,salt beef bagels,climbing trees,King prawn puri,Martin Serene,oysters,Queen st.school,tira misu,Jack Nicholson,chorizo,the genius of Leo Fender and the aesthetic beauty of the Fender bass guitar!,Dublin Guinness,Terry Gilliam,not driving,Timmy!..."touch it and come out",Nigel Molesworth the gorilla of 2B,very strong cheddar cheese,Carlos Castaneda,mooning at Metropolis studios,Creelers on the isle of Skye,Thraper!,Oughton Head common,Robert Moog,Marilyn Monroe,dessert wine,the isle of Purbeck,Delia Smith's chicken basque-style,Sir Stanley Unwin(catgut and scrapy),Life of Brian,pimientos de padron,carp,Catch-22,Wayne Shorter's soprano,Rick Stein's crab and leek pasties(add lemon grass,ginger and chilli),the Blues brothers,Tokyo international fish market,a full english breakfast,J.P.Donleavy,Eric Sykes,fresias,spaghetti vongole,B flat major nine,an open fire,the Beigel Bake in Brick lane,plectrums,Betty Page,chips and curry sauce after midnight in Caroline street Cardiff,not carrying my bass amp,thick snow,cornish pasties,Cheech and Chong,My new,shiny Trace Elliot gear,playing at Glastonbury with Van Morrison in 1987 and Tom Jones in 1992,Fabulous Furry Freak brothers,Catch-22,Hans Groiner,The Cuervo Gold...the Fine Colombian,Claus Ogerman's string writing,James Jamerson on 'Darling dear' by the Jackson 5,Ravi's curry house in Dubai,Pad Thai and a Singha beer on Xmas day on the beach with the family in Koh Samui!,Oscar Peterson's piano break between choruses while Ed Thigpen puts his brushes down and picks up his sticks,The effortless genius of Ruth Underwood,Andy Newmark's groove on Sly's 'In Time'..The Gap band tune 'I found my baby',Mr. Kong's chinese restaurant on Lisle street(Paper wrapped chilli spare ribs,Con Jee squid,Brisket of beef hotpot,soft shell crab,I could go on),Glen Quagmire...................................which was nice!
Music
Miles,Miles,Miles,Ray Charles,P-funk,Mr.James Brown & JB's,Meters,Ohio Players,Gap band,Dazz band,Kool and the gang,Fatback band,Johnny'Guitar'Watson,Rufus/Chaka,Hamish Stuart(natch)Donny Hathaway,Marvin Gaye,Bobby Womack,Earth,Wind & Fire,Al Green,Bill Withers,Stuff,Herbie/Mwandishi/Headhunters,Zawinul,Chick Corea,George Duke(y stick),Prince,Zapp,Santana,Luther Vandross,Temptations,Norman Whitfield,Chi-Lites,Stylistics,O'Jays,Teddy Pendergrass, all other Philly soul/Gamble and Huff,Thom Bell,Aretha,Gladys Knight,Isaac Hayes,Sam & Dave,Booker T & MG's,all other Stax,Hi records,Muscle Shoals,the Funk Brothers(Jaaammmmmerson!)Jaco,Willie Weeks,Paul Jackson,Bobby Watson,Chuck Rainey,Rocco Prestia,Marcus Miller,Anthony Jackson,Darryl Jones,Gary King,Michael Henderson,Coltrane,Thad Jones/Mel Lewis,Gerry Mulligan concert big band,Jim Hall,Paul Desmond,Thelonius Monk,Charlie Haden,Ron Carter,Charles Mingus,Paul Chambers,Dave Holland,Eddie Gomez,Sonny Rollins,Elvin Jones,Tony Williams,John McLaughlin,Jeff Beck,Hendrix,Deep Purple,Ian Dury,Humble Pie,Rolling Stones,Ry Cooder,The Beatles,Led Zeppelin,Iggy Pop,Sex Pistols,The Clash,Little Feat,Steely Dan,Bill Laswell,Bob Marley,Lee Perry,Wailers,Ska,Augustus Pablo,Jimmy Cliff,Peter Tosh,Maytals..54-46-was my number!,Dillinger,Burning Spear,Culture,Steel Pulse,...I.i.i.i...am..the magnificent...double..0.0.0.0...Dave and Ansel Collins!!..........This is hopeless!!!...I could write endless names and records!!!.......There is not much I don't like to be honest!.......Oh, I also love Brian Eno,Michael Brecker,Frank Zappa,Dr.Alimantado,Bad Company,Andy Williams,Nat King Cole,Claus Ogerman,Devo,Jonathan Richman,Return to Forever,Carla Bley,James Taylor,Joni Mitchell,Paul Carrack,Ellington,Staple singers,Ibrahim Ferrer,Bach cello suites,Tony Bennett,Rickie Lee Jones,Ivor Cutler,Ornette Coleman,Michael McDonald,Bill Evans,Oscar Peterson,John Lee Hooker,Joe Henderson,Quincy Jones,Neville brothers,Steve Swallow,Was(not Was),War(the band)Trouble Funk,Stan Getz,Larry Dunn,Ramsey Lewis,David Sanborn,Chuck Brown & the soul searchers (William 'JuJu'House),Richard Tee,David Ruffin,The Faces,Wah Wah Watson,Gavin Bryars,Smokey Robinson(Ooh Baby baby)Derek Bailey,Rock with you/Michael Jackson with Bobby Watson and John Robinson...check the hihat boys........................................
With Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Melody Gardot, Mitch Dalton and Vinnie Colaiuta on the 'Live from Abbey road' TV show. Ponytail-check.tucked in shirt-check...Must be 1992!....Me with Darryl Hall on the Tom Jones TV show 'The Right Time'Isaac's boots at 2.00 minutes in are the t'ing.
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William 'JuJu' House moving the earth. Rejoice!
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And now this motherfuckers!Cornell!!!!......
About me: A bass guitar was thrust into my spotty,adolescent,14 year-old hands with much glee by my dad, Ian (still grooving and running and writing for his own big band at 73 years old)
I took to this (then)four string electrical thing of wonder like the proverbial crispy duck to pancake and less than a year later I found myself doing weddings,pubs,bar mitzvahs,cabaret gigs and being regularly scared to death by much older musos and dodgy turns thrusting music in front of me to sight-read or expecting me to know the middle eight to some tune written when God himself was a boy........ Anyhow, SINK OR SWIM....I made it to the shore and here I am 34 years later battered yet unbowed and still surviving in this wonderful business we call show.....
With said Bass in hand I have had, and continue to have, many hilarious, profound and intensely wonderful experiences with a veritable cornucopia of demented and brilliant nutters along the way (me being one of them!)...........
If you've read this far then you are either also one of them or wish to join us in the wonderful madness.
REJOICE!!!.............
Now the 'look at me mum, look at all the famous people I've played or recorded with' bit.................................................................
Van Morrison,Stevie Wonder,Herbie Hancock,Wayne Shorter,Madonna,Elton John,Sting,George Michael,Bryan Ferry,Scott Walker,Tom Jones,Al Jarreau,Mark Knopfler,Everything but the Girl,M'shell NdegeOcello,Annie Lennox,Joss Stone,James Morrison,Mariah Carey,Rod Stewart,Ronnie Wood,Dave Gilmour,Leona Lewis,Diana Krall,Natalie Cole,Alice Cooper,Orchestra Manhattan,Alison Moyet,Jon Anderson,Diana Ross,Bob Geldof,10cc,Seal,Randy Crawford,Darryl Hall,Toni Braxton,Mica Paris,Sandy Rivera,Hamish Stuart,Cyndi Lauper,Lemar,Anne Dudley,Bryn Terfal,Renee Fleming,Elliott Randall,Tony Visconti,Danny Elfman,Carleen Anderson,The Chieftains,Steve Mac,Mark Isham,Tommy Cooper,Peter Vettese,Laura Michelle Kelly,David Cassidy,Brian Auger,Chrissie Hynde,Take That,Graham Lyle,David Arnold,Mick Hucknell,The Art of Noise,Shakin' Stevens,Rod Argent,Don Airey,Aaron Carter,Howard Shore,Lulu,Westlife,Mel C,EMF,The Senators,Rolf Harris,London Studio orchestra,Emma Bunton,Bonnie Raitt,gO:Audio,Desmond Dekker,Morecambe and Wise,Ray Gelato,Heatwave,Phil Ramone,George Fenton,Nick Glennie-Smith,Maddy Prior,Carter Burwell,Boy George,Heaven 17,Russell Watson,Ian Levine,Cliff Richard,Barry Manilow,Chris de Burgh,Mose Allison,Jim Mullen,Peter King,Stan Sultzman,Elaine Delmar,John Horler,Meja,Steve Harley,Randy Edelman,Patrick Doyle,The Osmonds,Mari Wilson,Marti Pellow,Donny Osmond,Philharmonia orchestra,Clem Clempson,O-Town,Kid Creole and the Coconuts,Boyzone,The Everly Brothers,Michael Nyman,Robin Williamson,Gary Barlow,The Real Thing,Willard White,Andrew Lloyd Webber,Julian Lloyd Webber,John Miles,Barbara Windsor,John Parricelli,Kiki Dee,Finbar Furey,The Three Degrees,Will Young,Ute Lemper,Alan Parker,Dianne Tell,London Chamber orchestra,Cerys Matthews,Jose Carreras,Ken Loach,Richard O'Brian,Nick Carter,Sally Oldfield,Arthur Lowe,David Hartley,Englebert Humperdink,Sam Moore,Curtis Stigers,Pee Wee Ellis,Jocelyn Brown,Michael Ball,Barbara Pennington,Hayley Westenra,Chaga/Asuka,UK studio orchestra,Gordon Haskell,Ronan Keating,Suggs,Billy Mackenzie,Anastacia,Anna Krantz,Meat Loaf,Kate Winslet,London Symphony orchestra,Adrian Johnstone,Steven Poliakoff,Richard Cocciante,Kumiko Yamashita,Showaddywaddy,Antonio Banderas,Elaine Paige,Evelyn Thomas,Bournemouth Symphony orchestra,Placido Domingo,The Wurzels,Reeves and Mortimer,London Philharmonic orchestra,Laurie Johnson big band,Steve Coogan,Rachel Stevens,Adam Faith,David Dundas,Tony O'Malley,Kiri ti Kanawa,Peters and Lee,Sacha Distel,Shirley Bassey,Four poofs and a piano,Samantha Mumba,Nigel Kennedy,Stanley Myers,Ronnie Corbett,Kelly Clarkson,Clay Aiken,Miquel Brown,Abra Moore,Royal Philharmonic orchestra,Brotherhood of man,Lenny Henry,Jimmy Nail,Vera Lynn,Karl Jenkins,Mungo Jerry,Vanessa Mae,Martine McCutcheon,Hugh Jackman,Vanessa Amorosi,Vinnie Jones,Denise Van Outen,Shara Nelson,Eddi Reader,Jools Holland,Georgie Fame,Pepper Adams,Ronnie Scotts' big band,Buddy Greco,Harry Stoneham,Roger Whitaker,Margarita Pracatan,Barbara Dickson,Errol Brown,Vikki Carr,BBC Concert orchestra,Bonnie Tyler,Dick Emery,Burt Reynolds,Charlie Chuck,Ralph Burns,Brian Dee,Cilla Black,Pete Cox,Tony Hadley,Girlthing,Brendan Shine,Enrique Englesias,Victor Silvester,Sarah Brightman,Lesley Phillips,Echoes of Ellington orchestra,Bob Downe,Chris Farlowe,Tammy Wynette,Ruby Turner,Eros Ramazotti,Phil Campbell,Betty Boo,Nick Heyward,David MacAlmont,Yusuf Islam(Cat Stevens),Katherine Jenkins,Nik Kershaw,Chesney Hawkes,Delta Goodrem,RyanDan,Lou Cowell,Il Divo,Josh Groban,Melody Gardot,Sonya Kitchell,Paul Potts,Leon Jackson,Peter Kay,Jason Donovan,Bill Bailey,Rhydian,Kris Buckle,Polina Giffis,Claire Teal,Sophie Ellis-Bextor,Heather Small,Charles Aznavour,Laura Pausini,Sharlene Spiteri,Robin Gibb,Bryn Christopher,Sam Sparro,Jarvis Cocker,Michael Henry,Lizzie Loeb,Owen Gilhooly,Dot Allison,John Barrowman,Liane Carroll,Gabriella Climi,Tim Minchin,Imelda Staunton......Drummers!..Steve Gadd,Vinnie Colaiuta,Chester Thompson,Dave Mattacks,Ian Thomas,Ralph Salmins,Neal Wilkinson,Andy Newmark,Mark Fletcher,Jeremy Stacey,Blair Cunningham,Charlie Morgan,Roy Jones,Dave Early RIP,Gary Wallis,Brett Morgan,Barry Morgan RIP,Frank Tontoh,Ash Soan,Harold Fisher,Art Morgan RIP,Chris Dagley,Steve Arguelles,Mike Smith,Geoff Dugmore,Kenny Clare RIP,Frosty Beadle,Gary Husband,Steve Sanger,Mark Mondesir,.............I have also played on the soundtracks of many films including: Evita,The Full Monty,Charlie and the chocolate factory,Big Fish,Lord of the Rings,007-The World is not enough,Shirley Valentine,Sweet Home Alabama,All dogs go to heaven,Carla's story,My name is Joe,The History boys,Dogma,Donnie Brasco,Monkeybone,Lucky Break,High Fidelity,A Knight's tale,Bread and Roses,Flesh and Blood,The Mighty,Hideaway,Born Romantic,Help!I'm a fish,Agnes Browne,About Adam,High heels,low life,Wild West,Night train to murder,The Last Resort,Sinners,Goal!,Heavens prisoners,The Tall Guy,How to get ahead in advertising,Staggered,Pontiac moon,Intimate contact,Entrapment,The Miracle,The life of David Gale,Roseanna's grave,Where the truth lies,A good year,Three and out,Hellboy II,I know you know,007-Quantum of Solace,Looking for Eric........................................Some were fantastic musical experiences, some were a pain in the arse,to be frank,pardon my french. But in the immortal words of who knows who, whenever a moan was about to be uttered,............."YOU CHOSE THE INSTRUMENT!!!!!"............
Who I'd like to meet: The B******D who nicked my first Fender Jazz bass outside the Leather Bottel pub, Merton in 1978!
Hi Steve, Just caught you tonight, as I write, on BBC2 TV - on 'Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra,' doing Bill's Jacques-Brel-style Doctor Who interpretation? :) best, Keef.
Hey Steve, I was really thrilled to meet you lastnight and it was wonderful to catch up with Hamish and Jim again after so long.You guys were on fire!!!I want to see that photo of my brother!!LOL. I'm going to e-mail Mol and tell him i met you. Take Care, Love Shirley x
hey dude met you when i was about 15 in glasgow, you were playing with tom jones and i was at the sound check, any way im 24 now and pritty much doing music full time but a bit fed up with the scottish music seen so im going to go to new york for a bit and check the vibe so was wondering if you new some places a young musician should be hanning. all the best. jay. ps check my site.
Hi Steve, Hope you will download our album mate. Big Love + hugs to family x
Charlie
CARTOONE on iTunes:- To celebrate 40 years anniversary Atlantic have digitally remastered the old analogue tapes and re-released the lost classic album from Scottish band Cartoone on iTunes.
Download a piece of rare rock history Cartoone featuring Jimmy Page ( Led Zeppelin) at www.iTunes.com
Jimmy Page ( Led Zeppelin) appears on the album as guest artist on all tracks. He plays his Fender Telecaster on the band tracks, and his Gibson Acoustic on all the orchestral tracks.
Download and own this piece of rock history at
www.iTunes.com once in iTunes, put Cartoone in the search box and away you go- "buy album" sorted.
Online Now!
