Harper Lee RIP and Strange Happenings

I know it's been a while but I was very sad to just hear of Harper Lee's passing. A brilliant book I read at school in English lessons as you do and made into a classic film staring Gregory Peck. 

What was strange - while scanning through IMDB's list of top films earlier today I stopped at "To Kill A Mockingbird" and played the first few minutes, I then stopped it and went back to work. My thoughts at the time were, she's only written 2 books and those a life time apart, she must be getting on a bit now. Meaning she must be quite old.

This all before I knew she had passed... This is all probably some kind of ‪#‎weird‬ ‪#‎coincidence‬ but it makes you wonder how the mind really works and how much we understand of it.

Was it really by chance or have my eyes seen some snippet of the news somewhere reporting her death. My subconscious picking this up has registered it in a part of my brain that is only accessed in a different way. Subliminally making me choose the said film.

Maybe we pick up on things through other media, extra sensory perception perhaps, brain waves, radio waves, ghosts! Who knows? 

I'd like to think that there's much more to the human brain than meets the eye but I very much doubt it in my case. Made me think though. Food for thought and maybe for you too.

Thanks for stopping by and it won't be very long until the next post. 

Yeah! I can hear you say....

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Feels like a Saturday...And Bass Blogs!

Good morning, well it is where I am, even though Good Friday always feels like a Saturday. Beautiful sunshine if a little fresh in the breeze, but still it is only 9-30am. I woke early today 6am and I decided to go for a run believe it or not. That's my second in a week as I plan to do a 10k run for charity in September. Early days yet but I reckon if I can keep motivated I should be in reasonable condition to complete it by then. Who am I kidding?

As I was jogging round, looking across the fields, trying in vain to take my mind of the pain. I got to thinking about blogging believe it or not. I've posted a few over this last couple of days and it's nice not to be stuck in Twitter mode with just 140 characters to play with. Also last night I had a bit of fun with 2 of my twitter bass playing pals Alun Vaughan and Trip Walmsley and we decided we'd return to the "Blogosphere" as Alun puts it. Trip also saying he'll "try to bang one out tonight". A lovely way with words these two. Well we are all bass players so don't expect too much. Although we do like to think we are a cut above other musicians, particularly drummers.

Anyway hopefully this is the start of a little Triad of Bassiness and hopefully occasionally we might entertain, inform and definitely have some fun. The Three Bloggerteers or Muskebloggers you might say! Of course other bass playing pals are welcome to join us, or anyone else for that matter.

One for All and All for One!

Until the next time...

7 Remarkable Robert Fripp moments, not with King Crimson

I'm also a big fan of King Crimson and of course Robert Fripp. Click on the pic and it will take you to some great Fripp moments...

Uriah Heep - Conquest

Uriah Heep's 1980 album "Conquest"

As a follow up to my post last week on vinyl I thought I'd share with you the latest addition to my collection.

I had a mooch round a market this morning and found this little gem. Although it cost me a fiver, which is still cheap, it's in mint condition and a 1st press to boot.

The 1980's era of Heep is kind of lost on me and this is a very much changed line-up to ones I'd been used to in the 70's. John Sloman was on lead vocals, Lee Kerslake had left to be replaced by Chris Slade on drums. Trevor Boulder was on bass along with regulars Ken Hensley keyboards, synth, guitars and vocals and the ever the present Mick Box on guitars and vocals.

On first listen, the album is very different to the heavier more progressive influences of the early 70's I'd grown up with. The musicianship is superb but it feels like the band are trying hard to be more commercial with a pop/rock type of sound and arrangements. The songs are quite short and punchy with some nice ballads. I think it will grow on me with a few more listens and I certainly don't think it's a bad album just different to what I expected.

The album got a couple of good reviews back in the day and charted in the Top 40 in the UK, unlike the 3 previous albums with John Lawton on lead vocals. Heep have never really been massive here since those early 70's classics but continue to be one of the hardest working bands around, touring all over the world. Check them out at www.uriah-heep.com but more importantly, if you get the chance, go and see them live, because they are superb and still rock!

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela

Today is the 95th birthday of Nelson Mandela. Sadly he is not in good health but seems to be "steadily improving", spending several weeks in hospital in Pretoria. South Africans are being urged to match the former president and anti-aparteid leader's 67 years of public service with 67 minutes of charitable acts. 

The day starts off with millions of school children across South Africa singing Happy Birthday to Mr Mandela. To mark the former statesman's 67 years as a lawyer, activist, prisoner and president, volunteers will spend 67 minutes renovating schools and orphanages, cleaning hospitals and distributing food to the poor.What a brilliant idea in my view and something which could and should be extended throughout the world, on a weekly/monthly basis if you ask me!

I first became aware of the South African struggle to overcome Aparteid through music. Peter Gabriel released a song on I think his 3rd album in 1980 called "Biko". It quickly became an anthem after Steve Biko a student leader and anti-aparteid activist died in hospital after having being held in police custody. He was arrested under the anti terrorism act and was the 20th person to die in custody in an 18 month period. 

The track inspired me to research and support the struggle along with many other people across the world and hopefully the power of  music played some small part along with Mr Mandela and Steve Biko and many others to bring about such positive change in South Africa.

We can hardly imagine the oppression and struggle that these men and so many others have gone through but to quote the great man himself.

“It always seems impossible until it's done.” ― Nelson Mandela. 

Micky Jones: 1946 - 2010

I just heard the very sad news that one of my favorite guitarists, Micky Jones from Man passed away on the 10th of March. I knew he'd been ill for sometime, having to leave the band in 2005. Micky truly was an inspiration to me and so many others. I have seen him perform on numerous occasions and he always blew me away. He never seemed to play the same solo twice and his improvisational skills were amazing, along with his wonderful voice. To me he always sang differently to anyone else I heard and his phrasing was unique.

I first found Man as teenager at a house party, drinking cider and trying to be cool. It was the album "Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics" and I'd never heard anything like it at the time. Micky's amazing soulful voice, brilliant songs, soaring guitar solos and fabulous harmonies. I went straight out the next day and bought it. I loved that album and still do ,as it brings back so many memories - teenage lust, hot party's and even hotter summers and it was never off the turntable. I still play it now.

Unfortunately they split up before I got to see them play in the 70's but by chance one day I was driving passed a venue in Wigan (The Beer Engine) many years later and saw a poster "Man In Concert", I couldn't believe it could be the same band as I'd heard nothing about them for an age. Amazingly it was, I got my ticket and I went to see them play and they tore the place apart, the audience just wouldn't let them off the stage, - from then on I went to see them whenever I could, meeting them on a few occasions. I remember speaking to Micky about some of the albums from the past and he commented, "you don't look old enough to be a fan of us" - he truly was a lovely guy.

The biggest thing apart from the music he left me was something I'd read in Deke Leonard's book, also titled "Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics." Micky would always strive to be original at all costs and try to do something new and that concept has never left me. It kicks me in the backside every now and again and makes me sit down with a guitar and write some music. It's something I believe in as a musician.

I just found this slideshow of Man's Music on youtube that someone has put together so brilliantly. Please follow the link above and watch the video and listen to 50 Man songs in 10 minutes and you'll get a flavor of what he was all about.
R.I.P. Micky Jones, Many Are Called But Few Get Up



Musical Thoughts For Nought

Get Your Facebook Username Now!

Just a quickie... (as the actress said to the bishop)

If you didn't get the .com domain of your artist/band name, you know what a pain it is. Same for Twitter and many others...

A few days ago, Facebook added the ability for you to have your own "username" which will take people to your profile. Visit http://www.facebook.com/username to get yours right now before someone nicks it!

Got mine at http://www.facebook.com/chrispicton

What is Spotify?

Its been over a week since my last post, I've been reading lots of blogs and listening to some great music and learning songs for my up coming debut with Big W,which I'm looking forward to very much.
Anyway my point. Thanks to my eldest son Jamie, I've been reintroduced to a music site called Spotify. I don't know how long its been around, quite a while I would think because I'd registered as a user at some point in the past, but never downloaded it.

Quite simply its brilliant, it allows you to search for an artist or band and then stream their music immediately from the interface (no buffering involved and the songs aren't using up valuable space on your harddrive). Amazingly its free with the occasional advert, by my reckoning about every 20 minutes. There's also options for day and monthly passes for relatively small fees which allows you to stream ad free. Its all legal and artists are compensated for the use of their work

I would agree that this will probably be the way forward. Okay at the moment you need a PC to stream the music, but with the increases in technology (3G wireless and 4G coming) you will soon be able to stream music anywhere. If thats the case why would you want to own or even pay for a CD, when you can already hear it on the net. Everybody's album sales are in decline, even top artist like U2 can consider their album sales a flop for their latest release. Also why do you need to make an album anymore, songs can be released individually, instead of the same old format. Its more important to let people listen to your music and engage in what you do, hopefully then they will come and see you play live and buy your merchandise.

Music is now free and the new dilemma we face as independent artists is - how are we going to get people to listen to our music, because thats the way we'll be paid in the future, not by selling our CD's but by how many streams we have over the internet. I would rather have people listen to my music than not and if thats the case I will let it be streamed for free.

The good news is - our destiny is our own hands, its up to us how we address the problems we face, there are no constraints imposed by record companies and I can create what I want..

Some of my creations are at chrispicton.bandcamp.com/ with new ones coming soon.