• Ernie Ball
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  • Sterling by MusicMan

Oldtoe

Intestinal Poltergeist
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
3,215
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Paris, TX
At least you aren't his chicken.......

Ben you and I are the only two people that share the distinction of being fired by a groupie over the hill photographer and a diaper maker

We need to up our recruitment if we're going to make this club viable!
 

oddjob

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May 12, 2004
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Monroe, Ohio
A Ben and Vivi poster would be cool - maybe throw down some guniea pigs and throw Jack in the background too :D

Seriously Ben, I don't know what all went down and doesn't matter. What does matter is that you were a cool hang here in Cincy and at the Open Houses - so all the best my friend!
 

Oldtoe

Intestinal Poltergeist
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Sep 10, 2004
Messages
3,215
Location
Paris, TX
I'm going to say a few things for the record.

This is all very unfortunate. Surely I share part of the blame, as the truth always lies somewhere in the middle; whether being weighted to one side or the other. Whatever.

I let my feelings get hurt. Since the beginning, I was relied upon by the parents to take care of Tyler while he was out on the world; and was encouraged to be a positive influence on him. When his popularity started to grow, there was a shift from my total inclusion to ever increasing exclusion from what was actually going on. I resented it, and didn't understand. I got too close. I got mad and sent Tyler a rather cold e-mail with a fee schedule after he fired Ernie Ball in a manner that I thought wasn't in keeping with the spirit of the relationship. I probably should have stayed out of it, but Sterling and Ernie Ball/Music Man have been very good to me; and I took their side. I don't think, perhaps, that it is a good thing to put all the blame on a 17-year old's shoulders. Like I said, I have my share of blame, too. It stinks. Tyler's new managers came into this thing from a business standpoint, and didn't have any idea of where I fit in the picture or why I felt such scorn. My ire was a complicating factor, though; and I get that. It was a good gig, and I had more fun than I've ever had in my life while playing with Tyler.

All I can do is keep trying to do better the next time and learn from my mistakes. People that know me, though, know that I don't hold grudges. I haven't ever been able to. Hell, one time the guy who was having an affair with my first wife help me put a starter on my Mustang after I married Paula. There may or may not be a point here. I'd feel better if we just let it go, though.
 

SquidLizard

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Joined
Oct 4, 2006
Messages
237
So is there going to be a poster of Ben Alsup? I've got a big space on my office wall just waiting for it. I'll have it framed, too. It will be treated with the utmost respect, as the original should be, as well ;).

Remember that many of the things we do as wet-behind-the-ears youngsters we come to regret later in life, merely because we eventually learn that they were wrong and hurtful, if not because they actually end up hurting us in the long run. 'Nuff said.

P.S. I don't want some cute (and probably talented) woman in the photo, just Ben and his bass.
 

oddjob

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May 12, 2004
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Location
Monroe, Ohio
I only want a poster if Ben signs it :D and I have plenty of classroom wall space for it too (Ben, think you can have little 12-14 year olds drool over you all day!)
 

Oldtoe

Intestinal Poltergeist
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
3,215
Location
Paris, TX
Ritch, the only way anyone will drool over a picture of me is if they use it as a placemat and try to eat steak with an ice cream scoop while their mouths are anesthetized.
 

oddjob

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May 12, 2004
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Monroe, Ohio
There is a Waffle House across the street and a dentist 2 doors down... I can arrange it for you! :D
 

Oldtoe

Intestinal Poltergeist
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
3,215
Location
Paris, TX
Guys, I love you all very much and appreciate the support more than you could possibly know; but I'm still good friends with people connected to Tyler who are reading this thread and making weirdness in my life.

'Cause what I need is more weirdness while I'm trying to be a decent father and husband while giving people solid quarters at the car wash, cussing in Spanish, honing my plumbing skills, mulling over the fact that I just paid off my student loans for a liberal arts degree, taking care of a 97-year old harridan to whom I'm not related and suddenly realizing that seven basses and three guitars seems like way too many for a guy without a gig.


Oh, and when is my photo shoot?

*smooch*
 

bovinehost

Administrator
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
18,200
Location
Dall-Ass, TX
I would much prfer my poster to have BP, Ben, Luke and Jack on it, that would be a classic:D

That would keep the pests out of your house, too. Scary! I might have to photoshop something up.

Oldtoe said:
This is all very unfortunate. Surely I share part of the blame, as the truth always lies somewhere in the middle; whether being weighted to one side or the other.

It truly is unfortunate, but the blame lies anywhere but at your feet, Ben. I know you and I know your heart and I know your work ethic and I know your brother - wait, maybe that's not so good - okay, scratch the brother part.

Anyway, if you're to blame, then so am I. So is BP and so is Luke. I did almost absolutely zero in this whole shebang, but if you're going to be guilty, then I think the rest of the people who wanted to see Tyler succeed have to shoulder some guilt, by God.

Sterling, for giving Tyler more than just a few guitars. For inviting him into the family, for great advice from someone who really knows the industry, for backing him even though he was just a kid.

Luke for his invaluable insight into what it takes to be more than just a flash in the pan or another damned blues guitarist from Texas.

We might as well blame them as blame you, Ben. As bassmonkeee said, "Good thing Sterling and Luke aren't well connected."

Heh.

Oldtoe said:
I was relied upon by the parents to take care of Tyler while he was out on the world; and was encouraged to be a positive influence on him.

I know you. You didn't need to be encouraged to do such a thing. It was going to happen no matter who encouraged you, or if no one encouraged you at all.


Oldtoe said:
I got mad and sent Tyler a rather cold e-mail with a fee schedule after he fired Ernie Ball in a manner that I thought wasn't in keeping with the spirit of the relationship. I probably should have stayed out of it, but Sterling and Ernie Ball/Music Man have been very good to me; and I took their side. I don't think, perhaps, that it is a good thing to put all the blame on a 17-year old's shoulders.

If it had been me, I wouldn't have sent him a fee schedule. I would have sent him an expletive-filled missive asking him to explain what kind of @sshole could possibly convince him to do such a thing - and who was going to play bass for him now, since I would never be playing with him again.

It isn't what Sterling has done for me, which is plenty; it is what Sterling IS to me. He's a member of my family. Period. And I know you feel the same, and Tyler, even at 17 years old, should have figured that out.

Oldtoe said:
I'd feel better if we just let it go, though.

Easy for me to let it go, but if we're telling the truth, let's tell it. And the truth is that I didn't do anything bad. Derek Brooks didn't. You didn't. Sterling didn't and neither did Luke.

So who has something to be ashamed of? Tyler? I don't know, maybe he sees it differently, which is a good way to sleep at night. The people who baffled him with BS? Yeah, probably.

Okay, I'm done. Over and out with this episode.

I'll do a damned Ben Alsup poster, though. Photo shoot, sir?
 
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