Inspiration from Mr. Tony Levin

[adouglas]

I've been playing bass for a whole lot longer than I've known who Tony Levin is, but he is most definitely the guy who lit the fire in me.

To make a long story short, it was the Peter Gabriel Secret World Live video that opened my eyes. I'd been playing for many years before seeing it, but it really changed things for me. I watch it from time to time and play along. It's always a blast.

But now it's been taken to a whole new level.

A few weeks ago my wife and I decided it was finally time to get a new TV. In my entire life I've owned only two televisions, the latest a 27 inch set from Wally World, bought at least 15 years ago.

That video looks really, really good on a 46-inch screen, even without being in HD. And the wife is off visiting her mom this week.

I'm having LOTS of fun!

Wheeee!

 

[vates]

Man! I've just seen this video for the first time last weekend. And I've got the very same feelings of inspiration. My head is full of basslines and my fingers are in a permanent need of strings under them. My sincere thanks to Mr.Levin

 

[bovinehost]

There are only a few 'real' heroes in this world and hardly any of them are bassists.

But when it comes to "bass heroes", for me, at least, there are only two.

1. McCartney. Anyone my age who plays bass was probably motivated to start by Sir Paul. (And "Eight Days A Week" is just as fun now as it was then.)

2. Tony Levin. Even when I didn't know I was listening to Tony, I was. And being a big Peter Gabriel fan from way back when he was in that pompous band (I saw "The Lamb" live!), that was how I realized who Tony was. God, how I stole from him! (Not very well, but still.)

Tony has also played on some pretty straightforward rock stuff, which I also like to steal from. Listen to Willy Porter's self-titled album or Jules Shear's "Healing Bones".

And as scared as I was of TL, and I was REALLY SCARED because by God he's Tony Levin, he is an exceptionally level-headed and cool person to hang out with.

Jack

 

[T-bone]

I'd like to throw Sting into Jack's list because, well, he's Sting.

However, when it comes to down to a bass player who can hit one note, just one note, and I feel it in every bone in my body, it's Tony. I can't think of anyone else who does that.

Have fun this week, adouglas! A house all to yourself?

tbone

 

[Jimmyb]

I love the Secret World video and Tony Levin is outstandingly good on it.

Did you notice that David Rhodes (guitar player and co-writer with Gabriel) uses an EBMM on a couple of the tracks?