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Spudmurphy

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Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Spudmurphy,
What a cool story! Thanks for sharing it. I love reading the "where were they before they were 'stars'" histories. It's interesting to find out where these killer players came from and what their background is.
Sure thing , only too happy to tell these "fireside stories".

I notice that Big Poppa has been spinning some stories, he's just gone to refill his glass, - Now pull up a chair, are you sitting comfortably? then I'll begin Ha!

When I saw Pino (as I say circa 8 years ago) he had come back to Cardiff to record a television prog for BBC Wales called "Still Rockin'".

My brother is a (great) TV designer and had to design the set for this show.
He knows Jack sh!t about guitars and asked me for some input.

Let me tell you a little more about the show, it was a band put together of all Welsh musicians
Dave Edmunds
Pino
Andy Fairweather-Low
Mickey Gee ( as good as Albert Lee and played initially with Bill Wymann)
Henry Spinetti
Geraint Watkins
Arran Ahmun - man what a great percussionist.

My brother was so grateful for my help he said "how many tickets do you want for the show?" I asked about down the local bar and haunts I frequent,, and said "is 18 ok?" - no sweat big bro says, I'll have reseved tables, come early and I'll give you a guided tour".

So the band get together prior to the big day to rehearse, and let me tell you THEY ROCKED !!!

Word got out and my phone was red hot asking for tickets, I was even offered a return flight to the USA for a pair - I declined :eek:

So all 18 of us turn up, and we are shown to our "cat bird seat" tables. The set imitated a Bar/Club with tables, waitress service. The stage was a huge guitar - it sounds corny but looked awesome!!
Behind the stage was giant piano keys - another giant guitar and giant plectrums with "Still Rockin" on them. Man, when the lighting director hit the switch, that set looked fantastic.

The stage manager then told us what we had to do during the recording, and to watch our step because of tracking cameras!!

The band came on and after a short period of set up, launched into their first number - I just looked at my mate with a big grin, cos the rhythm section just tore it up. Pino had an awesome sound and within minutes, people were out of their seats jiving - what an evening it was.

After the recording I (and a few others) drank with the cast/crew at the hotel next to the venue. I had a ball talking to Dave Edmunds and me and Pino had a brief chat.

How was I to know that he would go on to play with my boyhood heros The Who.

People still remind me of that gig, and it has stood me a few drinks later in life as we have had a reminice about it.

Man I could have made a fortune from those tickets - I made not one penny, but the memories are priceless!

I can see some people falling asleep !!
- Night - nite !!
 

Hutton

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Joined
Mar 1, 2006
Messages
392
Location
Aberdeen, Scotland
Guys like Pino are true artists and don't become obsessed with tools like we do :)

Good words my friend.

I am not so sure that Pino has deserted his Stingray. He was playing recently with David Sanborn on 'Later with Jools Holland' and it was his trusty Stingray that he was playing. Perhaps like some of us he doesn't exclusively play one make but uses whatever tool he deems appropriate for the job in hand.
 

brooklynfall

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Joined
Oct 4, 2006
Messages
166
Location
New York City
Perhaps like some of us he doesn't exclusively play one make but uses whatever tool he deems appropriate for the job in hand.

Indeed. I think with John Mayer for example, he was trying to nail more of a Tommy Shannon/Noel Redding-type vibe, for which a P-bass or Jazz bass is more suited. Ditto for the Who and Entwistle. Not to say that the Stingray wouldn't cut through in a very pleasing manner, but I think that for Mayer/Townsend/Daltrey, the old-school F3nder vibe was very important to them. Maybe less so for the Who since Entwistle played whatever the hell he wanted, but whatever ... I for one am glad he still pulls out his 'ray every now and again. It's all Leo across the board anyway, and that's what's important to me! :D
 

silverburst

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Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
1,917
Location
Long Beach, CA
Does anyone know if Pino is touring with the Who this time around?

I've got tickets for the Long Beach show in February, if any locals are going we could meet at Josts' for a few brews beforehand...
 

ibanez2005

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
262
Location
West Midlands, UK
Oh yeah, i heard he'd been playing one of those. What the hell has he gone to playing one of those for, ive tried one and they are crap. Nasty, cheap sounding things, horrible controls and neck too, in fact i played one of those before i played the Stingray i ended up buying, errr.
 
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