Post by TM on Nov 17, 2012 20:43:02 GMT -5
Much thanks to Steve for taking the time to 'chat' with our members. Steve played bass on Roots To Branches, Dangerous Veils, Beside Myself, Wounded, Old And Treacherous, At Last, Forever and reminisces about his time spent with Tull.
Enjoy!
Steve:
Have you ever played with Tull in a live setting?
I was scheduled to go on tour with Ian shortly after recording, but the dates got moved back and my schedule was inflexible at that point, as I had Bass Extremes dates with Victor Wooten.
What was your favorite track on "Roots to Branches"?
From: Jim / Tryon, North Carolina
I really like them all... it was such a fun process making the record. BUT, I think there is one called "Dangerous Veils"
Fun fret-less on that.
This is a great chance to ask some questions I always had in my head
while listening to the tracks he played on for Tull:
Steve,
I know little of your work, but I understand that you are probably best known for your work in the fusion/jazz context. Having that in mind I always wondered how your input on the musical ideas of Ian Anderson and the rest of Tull were taken and if they corresponded to your ideas in a way that altered the original musical ideas in a significant way. Were you involved in the creative process as a whole or were you just asked to add bass lines to finished music?
Very much involved in the creative process.. Ian came in with pieces of songs, no lyrics, and we set about to put it all together. It was a cool "band" sort of process. Ultimately Ian had the final word on everything, but there really was a lot of freedom. A whole lot.
For me the album Roots To Branches very often has some sort of jazzy or fusonesque touch that is rare or not existent in Tull's previous work or the work after Roots To Branches. Was this a road that Ian or the other guys wanted the music to go or have these ideas evolved in the process of you and the guys working out the music?
There was nothing worked out where it was said "lets go fusion"... Doane can go anywhere musically as could the other guys. It was just an evolution of working out the parts.
Since your involvement with Tull remains in my head as one of the most unusual cooperation's the band has made in it's career, it's really
interesting how musical ideas were worked out and agreed upon.
Ian brought in the pieces and we rehearsed, edited, had a WHOLE LOT of fun, and when we got to a certain point, started running tape.
Finally, how was working with Tull, personally and musically speaking? Did you find the experience to be a pleasant one?
It really was one of the best times of my career. I was "warned" that it might be difficult, coming in new, and only knowing Doane (by another drummer who had worked with Ian)...but from the beginning it was wonderful. Hard work, but Wonderful. Shona was marvelous, and they all treated me like family. It was really great.. I have a lot of memorable stories from those few weeks.
Thanks for taking our questions, I never take part in these Q&As because there's not much I could ask the past and present band members about, but you & Tull was always a thing that kept me wondering. :-) Great music, I enjoy your work on that album very much.
Thanks!
Jakob
Hello Steve,
Was there ever any talk of you playing with Tull on a more full-time basis?
Yes, that was the plan... but my schedule was crazy, and I was not able to work it out then. I have always hoped for another chance... ;-)
I remember 16 years ago being surprised that you were "one and done."
I was impressed by your playing on Dangerous Veils.
Best wishes,
Big Al
Castine, Maine USA
H i Steve,
Thanks for taking part in this and thank you for your contributions to Roots To Branches.
I'm sure there will be many of us that go back and listen to your style of
play on those tracks.
Couple questions if I may:
Can you describe the recording process with Tull and how it compares to others you have worked with? Past members have stated that Ian
doesn't put the vocals in until the very end which had they heard them earlier they may have played differently.
Yes that was the case, but the amazing thing about Ian is that I think he is well aware of everything. Everything.
He would make suggestions on parts and things ended up just as they should have..
Also, we heard years ago (from another Tull fan) that Ian played a prank on you by locking you in a room at his house or studio. Is this true? And if so can you tell us about that?
Thanks very much Steve!
Paul from New Jersey
Ian pulled a bunch of pranks... seriously, some great ones involving Haggis, etc.... But the one I think you are referring to is a "secret" room in his home that he had me convinced was voice activated.. I was talking mumbo jumbo to this door trying to make it open (as he had done repeatedly).. he then left me alone to practice assuring me that I would eventually get it. Meanwhile they are all in the next room listening to me try to say goofy words with an Indian accent. I heard them laughing and thought they were having some fun in there.. never occurred that I was the JOKE.. turns out Ian had a button...
Hello Steve,
Did you play your parts with the band or did you play to a track and it
was mixed later? With the Band... All of it. Do you know my Friend and Fellow Bass Player ( Larry Junstrom) from Lynyrd Skynyrd back in the 60's to 74 and 76 till now with 38 Special? He remembers you from somewhere I hear or at least I heard it from Barns or Donnie Van Zant when when I saw them earlier this year.
Mike
I know the name but cannot remember exactly where we met.. hahahha, the recording with Skynyrd story is one for another forum!!! hahahah
Doane Perry used to talk about a track called "Never Been to Andalusia"
that was dropped from the RtB album. Did you play on it? If so, what did you think, and why was it not included?
From: Seal Driver
Good question. NONE of the songs had titles as we were recording so I am not sure if I played on that one. Hmm... I still have the charts a drew up as we were rehearsing. I will look and see if any of them did not make the album..
Hi Steve,
Daniel S. Duvall from Westlake, Ohio here. Just wondering:
1. Who played bass on tracks 2 (Rare and Precious Chain) and 4 (This
Free Will) of Roots to Branches?
2. Do you have any anecdotes about the recording of Dangerous Veils (my favorite track on the CD)?
Well, I do remember practicing for DAYS with a pic, anticipating that IAN wanted a bunch of pic parts.. and I was pleasantly surprised that he really like my fret-less sound, and the sound of fingers... WHEW. Although I love playing with a pick still....
Hi Steve:
I think I saw somewhere that you performed some European gigs on
Ian's solo Divinities tour. Is that correct? If so, how did you like that and
how was it compared to performing with Tull? That leads me to my next question....did you perform any RTB shows with Tull? I know Jonathan Noyce played on at least some of the tour.
Do you have any good stories that you can share with us about your time in the band?
We were all in the studio, I was feeling good, like part of the band after a few days... it got quiet and I hit the riff from Aqualung.. expecting everyone to jump in and I could fulfill a lifelong dream... I went du, du,du, du , duuuu, duuuuu.. and it was silence, I look around; Doane has his head down, Andy does too, Martin is just smiling at me... Ian turns around and says simply.. "That will be 50 quid"... hahahhahah.. I got fined for it!! It was beautiful...
What have you been doing musically since then and now?
Thanks,
Jeff, from NYC
Oh my goodness... google me, I have forgotten a lot. I eventually left LA. Still do a lot with Victor Wooten , and solo stuff. And am presently the new Director of the bass department at Berklee College of Music... 400 bass players!!!
Hi Steve,
By the way my favorite track on Roots To Branches was Beside Myself, I
was wondering how you got involved with Tull, did you answer an
advertisement or was there another way in.
Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for us, it is
much appreciated.
Charlie from Boston
Doane Perry, with whom I had played a lot.. in various situations (Jon Anderson, Kitaro, musicians institute, etc) got me in. That simple.. I love that track too... the way it evolved was amazing, people throwing in parts, and having fun..
Enjoy!
Steve:
Have you ever played with Tull in a live setting?
I was scheduled to go on tour with Ian shortly after recording, but the dates got moved back and my schedule was inflexible at that point, as I had Bass Extremes dates with Victor Wooten.
What was your favorite track on "Roots to Branches"?
From: Jim / Tryon, North Carolina
I really like them all... it was such a fun process making the record. BUT, I think there is one called "Dangerous Veils"
Fun fret-less on that.
This is a great chance to ask some questions I always had in my head
while listening to the tracks he played on for Tull:
Steve,
I know little of your work, but I understand that you are probably best known for your work in the fusion/jazz context. Having that in mind I always wondered how your input on the musical ideas of Ian Anderson and the rest of Tull were taken and if they corresponded to your ideas in a way that altered the original musical ideas in a significant way. Were you involved in the creative process as a whole or were you just asked to add bass lines to finished music?
Very much involved in the creative process.. Ian came in with pieces of songs, no lyrics, and we set about to put it all together. It was a cool "band" sort of process. Ultimately Ian had the final word on everything, but there really was a lot of freedom. A whole lot.
For me the album Roots To Branches very often has some sort of jazzy or fusonesque touch that is rare or not existent in Tull's previous work or the work after Roots To Branches. Was this a road that Ian or the other guys wanted the music to go or have these ideas evolved in the process of you and the guys working out the music?
There was nothing worked out where it was said "lets go fusion"... Doane can go anywhere musically as could the other guys. It was just an evolution of working out the parts.
Since your involvement with Tull remains in my head as one of the most unusual cooperation's the band has made in it's career, it's really
interesting how musical ideas were worked out and agreed upon.
Ian brought in the pieces and we rehearsed, edited, had a WHOLE LOT of fun, and when we got to a certain point, started running tape.
Finally, how was working with Tull, personally and musically speaking? Did you find the experience to be a pleasant one?
It really was one of the best times of my career. I was "warned" that it might be difficult, coming in new, and only knowing Doane (by another drummer who had worked with Ian)...but from the beginning it was wonderful. Hard work, but Wonderful. Shona was marvelous, and they all treated me like family. It was really great.. I have a lot of memorable stories from those few weeks.
Thanks for taking our questions, I never take part in these Q&As because there's not much I could ask the past and present band members about, but you & Tull was always a thing that kept me wondering. :-) Great music, I enjoy your work on that album very much.
Thanks!
Jakob
Hello Steve,
Was there ever any talk of you playing with Tull on a more full-time basis?
Yes, that was the plan... but my schedule was crazy, and I was not able to work it out then. I have always hoped for another chance... ;-)
I remember 16 years ago being surprised that you were "one and done."
I was impressed by your playing on Dangerous Veils.
Best wishes,
Big Al
Castine, Maine USA
H i Steve,
Thanks for taking part in this and thank you for your contributions to Roots To Branches.
I'm sure there will be many of us that go back and listen to your style of
play on those tracks.
Couple questions if I may:
Can you describe the recording process with Tull and how it compares to others you have worked with? Past members have stated that Ian
doesn't put the vocals in until the very end which had they heard them earlier they may have played differently.
Yes that was the case, but the amazing thing about Ian is that I think he is well aware of everything. Everything.
He would make suggestions on parts and things ended up just as they should have..
Also, we heard years ago (from another Tull fan) that Ian played a prank on you by locking you in a room at his house or studio. Is this true? And if so can you tell us about that?
Thanks very much Steve!
Paul from New Jersey
Ian pulled a bunch of pranks... seriously, some great ones involving Haggis, etc.... But the one I think you are referring to is a "secret" room in his home that he had me convinced was voice activated.. I was talking mumbo jumbo to this door trying to make it open (as he had done repeatedly).. he then left me alone to practice assuring me that I would eventually get it. Meanwhile they are all in the next room listening to me try to say goofy words with an Indian accent. I heard them laughing and thought they were having some fun in there.. never occurred that I was the JOKE.. turns out Ian had a button...
Hello Steve,
Did you play your parts with the band or did you play to a track and it
was mixed later? With the Band... All of it. Do you know my Friend and Fellow Bass Player ( Larry Junstrom) from Lynyrd Skynyrd back in the 60's to 74 and 76 till now with 38 Special? He remembers you from somewhere I hear or at least I heard it from Barns or Donnie Van Zant when when I saw them earlier this year.
Mike
I know the name but cannot remember exactly where we met.. hahahha, the recording with Skynyrd story is one for another forum!!! hahahah
Doane Perry used to talk about a track called "Never Been to Andalusia"
that was dropped from the RtB album. Did you play on it? If so, what did you think, and why was it not included?
From: Seal Driver
Good question. NONE of the songs had titles as we were recording so I am not sure if I played on that one. Hmm... I still have the charts a drew up as we were rehearsing. I will look and see if any of them did not make the album..
Hi Steve,
Daniel S. Duvall from Westlake, Ohio here. Just wondering:
1. Who played bass on tracks 2 (Rare and Precious Chain) and 4 (This
Free Will) of Roots to Branches?
2. Do you have any anecdotes about the recording of Dangerous Veils (my favorite track on the CD)?
Well, I do remember practicing for DAYS with a pic, anticipating that IAN wanted a bunch of pic parts.. and I was pleasantly surprised that he really like my fret-less sound, and the sound of fingers... WHEW. Although I love playing with a pick still....
Hi Steve:
I think I saw somewhere that you performed some European gigs on
Ian's solo Divinities tour. Is that correct? If so, how did you like that and
how was it compared to performing with Tull? That leads me to my next question....did you perform any RTB shows with Tull? I know Jonathan Noyce played on at least some of the tour.
Do you have any good stories that you can share with us about your time in the band?
We were all in the studio, I was feeling good, like part of the band after a few days... it got quiet and I hit the riff from Aqualung.. expecting everyone to jump in and I could fulfill a lifelong dream... I went du, du,du, du , duuuu, duuuuu.. and it was silence, I look around; Doane has his head down, Andy does too, Martin is just smiling at me... Ian turns around and says simply.. "That will be 50 quid"... hahahhahah.. I got fined for it!! It was beautiful...
What have you been doing musically since then and now?
Thanks,
Jeff, from NYC
Oh my goodness... google me, I have forgotten a lot. I eventually left LA. Still do a lot with Victor Wooten , and solo stuff. And am presently the new Director of the bass department at Berklee College of Music... 400 bass players!!!
Hi Steve,
By the way my favorite track on Roots To Branches was Beside Myself, I
was wondering how you got involved with Tull, did you answer an
advertisement or was there another way in.
Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for us, it is
much appreciated.
Charlie from Boston
Doane Perry, with whom I had played a lot.. in various situations (Jon Anderson, Kitaro, musicians institute, etc) got me in. That simple.. I love that track too... the way it evolved was amazing, people throwing in parts, and having fun..