Frank Blank

Yes, I went from a musically broad minded 15 year old to a ‘Punk fascist’ almost overnight. I can remember slagging people off for listening to bands I hadn’t even listened to! As I did in private but in public I was a bit of a silly curmudgeon. I hope I didn’t appear as if I am still that way? I did write that ...the silly orthodoxy wore off with age... but anyway, yessir *salutes*

Indeed so but Fragile is my favourite Yes album simply because that was the first Yes album played to me by my brother. My favourite track however is Sound Chaser from Relayer. I’ve only recently been remembering how influential Chris Squire has been, I loved his playing, as did my brother, that mad metallic tone and the distinctive Rickenbacker. He was important also as something to kick back against when Punk happened as I would listen to the incredible virtuosity of Yes and think I’d never play music or be in a band but then Punk happened and that was my music rather than the hand-me-down prog from my brother. Obviously Punk made lots of us suddenly realise we could play, form bands, gob at each other and suddenly all that widdly-woo prog indulgence was sneered at by the new Punk orthodoxy. I still listened to Yes, Genesis, Steely Dan but in private! Thank lord the silly orthodoxy wore off with age and now I listen to Crass alongside Yes, Genesis alongside Sleaford Mods. I’m rambling...

Ha ha, obviously I disagree about slang as an evolution of (a part) of language being a dumbing down as such and, slang aside, they were perfectly erudite and reasonably intelligent young gentlemen. I suspect they might cut your throat for an ‘enry. Equally, as a old man who enjoys a good rant, why not.

Absolutely (if I can briefly derail it further) this flexibility is vital to the development and indeed survival of a language. I like that there are extensive formal linguistic rules but that is balanced by the rich and deep rabbit warren of slang. I referred to the police as Five-O the other day and was tutted at by a youth, “Feds?” I offered, more tutting. I was informed that the current nomenclature round these parts is Po-Po. Not in my yard, flatfoot or rozzers... innit.

Frank Blank’s Idiotic Facts #2 Having just looked up the words Movie and Film (in its cinematographic sense) it turns out that the first recorded use of the term movie was in 1909 and the first recorded use of the word film, in this sense... A representation of a story or event recorded on film or, in later use, in digital form, and shown as moving images in a cinema or (latterly) on television, video, the internet, etc.; a motion picture, a movie. ...was in 1905.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway... ...oh.

Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (2017) - a documentary about the Bataclan shootings and the after affects on the band, a difficult watch but an excellent documentary. Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986) - interviews with fans outside a Judas Priest concert, much, much better than it sounds. Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008) - funny and heartwarming. Lemmy (2010) - a documentary about the guv’nor, full of his sardonic yet incisive wisdom, what a dude. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005) - another tough watch, you will have to decide if he’s a bona fire genius or an exploited madman. Intensely interesting but challenging in several ways. Stop Making Sense (1984) - imho the best concert film ever made, Talking Heads at their absolute best, funky as f***. Oil City Confidential (2009) - Essex innit, Julien Temple’s documentary about Dr Feelgood. One More Time With Feeling (2016) - another tough watch (I’m seeing a pattern) Nick Cave recording his first album after the death of his son, painful but superb.

Type the @ symbol and the user’s tag and a drop down will appear to select the use like this...

I only ever wore my own band’s t-shirts in the sack.

I’ve now put myself in your shoes and reverted to option #1.

Although not bass related I was once taking photos of a telegraph pole when a gentleman walked up to me, he stopped and watched as I took a pic, “I can see you are a man of interests” he noted and continued his walk. I rather liked that.

Welcome.

*waves* let me know if you find the perfect bass, 40yr search over here!

Turn everything else down and that bass up ffs.

That’s the one I’m going to look at!

Can I just recommend the excellent documentary Air Guitar Nation (2006).

A Space Elliot for air amplification I think.

Aerodynes get a rough press and its undeserved in my opinion. In fact there are two second hand Aerodynes at Bass Direct at the moment which is one of the reasons I’m organising a trip up there soon so I can try them out. I used to own one but sold it on here, one of the basses I regret selling. They are light, look good and sound excellent in my humble opinion... Damn I wish I hadn’t sold it!

Very true, unfortunately I have neither 😐

#4 for me, #5 is just a more diplomatic version of #4 if you ask me, in fact one where you can shift the choice/blame back on to the other band members. If your ideal situation is being in that band with a different singer then don’t p155 about around the edges of that, aim for it. I was a drummer who was usurped in exactly this fashion, the band was better after my replacement stepped in and I have usurped a bass player in the same fashion too, I have remained on good terms with both. I realise this is down to being unbelievably lucky that there were very little ego problems in either band and equally lucky that they were all very reasonable and not inclined to willy wave... Oh, hang on, I’m an ‘orrible bastard.