Old Man Riva

One of Mrs Riva’s musical idols. She’s most impressed that I told her about the programme. Less so, and a little bemused, that I found out about it from an online Internet forum dedicated to the bass guitar - “this is the modern world”, though not for Mrs Riva! This Sky Arts thread is an absolute winner!

Totally agree. I used to sit and try and work the parts out, but could never manage to get them to sound as fluid and ‘nailed’ as Segs. The downstrokes were key to tracks like Babylon’s Buring and Demolition Dancing (brilliant interplay with Paul Fox’s guitar on that), and I just couldn’t master them. As for Society... don’t get me started! That’s great! Was/is it a 60s or 70s? In a previous life many years ago I did some work with Ruffy and he was one of the nicest people I’ve met. Also one of the funniest - like being in a room with Tommy Cooper! When I first met him it didn’t take long for it to become clear that I was a bit of fan (to say the least). He was chuffed to bits (though took the p##s mercilessly - “you’ll be after my inside leg measurement next!”) and was kind enough to spend hours indulging me and talking about the band. A really lovely guy, and a fabulous drummer...

I think that Paul Gray used a Rickenbacker and an Overwater (Thunderbird style), and Algy Ward used a Thunderbird. (Paul Gray used a Thunderbird in UFO...)

Pretty much everything Segs ever played with the Ruts is excellent, IMO. Creative, driving, groovy, tight as anything with Ruffy... He was a massive influence on me when I was really getting into (learning) the bass, across different styles. I spent hours trying to learn his lines and never got anywhere near...

Only when Malcolm wasn’t looking!

Even better!

He’s waited many years but this is Bob’s revenge on the punk movement! He probably took the first swing of the sledgehammer to the Pistols’ rehearsal space!

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed that. Re. the P/J p/up configuration. I like the idea of the stack-knob controls and retaining the jack socket as part of the scratch plate, rather than a v/v/t approach, and the socket being tucked underneath the body. It’s probably been done before but I’ve not seen it like that...

Roger Waters in goal... he’s excellent at organising The Wall.

Tim Lefebvre as a centre forward. Has the physical presence, and can play in a variety of ways to suit the occasion. Has the deftness of touch, and also possesses the maverick creativity (as shown with his use of pedals etc.) to add an extra creative element, when required. He’s a big name player who could deliver on the biggest of stages, and also “a rainy November evening in Stoke”.

Agreed! And thanks again for the heads up. There’s some fabulous footage of the Young Americans period featuring Andy Newmark and Willie Weeks (it’s in one of the Visconti interviews). There’s a lot of the footage that is completely new to me, which is great! Isn’t it just. The whole series is excellent, and Dennis Davis son is a wonderful young man. Finding out about his dad via his work/art, it’s a joy to watch. More of this on the internet please!

Slade Alive! was like a ‘Beatles moment’ for want of a better phrase. Everything changed after hearing that, and seeing Bowie, Mott the Hoople, Roxy Music, T Rex et al all loud and proud on TOTP in the same year - a game changing time...

A slight detour, I know, but thanks to The Fasting Showman’s excellent recommendation re. Dennis Davis I stumbled across this... Too good not to share... Enjoy!

Love this! Dennis Davis on drums (Bowie drummer on Station to Station through to Lodger), and, I think, Emir Ksasan on bass (played with Bowie on the second/soul leg of the Diamond Dogs tour)...

David Bowie - David Live

I think this is the very bass... He’s had a few from the Gallery for the competitions. https://thebassgallery.com/products/fender-jazz-bass-1966

He played with Nick Heyward in the 80s. I seem to recall him appearing live on The Tube (or the Whistle Test) with Nick Heyward around the Warning Sign era (I think they did that track live). If it’s out there it’s well worth a watch as it also features the excellent Alan Murphy on guitar...

Through the world of Google I’ve just checked and the Leicester gig was in ‘86. The band were flat, the audience was flat and the gig just meandered along into nothingness. I think the band felt it and the singer started making a few barbs about how flat the audience was, which didn’t particularly help, and it almost all ground to a halt. Genuinely the only time I’ve ever left early because I wasn’t enjoying the band... I’m pleased your experience was better!

Furniture at Leicester Poly (early/mid 80s). ”We’re Furniture, what’s your excuse?” the singer deadpanned, as people drifted away...

That’s great! I remember recording it on VCR and watching it over and over. I think the original broadcast was 2-3 songs (as I recall, further tracks were shown later in the series). His band (as always!) were superb, but I remember being absolutely blown away by the drummer at the time. Because of the album credits I thought it was someone called Sterling Campbell, but it was, of course, Zack Alford. Wow! I think the biggest compliment I can give is that Mrs Riva walked passed when I was playing it and asked when it was from! When I told her who it was she said, “I thought it was Him!!”. The backing vocals on the “Don’t believe in yourself...” sections are superb. When all this madness is over, and you’re gigging again, I’ll be there, sir!

Brilliant! Thank you, sir...

Definitely! I think it may be Schaller. A mate of mine had an early Squier and he swore by the replacement bridge he’d had fitted. A big talking point was the adjustable saddles - the hours flew by!

What bridge is that? They were around in the early 80s (poss 70s?) - the rolling/adjustable saddles were quite the thing...

Bought tickets for a Simple Minds Once Upon A Time gig at NEC just to see Shriekback supporting them. Shriekback were their usual brilliant selves, and Simple Minds were a far cry from the New Gold Dream band/sound that I’d seen just a few years before. I thought they were rotten, if I’m being honest.

Day After Day is a wonderful song. George Harrison plays slide guitar on it.