discreet

I think I've met her. If not, it was Anne Widdecombe in a gorilla suit.

I love the way the primary pic is of an empty case... I think I'd definitely break and/or lose that at the earliest opportunity. Or apply fire, and lots of it.

That's not John, it's Chris...

it may seem a bit weird, but probably not worth a rant. People are very different - even among bass players! - and whatever gets the job done is OK with me. If I heard some very tasty playing that was 'thumb work', it wouldn't bother me. Yes, or 'thumb rest' if fitted above the strings in the 1973-on position. However, over the years I've lost serious money in Tug Bars.

They'd really need to start off as a support band. 'Hole', maybe?

'The Beatles' is a terrible name. Didn't matter. Thing is, once a name becomes associated with what you do, it ceases to have any meaning or purpose other than as a handle for the band. 'Frankie Goes To Hollywood'. Oh, come on!!

That sounds like an instruction.

This. I've never actually thought much about it before, but it just seems logical.

Business success is down to how much someone is prepared to spend on advertising. The actual songs/music/band/artist/styling and everything else can be outsourced by picking up the phone and getting out a credit card.

You could always cover it in leather, or faux-fur or something, a la ZZ Top. Or use veneer or paint to make it look like wood.

Depends if you think that wood has any bearing on 'tone' or not. I think that it does not. *Hides under bed*

Learnt 'Canned Heat' by Jamiroquai for an audition. It was a right pain in the a r s e but in the end I did it. Then the audition was cancelled. FECK!!

It depends if your a 'looking' person or a 'listening' person. I don't feel disappointed at the lack of a 'show' when I'm listening to music. If a band can produce an interesting set live I don't need them to be leaping about while I'm blinded by lasers, or a polystyrene Stonehenge or dancing dwarves. On the other hand if I'm in a band that tend to stand there and not do much I feel as if we're short-changing the audience somewhat. But if the guitarist and singer (who are always rampant narcissists, right?) do their jobs, then that's enough. I feel that my role is at the back, wearing a big shirt and playing the right bloody notes... As Lozz says, little things like eye contact and a confident presence help it all along. I know people who are so anxious on stage that they practically stand with their backs to the audience. Which makes me think, 'you really shouldn't be doing this'...

And you look like poultry in motion.

They really are everywhere. It's practically impossible to avoid them. It's rare to find a band of like-minded people who want the same things you do - and on those very rare occasions when they're found, it's a beautiful thing! How about a band of musicians who are all bass players (but can also sing and play drums, guitar, keys, etc)? You'd have a bunch of very reliable people and know where you stood and what was going on. Singers, guitarists and drummers (who aren't also bass players) are a pain in the a r s e !!

David??

You can't afford to have even one passenger in a band, let alone two or three. You dodged a bullet there I think. It would have been like pushing a wardrobe up a spiral staircase by the sound of it and would have wasted mountains of time. Good luck.

Cyril Connelly?

Thanks very much for this, very useful. In my limited experience of such gigs I would heartily agree with 9) Varifocals! Absolutely essential!

I'm going to try that later. Interesting that he apparently had the opportunity to play with Hillage but didn't.

There's no need to be rude, I only asked.

Is that your dog..?

Bit of a sad story. But he got to play on a seminal album.