Cog1977 Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Hi Everybody, I’ve been a lurker on this forum for years (and bought a few basses here), but never bothered to formally introduce myself until now. I realised my profile set up was incomplete and it suggested I do this. I might have been avoiding doing this because I’m a big fan of the Groucho Marx joke that I don’t want to belong to a club that would have me as a member (feel free to tell me to sod off!). Everybody seems strangely reasonable here though... 😁 Originally from Essex, I’ve lived in West Yorkshire for the last 24 years, currently residing in Bradford. I’m a freelance bass player, and have been a member of numerous original bands (some semi-successful - whatever that means…). Some have stuff on Spotify: Bilbao Syndrome (alt metal), Black Diamond Bay (electro), Tough Crowd (hip hop). I’ve played bass for 29 years. If I was gigging at the moment I’d be splitting my time between working with singer/guitarist Chantel McGregor (I’m on her live album she released last year), my own nu-metalcore band Choose Your Destroyer (EP on Spotify), and a touring theatre show called Northern Live (Northern Soul tribute show). As well as a bunch of other semi-regular gigs. Aside from the gigs I’m a senior lecturer at Leeds College of Music (about to be rebranded ‘Leeds Conservatoire’… very posh!). I’ve been the head pop bass tutor at that college for a number of years. Ashdown amplification were kind enough to make me one of their ‘Artists’ a while back, and the service I’ve received from them over the years has been really excellent. Lovely people! I use the ABM600 head with a Barefaced Super12t cab. The basses I use regularly include a Mike Lull PJ5, Musicman Bongo HS 5-string, Status 4-string fretless, Shuker P-bass and a Peavey Cirrus USA 5-string (one of the Trace Elliot green ones - used exclusively with Choose Your Destroyer because of a slightly weird drop tuning). I used to use a ton of pedals, but I bought a Line 6 Helix lt last year and I’m gradually transferring everything to that except for small gigs that don’t require much. Until this pandemic shut things down I didn’t used to have much time outside of doing 160+ gigs a year and teaching, but I do manage a reasonable amount of Xbox gaming… and I don’t read as much as I used to sadly, but some of my favourite authors are Thomas Pynchon, Paul Auster, Italo Calvino, Victor Pelevin and Terry Pratchett. I am available to teach via Skype or Zoom if anybody is interested. I have a lot of time on my hands now compared to ‘normal’. I suspect I will also be looking to sell some basses and amps because I’ve realised I have too much stuff sitting around unused. There’s not much point trying to name my favourite bass players because the list would have to include literally everybody who has ever authentically attempted to express something with honesty and integrity through the instrument… or simply those who have looked really great whilst playing one! Hope your are all well! -Cog 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Welcome Cog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Good evening, Cog, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. ... Now sod off..! ... ... Nah, just joshin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waylander Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Welcome🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldwinbass Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Hi Cog, welcome to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 Belated welcome. "There’s not much point trying to name my favourite bass players because the list would have to include literally everybody who has ever authentically attempted to express something with honesty and integrity through the instrument…" That would include me, and trust me - I am not anybody's favourite bass player! If you're near Bradford, are you in the area with local lockdown? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cog1977 Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 24 minutes ago, Richard R said: Belated welcome. "There’s not much point trying to name my favourite bass players because the list would have to include literally everybody who has ever authentically attempted to express something with honesty and integrity through the instrument…" That would include me, and trust me - I am not anybody's favourite bass player! If you're near Bradford, are you in the area with local lockdown? I think the whole of Bradford is affected, but it doesn't affect much. We can go to the pub, shops, park... we just can't visit anybody in their garden. Makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 19 minutes ago, Cog1977 said: I think the whole of Bradford is affected, but it doesn't affect much. We can go to the pub, shops, park... we just can't visit anybody in their garden. Makes sense. Maybe if they install a card reader you can visit, seems to be the difference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 49 minutes ago, Cog1977 said: I think the whole of Bradford is affected, but it doesn't affect much. We can go to the pub, shops, park... we just can't visit anybody in their garden. Makes sense. I would prefer to meet friends in my garden rather than the pub. Hope you and yours are all OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cog1977 Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 1 hour ago, Woodinblack said: Maybe if they install a card reader you can visit, seems to be the difference! Haha!! Nailed it. That seems to be about right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cog1977 Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 1 hour ago, Richard R said: I would prefer to meet friends in my garden rather than the pub. Hope you and yours are all OK. Me and my partner's family are spread out: Scotland, Spain, Australia, Southend... so we wouldn't see them regularly anyway. We live on a street of back to back houses, so everybody at the front sits out in nice weather - I think it's OK talking to them because that's not technically a garden...? Doesn't really feel any different to normal. Strange times though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 It's easy sorted. Claim it's a yard like the Americans do. Then if anyone says boo to you you can tell them to furlough off! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksterphil Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Welcome Cog Love the David Bowie quote - I'm in a Bowie Tribute band so have picked up a bit of intel on the man but hadn't come across that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cog1977 Posted August 14, 2020 Author Share Posted August 14, 2020 4 hours ago, ricksterphil said: Welcome Cog Love the David Bowie quote - I'm in a Bowie Tribute band so have picked up a bit of intel on the man but hadn't come across that one. He was an interesting guy. I saw Henry Rollins talking about when he met him at a festival somewhere... he called Rollins over and told him he liked what Rollins had said in a particular magazine interview. I think he said the magazine was a German publication or something - like really bizarre that Bowie had even read it, but he seemed to be one of those guys who knows everything that's going on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksterphil Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 16 minutes ago, Cog1977 said: He was an interesting guy. I saw Henry Rollins talking about when he met him at a festival somewhere... he called Rollins over and told him he liked what Rollins had said in a particular magazine interview. I think he said the magazine was a German publication or something - like really bizarre that Bowie had even read it, but he seemed to be one of those guys who knows everything that's going on. He was an intellectual thinker from what I can gather, which comes out in some of his later, less well known songs I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 On 09/08/2020 at 19:45, Cog1977 said: Everybody seems strangely reasonable here though... 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 33 minutes ago, Cog1977 said: ...the magazine was a German publication or something - like really bizarre that Bowie had even read it... Bowie did spend quite some time in Berlin, so maybe there's a link there..? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 On 09/08/2020 at 20:45, Cog1977 said: ...Everybody seems strangely reasonable here though... This is going to our 'Basschat's Famous Quotes' thread..! 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 It seems that we have a few things in common - I'm originally from Essex and have lived in Bradford for most of my life. I've also known Chantel since she was a teenager. I'm sure that we must have a few mutual acquaintances (musical or otherwise). Out of interest, in which part of our fair city (!!) do you reside?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTimesBass Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 Welcome Cog, On 09/08/2020 at 19:45, Cog1977 said: Everybody seems strangely reasonable here though... 😁 'Reasonably strange' might be more accurate 😂 Enjoy the great help and advice on offer here. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cog1977 Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 13 hours ago, peteb said: It seems that we have a few things in common - I'm originally from Essex and have lived in Bradford for most of my life. I've also known Chantel since she was a teenager. I'm sure that we must have a few mutual acquaintances (musical or otherwise). Out of interest, in which part of our fair city (!!) do you reside?? Hey Pete! I've lived in Great Horton for about 16 years (maybe... I can no longer remember exactly when we moved here). I'm sure we must have some mutual acquaintances, although I never really became a big part of the Bradford music scene - coming from the Leeds avant-garde improv scene a lot of activity was based there, and 'jobbing' gigs (theatres/functions) tended to be all over the UK and rarely local (still the case). I did play in a power pop/punk band in the 2000s called Sweet Suzi with Bradford locals Chris and Craig Bussey, and a singer called Sulene Fleming. Lots of musical history with Chris. I still work with Chris and Craig in one of my current bands Choose Your Destroyer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 (edited) 32 minutes ago, Cog1977 said: Hey Pete! I've lived in Great Horton for about 16 years (maybe... I can no longer remember exactly when we moved here). I'm sure we must have some mutual acquaintances, although I never really became a big part of the Bradford music scene - coming from the Leeds avant-garde improv scene a lot of activity was based there, and 'jobbing' gigs (theatres/functions) tended to be all over the UK and rarely local (still the case). I did play in a power pop/punk band in the 2000s called Sweet Suzi with Bradford locals Chris and Craig Bussey, and a singer called Sulene Fleming. Lots of musical history with Chris. I still work with Chris and Craig in one of my current bands Choose Your Destroyer. I don't really know Chris, although we have a few mutual friends (I remember seeing his Dad playing in bands 35 years or so ago). I have to say that the Leeds avant-garde improv scene is not one I am massively familiar with, obviously a fault on my part that I must put right as soon as we're allowed out again...! 🙂 Like you, a lot of my gigs seem to be all over the country, although I'm guessing that your theatres & function gigs pay more than obscure rock tribute bands and the blues circuit (at least I hope so)! I do try and keep a local gigging band going, so you may have bumped into me at some point if you have ever ventured out to local pub gigs. I did live in the top end of Great Horton for a while in the 90s, although I'm the other side of town now... Edited September 10, 2020 by peteb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Hiya Cog 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfJames Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Leeds - who brought us the Sisters of Mercy....................welcome to the forum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cog1977 Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 14 hours ago, ProfJames said: Leeds - who brought us the Sisters of Mercy....................welcome to the forum. Indeed! About 10-12 years ago my band Black Diamond Bay used to regularly rehearse in a house next door to Si Denbigh's flat... He was touring with them at that time I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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