Saturday, 27 May 2006
In front of the microphone, a guy comes on stage, smokes a lot, swears and derides rock stars for taking drugs. No, It wasn't Bill hicks...It was Guy Pratt. The man with the most punk rock name ever, who is easily distracted by hecklers, who told us that whilst he is rehearsing with David Gilmour at Bray Studios Shepperton in Studio 1, Roger Waters (dreaded ex-rival leader of Pink Floyd) in in Studio 2. It says on the sign "Bray Studios Welcomes David Gilmour and Roger Waters". . Guy says 'Why don't they just say 'Welcomes PINK FLOYD?" then??
Its fairly obvious that whilst Bill Hicks was a comic first, rock musician second, with Guy its the other way around. Better well known for his years with (in rough Chronological Order), Killing Joke, icehouse, Bryan Ferry, Pink Floyd,Madonna, The Orb, Coverdale/Page, Whitesnake, Michael jackson, Roxy Music and so many more...he's also slightly well knwon for his rock star sidekick comedy routine as evidenced tonight. Not to mention being one of the best bass players in the world.
But tonight was less about the bass as it was about the laughs. I didn't pick up anything about pino palladino's technique, but I did get to watch him leap around stage doing the beginning of 'One of thes days, and explaining the pink floyd synchronised shuffle, which is as close to a dance routine as they ever got.
He comes on stage and chat for about 75 minutes. He plays bass a bit , recreating running around the stage avoiding the strobe lights during Pink Floyd Concerts baiting the crowd, mocking Duran Duran for having the same bassline for every single song, mocking mad American shouty fans who think the best way of making the concerts even better is to shout "YOU! YOU! DAVE! DAYYYYYVIIIIID!" during the quiet bits of ' Wish You Were Here', saying backstage at Floyd Concerts is like a David Lynch movie, and about the blind man at their Earls court with his guidedog was a bit odd. 'Woof' goes the dog, obviously meaning 'lasers. 'Woof Woof' goes the dog again. 'aha! Goes the blind bloke thinking mmm, thinly-veiled reference to ex-bass players dad dying in the war.
And then he tells us about his times with Heathrow customs, drinking with Jimmy Page on transatlantic flights, , how David Coverdale is just a single bloke in a pleasure park called ManLand where everyday is a 'Jammies and a Robe' day in his villa in Nevada, and how wherever a woman expresses an interest in you, you've got to be 'Cocksman'. Bless, what more could you expect from a guy who once described his band 'Whitesnake' as 'All about exploring the themes of love, mainly on a perpendicular and horizontal level?' . (In his defence, David Coverdale is from a small coastal village called Saltburn, which is about as exciting as Bartley Green after dark with all the shops shut. I Know, I've been to both places and survived).
Well, Guy is Bitchy, witty and funny. And he regales with anecdotes about Spandau Ballet not being able to read, going on a date with Madonna at the only time she's ever been seen in public with no paparazzi, and the mayor of Sydney ('People think us austrailians are more arse than class. To them, i Say BOLLOCKS!' ). And if you thought Michael Jackson was wierd, wait until you hear how he doesn't pay his session musicians ...
Funny and bitchy, its a night of revelations about the stars in the world he works. its also a bit of an acquired taste, but one thats well worth acquiring. Never mind Run like Hell, this was comfortably fun......
(I know its a dreadful pun, but thats why he gets paid for comedy, and I don't...)Only registered users can write comments.
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