01-03-2010, 12:33 AM
I first picked up a bass guitar after seeing JMcC with Gillan at the Glasgow Apollo around late 1980/early '81. I had no idea what bass was prior to that, but I saw John and thought, "I dunno what that is/who he is, but I gotta get me one of them!" The sound just hammered my soul. It was power, pure power, under control. And I wanted to do that.
Fast forward 30 years or so, and yup, I've been playing bass for 30 years or so, but never with a band (no confidence, y'see). I've watched and listened to the impressarios of bass guitar (Miller, Clarke, Wooten, Pattitucci, Feraud, Wilkenfeld, etc), been to more gigs than I can count, and no matter where I go or what I do or who I listen to or what I aspire to, I keep coming back to John McCoy. And "that" sound.
I was born, bred, and buttered on Deep Purple. Roger Glover is a fantastic bassist, but he just doesn't have the presence of John McCoy. I saw AC/DC with Bon Scot, but Cliff Williams doesn't have the persona of Mr McCoy. Norman Watt Roy of the Blockheads is amazing. But I've seen countless bands and seen countless bass players, yet I keep coming back to John McCoy. No one else has the same energy, power, feeling, I dunno, the same "connection" with both the music and the audience.
Mr McCoy, you have been, and continue to be, an inspiration to this most talentless wannabe bassist. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Happy New Year, with my wishes for peace, happiness, health and prosperity, to you and yours.
Fast forward 30 years or so, and yup, I've been playing bass for 30 years or so, but never with a band (no confidence, y'see). I've watched and listened to the impressarios of bass guitar (Miller, Clarke, Wooten, Pattitucci, Feraud, Wilkenfeld, etc), been to more gigs than I can count, and no matter where I go or what I do or who I listen to or what I aspire to, I keep coming back to John McCoy. And "that" sound.
I was born, bred, and buttered on Deep Purple. Roger Glover is a fantastic bassist, but he just doesn't have the presence of John McCoy. I saw AC/DC with Bon Scot, but Cliff Williams doesn't have the persona of Mr McCoy. Norman Watt Roy of the Blockheads is amazing. But I've seen countless bands and seen countless bass players, yet I keep coming back to John McCoy. No one else has the same energy, power, feeling, I dunno, the same "connection" with both the music and the audience.
Mr McCoy, you have been, and continue to be, an inspiration to this most talentless wannabe bassist. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Happy New Year, with my wishes for peace, happiness, health and prosperity, to you and yours.
