is anybody home?...
(inset here the sound of crickets from the bugs bunny cartoon with the singing frog
...hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gaaaal...)
I'm surprised no one has commented on my last blog
about my favorite guitarists, playing at the royal albert hall, etc.
it took two hours to write!
maybe my warning scared you off?
hey, I was only joking. don't take this stuff so seriously.
I enjoy and really look forward to your comments.
so....
We're still here, For whatever reason, there's no clicky to comment on that particular post.
ReplyDeleteYes, comments are turned off. They've been off on anecdotes before - I was thinking maybe you just wanted those stories to stand alone.
ReplyDeleteYup - there was no way to comment, otherwise I would have pitched in my thoughts. I was lucky to be at both KC shows you mentioned and they were both special for different reasons. The 1995 show was special because it was the first time I had ever seen King Crimson perform - and you have to remember that this was at a time before the World Wide Web had spread its insidious tendrils around the globe, so it was all really fresh and new. OK - I've heard that you guys on stage didn't have a good time, but I thought it rocked. And I was in the fourth row or something, sitting looking right up Tony Levin's nostrils. It was a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThe KC2000 show at the Shepherds Bush Empire was a completely different beast. The sheen had got - this was dirty and gritty and tough. The soundscapes opening the shows were terrifying and I think provided a subconscious backdrop to RF's reluctance to play our fair capital city. The music was loud and in parts quite difficult to deal with. The Thrush was the best I ever heard and I remember towards the end someone in the balcony had smuggled in a tambourine (at one point I was convinced it was Bill Bruford himself) and was playing along to Heroes.
oops! you're right. somehow the post option was changed NOT to allow comments. gremlins, I would guess.
ReplyDeleteG'day Ade...
ReplyDeleteEver so glad to hear that you still enjoy receiving our comments....
Your 'warning' had me a little worried there for a while ;-) thinking you might have become a little jaded of late - especially as I had just spent some time flipping through your previous blog pages (whilst awaiting your next illuminating excerpt) and caught up on some of the ensuing 'vigorous' comments and exchanges that had been variously posted since my last viewing.... especially the one about education/home schooling :-(
As Patti says 'maybe you just wanted those stories to stand alone'.... mmmm - no ability to comment....maybe a subtle cybermessage to those of us who just have to contribute..... mmmm
NOT! Thanks for setting this belewbloggfan straight.... I for one love hearing your anecdotes about 'your incredible life', as well as your thoughts, feelings and points of view.
Your last anecdote was great (as usual) - so interesting to get a snapshot of those whom you admire, and have had such an impact on your life/music. And those 'fuck fuck' chickens....well, what more can I add to that.... ;-p
Hey, just received my signed copy of 'Eureka'....bloody fantastic! I loved every moment of it...but I just gotta ask one itsy bitsy question - was the inclusion of 'comin' round the mountain' just for fun, or was there some other significant 'kengineer' reasoning?
Oh, and finally....can't sign off without saying I can't wait for next Monday's big announcement...!! Robin mentioned something about Canada!!!! Oh I have all my fingers crossed - please please say that the trio are coming north.... ;-)
And you must remember that for every one person that reads and comments, there may be anywhere from 1 to 100+ others that "lurk" - reading without writing. It's very different from being on stage and hearing applause or silence... much more like contributing to a magazine.
ReplyDeleteI'm REALLY enjoying ALL of your posts - it's wonderful to hear/read so many details about behind the scenes. I've enjoyed all of them.
Favorite guitarists are difficult things to choose to be sure. Since the Discipline album (when I first started paying attention to you) you have remained among my favorites. Quite an achievement considering the number of outstanding players out there and my ever changing voracious fickleness (or is it fickle voraciousness?). You are a lucky man to be able to meet and work with all of your hero's. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy dad got me into King Crimson just a little too late for the Royal Albert Hall gigs (by a matter of months, and as a result I never saw Bruford with Crimson), but I was at Shepherds Bush 2000. I'd actually also been at the first 2 shows at 12th & Porter - well, we had to make the trip for the first shows of the new King Crimson! - and while Shepherds Bush wasn't quite the experience Nashville was, it was certainly a great gig. Glad it was something special for you too.
ReplyDeleteDarren: I had heard rumours that it was Bruford with the tambourine, although maybe Adrian can confirm for us?
And since I'm posting a comment and can't think of anywhere else to put this, will the Bears documentary ever see a release?
As I'm sure is the case of many who read your blog, you Sir are absolutely among the most endearing and revered and influential and.....(I could go on) guitar players for me. Reading anecdotes penned by one of my all time favorite guitars hero's is quite a treat for me. Assuming that I will never get to meet you or work with you professionally, this is more than an acceptable consolation.
ReplyDeleteDare I make an anecdote request?....have you ever met Vernon Reid (also a living guitar hero for me)? Are you a friend or fan of his? I often wonder what my guitar hero's think of each other? :)
"That guy with the elephants," eh? :)
ReplyDeleteElephants, rhinos, dinosaurs, Bears, big electric cats, blue whales... you could release a whole compilation entitled Adrian Belew Presents Megafauna!
PS. Are you still into Dylan? I've sung your praises on a Bob Dylan message board a few times, but there doesn't seem to be much overlap in the fan bases.
I would have to agree in saying that Robert Fripp and Jimi Hendrix are the greatest rock guitarists yet. I havn't listened to Jeff Beck as much, perhaps you can recommend a good starting point? I am 21 years old and started working with the guitar around the age of eight. I started with the classical guitar, then from blues to rock and started to fall in love with bands such as the beatles, the stones, zeppelin, pink floyd. Since these days I have been very passionate about the guitar and have been trying to bring my playing to the necessary level. I only started to listen to king crimson a little over a year ago, my friend showed me Court of the Crimson King and it "blew my mind" haha. I then started to get more albums and inevitably much more into the band. Roberts Fripp's guitar playing definitely struck a chord within. His approach seemed so different and careful. It was the first time I felt that a guitarists was not only playing a guitar but playing an instrument, he was treating it with the care of a classical musician but had the ingenuity of a rock or jazz musician. It seemed and still seems that he is very thoughtful about his playing, to say the least. Nevertheless, his playing just had an enormous impact on me and was a great influence. I would be very interested in reading about your first encounters listening to Crimson and how you felt/reacted when you listened to Mr. Fripp's guitar. As I moved through the KC albums mostly chronologically, I found another out of control, incredibly talented, and incredibly underrated player. Well actually I seem to have found a lot of these throughout the line-ups ha but anyways, I think you are an incredible guitarists and it was one of the most pleasant experiences watching you play with the Slick's in Long Beach and then chatting with you after. Thanks for that experience and I would love to hear your thoughts on the above question.
ReplyDeleteAdrian I am so Glad that you want comments on this entry.
ReplyDeleteJeff Beck = Guitar
When I was learning to play Eddie Van Halen seemed to be Guitar king Of course I was drawn to the incredible things Eddie was doing ..... but as luck would have it I have older brothers that made me listen to Jeff Beck and others.
My first Jeff Beck Album was Flash "Gets us all in the End" has a solo section in the begining that gave me goose bumps free sounding and etherial comming out of chaos perfectly delivered. After that I bought every album I could find from Jeff.
It is so cool that you know him!!!!! Has he ever taken you on a ride in one of his hot rods?
Jimi is Jimi WOW!! No More comment needed just listen to his music! WOW!
The History of the places you have played and the people of note you been with are astounding. I am glad that you have the appreication of these evets in your life. So you can share with us:). I can not even guess of how swelled with pride I would be, if say ... one of my guitar gods had given me even the smallest compliment about my playing let alone the one you recieved. Of course many people would love to be able to play as you can (I would actually be happy with a tenth of your ability) but to have Jeff Beck Say it! WOW!!!!!
Last I can not end this reply with out listing three influences, I do not want to shake.
My brother - as good a player to be found anywhere but somehow never discovered. He is playing and recording to this day and he is better now than when he amazed me as a kid (he is 17 years older than I am.)
Jeff Beck he took Eddie off my top 3 soon after I heard Flash he simply had more tone and soul. He confirmed it with guitar shop and and and... (Eddie would still have to be in the top 10 I am a product of the 1980's)
Adrian Belew I have been a Fan of your solo work, the work with KC, and Bears since I began Playing. When I got my first guitar with a tremello I spent the better part of a summer trying to elephant talk.
This blog is my chance to meet one of my famous guitar Gods.
Thanks for this
Dave
phew...thanks everybody. I thought you'd done an elvis: left the building. but then, where is the building?
ReplyDeletequick answers:
the tambourine: wasn't bill, but it may have been michael giles!
bears documentary: I haven't a clue what is planned for that.
vernon reid: is in fact a friend of mine as well as an excellent guitarist.
bob dylan: I love bob dylan. perhaps I should tell my one and only bob anecdote. it's not much of one but it still puzzles me.
early king crimson: was the music I listened to the most. robert's guitar playing (and mellotron) struck me as perfect for the band. I loved his searing 21st century schizoid solo. I used to play his acoustic guitar piece called "peace" as part of my repertoire when I worked as a starving solo guitarist at Pancho's Mexican Restaurant on Calhoun street by the University of Cincinnati. but mostly I thought of crimson as a group, not of robert alone. michael giles and ian mcdonald in particular were stunning players. the record they made after leaving crimson (mcdonald and giles) remains a favorite of mine.
thanks again everyone for your participation
(and your compliments.)
Got to see the Double Trio at Merriweather Post Pavilion when one of Vernon Reid's projects opened for you guys. Wow!!! What a double bill that was. And Vernon had a guy in the band who sat in an overstuffed arm chair on stage for his whole set and got up maybe twice and did vocals. Different! Who was that guy?
ReplyDeleteDon't worry. I'm always here.
ReplyDeleteI'm the quiet rhino in the corner.
And it seems only fitting , now, that my Belew records are on the shelf right between Beck and Be Bop Deluxe.
re: Vernon Reid - I remember an Adrian solo show (or maybe it was The Bears) in Boston, at the Paradise. Living Colour opened - it was before they made it big. I think I liked them, but what I remember most was that they drove me out of the main room - too loud, and I didn't have earplugs. I also remember that Corey Glover was dressed as a drum major?
ReplyDeletere:Chuck- I was at the Paradise show as well. According to my database, it was The Bears 9-4-86. I remember Living Colour as being very loud as well, and very good. They were full tilt from start to finish. Definitely one the most impressive opening acts I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up and early guitar learning days, I was a big Jeff Beck fan (circa B,B&A, Wired, Blow by Blow). I got into Fripp via Eno. What mad riffs and solos he performed there!
ReplyDeleteThen I fell off the wagon for a while as I played bass for several local bands. On one of our road trips/tours, someone pulled out Twang Bar King and my ears opened up again. Wow(!) is right. Then to find you and Fripp together in KC. Again, Wow! I've been a loyal and devoted fan since.
I re-stumbled upon Jeff Beck for Guitar Shop. The fire and passion were there, stronger than ever and more mature sounding.
You three (and yes, Hendrix) have been the most influential on my tastes. What has been even more fun is going back and listening to things with a more appreciative perspective. I hear so much more of the nuance than I originally did. It is like listening to the music for the first time, again!
We are still here, Adria, and waiting for you in Argetina!
ReplyDeleteSee you!
Pablo
One problem I have is the use of an iframe to embed your blog in your site. While I can "break out" of the web jail with Firefox, it is one additional step I don't like to do. How about having your web designer fix that?
ReplyDeleteI saw Allan Holdsworth the other night, great guitar player, just like you!
Not much I can add to the above comments save this:
ReplyDeleteYour reference to "One Froggy Evening", one of the greatest Chuck Jones cartoons ever, is wonderful and greatly appreciated.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, Living Color opened for Crimson on the Power to Believe tour when they played Montreal. I can second those comments. They played far too loud. I remember enjoying them at a reasonable volume from the lobby of the St-Denis theatre.
ReplyDeleteSo when are the Bears coming to Montreal?
Guitarists- I cannot pick favorites. To me, they are colors. I like them all but I wouldn't wear certain ones with others.
ReplyDeleteI began playing guitar @ 15 circa 1978 so 3 formative guitarists - who I sound nothing like at all.
When I first heard you with Bowie in 1978 at the Forum. I knew you were not Carlos Alomar but I had to know your name. You forced me to buy a program so I could find out your name. I walk in the back of the Forum - but before I walk in I hear these unusual almost guitar like sounds but not actual guitar sounds - and across the 18,000 I say to myself, "Who is that guy in the hawaiian shirt having way too much fun with all the jungle noises - is that coming out of his guitar? How does he do that?
Bought Exposure LP brand new - always loved Fripp and his distinct voice. Even bought Daryl Halls Sacred Songs to hear any bit of Fripp I could get my hands on. I've always liked KC since I first heard 21st Century.
Hendrix was huge too "Peace in Mississipi" and all the rest.
Ted Nugent - Double Live Gonzo "Great White Buffalo" Feedback control
Jeff Beck "Wired" and then into everything.
See I'm already past 3 and have many others I enjoy but not mentioned.