Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

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cabangbangq
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Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#1 Post by cabangbangq » Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:53 am

Was wandering through the internet today, in search of a video or a soundboard quality version of P4P playing Black Girlfriend live, ended up stumbling through this little post by Mike Watt about learning to play live with Porno. According to Watt, Perry came up with the bass lines for Cursed Female and Wishing Well

http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_pfp.html

Seems like Watt really enjoyed his time with P4P. Wish I had been of age to see them in their heyday.

Also figured those little anecdotes would start some interesting conversation seeing as much of the talk around here nowadays is debating whether Perry ever had any real writing ability or if he was just at hte right place at the right time.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#2 Post by blackula » Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:56 pm

Cool read, I like Watt's song by song breakdown of the gig. So many great shows in that time, really cool to read Watt's thoughts. Seems like joining the Stooges was easier based on his P4P experience

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#3 Post by Hokahey » Thu Jul 23, 2015 5:17 am

I saw a show a few days after the one he described. Still the most fun I've ever had at a show, and I'm guessing always will be.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#4 Post by panicparty » Thu Jul 23, 2015 8:49 am

Also figured those little anecdotes would start some interesting conversation seeing as much of the talk around here nowadays is debating whether Perry ever had any real writing ability or if he was just at hte right place at the right time.
Ok, I'll bite: I wonder what Martyn's perspective on some of the writing might be. It was notable that Watt put is thusly:
he told me he wrote this bass line
(my emphasis). I do wonder how likely it is that "wrote" meant "hummed a vague melody that Martyn used as a jumping off point to craft a bassline" as opposed to "worked out what the notes were, wrote that down with indication of timing and emphasis, and gave it to Martyn"????

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#5 Post by Hokahey » Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:48 am

Perry also took credit for some of Eric's bass lines. I am not sure I believe a word Perry says.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#6 Post by JOEinPHX » Thu Jul 23, 2015 11:20 am

Perry has 60 songs in the can for Jane's Addiction right now, too. :lol:

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#7 Post by Larry B. » Thu Jul 23, 2015 12:23 pm

Six7Six7 wrote:Perry has 60 songs in the can for Jane's Addiction right now, too. :lol:
Last night I was hanging out with a couple of friends, tasting some weed, and talking about some bullshit musicians say. This one got us laughing for a good minute.

"3 FULL ALBUMS! :lol: :lol: "

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#8 Post by nausearockpig » Thu Jul 23, 2015 12:37 pm

Larry B. wrote:
Six7Six7 wrote:Perry has 60 songs in the can for Jane's Addiction right now, too. :lol:
Last night I was hanging out with a couple of friends, tasting some weed, and talking about some bullshit musicians say. This one got us laughing for a good minute.

"3 FULL ALBUMS! :lol: :lol: "
you musta been pretty high.. that's six full albums, maybe even 7..... plus all the immersive theater-rockshow you can handle....

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#9 Post by Noonesshocking » Thu Jul 23, 2015 4:13 pm

panicparty wrote:(my emphasis). I do wonder how likely it is that "wrote" meant "hummed a vague melody that Martyn used as a jumping off point to craft a bassline" as opposed to "worked out what the notes were, wrote that down with indication of timing and emphasis, and gave it to Martyn"????
I am almost certain it's the humming thing.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#10 Post by Angry Canine » Thu Jul 23, 2015 10:08 pm

I can believe that Perry told Watt that. I too would be more likely to believe it if I heard it from Martyn.

You can't really believe anyone that knows for sure, all of the people that are, aren't really free to go openly on the record without spraying shit upon everyone remotely involved.

I did see Watt, play with Porno, and he gelled well with the band for being a late fill in to the lineup.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#11 Post by JOEinPHX » Thu Jul 23, 2015 10:52 pm

You know what all this "Perry humming basslines" reminds me of?



Eric/Martyn/Flea/Watt/Chaney writes a bassline, Perry tells him to play one note, in the entire run, higher or lower.

Later, Perry: "I wrote that bassline"

Anyone wanna disagree that there is a 100% chance that is what happened?

Ding ding ding duh duh ding ding vs. Ding ding ding duh DUH ding ding

"It's not the same." :nod:

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#12 Post by panicparty » Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:51 am

Eric/Martyn/Flea/Watt/Chaney writes a bassline, Perry tells him to play one note, in the entire run, higher or lower.
Did Jane's write anything new during Flea's tenure?

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#13 Post by nausearockpig » Fri Jul 24, 2015 2:23 am

panicparty wrote:
Eric/Martyn/Flea/Watt/Chaney writes a bassline, Perry tells him to play one note, in the entire run, higher or lower.
Did Jane's write anything new during Flea's tenure?
http://somediverswhistle.com/songs/sowhat.html

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#14 Post by panicparty » Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:16 am

Everyday's a school day - I always thought So What was like Kettle Whistle - a fully formed "1.0" offcut that was written 'back in the day' and recorded in 97. Had no idea it was substantially new in 97..

Thanks

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#15 Post by Angry Canine » Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:44 am

Wasn't "Hard Charger" Relapse Janes + Pete still being called Porno for Pyros?

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#16 Post by nausearockpig » Fri Jul 24, 2015 4:41 am

Angry Canine wrote:Wasn't "Hard Charger" Relapse Janes + Pete still being called Porno for Pyros?

Certainly seems that way:

http://janesaddiction.org/tour/show/por ... 02-26/528/

http://janesaddiction.org/tour/show/por ... 02-27/529/

http://janesaddiction.org/tour/show/por ... 02-28/530/

sans Dave http://janesaddiction.org/tour/show/por ... 03-01/531/ but with Flea

Then into Relapse, or Jane's For Pyros....?? http://janesaddiction.org/tour/show/por ... 07-04/541/

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#17 Post by bman » Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:14 am

Perry came up with a lot of songs and ideas. Whether it's hummed or strung on a guitar who cares. It's still an idea. Even Perkins said Perry came up the breakdown to Pigs in Zen. Perry had a ton of ideas back in the day.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#18 Post by Angry Canine » Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:39 am

bman wrote:Perry came up with a lot of songs and ideas. Whether it's hummed or strung on a guitar who cares. It's still an idea. Even Perkins said Perry came up the breakdown to Pigs in Zen. Perry had a ton of ideas back in the day.
This is true, I was just there when someone who was in a rather notable band was starting a personal project where the initial starting point for high end studio recording is a click and a guitar plugged directly into an iphone.

But if you listen to the song structures, and the earliest recording, especially the pre Dave, and Stephen, or any drummer one, (is that one Black Radio Club?) and it's really obvious to people that are around songs being created, that Perry claims credit for a lot of Eric's contribution. The post Jane's lyrical output of the two has even made me long wonder about how wholly responsible for the lyrics Perry is.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#19 Post by Larry B. » Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:18 am

bman wrote:Perry came up with a lot of songs and ideas. Whether it's hummed or strung on a guitar who cares. It's still an idea. Even Perkins said Perry came up the breakdown to Pigs in Zen. Perry had a ton of ideas back in the day.
"In this part we could have like a bridge, like... softer, you know? And instead of singing I do some poetry. Let's try that".

That's how those sections came about, bman. I bet you imagine something like "... and Dave received a call at 4am, it was Perry who screamed 'EUREKA' and hung up. Dave came to his house and Perry had lots of music sheets scattered on the floor, some with blood from his fingers. After 38 sleepless nights, Perry had just finished writing... THE BREAKDOWN TO PIGS IN ZEN!"

Didn't happen like that. He just went "Steve, can you, like... hit the rim of the snare in this part?"

=

"i wrote everything, give me my money."

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#20 Post by Angry Canine » Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:41 am

Larry B. wrote: Didn't happen like that. He just went "Steve, can you, like... hit the rim of the snare in this part?"

=

"i wrote everything, give me my money."
Actually it was more like guys do a breakdown part here so I can ad lib talk over it for a while. That's about all the direction they would need, and it's still Eric's original bass line from the rest of the song. Just saying "break it down" to a functional band gets you exactly that type of part in whatever song they're playing.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#21 Post by JOEinPHX » Fri Jul 24, 2015 2:06 pm

Yeah, so the whole "I wrote that part" is a fabrication.

Perk: "What does this song need?"
Perry: "How about a breakdown?"
Eric: *Strums something on his bass* "You mean like this?"
Perry: "Yes! Except play the first note higher"
Eric: *Strums with the first note higher, but everything else the same* "You mean like this?"
Perry: "Yes, that's perfect! I'm so glad I decided to write the song that way!"

The musicians wrote the song. Perry just called out alterations. It's hardly being a songwriter.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#22 Post by danhans » Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:49 pm

I think 'good gods urge' is possibly perrys and cos best work. When you listen to it now its better than ever. Love it.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#23 Post by JOEinPHX » Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:34 pm

If he made another Good God's Urge tomorrow I would stop saying negative things about him till he didn't something stupid again.

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#24 Post by trevor ayer » Tue Jul 28, 2015 5:59 am

Six7Six7 wrote:Yeah, so the whole "I wrote that part" is a fabrication.

Perk: "What does this song need?"
Perry: "How about a breakdown?"
Eric: *Strums something on his bass* "You mean like this?"
Perry: "Yes! Except play the first note higher"
Eric: *Strums with the first note higher, but everything else the same* "You mean like this?"
Perry: "Yes, that's perfect! I'm so glad I decided to write the song that way!"

The musicians wrote the song. Perry just called out alterations. It's hardly being a songwriter.
It's more likely the opposite ... Perry comes up with a couple basic chords or a simple bass groove or a rythm and the band embellished ... Especially with dave who did not write most of the early tunes ... Eric definitely did some writing ... Moreso than others but perry had the basic vision back then .. He was the fire and passion in that band like it or not

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Re: Perry the Bass Player -- Words from Mike Watt

#25 Post by JOEinPHX » Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:49 pm

I don't believe it for a second. Nothing he has done since indicates he can write music.

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