Show Notes
The legendary bass player to the stars Guy Pratt joins us for a wonderful succession of amazing tales, rock and roll anecdotage, fashion advice, Floydian digressions and hot takes on Lodger in this second part of our megachat extravaganza!
1979's 'Lodger' is an often underrated album but upon further inspection, this blend of new wave, electrorock, globally-inspired music and esoteric experimentation stands the test of time. It's a shift away from the previous two 'Berlin' albums and probably the most Eno-esque of all Bowie's records, until 1995's '1. Outside'. The tough line up of Carlos Alomar, Dennis Davis and George Murray are on top form and our man Bowie sounds, in turn, edgy, expansive, impassioned and artful.
Joining me to discuss this superb moment in Bowie's career is the legendary boss of the bass, Guy Pratt who since the early 80s has been boosting the bottom end for Robert Palmer, Bryan Ferry, The Smiths, Icehouse, Coverdale/Page and in a relationship spanning over thirty years, various permutations of Pink Floyd. Today, he plays with Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets band, who bring the magical era of Syd era Floyd to the stage. His 2009 autobiography, 'My Bass And Other Animals' is one of the finest, funniest and most enjoyable accounts of a life out on the wilds of the rock scene at its most debauched and delightful best.
Guy has also been in the enviable position of having supported Bowie in 1983, as part of Australian art rockers Icehouse, in the midst of a fan scrum with him in Rotterdam and having Bowie meet his mum outside a caravan full of coke-deranged Australians. He also played bass on Bowie's last ever UK appearance, when he joined Dave Gilmour and band for 'Arnold Layne' and 'Comfortably Numb' in London's Royal Albert Hall in 2006.
This recording, done under lockdown via Zoom, picks up towards the end of side one of Lodger, and makes it to the end of side two via the scenic route. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed talking to Guy!
There are occasional groans from my dachshund, the worst of these have been removed.
Check out guypratt.com for news, info and updates on all things Guy Pratt and look up his Lockdown Licks on YouTube and get the inside scoop on how to play some of his best-loved licks and lines.
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He's the man who went from Philly soul to Scary Monsters by way of Station to Station and all things Berlin - yes, it's Carlos Alomar, guitarist, songwriter, collaborator, bandleader and all round musical machine joining me on this episode for a wide ranging conversation spanning technology, working with David Bowie, James Brown, George Murray, Dennis Davis, The Monkees, Jimi Hendrix, watermelons, cherries and pineapples and much more. He even gets his guitar out and demonstrates where just a couple of those legendary licks originated from.
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