ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

I work with a guy who would have a heart attack if he saw your comment .

He is totally 100% a Rolling Stones guy till he dies. A few months back Metallica opened a concert for the Stones here in the Bay Area (in SF) and we kept teasing him.."Hey, did you hear who is going to be playing at the Metallica concert...?" Then we kept telling him about how many fans left after Metallica finished their set. I am surprised he did not just snap and come to work with a gun .

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

If you could master any other instrument, what would it be (I know you play some Keys and Bass but what is your favorite besides drums)?

Sowhat said:

i still wanna master playing the piano. it's the most complete of all instruments, to me.. it's melodic, but it's also percussive. it covers all registers, and you can accompany yourself and solo, at the same time..

michael b.

Sowhat said:

a french record producer friend of mine was telling me about a friend of his that was cycling through nice, and heard what he believed to be the worst rolling stones cover band he ever heard, coming from a barn in the countryside.. he kept cycling, and began seeing huge semis, with the stones' tongue and lips logos, lined up along the side of the road.. LOL

michael b.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Glyn Johns (was it him?) was asked to produce the stones during the 'exile' period. He went down to France to hang out and hear the new material. After a few days of nothing, the stones eventually gathered in one room and started to play. Johns broke out in a sweat, IT SOUNDED AWFUL! He left the room and went for a short walk while he tried to think of ways to tell Mick and Keith he could not produce them. When he got back to the room, 10 or so minutes had passed. It sounded like another band! The stones were back! He was off the hook!

PS Where can I find 'bland is back #1'
[Edited 7/27/06 3:42am]

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Thanks for the reply Michael. Making it a little more difficult for you now
Can you give me 5 reasons why you hold Jef Lee Johnson in such high regard?
Thanks!

nikkhendrix said:

http://www.prince.org/msg/5/177296

ENJOY!
[Edited 7/27/06 5:49am]

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

That's hilarious.

Hey Michael,

I didn't realize you played with George Benson. Can you describe a bit of your experience playing with him?

nikkhendrix said:

this isn't difficult:

1. he knows how not to be heard.
2. he's always listening.
3. no matter what music he's playing, it sounds like that's all he's ever been playing..
4. he doesn't rely on effects to get over..
5. just plain funky.. have you heard him? i mean, c,mon, man...

michael b.

http://www.allaboutjazz.c...p?id=11580

News From The Jungle review

Okay, forgive me ,because I can have troubles with putting my thoughts into words, but here's my question:

How does it feel to play other peoples' songs? And to play with them? I mean, for example Prince's are, and especially were, very personal and/or explicit.

I hope you understand what I'm after...

VenusBlingBling said:

you get a better sense of the intent of a piece of music, when you perform it with the person that wrote it. the intent and the composition itself are the only things that effect me. how could i be effected in any other way? if i didn't write it, or have some life defining experience with it playing in the background, it's just a piece of music.. i'm not sure i know what you're after..
i already mentioned on one of these threads how playing "p control" on television, and finding out that my mom watched, made me feel ashamed..
is that where you're trying to go?

michael b.
[Edited 7/28/06 1:58am]

Michael,

You mentioned quite a few fascinating tidbits...can you share any interesting stories about other musicians that may have privately performed with, or visited Prince and you guys during your time with him?

That Bon Jovi meeting - how did it go? Were they fans? Did they play with you guys? What do stars of that magnitude do when they are out played/out classed by you and the band?
tx

Michael,
I dont think this questions been asked...

in the video for 'race' you and the band do a bit of rare dancing. was that a bit of fun or was it another case of doing something you we uncomfortable with?

also...
your most memorable moment on a Prince record for me would be the solo on 'shhh', would you agree?

thanks. its cool to ask someone questions who played on some of my favourite songs ever!

Ronny said:

this info is already chronicled in one the other threads, i believe.

i wasn't even in the band, at the time.. dr. mambo's combo was invited to come out and jam, after a gig on a monday night.. nobody from bon jovi's crew was playing, or interested in playing.. they were talking to women, and didn't really care..

michael b.

dodger said:

video shoots are long and tedious, and we'd do almost anything just to get them over with..

nope, that would not be the one for me..

michael b.

Great to see you here Michael. I had the pleasure of seeing you during The Gold Experience Tour at Wembley Arena in 1995 (and prior to that at Wembley Stadium in '93). Without ass-kissing you are easily the most skilled, powerful drummer I have ever seen.

That must have been quite an experience in '95 to be playing all new material from an album that was, at that point, unreleased. The band seemed to have such energy and drive. Did you feel a big part of the new material? Because I know that many fans feel that you and Sonny T were an integral part of that sound and general vibe? Do you recall it as fondly as the fans do?

You mentioned there were 10 other recent songs recorded in the same sessions as '3121'. What are they like? Do they share a similar sound?

Thanks

Peace
Mr7

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

what would be the one for you then boss?

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Okay, thanks. The bolded sentence, that's what I was after, kind of. If it feels uncomfortable to play a song that is so personal or explicit together with the person who wrote it.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

yes i read about this in one of your earlier posts. sexual content aside, i know that a lot of fans were put off by Prince doing the 'bad-ass rap' approach. i know myself and friemds felt Prince wasn't being true to himself and was trying to be someone he wasn't... or at least 'be down with the kids' or current scene.

did u or any of the band ever get frustrated in this way and wish he'd be true to himself? michael koppelman has since said in a podcast that prince recorded some great stuff but it was put aside in favour of music he felt was 'hip' at the time. as if he'd stopped leading and started following. ever feel this way?
[Edited 7/28/06 4:16am]

nuthinbuttamuffin said:

Michael,

Was it your impression that Prince was either intimidated by or scared of the hip-hop/rap scene during your time with him? Did he seem to try to adapt his style accordingly?





.
[Edited 7/28/06 12:04pm]

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Great story (I actually laughed out loud at that one). I guess some just try and hang on too long .

Michael,

Did Prince ever seem to pay attention to or care about public opinion/perception about him?

Michael,

How did Levi take the switch from Bass to Guitar? Was he excited and enthused, upset, did he just do it because he was told or did he not really seem to care either way? Who's idea was it?

Also, was it difficult for him to make the switch (was he already an accomplished Guitar player)?




.
[Edited 7/28/06 12:07pm]

Michael,

Do you have any regrets career wise? Are there any gigs/jobs that you wish you had taken that you did not, or are there any that you did take but later wish you had not?

Michael, hi,
I'm somewhat confused over the more recent sessions you did with Prince. Is it correct you did one (with Sonny T.) After a Michel Portal concert in November 2004.
And then also one in October 2005, with Maceo, Greg and Ray Montiero present? I assume that Oct 2005 sessions were the ones were you recorded 3121?

Also the actress 'Laurianne', who was actually named Lori...
That would not be Lori Werner a.k.a. Lori Elle a.k.a. Diamond (of the Diamond & Pearl duo), would it?
Thanks!
joozt

jooZt said:

3121 was recorded in november of 2004..

yes.

michael b.

dodger said:

either "the morning papers" or "God created woman", probably..

michael b.

Mr7 said:

well, i was there and participating, but very few decisions were left up to me, or anyone in the band. my general feeling was one of isolation. we were toiling away, but in the free world, in terms of press coverage or time on mtv, no one was there to praise us or condemn us.. we toured very little and got limited direct feedback from the fans..

michael b.