Post by Niemmy on May 22, 2005 18:13:37 GMT -5
Wayne Pygram
A Short Interview with Wayne Pygram (by Milo Webbender)
My initial research into Wayne’s background proved difficult. Apart from the facts that he grew up in Cootamundra and that he had something over 1,000 CD’s (and countless vinyl) in his collection, I soon realised that it would be up to my probing questions to fill-in the blanks.
What is your favorite colour?
Blue.
Anyone ever call you uncle Ernie?
I keep my hands to myself. (Probably too much).
Where have you come from?
The Scottish moors.
What do you usually buy at the supermarket?
Gluten free cake mix.
Confess to us your most embarrassing CD purchase.
Allessi.
Why?
Bill put me on to it.
Give us Wayne in a minute.
Growing up in Wagga Wagga’s heady scene of the seventies drove me to take up hitting things. Initially cricket and golf balls, to the defensive line of an opposing rugby team, it wasn’t such a huge leap before I was hitting other forms of skin and head. My first drumming experiences came about by copying my best mate Roger playing drums in his father’s music room. This inadvertently led to the theatre as a musician in rock musicals. Eventually encouraged to hit the stage myself, so began a journey to a place where pygs can fly.
List five favourite live albums
Slade Live, Deep Purple Made in Japan, Cheap Trick Live at Budocon, MC5 Kick out the Jams, Zappa Live in New York
Have you ever played the drums till your hands bled?
Yes.
You do know about technique don’t you?
I should have had the Sambucca before I had the six-pack of beer.
Thank you for your time today Pygie; can I call you that?
Sure.
Just one last question, do you still hit your wife?
Not since I gave her the drum (boom, boom).
* Musical big-bang? - Edgar Winter “Frankenstein”<br>
* First album you bought? - The gold covered Best of the Bee Gees
* Most influential drummer? - John Bliss
* Who are you listening to now? - The Black Keys, Canderia, Clutch
* What instrument are you playing now? - Mongrel set (Premiere - Ludwig 60’s/70’s)
* Star sign? - Libra
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Greg Gilmour
Most bassists are born of the short straw. You know the deal, new band, one drummer and three wannabe Jimi's roll up on day one, first blow in the garage - someone’s got to play bass, don't they? Easy fixed - just draw straws!! No short straws here though. Born to play bass, GiL started life as a musician with a bass guitar in his hand; instinctively it was something he was destined to play. For some reason the bass misses out on a lot of the glory enjoyed by flashy “lead” guitarists (that was of course until Jaco came along). But any lover of music will tell you just how important the lower register is. In fact Paul McCartney once said that a good song is simply a combination of a good melody and a great bass line.
Pretty much self-taught the bass suited GiL’s pedantic nature; the precision required to hold focus and keep a tune stable both in time and timbre is very much a pre-requisite in any bass player’s CV. It wasn’t too long before he was working the local clubs (under-age), as another benefit of playing bass is an inherent shortage of good players (drawing straws does that) and a consistent demand for their services.
* Musical big-bang? - The Beatles
* First album you bought? - Abbey Road
* Most influential bassist? - Jaco Pastorius (Who else?) .. oh yeah and Chuck Rainey too
* Who are you listening to now? - Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Viktor Krauss, Orlando “Cachaito” Lopez
* What instrument are you playing now? - My beloved Fender Jazz Bass
* Star sign? - Libra
------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Ferguson
The love of all things musical began for Bill in the very early 70's. The sounds of Hammond organ on early Santana and Deep Purple LPs was far too intriguing to just listen to. After much coercion and manipulation of his parents a small household Hammond Organ was purchased and the life long compulsion to play all things keyboard began.
With the predominance of improvised solos in the works of Deep Purple and Santana, Bill was compelled to look for other improvisers. Via the "jazz-fusion" players such as George Duke and Chick Corea, a love of all things jazz began.
* Musical big-bang? - Miles Davis "Tutu"
* First album you bought? - Bridge Over Troubled Water
* Most influential keyboardist? - Jon Lord, George Duke, Chick Corea
* Who are you listening to now? - Pat Metheny Group
* What instrument are you playing now? - Roland XP30, Hammond XK3 & the new B3, Acoustic Grand Piano
* Star sign? - Pisces
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Klaus Bussmann
A Short Interview with Klaus Bussmann (by Milo Webbender)
Prior to meeting Klaus I did a little research. I discovered that he was born in Germany, grew up in Wagga Wagga, NSW and now resides in Sydney, Australia. Over the years he has played with some of Australia's finest musicians and singers, including Glen Shorrock, Doug Parkinson and he also featured in John Waters' acclaimed production, "Looking Through A Glass Onion".
I wondered what sort of a man would write the lyrics: “As a peach you shall grow and as an apple shall you die." I was about to find out.
So what sort of person are you and what about those lyrics?
Well, I'm just a normal guy really, in a dysfunctional sort of way. (laughs) I wrote those lyrics a long time ago. I think someone spiked the drinks that day. Seriously though, I don't think lyrics always have to make sense. Sometimes words just sound good together and create a mental picture as a result.
Is it more difficult for you to write lyrics or music?
Definitely the lyrics. The melody and music generally come in a moment of inspiration, a process that I still can't quite understand.
What do you mean by that?
Well, just the whole creativity thing. What puts the ideas into the brain? Where does it come from? Making something tangible out of the intangible. It's all a bit of a mystery really.
Umm, spooky. We'll have to move on though cause we've only got a minute. What are some of your dislikes?
That's easy. Synchronised swimming and foul odours. (laughs again)
Really? What about your turn ons?
Hmm. Well musically there's no better feeling than when a new song comes together. When all the bits fall into place and we find our place in the bits. Again, intangible to tangible. All of a sudden there it is, a new song. Other than that Milo, I just enjoy life's little journey. See you soon.
* Musical big-bang? - Santana
* First album you bought? - Led Zeppelin 2
* Most influential guitarist? - Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana
* Who are you listening to now? - Anything GiL sends me, I do like Bill Frisell and John Schofield though
* What instrument are you playing now? - I just got my Les Paul Custom 'Black Beauty' repaired and am rediscovering its pleasures
* Star sign? - Leo
A Short Interview with Wayne Pygram (by Milo Webbender)
My initial research into Wayne’s background proved difficult. Apart from the facts that he grew up in Cootamundra and that he had something over 1,000 CD’s (and countless vinyl) in his collection, I soon realised that it would be up to my probing questions to fill-in the blanks.
What is your favorite colour?
Blue.
Anyone ever call you uncle Ernie?
I keep my hands to myself. (Probably too much).
Where have you come from?
The Scottish moors.
What do you usually buy at the supermarket?
Gluten free cake mix.
Confess to us your most embarrassing CD purchase.
Allessi.
Why?
Bill put me on to it.
Give us Wayne in a minute.
Growing up in Wagga Wagga’s heady scene of the seventies drove me to take up hitting things. Initially cricket and golf balls, to the defensive line of an opposing rugby team, it wasn’t such a huge leap before I was hitting other forms of skin and head. My first drumming experiences came about by copying my best mate Roger playing drums in his father’s music room. This inadvertently led to the theatre as a musician in rock musicals. Eventually encouraged to hit the stage myself, so began a journey to a place where pygs can fly.
List five favourite live albums
Slade Live, Deep Purple Made in Japan, Cheap Trick Live at Budocon, MC5 Kick out the Jams, Zappa Live in New York
Have you ever played the drums till your hands bled?
Yes.
You do know about technique don’t you?
I should have had the Sambucca before I had the six-pack of beer.
Thank you for your time today Pygie; can I call you that?
Sure.
Just one last question, do you still hit your wife?
Not since I gave her the drum (boom, boom).
* Musical big-bang? - Edgar Winter “Frankenstein”<br>
* First album you bought? - The gold covered Best of the Bee Gees
* Most influential drummer? - John Bliss
* Who are you listening to now? - The Black Keys, Canderia, Clutch
* What instrument are you playing now? - Mongrel set (Premiere - Ludwig 60’s/70’s)
* Star sign? - Libra
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Gilmour
Most bassists are born of the short straw. You know the deal, new band, one drummer and three wannabe Jimi's roll up on day one, first blow in the garage - someone’s got to play bass, don't they? Easy fixed - just draw straws!! No short straws here though. Born to play bass, GiL started life as a musician with a bass guitar in his hand; instinctively it was something he was destined to play. For some reason the bass misses out on a lot of the glory enjoyed by flashy “lead” guitarists (that was of course until Jaco came along). But any lover of music will tell you just how important the lower register is. In fact Paul McCartney once said that a good song is simply a combination of a good melody and a great bass line.
Pretty much self-taught the bass suited GiL’s pedantic nature; the precision required to hold focus and keep a tune stable both in time and timbre is very much a pre-requisite in any bass player’s CV. It wasn’t too long before he was working the local clubs (under-age), as another benefit of playing bass is an inherent shortage of good players (drawing straws does that) and a consistent demand for their services.
* Musical big-bang? - The Beatles
* First album you bought? - Abbey Road
* Most influential bassist? - Jaco Pastorius (Who else?) .. oh yeah and Chuck Rainey too
* Who are you listening to now? - Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Viktor Krauss, Orlando “Cachaito” Lopez
* What instrument are you playing now? - My beloved Fender Jazz Bass
* Star sign? - Libra
------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Ferguson
The love of all things musical began for Bill in the very early 70's. The sounds of Hammond organ on early Santana and Deep Purple LPs was far too intriguing to just listen to. After much coercion and manipulation of his parents a small household Hammond Organ was purchased and the life long compulsion to play all things keyboard began.
With the predominance of improvised solos in the works of Deep Purple and Santana, Bill was compelled to look for other improvisers. Via the "jazz-fusion" players such as George Duke and Chick Corea, a love of all things jazz began.
* Musical big-bang? - Miles Davis "Tutu"
* First album you bought? - Bridge Over Troubled Water
* Most influential keyboardist? - Jon Lord, George Duke, Chick Corea
* Who are you listening to now? - Pat Metheny Group
* What instrument are you playing now? - Roland XP30, Hammond XK3 & the new B3, Acoustic Grand Piano
* Star sign? - Pisces
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Klaus Bussmann
A Short Interview with Klaus Bussmann (by Milo Webbender)
Prior to meeting Klaus I did a little research. I discovered that he was born in Germany, grew up in Wagga Wagga, NSW and now resides in Sydney, Australia. Over the years he has played with some of Australia's finest musicians and singers, including Glen Shorrock, Doug Parkinson and he also featured in John Waters' acclaimed production, "Looking Through A Glass Onion".
I wondered what sort of a man would write the lyrics: “As a peach you shall grow and as an apple shall you die." I was about to find out.
So what sort of person are you and what about those lyrics?
Well, I'm just a normal guy really, in a dysfunctional sort of way. (laughs) I wrote those lyrics a long time ago. I think someone spiked the drinks that day. Seriously though, I don't think lyrics always have to make sense. Sometimes words just sound good together and create a mental picture as a result.
Is it more difficult for you to write lyrics or music?
Definitely the lyrics. The melody and music generally come in a moment of inspiration, a process that I still can't quite understand.
What do you mean by that?
Well, just the whole creativity thing. What puts the ideas into the brain? Where does it come from? Making something tangible out of the intangible. It's all a bit of a mystery really.
Umm, spooky. We'll have to move on though cause we've only got a minute. What are some of your dislikes?
That's easy. Synchronised swimming and foul odours. (laughs again)
Really? What about your turn ons?
Hmm. Well musically there's no better feeling than when a new song comes together. When all the bits fall into place and we find our place in the bits. Again, intangible to tangible. All of a sudden there it is, a new song. Other than that Milo, I just enjoy life's little journey. See you soon.
* Musical big-bang? - Santana
* First album you bought? - Led Zeppelin 2
* Most influential guitarist? - Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana
* Who are you listening to now? - Anything GiL sends me, I do like Bill Frisell and John Schofield though
* What instrument are you playing now? - I just got my Les Paul Custom 'Black Beauty' repaired and am rediscovering its pleasures
* Star sign? - Leo
