I want you to READ the Santana interview in Dec GP magazine

[Bobby D]

Have you seen the Dec Guitar Player mag with CARLOS on the cover?

Have you read that article?

Personally, I think it is THE BEST article/interview I have ever read in ANY guitar magazine, and I am making photocopies of it to keep in my gigbag to hand out to younger guitarists when they come u to me at my gigs to ask me about playing guitar.

So TGP'ers.........we ALL talk about gear, this IS THE GEAR PAGE......but....have you thought about the deeper things?

READ THE ARTICLE. GO BUY IT. NOW.

[JohnK24]

What's the big deal with Devadip now ?...Does he give you the secret of Life ?..Perhaps talk about his experiences in the Macy's television spots with Mariah ?...Or how his designer shoe line is selling ?

Oh wait...maybe he'll be doing ANOTHER duet with the Nickel Back guy ?...

I loved Carlos up through the Zebop era...then he just phoned it in with pure pop, imho.

[Gas-man]

Yah, I read it and had a thread mocking his new-agey nonsense a few weeks ago.

The man is goofy!

Women love his guitar playing though. I can't tell you how many women I've talked to that say his playing turns them on. So, he's doing SOMETHING right! LOL.

[Bobby D]

wow.....didn't expect some of that.:NUTS

but that article is RIGHT ON.

maybe you have to be at a certain place to comprehend what he is saying.

and it's OK to think it's just a bunch of "new age crap", that's cool too.

but i ask of you all, as guitarists and musicians, to open your HEARTS and MINDS and read that article. read it several times.

my fondest wish is that it may help some of us to explore the regions beyond our own narrow egos and preconceptions....

[Whiskeyrebel]

I'll give some leeway that he expresses himself through his playing bettar than through his speaking but...
To me there is something contradictory about boasting how you have overcome ego. It's like bragging about how humble you are.

[greggorypeccary]

I'll read it Bobby. Despite some of the cheesy forays into pop in recent years I still groove on his playing. And I'm into the hippy-dippy philosophies too - it helps counteract my normal extreme cynisim. :messedup

Carlos' goal is to play music direcly to people's hearts, and if you look at his popularity around the world, it cuts across all demographic groups, so I think he succeds at that! :JAM

[Bobby D]

guys and gals.....it is the ONLY article i have ever read in a guitar mag that brought me to tears.

what can i say?

[DoubleRGuitars]

this is the only thing that brought me to tears in the last few months:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbggJ5pOOq8

youth, music, soul, education - now THAT'S inspiring.

[FeloniousBishop]

maybe you have to be at a certain place to comprehend what he is saying....

On the other hand to many people, myself included, there is a lot of hypocrisy with this guy.

[Bobby D]

this is the only thing that brought me to tears in the last few months:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbggJ5pOOq8

youth, music, soul, education - now THAT'S inspiring.

yes.....Tomo is a great soul and teacher, and John Mayer is a great player. LOVE that video....

[Bobby D]

On the other hand to many people, myself included, there is a lot of hypocrisy with this guy.

i have not heard this.....but having been thru many things spiritually, i have learned one thing.

beautiful music can still be heard thru a broken record player, you dig what i am saying?

[Steve73]

I thought when I read the article that people are gonna love it or hate it. Yep!

[slopeshoulder]

5% new age crap.
10% quirky santana-speak
But 85% true wisdom earned from a lifetime of spiritual practice.
I loved the article/interview.
I'll stop there to stay inside the rules here.

[Jon Silberman]

I dug the interview. The irony of being egotistical about being ego-less wasn't lost on me but it doesn't bother me. Our actual lives are lived in the intersection of the physical and the spiritual.

[harryjmic]

Instantly recognizable style = very hard to accomplish

Worst musical duet I ever heard = Santana and Antonio Bandaras on the Oscars a couple years ago

Haven't read it, but anyone who is spiritual by nature probably knows most of what he is saying. Hopefully, it will provide a match to the kindling in others.

[daddyo]

I actually agree with him. What's difficult is adapting his philosophies to the everyday world. At least for me.

[smallbutmighty]

I'm in the camp that thought the article was a little new-agey and ironically self-serving, which doesn't detract from his musical accomplishments in any way. If these philosophies are what float his boat make him happy and content, I'm truly glad for him. There certainly seemed to be some truth in his ideas, but it was so ensconced in all the hippy-trippy language that I found it hard to take seriously.

Could just be me...

ac

[shredtrash]

I'm not really into the whole Carlos trip (playing or philosophy). Good for him if he really lives what he says but my BS meter peaks every time I hear or read one of his interviews. That's just me though.

[bforest4]

Can't read it, can't stand his playing, incredibly overrated stature as a guitar hero, business philosophy, ethics, new age crap, hypocrisy, egomania.

First, he has a huge comeback on a decent song that he didn't write, didn't arrange, didn't sing on, but played plenty of mediocre lead much of which was also copied from the demo, but gets all the glory (Smooth by Rob Thomas and Itaal Shur). This guy takes all the credit while leaving his band and actual musicians who do much of the writing with relatively nothing(I have spoken to one in person and he had nothing nice to say), he cheats on his wife, he believes he is god on the guitar, and than he preaches!

[MikeNiteRail]

What's the big deal with Devadip now ?...Does he give you the secret of Life ?..Perhaps talk about his experiences in the Macy's television spots with Mariah ?...Or how his designer shoe line is selling ?

Oh wait...maybe he'll be doing ANOTHER duet with the Nickel Back guy ?...

I loved Carlos up through the Zebop era...then he just phoned it in with pure pop, imho.

Here's is rationalization for all things commercial:

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/11942/Spirit-Talk-with-Carlos-Santana

FWIW, I like the world as he explains more than I often see it. I'll buy in.

[Greggy]

I'll give some leeway that he expresses himself through his playing bettar than through his speaking but...
To me there is something contradictory about boasting how you have overcome ego. It's like bragging about how humble you are.

Yes. One of my former sig lines read thus: "More humble than you"

[Greggy]

I actually agree with him. What's difficult is adapting his philosophies to the everyday world. At least for me.

Carlos did not acquire success practicing what he now preaches. Don't be confused, all things in their proper order.

[funkycam]

Can't read it, can't stand his playing, incredibly overrated stature as a guitar hero, business philosophy, ethics, new age crap, hypocrisy, egomania.

First, he has a huge comeback on a decent song that he didn't write, didn't arrange, didn't sing on, but played plenty of mediocre lead much of which was also copied from the demo, but gets all the glory (Smooth by Rob Thomas and Itaal Shur). This guy takes all the credit while leaving his band and actual musicians who do much of the writing with relatively nothing(I have spoken to one in person and he had nothing nice to say), he cheats on his wife, he believes he is god on the guitar, and than he preaches!

Shur: "The guitar solo from my demo, Santana copied that solo, which was a huge compliment and all the breaks were also on my demo. It was really weird, my demo was kind of like a template for the live band to play. They sped up the song 2 beats: it was like at 1/13 and went to 1/15 and it went from A Flat Minor to A Minor. They played it as a band and recorded it all live, pretty much. Me and Rob, when we were writing the song, the verses were fine, but we went through about 4 or 5 changes with the record company; from like, "Give me the ocean, give me the moon," "You're just like the ocean..." Pete Ganbarg, who if it wasn't for him this song wouldn't have come together because he put me and Rob together, he said some really good comments about the lyrics - he was an English major and really picky about lyrics. It was a really good collaboration."

[es3456]

What happened to Carlos Santana He's an amazing player and now he's doing Macy's ads and playing pop what a shame. Did he lose all his money ?

[mprvise]

What happened to Carlos Santana He's an amazing player and now he's doing Macy's ads and playing pop what a shame. Did he lose all his money ?

No, he lost his ego. Didn't you read the article? :)

[re-animator]

I've not read the article yet, but i will probably pick it up. Carlos Santana has a such a wonderful outlook on playing and making music. I truly feel that i identify with him in that regard and that's one of the main reasons I listen to his music. IMO, he's so organic and from the heart with his playing that I think we should all try to at least take something from him.

[BIGGERSTAFF]

A musician's philosophy is one of the least important things to me, especially once they get into the Shirley Maclaine zone. If it works for them that's great. I'm more from the Frank Zappa philosophy- shut up and play yer guitar.

[TheArchitect]

guys and gals.....it is the ONLY article i have ever read in a guitar mag that brought me to tears.

what can i say?

You've already said enough. we get it.

[MikeNiteRail]

No, he lost his ego. Didn't you read the article? :)

I think it is hard to try and conceptualize and explain something that can't be conceptualized or explained. Without crossing the boundaries of discussion of the forum, those who study things like spirituality will understand that the words really mean nothing. You can't discuss these things without falling into somewhat of a vocabulary trap and sounding hypocritical.

[Jon Silberman]

G. Gordon Liddy could probably teach a legal ethics class and do a darn good job of it despite having violated just about every such standard possible at one time or another in his own life. The info. in Carlos's interview rings true to me. That the messenger is another imperfect human being (and not close to Liddy, for the record!) just like you and me doesn't, in and of itself, falsify it.

[9fingers]

Whenever the name Santana appears in a thread title I expect (& see) bunch of bashing. Strange stuff for one of the few guitarists ever with an instantly identifiable tone, touch & sense of melody. How many of the "bashers" have anything close to that? I'm gonna have to get the article. Thanks for the heads up.

[Pedro58]

I try to push aside his politics as unrealistic, but he's got some good points. Santana's philosophy is informed by what music taught him, and that's a good thing. He is contemplating beauty in order to discover truth. That's a pretty good method. It worked for the Greeks!

Music has power to unite and move, all at once, the mind, body, and spirit. Santana knows this and, though he's no philosopher or theologian, he's expressed some fundamental truths in grappling with what music teaches. I would argue against some of his terms and first principles, but his conclusions are often good. I am speaking not of the GP article, but the link to JamBase. Perhaps I should read the GP one...

Sometimes, however, Carlos speaks more than he should. I have been to concerts of his and thought to myself, "If music can speak so powerfully, why don't you quit talking and play!"

[bforest4]

Shur: "The guitar solo from my demo, Santana copied that solo, which was a huge compliment and all the breaks were also on my demo. It was really weird, my demo was kind of like a template for the live band to play. They sped up the song 2 beats: it was like at 1/13 and went to 1/15 and it went from A Flat Minor to A Minor. They played it as a band and recorded it all live, pretty much. Me and Rob, when we were writing the song, the verses were fine, but we went through about 4 or 5 changes with the record company; from like, "Give me the ocean, give me the moon," "You're just like the ocean..." Pete Ganbarg, who if it wasn't for him this song wouldn't have come together because he put me and Rob together, he said some really good comments about the lyrics - he was an English major and really picky about lyrics. It was a really good collaboration."

That's the article I was looking for, where did you find it? Not only did he not write or sing the song "Smooth", he copied the solo from the writer's demo, amazing!!

[funkycam]

That's the article I was looking for, where did you find it? Not only did he not write or sing the song, he copied the solo from the writer's demo, amazing!!
I just googled: smooth demo thomas
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=smooth+demo+thomas&btnG=Search

[8Painting]

instantly identifiable tone, touch & sense of melody. How many of the "bashers" have anything close to that? I'm gonna have to get the article. Thanks for the heads up.

Yeah...identifiable over compressed, over distorted horrible tone.



I will give him credit though, 40 years or so of playing, and he got away with never playing a chord.

[SteveStevens]

All I can possibly say about Santana is that he talks way too much. I heard an interview with him on the radio and in it he basically said: "There's only seven notes, you know? Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, si, do. It's what you do with those notes that's important." Then he uttered a bunch of new age-y stuff. There's so much wrong with what he was saying that i just lost what little respect i had for him. How did this guy even attempt to keep up with John McLaughlin?
Seven notes my ass...less talk-y, more play-y...

Steve

[MartinPiana]

Wow, Santana and Prince both getting hammered on TGP right now. ... Tough crowd!

[greggorypeccary]

Wow, Santana and Prince both getting hammered on TGP right now. ... Tough crowd!

:jo Having just read through the Prince thread, I find it strange how worked up some people get over the tastes of others.


When I get home I'm going to pull out a bootleg of Prince doing a Santana medley and relax with a cold one! :dude

[Jon C]

I dug the interview. The irony of being egotistical about being ego-less wasn't lost on me but it doesn't bother me. Our actual lives are lived in the intersection of the physical and the spiritual.

agree w/ you, Jon ... at the same time that I found much of what he said thoughtful and inspiring and provocative (with the layer of cheese that's been referred to), I separate that from the fact that I have not at all been a fan of his playing in recent years ... phoning it in sounds about right to my ears.

I was a huge Santana fan from the very beginning through the first few albums ... musically, he has lost me, but philosophically he still offers something.

[Bobby D]

g. Gordon liddy could probably teach a legal ethics class and do a darn good job of it despite having violated just about every such standard possible at one time or another in his own life. The info. In carlos's interview rings true to me. That the messenger is another imperfect human being (and not close to liddy, for the record!) just like you and me doesn't, in and of itself, falsify it.


true dat!

[Bill Brasky]

wow.....didn't expect some of that.:NUTS

but that article is RIGHT ON.

maybe you have to be at a certain place to comprehend what he is saying.

and it's OK to think it's just a bunch of "new age crap", that's cool too.

but i ask of you all, as guitarists and musicians, to open your HEARTS and MINDS and read that article. read it several times.

my fondest wish is that it may help some of us to explore the regions beyond our own narrow egos and preconceptions....

There's no need to read the latest interview with Carlos Santana. If you've read one, you've read them all. Pick any decade, any year, any issue, it's the same rambling nonsense about Jimi Hendrix, Coltrane, Miles Davis, Woodstock, spirit world/karma. I'll pass.

"blah blah blah blah Hendrix blah blah blah blah Coltrane blah blah blah blah Miles Davis blah blah blah blah Coltrane blah blah blah blah spirit of Jimi Hendrix blah blah blah blah karma blah blah blah blah Coltrane blah blah blah blah Miles Davis blah blah blah blah Hendrix and Coltrane blah blah blah blah Jimi Hendrix blah blah blah blah Woodstock blah blah blah blah Coltrane blah blah blah blah spirit world blah blah blah blah Hendrix"

[Bobby D]

Wow.....I must be out of touch or something. I never knew there was so much anti-Santana sentiment out there.

Sure......the recent albums DO kinda sound like everyone else writes and records the music, and Santana comes in and does a solo, and it's a Santana song......I can dig where many of you are coming from there.

Someone else posted about how much anti-Prince and anti-Santana vibe is floating through the TGP ether lately. hmmmmmm........

Man, I can't help but love the guy, flaws and all.

It's the cracks in the stained glass that make it so beautiful, much as the flaws in an emerald are referred to as "le jardin" -- the garden.

Kudos to Michael Molenda and GP Magazine for having the testicular fortitude to print that article.

and whether you love it, hate it, or are indifferent......kudos to YOU too.

and now, i am heading back on the road, which means NO INTERNETS for me for a while, and that's a good thing.

[rwe333]

I enjoyed the interview... It's a conversation, not a Ph.D thesis.
As The Band said: You take what you need and you leave the rest...

And, Prince? Total badass...

[Bill Brasky]

Can't read it, can't stand his playing, incredibly overrated stature as a guitar hero, business philosophy, ethics, new age crap, hypocrisy, egomania.

First, he has a huge comeback on a decent song that he didn't write, didn't arrange, didn't sing on, but played plenty of mediocre lead much of which was also copied from the demo, but gets all the glory (Smooth by Rob Thomas and Itaal Shur). This guy takes all the credit while leaving his band and actual musicians who do much of the writing with relatively nothing(I have spoken to one in person and he had nothing nice to say), he cheats on his wife, he believes he is god on the guitar, and than he preaches!

It makes perfect sense for Carlos. He's been living off the song 'Black Magic Woman' for decades and he didn't write that either.

[Glide]

Bobby,

I read the article and I thought it was incredible. I also applaud you for turning folks onto it here. But most here do not play guitar or write their own stuff so they are not going to be interested at all, and that's understandable. The guy is absolutely a gift from above to the guitarists that actually play the guitar and are trying to learn about going to "the well" for creativity. That interview was a phd thesis on the subject.

I am not a big Santana fan, but his last two interviews (VG mag and GP mag) were absolutely some of the best material I have ever read in the guitar player's realm. But I play guitar and try to come up with my own original stuff so I am a little biased towards that type of material.

[Hooper]

Yeah...identifiable over compressed, over distorted horrible tone.



I will give him credit though, 40 years or so of playing, and he got away with never playing a chord.

Sort of like BB King?

[Gas-man]

G. Gordon Liddy...


You Boomers are still obsessed with Watergate aren't you?


LOL.

[keefsdad]

I like Carlos, but I thought it was a little pretentious, to say the least.

[CJReaper]

Can't read it, can't stand his playing, incredibly overrated stature as a guitar hero, business philosophy, ethics, new age crap, hypocrisy, egomania.

First, he has a huge comeback on a decent song that he didn't write, didn't arrange, didn't sing on, but played plenty of mediocre lead much of which was also copied from the demo, but gets all the glory (Smooth by Rob Thomas and Itaal Shur). This guy takes all the credit while leaving his band and actual musicians who do much of the writing with relatively nothing(I have spoken to one in person and he had nothing nice to say), he cheats on his wife, he believes he is god on the guitar, and than he preaches!

+100000000000!!!!!!!!!

Santana = Pretentious, I subscribe to GP but I'll pass on the article, thanks.

Cheers,

CJ

[teefus]

he should shut up about his zenlosophy and talk more about his guitars and dumbles.

[Ed DeGenaro]

That's the article I was looking for, where did you find it? Not only did he not write or sing the song "Smooth", he copied the solo from the writer's demo, amazing!!
Which clearly was a clever career move. Put the "badge of honor" thinking aside. Its about brand and packaging. Not whether you wrote or sang it.
Take a look at Jeff Beck and what he wrote. We're not at a Nashville songwriting workshop.

[Rock Johnson]

Meh. I don't listen to R.C.Sproul for his musical ability, and I don't listen to Santana for his theology.

[Shnook]

I don't care for Santana at all. Boring...... I certainly am not gonna spend my money or waste my time with this article. Let me guess, did he talk about music being like making love and solos are like orgasims as he does in 90% of his interviews?

[DanR]

First, I have to say that I have enjoyed a lot of his music over the years.

What happened to Carlos Santana?

I'm not sure it was touched on in the GP interview, but there's another current interview in the latest issue of Mojo. To answer the above question, what happened to Carlos Santana? According to the interview in Mojo, mescaline and LSD. He talks about using it. He sounds like he's used plenty of it.

I found it ironic that in the same issue of Mojo was an interview with Peter Green. Him and Carlos both described using Mescaline and LSD. Carlos was able to forge a great career and Peter Green pretty much lost his.

[Lucidology]

he should shut up about his zenlosophy and talk more about his guitars and dumbles.

"Zenlosphy" ...Hey, my life resembles that remark ...

Maybe it's exactly that Zenlosphy which is the foundation for his musical success ...

Believe it or not ...:)

[Bobby D]

"Zenlosphy" ...Hey, my life resembles that remark ...

Maybe it's exactly that Zenlosphy which is the foundation for his musical success ...

Believe it or not ...:)

i don't know who you are, but i am already your friend.....:)

[90wreck]

I have said it before, and now again.
Santana.........
A self appointed "Spiritual Guitar Ninja"
After reading his most recent interviews in the past years and some of the most lame collaberations with some of these current artists...(That one with the chick and the endless noodling from the head to outro about made me sick), really has ruined the whole EARLY Carlos zen for me,
The eary recordings is the true CS.... he was at the top of his game,
As of late, the whole "spiritual musings " and endless 30 minute noodling sessions(to get 3 minutes of air play) to play on a hit record with the latest act has ruined him for me.

I am guessing on the 30 min. average a song in studio...That's the way these cuts sound to me IMO.

"Just tell me what the changes are, I'll blow over them with my pat licks and keep what you want".
YMMV.

[Trandy]

He can espouse whatever he wishes....doesn't matter to me.

What I want to know is when is he going to do another "Caravanserai"

[epluribus]

Okay, just read the interview. Yeah, he rarely appeals to my rationalist way of thinking, but he's right in the thick of a larger context that IMHO includes Carlos Castaneda and Costa Gravas, not to mention a huge school of other like-minded poets and writers. None of those guys appeal to my way of thinking, but it's a huge school that he "belongs to," so I find it very tough to write off his thinking. I suspect it's just that I don't get it. (And that's partly because so much of it strikes me as self-evident. Truisms, it would seem.)

But whether he's any good in his own right...No matter what kind of gear he's on, he's one of those one-note-and-you-know-who-it-is guys. His phrasing and pace are likewise distinctively his. Is it art or is it schtick? Dunno, but a lot of it sounds cool.

Caravanserai...went to see him one very snowy night in a fieldhouse with about 1200 or so people. He stops in the middle of the show and asks if we want hits or some new stuff they're working on for their next album, unnamed and unknown to anybody at the time--Caravanserai. It was such a total departure from his Evil Ways--how many pop acts besides The Beatles ever took a huge leap like that? The audience, in the event, was transfixed.

Whatever the case, it seems once again we have a guy who's part PT Barnum, part pop schtick, and part artist. I would argue that without the former two, the third would barely get heard at all. IMHO Santana manages to squeeze in some terrific artwork while checkin' the boxes and keepin' the producers knockin' on the door.

--Ray

...so why do his instructional vids leave me scratchin' my head? :)

[Lotis]

It is about the metaphysics of music......very meaningful and true to much of my experience though not for everyone.

[Bobby D]

when i was 12, my parents brought me to the record store.....you know, those big black 12" round things, for you youngsters:rotflmao

they said i could have 3 records.

i bought FRESH CREAM, CARAVANSERAI, and THREE DOG NIGHT


oh well, two out of three ain't bad for a 12 year old:JAM

[TieDyedDevil]

I'm not a Carlos Santana fan, but I appreciate his viewpoint. But then I also enjoyed Zen Guitar (http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Guitar-Philip-Toshio-Sudo/dp/068483877X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226595265&sr=8-1) by the late Philip Toshio Sudo.

Y'know, there's room for technique, gear and personal philosophy. The latter is something we hear too little of from musicians unless it's of the commercial or hedonistic variety...

[stratotonedude]

Not only can Carlos Santana play guitar but he can talk out of his ass too.

[Scott Auld]

when i was 12, my parents brought me to the record store.....you know, those big black 12" round things, for you youngsters:rotflmao

they said i could have 3 records.

i bought FRESH CREAM, CARAVANSERAI, and THREE DOG NIGHT


oh well, two out of three ain't bad for a 12 year old:JAM


Disraeli Gears was the first LP i ever owned ... but don't be dissing on Three Dog! ;)

-Scott, on the road to shambala

[Scott Auld]

You know, now that I think about it, the theme of The Road to Shambala has about as much to recommend it as some modern interviews in magazines do. Maybe moreso. ;) Everyone is happy, everyone is kind on the road to Shambala.

I am so there.

[heavysoul]

it's funny how some blame him for being a hypocrite, plagiarist, an egomaniac and a wife cheater—as if all of our guitar heroes were models of morality. give me break...

[geetarboy]

Huh? I kinda thought we were all guitar players here.

Bobby,

I read the article and I thought it was incredible. I also applaud you for turning folks onto it here. But most here do not play guitar or write their own stuff so they are not going to be interested at all, and that's understandable.

[Scott Auld]

Huh? I kinda thought we were all guitar players here.

+1, not sure where the "most here do not play guitar" came from?

[rickmebe]

+1, not sure where the "most here do not play guitar" came from?

Methinks Glide is saying that many people spend their time here talking about gear and arguing over who/what is better than who/what rather than actually playing guitar. Then again, maybe not...

[joseph]

Interesting article if you're under 25 years of age, and therefore not exposed to those kinds of interviews.
But honestly a lot of that stuff he espouses, though inspirational, is bogus.
Around 10 years ago after Danny Gatton's suicide (gunshot in his workshop, locked the door), CS maintained it was somehow because he had not worked enough on connecting his pure soul to his fingers, etc or some such nonsense. No insight whatsoever into the poor man's obvious depression. As if it was a "choice".

Way back with the Beatles, it eventually became clear that the Mareshi Yogi was in it for the money and lifestyle, while also being an essentially benign guy. It's the same with CS.

Show biz, you gotta have a Shtick - Billy Gibbon's tejas mojo shtick for instance is not as irksome as CS's 'spirituality'.

[FeloniousBishop]

it's funny how some blame him for being a hypocrite, plagiarist, an egomaniac and a wife cheater—as if all of our guitar heroes were models of morality. give me break...

I think you missed the point a little there.

We expect most of our git fiddlin heroes to be egomaniacs, philanderers, drunks, druggies, get out of hand etc. etc. That's not a problem.

Then there are a few (like George Harrison) who have or had a spritual thing going on, don't talk it up, and whose actions match up. That's great too.

But then there are a very few who talk about how they walk on water and it doesn't match their actions. There aren't many in this category. That's what's been noticed here by some in this thread..

[Groovey Records]

Wow the secret of life in Guitar Player

Who wooda thunk?

The mysteries do say when you are ready a teacher will appear

[LightninBoy]

Not only can Carlos Santana play guitar but he can talk out of his ass too.

:rotflmao

[CharAznable]

I love Santana but this interview had basically zero content. Anyone could come up with some new-age mumbo jumbo and make it sound spiritual.

I also don't get any sort of spiritual vibe from his recent recorded output... right now he's pretty much The World's Most Expensive Session Guitarist.

[MrFig]

When I get home I'm going to pull out a bootleg of Prince doing a Santana medley and relax with a cold one!

Great idea! me too

[BlueHeaven]

Personally, if I NEVER read another Santana article again it won't be too soon. He said SOME good things in that article but I'm so sick of his '60s, psuedo spiritual, "I jam with Jimi and Miles and Coltrane everyday" mindset it makes me wanna hurl. If he indeed hears voices like he's always saying he does he needs help...or go smoke another one. Just my daily rant. :)

[harvestmark]

Not a fan of his playing, but he certainly has different things to say than every other guitar player. I liked the article because, man, he has very different concerns than most guitar players. Others have eluded to many things here. I must say, I know nothing about him other than I bought one of his albums in the 70's, and I thought the solo in "Everybody's Everything" had a lot of fire for the time period. He thinks differently, so I'll give him credit for that. Kinda' wish his "different thinking" would translate to his playing.

Mark Miller

[English Jim]

I'm not a Carlos Santana fan, but I appreciate his viewpoint. But then I also enjoyed Zen Guitar (http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Guitar-Philip-Toshio-Sudo/dp/068483877X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226595265&sr=8-1) by the late Philip Toshio Sudo.

Y'know, there's room for technique, gear and personal philosophy. The latter is something we hear too little of from musicians unless it's of the commercial or hedonistic variety...


+1 - excellent book. A bit dopey in places but if you can get over that there are some good lessons - not just about gtr but about how one approaches life. I've probably bought and given away at least a dozen copies.

[Jon Silberman]

You're either on the bus or off the bus.

[epluribus]

...or in my case, in front of it...

[heavysoul]

I think you missed the point a little there.

We expect most of our git fiddlin heroes to be egomaniacs, philanderers, drunks, druggies, get out of hand etc. etc. That's not a problem.

Then there are a few (like George Harrison) who have or had a spritual thing going on, don't talk it up, and whose actions match up. That's great too.

But then there are a very few who talk about how they walk on water and it doesn't match their actions. There aren't many in this category. That's what's been noticed here by some in this thread..

i was alluding to how flawed our guitar heroes can be. and POINT IS if he's NOT practicing what he "preaches", why should it surprise anybody and then persecute him for it?

some react as if he's shoving his quirky philosophy down our throats—he's not.

[michael.e]

maybe you have to be at a certain place to comprehend what he is saying.


Ehh, don't even go there.....



plus, that comes off as very condescending.

[JB Eckl]

Time for one of my mega-posts I suppose. As someone who has had the stage mopped with me by the Carlos himself a few times, let me throw something at ya.

(1.) Some of you guys remind me of myself when I was really young, like 17. Whenever I was around really different people than I was used to - theater people, intellectuals, basically anyone who wasn't a working-class midwesterner like myself - I would get all prickly and dismiss most of what they said as 'Mumbo Jumbo' or whatever. I'm not going to attack you for this, but I will say: Thank God I overcame it (with the advice of a few friends). At the end of the day, a lot of the memories you enjoy in life are the times when you opened yourself to a Completely Different Experience, especially involving people who don't talk, look or even think like you. TRY. Try to have a long attention span. Try to listen and go along for the ride. Try not to be a tough guy and blow things off because you feel superior. You won't regret it, I swear.

(2.) A lot of what we think of as hippie-speak is the same thing you would hear from a shaman, priest, monk, medicine man, or spiritual-minded person from any culture in the entire world. We have enough of a shortage of that stuff at this point in history that it really does seem a little out there, but seriously lads... it's always a good idea to try to think of things in a perspective beyond our little century and its material-centered philosophy. Uh-oh... I'm speaking in tongues!! Mumbo Jumbo alert!

(3.) All in all, a pretty damn cool article in GP. Carlos specifically sets up the whole thing as an alternative to the regular guitar discussion, and he really does try onstage every night to give it 100% and constantly puts himself in the company of people like Wayne Shorter and Buddy Guy, with the attitude of a student. Like I said, I've had the pleasure of being mowed down in front of all my friends by Santana in full flight, and it did put some hair on my chest. His whole thing about communing with Coltrane and Miles and Hendrix is a world I wouldn't mind visiting more often. It takes Huevos Rancheros to even try it, don't you think?

(4.) For those of you who don't like his pop collaborations, yeah. It's a phase. If you want to hear Santana, you have to go to the shows. There are also some stellar guitar moments on the new albums, but then you might have to wade through the Nickelback, which I personally cannot do. Just go to the show, and the words 'phoning it in' will be the farthest from your mind.

(5.) Yeah, he sets himself up for scrutiny by preaching. We can crucify him for it, I guess. Or not.

(6.) When's the last time you listened to Caravanserai?

OK, gotta go practice!

[JB Eckl]

In fact... I feel a lot of this Carlos-bashing is the direct result of people's disappointment in his recent artistic/business decisions. Start a petition! Maybe he needs to hear from the real fans once in awhile.

[arfalax]

The Mink doth make one think.....haven't read the article but I've heard CS espouse and I have no problem with hearing what he says but especially loved seeing him play. I judge the man as I judge myself (guitar playing abilities aside) we're all in the same "boat". I say let's rock it!

[epluribus]

Hadda go and say it didn't ya Mink? Coulda held back, kinda trod lightly, but no, bingo, there it is, it's out there, deal with it...

It takes Huevos Rancheros...

Now I'm hungry.





Really nice post, btw. But channeling Coltraine when I'm tryin' to play? Yikes. Sorta like thinkin' about singing a capella in front of a big opera singer (it still haunts me)...gives me the willies. :)

--Ray

I write very brief posts myself...:rolleyes:

[Jazzydave]

I think what Santana's been doing is brilliant. When I was in the Air Force a good friend of mine said, "Dave, if you ever get the chance to sell out...DO IT!" Sometimes I wonder if I should have heeded to that advice instead of telling the label to shove it. Haha.

He had dropped off the face of the Earth there for awhile and then all the sudden he was a Super Star among an entirely new generation. I can't say that I care for much of his newer work (sounds like he's stuck in the same box all the time) but I admire him for staying out there and showing some of the new "guitar heroes" just how good they aren't.

How else is he going to pay for those ridiculous PRS guitars?! :JAM

[aeolian]

Yeah...identifiable over compressed, over distorted horrible tone.
His tone has always sounded choked off to me. Somehow it usually sounds like there's a partially cocked wah left on. For all the constant talk about singing sustain, it typically sounds forced. The old early Boogie bit where it's not dialed in quite right and dies off, so you have to force the notes though it or just crank it so loud that it feeds back (which is what Santana does). He actually doesn't have much sustain in his hands, or the ability to milk sustain from the rig. It's just so damn loud that it can't help but ring. If he were to play someone else's rig, it would sound really plunky. He seems to chase gear to achieve some "perfect" tone. Maybe it's not the gear. ;)

There are plenty of youtubes of him stepping all over folks from Ford to Benson, and have his "enlightened" arrogant ass handed to him.

[teanett]

His whole thing about communing with Coltrane and Miles and Hendrix is a world I wouldn't mind visiting more often. It takes Huevos Rancheros to even try it, don't you think?


no. it takes huevos to be telling people shit like that if you're so musically limited as he is.
c'mon guys! he's been basically playing the same friggin' solo over every song for the last 30 years and he's been communing with trane and hendrix? two guys who evolved, developed and changed their music more in their short careers than most do in a lifetime?
did they tell him: you gotta move on with your art, go play with nickelback?
(did he do a duet with shakira yet? that would be the bomb!)

(4.) For those of you who don't like his pop collaborations, yeah. It's a phase. If you want to hear Santana, you have to go to the shows. There are also some stellar guitar moments on the new albums, but then you might have to wade through the Nickelback, which I personally cannot do. Just go to the show, and the words 'phoning it in' will be the farthest from your mind.


i did once. back when i considered myself a fan, i think i was 20.
great band. then he comes and does his thing all night.
boring.

[Lucidology]

I'm not a Carlos Santana fan, but I appreciate his viewpoint. But then I also enjoyed Zen Guitar (http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Guitar-Philip-Toshio-Sudo/dp/068483877X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226595265&sr=8-1) by the late Philip Toshio Sudo.
...

Yes ... I too really enjoyed that Book... but then I heard him play ...:jo

[MikeNiteRail]

I think what Santana's been doing is brilliant. When I was in the Air Force a good friend of mine said, "Dave, if you ever get the chance to sell out...DO IT!" Sometimes I wonder if I should have heeded to that advice instead of telling the label to shove it. Haha.

He had dropped off the face of the Earth there for awhile and then all the sudden he was a Super Star among an entirely new generation. I can't say that I care for much of his newer work (sounds like he's stuck in the same box all the time) but I admire him for staying out there and showing some of the new "guitar heroes" just how good they aren't.

How else is he going to pay for those ridiculous PRS guitars?! :JAM

Santana is brilliant. He "sold out" and now is able to play HIS music live in front of thousands and thousands who never would've made the journey with him otherwise. His recent business plan is insanely intelligent. He can spread his message all he wants now instead of playing small dive bars and coffee houses.

I give huge props to John Mayer too. Make your millions so you can go back to being more artsy without being a starving artist. On a smaller scale, Susan Tedeschi has done the same thing.

There is also this guy called Clap something...Derek...Eric...he went through a commercial stage too. I don't think many on the board are familiar with him, but he's been around forever.

I can never fault an artist for this sort of approach. At the end of the day, they don't give a rip what other musicians on a board like this say about what they do. They're selling out huge venues over and over and over. IMO, why work on pleasing a small % of the population (maybe 5-10% of people are music nerds like us) and not go after 80-90% of the population. If your music is so important to you that you have to share it with other people, why not reach as many as possible.

A teenage girl would probably not tune into a radio station to hear John Mayer play a slow blues or Santana play Soul Sacrafice...however you get 20,000 people crammed into a venue and you can pull that off.

I for one would sell out in a second...make my money...and then go back to being an artist. Sure the money will suck then, but I could fund the rest of my life with my pop cash. Plus there would be a loyal enough fan base.

Finally....maybe most important...why is it that if you are a popular musical act you're a sell out???

[teanett]

john mayer never sold out.
he was a girlie pop wuss to begin with and it's not like he became cool all of a suddden. he's still a girlie pop wuss playing srv licks.

clapton never sold out.
he went through different stages in his life, music and fashion. he wrote all the pop stuff because he wanted to. besides, he was already huge when he went pop.

santana doesn't have the talent to become popular on his own these days. he needs to play on someone else's song while the guitar playing is totally irrelevant to the success of the song.
he uses someone's song as a sheet to shoot his wad. he's just a name. a clown doing a dance. michael buffer doing: "let's get ready to rumble!"

[Jon Silberman]

I'm sure you're a wonderful person overall but man oh man, that last post is as judgmental a bunch of ____ there is. Of course, you've accomplished far more than Mayer or Santana in your bad brains moshpit (your owns words for your current location).

[teanett]

I'm sure you're a wonderful person overall but man oh man, that last post is as judgmental a bunch of ____ there is. Of course, you've accomplished far more than Mayer or Santana in your bad brains moshpit (your owns words for your current location).

no i didn't. do i have to in order to have an opinion about "selling out"?

[Jon Silberman]

Absolutely not. You're perfectly entitled to your opinions. Hopefully, though, you'd have the balls to say to these peoples' faces what you're typing here (I don't think you would). Also, if you're entitled to your opinion, I'm entitled to mine. "Girly pop wuss" and "bad brains moshpit" don't impress me as to anything. But you go ahead and continue expressing yourself as you choose, within the bounds of the rules, it's a free forum. 'Scuse me now, gonna spin some Mayer.

[teanett]

Absolutely not. You're perfectly entitled to your opinions. Hopefully, though, you'd have the balls to say to these peoples' faces what you're typing here (I don't think you would). Also, if you're entitled to your opinion, I'm entitled to mine. "Girly pop wuss" and "bad brains moshpit" don't impress me as to anything. But you go ahead and continue expressing yourself as you choose, within the bounds of the rules, it's a free forum. 'Scuse me now, gonna spin some Mayer.

of course i would.

if john mayer ever asks me if he sold out, i 'd say no, because he started out doing whiney girl pop.

why do i need any balls to do that?
what do the bad brains have to do with anything?

[MikeNiteRail]

john mayer never sold out.
he was a girlie pop wuss to begin with and it's not like he became cool all of a suddden. he's still a girlie pop wuss playing srv licks.

clapton never sold out.
he went through different stages in his life, music and fashion. he wrote all the pop stuff because he wanted to. besides, he was already huge when he went pop.

santana doesn't have the talent to become popular on his own these days. he needs to play on someone else's song while the guitar playing is totally irrelevant to the success of the song.
he uses someone's song as a sheet to shoot his wad. he's just a name. a clown doing a dance. michael buffer doing: "let's get ready to rumble!"

Mayer - Watch his newest concert DVD from start to finish. There are three very distinct sounds and bands. They are neither all pop, girlie, nor SRVish. I've tried and tried to hate his music, but I can't.

Clapton - Like Santana, he didn't necessarily write all of his hits. There is also a decade or two worth of stuff that was geared toward the mainstream.

I love Clapton, but he is a household name that has changed his sound to match the pop scene (he did work with Phil Collins quite a bit in the 80's). Getting radio play on just about any type of radio station...top 40, blues, classic rock, adult...makes him pop to me. Songs like Tears and Heaven, Wonderful tonight, etc. aren't exactly butt kickers. Do an iTunes search of his songs by popularity...you won't see much of his blues or Dominos stuff up top.

In recent years he has also become more active in selling his name (albeit to usually support the Crossroads Center).

Santana - I can't see somebody having decades worth of success at the career as being pure chance. There has to be some level of talent there. I doubt too many big wigs would have the patience to have helped him from the start to where he is today. Somewhere, he had to do something right.

Overall, I think hating on musicians is a waste of time. 90% of the time we do it strictly due to ego. Had I been dropped into Santana's shoes 30 years ago, I don't know if I would still be doing my thing today.

I am not a pop music fan, but technically, I am the one who is wrong. Mainstream music listeners have the majority vote. There is a reason why it is called pop and making tons of money for people.

[Psychotronic]

Can't read it, can't stand his playing, incredibly overrated stature as a guitar hero, business philosophy, ethics, new age crap, hypocrisy, egomania.

First, he has a huge comeback on a decent song that he didn't write, didn't arrange, didn't sing on, but played plenty of mediocre lead much of which was also copied from the demo, but gets all the glory (Smooth by Rob Thomas and Itaal Shur). This guy takes all the credit while leaving his band and actual musicians who do much of the writing with relatively nothing(I have spoken to one in person and he had nothing nice to say), he cheats on his wife, he believes he is god on the guitar, and than he preaches!

Precisely how I feel about him. Fine, he had a great idea mixing Latin and blues rock in the late 60's. Other than that? :dunno

[teanett]

Mayer - Watch his newest concert DVD from start to finish. There are three very distinct sounds and bands. They are neither all pop, girlie, nor SRVish. I've tried and tried to hate his music, but I can't.


i did watch it many times and i like most of it.

anyhow,

the double time part on "need no doctor" is just one big srv rip-off.

"neon", "georgia" and "atmosphere" are girlie pop (in my book). so are "slow dancing" and "trust", don't let that great guitar tone fool you!
also, look at the first rows of audience. 80% female i'd say.

but did he sell out (and that's the point here, not wether he's good, bad, girlie or srv)?

no, of course not, because it's always been like that. remember "you're body is a wonderland"?


Clapton - Like Santana, he didn't necessarily write all of his hits. There is also a decade or two worth of stuff that was geared toward the mainstream.

I love Clapton, but he is a household name that has changed his sound to match the pop scene (he did work with Phil Collins quite a bit in the 80's). Getting radio play on just about any type of radio station...top 40, blues, classic rock, adult...makes him pop to me. Songs like Tears and Heaven, Wonderful tonight, etc. aren't exactly butt kickers. Do an iTunes search of his songs by popularity...you won't see much of his blues or Dominos stuff up top.

In recent years he has also become more active in selling his name (albeit to usually support the Crossroads Center).



clapton always played pop music. unless you think he sold out when he left the bluesbreakers, he never muched changed his approach towards mass appeal.

"strange brew", "badge", "bell bottom blues"- pop music
one of his biggest hits, "layla", is a dominoes tune (although the unplugged version is the requested one).

he collaborated not only with phil collins, but also with the beatles, the biggest pop band in history. i don't see a money/fame driven motivation when working with phil collins, who happens to be a pretty good drummer.

again, i don't see him going out uf his usual musical ways to generate more fame.
he doesn't need to anyway.


Santana - I can't see somebody having decades worth of success at the career as being pure chance. There has to be some level of talent there. I doubt too many big wigs would have the patience to have helped him from the start to where he is today. Somewhere, he had to do something right.


he did do it right forty years ago.
but can he get anything going by himself now? no.

he rides other people's success to get his name on the map, making no musical sense, playing on whatever is put in front of him.

santana once created a distinct musical voice that was unique and powerful. now, he plays guitar (his five trademark licks) for (or with) rich and famous people to stay rich and famous himself.

[joseph]

...santana once created a distinct musical voice that was unique and powerful. now, he plays guitar (his five trademark licks) for (or with) rich and famous people to stay rich and famous himself.

the only major pop figure who hasn't followed that plan, to my knowledge, is Cat Stevens.

[MikeyG]

<snip>

Women love his guitar playing though. I can't tell you how many women I've talked to that say his playing turns them on. So, he's doing SOMETHING right! LOL.

Yeah, I remember an interview with him, where he says "Women love my music ... when they approach me and say they want me, I tell them 'I appreciate your feelings, but just know that I can't do to you with my body what my music does to you". (Paraphrasing here)

I remember thinking to myself "I know a million guitarists that would say 'Sure, let's go have a roll' ".

If you catch my drift.

[MikeyG]

I give huge props to John Mayer too. Make your millions so you can go back to being more artsy without being a starving artist. On a smaller scale, Susan Tedeschi has done the same thing.



She started off pretty traditional .... has something changed??

[jtm622]

No offense, but unlike Clapton and Mayer, Devadip is simply a sideman who specializes in Dorian/Minor Pentatonic noodling over an "Am" to "D" chord line... :)

[RickC]

She started off pretty traditional .... has something changed??

yeah; she became successful...

:rolleyes:

[Gas-man]

yeah; she became successful...

:rolleyes:

She married well.

;)

[MikeyG]

Yeah, the poster I quoted was saying Mayer started poppy, and then went back to artsy .... I don't see the correlation with Susan Tedeschi, I don't see that she's done any such thing ...

[Brian D]

For me this thread is an ongoing reminder that sometimes what you say doesn't matter as much as how you say it.

[diego]

I stopped reading interviews after he said: "Your tone is like your face, man." Terrible, horrible, awful similies and metaphors.

That said, I loved his playing in the early years and during his jazz/rock experimental phase in the early- mid-seventies. Incredible tone, passion, growth, and then years of sounding stuck. I'm happy I liked it then, and if people like it now... that's great for them.

The last thing I heard was a Montreux Concert on PBS. He had Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, and Wayner Shorter on stage, and gave them a one-chord shuffle to play over. It was really stinky bad. Yeah, I know, he got them on stage with him, but geez...

[MikeNiteRail]

She started off pretty traditional .... has something changed??

I did a poor job of explaining Susan. She started out pretty traditional and then has branched much further out. Does that make her a sell out? Why contest the blues label? In my initial post, my point was that lots of artists are diverse in regards to genre and mass appeal. At what point it is "selling out" and not "growing as an artist"? Why is it bad to be liked by the masses?

"Susan Tedeschi finds a way around genre limitations

By Regis Behe
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, November 13, 2008

There are more than a few reasons Susan Tedeschi is upbeat about her new album, "Back to the River."

But foremost among them is she is no longer being treated as a commodity that, with savvy marketing, might turn into a star or have a hit single.

"I'm a songwriter and I'm a guitar player, but on the last record all I did was sing," says Tedeschi, who performs Saturday at the Byham Theater, Downtown.

Limiting Tedeschi to vocals is like turning the Statue of Liberty into the Venus de Milo. Yes, she has an expressive, multifaceted voice that she honed singing gospel music while growing up in Massachusetts. But Tedeschi longed to write songs and play guitar, as she had throughout her career. "Back to the River" and the tour supporting the album find her in a comfortable -- and varied -- place.

"I don't sing one style of music, and I don't play one style of music," Tedeschi says. "I play jazz, I play gospel, I play funk, I play soul music, I play blues. This is the first record which really reflects what you're going to get live."

Tedeschi usually is consigned to the blues section of record stores, the residue of her first release, "Just Won't Burn." That album earned a Grammy nomination for best new artist in 2000, her fellow nominees including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Macy Gray and Kid Rock.

But the blues label limited her, especially when it came time to record new material.

"Being labeled a blues artist, they think you should be doing only one kind of music," she says of past associations with record companies. "But then they want to make it poppy at the same time. Everybody has their own opinions, and every producer and every label is different because they have things they're trying to go for.

"It has been a little frustrating," Tedeschi says. "But if I'm going to get stuck in a category, this is a category I love."

"Back to the River" features Tedeschi collaborating with a number of songwriters and musicians. Sonya Kitchell co-wrote "People," a bluesy, pop anthem that encourages engagement in the political process. The title track, co-authored by Tony Joe White, is a swamp-rock vamp about missing home. "Butterfly," with its Allman-Brothers-meets-Isaac-Hayes vibe, was co-written by Tedeschi's husband, guitarist Derek Trucks.

For that song, Tedeschi was trying to write a song that had a Jimi Hendrix feel. When her husband came in and added clavinet, it gave the music a more soulful tone.

Of course, she's a bit biased about Trucks' skills.

"In the next few years, people are going to realize he's not just a guitar player," Tedeschi says. "He's a wonderful songwriter, a wonderful producer. He's got a lot of skills. ... He can communicate his ideas and get people to play them."

Tedeschi's other collaborators also gave the album its diversity, while affirming her own skills. The songwriting collaborations with White, Kitchell, John Leventhal, Doyle Bramhall II and Gary Louris not only added a new dimension to her music but "helped me develop my guitar playing, and my vocal skills as well," she says. "It helped me hear things in a different way, things that I didn't hear before. ... And also, with (my) confidence. If they're working with me, it must means I'm doing something right.""

[MikeNiteRail]

i did watch it many times and i like most of it.

anyhow,

the double time part on "need no doctor" is just one big srv rip-off.

"neon", "georgia" and "atmosphere" are girlie pop (in my book). so are "slow dancing" and "trust", don't let that great guitar tone fool you!
also, look at the first rows of audience. 80% female i'd say.

but did he sell out (and that's the point here, not wether he's good, bad, girlie or srv)?

no, of course not, because it's always been like that. remember "you're body is a wonderland"?



clapton always played pop music. unless you think he sold out when he left the bluesbreakers, he never muched changed his approach towards mass appeal.

"strange brew", "badge", "bell bottom blues"- pop music
one of his biggest hits, "layla", is a dominoes tune (although the unplugged version is the requested one).

he collaborated not only with phil collins, but also with the beatles, the biggest pop band in history. i don't see a money/fame driven motivation when working with phil collins, who happens to be a pretty good drummer.

again, i don't see him going out uf his usual musical ways to generate more fame.
he doesn't need to anyway.



he did do it right forty years ago.
but can he get anything going by himself now? no.

he rides other people's success to get his name on the map, making no musical sense, playing on whatever is put in front of him.

santana once created a distinct musical voice that was unique and powerful. now, he plays guitar (his five trademark licks) for (or with) rich and famous people to stay rich and famous himself.


Again...I love Clapton. After reading his autobiography, though, it became apparent to me that he did not feel he was a pop artist...his work with Phil was not his choice. Drugs can be used as an excuse, but he for sure was steered towards a pop image in order to make somebody more money.

I stand by the fact that Mayer plays a balance of sell out music and music he really cares about. His trio set was not nearly as poppy as the acoustic or final set. He is a good businessman.

Also, SRV didn't invent double time either. Few of us are awesome enough to have truly invented anything musically new that didn't start with an idea that has been evolving for quite some time.

[teanett]

the only major pop figure who hasn't followed that plan, to my knowledge, is Cat Stevens.

dylan
prince
beastie boys
ac/dc
sonic youth
sting
u2
david bowie
metallica
oasis
...

[teanett]

Also, SRV didn't invent double time either. Few of us are awesome enough to have truly invented anything musically new that didn't start with an idea that has been evolving for quite some time.

did i say so?

read my post.

during the double time part of "i don't need no doctor" mayer goes into serious srv lickage. that's all i'm saying.

[MikeNiteRail]

did i say so?

read my post.

during the double time part of "i don't need no doctor" mayer goes into serious srv lickage. that's all i'm saying.

I did read your post. All I am saying is that SRV lickage isn't anymore original than anybody else's lickage. We're all ripping off other musicians all the time. I can't fault anybody for that.

[TieDyedDevil]

Yes ... I too really enjoyed that Book... but then I heard him play ...:jo

Yah, I know. But I didn't buy the book because of his (Philip Toshio Sudo's) guitar playing...

[MikeyG]

I did a poor job of explaining Susan. She started out pretty traditional and then has branched much further out. Does that make her a sell out? Why contest the blues label? In my initial post, my point was that lots of artists are diverse in regards to genre and mass appeal. At what point it is "selling out" and not "growing as an artist"? Why is it bad to be liked by the masses?


OK, I gotcha. And I agree.

In business, it's called expanding your customer base, and it's considered good. In music, it's called selling out ....

Ultimately, as an artist, if you have diverse tastes in music, you can go down other musical paths. But if you're not really well-established, and the fans don't follow you everywhere.... you're toast.

[Grenville]

Read the article. Seems like he wanted to namecheck a bunch of other artists as much as anything.

I mean, we know music is a spiritual thing, right? Nothing new there. Read some old Vai articles for that stuff. Or some Robert Fripp.

[frank62]

Carlos is a success. I see him more as a businessman these days than a guitar player and the spiritual thing is just plain BS, unless he is referring to the feeling he gets from being filthy rich.

[pbradt]

Don't like GP, don't like Santana. I'll pass.

[pbradt]

I'll give some leeway that he expresses himself through his playing bettar than through his speaking but...
To me there is something contradictory about boasting how you have overcome ego. It's like bragging about how humble you are.

Yup. If ya gotta say it...

[pbradt]

Whenever the name Santana appears in a thread title I expect (& see) bunch of bashing. Strange stuff for one of the few guitarists ever with an instantly identifiable tone, touch & sense of melody. How many of the "bashers" have anything close to that? I'm gonna have to get the article. Thanks for the heads up.

Oh here we go, it never fails, "if you haven't had hit records and made an ad with Mariah, you're not entitled to your opinion," or, in simpler terms, "Yer jes' JELLUS!"

Please, if that's the best you can do, set your computer on fire and kill yourself.

[epluribus]

Hold da phone...conversely, you mean if I have an opinion I get to hang with Mariah? Gimme a second, I know I got a opinion here somewhere...

:banana

[frank62]

Santana at Woodstock=Cool. Santana The Spiritual Shoe Salesman=Bogus.

[Snap]

After listening to his music, I've concluded that apparently all the "emotion" and "vibe" in music that he talks about can be found in the key of Am.

[jtm622]

After listening to his music, I've concluded that apparently all the "emotion" and "vibe" in music that he talks about can be found in the key of Am.

You noticed that too?
Heh-heh-heh-heh...

(read post #103...)

[HeyMrTeleMan]

My best friend sat next to Carlos on a flight from Chicago to San Fran. He said he was the coolest guy on the planet. He looked at my expression, and quickly said "next to you, of course..." :)

I wish I had an endorsement deal like Carlos. Then I could have a disclaimer at the bottom of my posts!...:cry:

[HeyMrTeleMan]

...Our actual lives are lived in the intersection of the physical and the spiritual.

Damn, Jon, that's really good! Can I quote you? I'll give you credit every time I use it. Please?

:)

[JB Eckl]

JUST TO SUMMARIZE:

(1.) John Mayer is cool, but he's cooler when he doesn't play SRV licks. He's a great pop artist and an excellent guitar player, and yeah we're a bit jealous that he's catnip for girls. But he's at his best when he digs a little deeper and finds his own sound, just like anybody else. (Except tribute bands.)

(2.) Santana deserves his 'icon' status for having such a singular guitar voice and being a huge innovator of rock and world music as a young dude (40 years ago). And the whole Supernatural comeback thing was a brilliant move (10 years ago). But he needs to take it somewhere new if he wants to keep talking about John Coltrane.

[Bobby D]

well, let me say this right here....

i am not going back to the gear page, or harmony central any more.

although there are a LOT of cool people on both places, the PLETHORA of other people just makes my day worse, not better.

but i have learned something. after being online since 1980 (my father worked for Control Data, and we had a hard wired ARPANET terminal in our HOUSE.....i was one of the first members of Compuserve, one of the first on AOL, and I ran my parent's phone bill up astronomically with my commodore 64 using a modem to "hack" into systems all over the world).

I am better serving myself by PRACTICING, by spending time with Professor Tomo's DVD, by writing and playing and recording.

There are MANY people on here i RESPECT GREATLY, and most of them post as THEMSELVES, people like Tomo, Ed Degenaro, Analog Mike, Skreddy, Bjorn Juhl, Donner, etc etc etc.

I wish ALL of you nothing but the best that life and music and love have to offer you.

And please, check out my new album when it gets released early summer 2009 if you want.

For any of you who want to keep up with me, I am easily found on "the internets"......google "Bobby DeVito" and you will find me.

And now, as an earlier poster said, I am going ZAPPA on all of you, and am gonna SHUT UP AND PLAY MY GUITAR.

peace out, TGP......


bobby devito

[americananalog]

I will give him credit though, 40 years or so of playing, and he got away with never playing a chord.

Yeah, him and BB King!

[frank62]

Damm Bobby, have a bad day?

[Thwap]

Damm Bobby, have a bad day?

Well, ya know, if you're looking for shiny happy people...

this isn't the best place.:roll

[Bill Brasky]

well, let me say this right here....

i am not going back to the gear page, or harmony central any more.


bobby devito


buh bye
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2037854425_6746eccc54.jpg