Needless to say, he was frequently asked to offer advice to aspiring young musicians. “Learn to read music and listen to a bit of Miles Davis,” he would tell them. “Don’t do drugs and don’t play too many notes. That’s about it.”
Herbie Flowers
Needless to say, he was frequently asked to offer advice to aspiring young musicians. “Learn to read music and listen to a bit of Miles Davis,” he would tell them. “Don’t do drugs and don’t play too many notes. That’s about it.”
Herbie Flowers
One thing that was entirely consistent throughout David Bowie’s career was his willingness to screw his musicians by any means necessary. Stevie Ray Vaughan also got the Bowie treatment, as did others.
John Lydon called him out as a shmuck many years ago, and he was right.
Sky and others of that ilk were exceptionally talented musicians who were unable to convey any feeling or emotion into their music, perhaps because it seemed as if they were blokes trying to show all the other talented musicians just how technically gifted they were…….
Boring as fuck, and I say that as a lover of prog rock (got my name in ‘Prog’ magazine ten years ago) and the owner of a few Sky albums.
Sky really was awful, for the reasons stated. I was shocked, largely because Williams’ classical guitar work, while impeccable, also has real feeling to it. Perhaps it was a matter of ego, but I suspect the fact that none of them could write a song to save their lives had a lot to do with it. Williams’ creativity ended, it appears, at cribbing classical composers for film scores.
It’s the difference between technicians and creators. Sky experienced live were incredible technicians but no creative spark. Joe Satriani exactly the same.
Dennis,
Different John Williams. If you don’t want to upset the gods with your music criticism, best get the basics right.
Oops. Well, Sky still sucks and now I can retain my wholehearted admiration for the Real John Williams. Thanks!
You’re welcome Dennis (and you’re right)!