NEW STEVIE WONDER SONG (Real Drums!)

[prissel2003]

WOW, this is a Brand X thread..... but I feel honoured for all them replies.... thx a bunch, ppl.

prissel

[JDouglee]

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[FuseU1]

It would appear that prissel thought he was on the BX thread [img]wink.gif[/img]

Stuff happens...it happened to me once or twice. [img]redface.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img]

Cut him some slack, he's relatively a newbie... [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img]

Any follow-up on that GB/SW story?

[Groovemeister]

Okay, to set the scene, Gregg gets the chance to go for a Stevie Wonder audition, and has some tunes prepared that Stevie has said they'd run through.

Gregg being Gregg, turned up totally prepared and ready to smoke. Stevie, (whom Gregg said was one of the nicest guys that ever lived) goes through the tunes that Bissonette had prepared and loved the way he played them. Gregg's chuffed and all's going well. Just as it looks like Bissonette is on top of the gig, Stevie says...


"Man, you sound great, I've been working on something new, play along to this."


Stevie starts a song off it's in 7/4 or something but, it's as groovy as ever. He starts getting into it. Gregg is trying to find out where it's heading and isn't having much luck. Stevie motions for him to start playing so Bissonette duly obliges...


Stevie stops the tune. "Nah man, I was thinking more like [sings a drum beat], more... ya know??"


They try again. Stevie starts the tune and Gregg comes in. A few bars later, it stumbles to a stop again. Gregg's getting a little worried... Stevie says.


"Nah man. It's almost there but, I was thinking more like [sings a drum beat], more... ya know??"


Gregg nods his head and endevours to try once more. Stevie, again, kicks off the tune on his piano and Gregg comes in. It goes a little better this time, but after a few more bars Stevie stops the tune again...


"Man, this ain't right. Come get me up..."


Gregg, thinks to himself, "What?", but realises Stevie needs him to go over and help him from his chair. Gregg duly obliges and gets him up.


"Take me to the drums." Stevie says.


Gregg takes him by the arm over to his drums and helps him get settled. Stevie sits behind the kit, feels out with his hands for all the drums and cymbals and picks up some sticks. He held one stick backwards and the other at what looked like, a frankly painful, angle. Gregg thought to himself, "That is going to sound bad"...

He then stood back and watched Stevie Wonder play the hottest groove, coupled with the fullest drum sound he had ever heard. He made this odd time sound smoother than a gravy sandwich and as silky as a baby's bum and made the drums sing. He was floored by the sheer groove that came out of this man [img]eek.gif[/img] ...

Gregg didn't end up getting the gig in the end, but I'll ever forget him telling me about the day he had to walk out of Stevie Wonder's place with his jaw dragging behind him on the floor...

MP

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 13, 2005 05:19 PM: Message edited by: Groovemeister ]</font>

[Suspiria]

Thanks for finally sharing this audition! That was really interesting to read. I think it would be so cool if a book were to be released, where professional drummers talk about past audition experiences. Wouldn't that be something?! I mean, there'd surely be some amazing stories and if they were to add suggestions about "rules" for auditions that thing could become a damn bible! [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Groovemeister]

Susp,

What a great idea, I'd buy it...

MP

[matricks]

I think there was an article in MD a while back with such stories... nothing like a book or anything, but a few pages long. I think they talked about the Journey fiasco (Morgenstein, i think, talks about it) and Doanne Perry talks about the Tull gig... Brain may talk about the Primus gig, and so on...there were others but i think i read it on the bus once and forgot to pick it up and finish it.

[Morgenthaler]

BTW it's En Vogue on backing vocals and Prince(!!) on guitar on this the first single!