JohnnyNoStars + Musician in Kent, EN

SEEKING

ABOUT

I'm an experienced bass player, with a 1980's indie / pop / power pop / punk and new wave mentality. That's the era that has influenced me the most, probably because I was there when it originally happened. I'm based in Kent but can get anywhere without too much grumbling.

I love pretty much any form of guitar-based rock that's played with passion and spirit. My influences are: The Police, Screaming Blue Messiahs, The Armoury Show, Pixies, John McGeoch, The Cure, The Smiths, Skids, The Beths, XTC, Pale Fountains, early Adam & The Ants, David Gedge, The Breeders, Pugwash, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Joe Jackson, etc... I've also become unhealthily obsessed by a band called Feet. In my opinion, they're the most exciting thing to happen to music since the eighties. Check them out and thank me later.

I'm currently between bands, having been lucky enough to play bass with my teenage heroes: 'The Messiahs'. This was made up of two members of original Screaming Blue Messiahs (Chris Thompson on guitar and Kenny Harris on drums). Sadly, that band ended, as Kenny sustained an injury.

I'm a dad who's not ready to play dad-rock, but accept that I'm going to look creepy on stage with 20 year-olds. But don't let my age fool you, I look reasonably youthful (due to genetic fortune rather than appropriate lifestyle choices). I still have all my own teeth, and am not dying my hair (yet).

I've been playing continuously for 40+ years, and I still love it. In terms of playing style; I'm not into flashy dextrous wizardry; I leave that to lead guitarists. I'm a three-note-Johnny-with-a-plectrum (and a long strap), and I much prefer to sit in the pocket with a solid drummer, to form a rhythm section that's as tight as a camel's sphincter in a sandstorm.

I've got ears and I use them: My approach is to listen to a song, work out what it needs – and serve the song and the band, not my ego. If the song needs to have an open E hammered all the way through, that's what it gets. My weapon of choice is a Fender Precision (the older the better). I'm a vintage-guitar man and love anything old, growly, wooden and warm (I'm still referring to bass guitars, by the way).

I'm honest, loyal and reliable (I mentioned I have my own teeth, right? You get a little forgetful at my age). Having left bands to get my career straight and my family provided for, I'm now ready to abandon all of that to pursue a shallow and hedonistic existence of booze and groupies. Just kidding. I don't drink any more. Got you again. I love my wife and kids dearly, and would love to 'scratch that itch' again. I want to feel a warm spotlight on my face; see a little dry ice swirling around my ankles; and hear the polite smattering of applause from a bemused audience who really came to see a different band. Let me know if I'm sharing too much, won't you?

In summary: I'm always looking for talented, quirky, honest and enthusiastic individuals, without Prima Donnas, politics, or power struggles. In return, you can have my soul.

That's fair, isn't it?

Screen name:

JohnnyNoStars

Member since:

Mar 23 2009

Active within 24 hours

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

45

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

2-3 times per week

Available to gig:

1 night a week

Influences

Screaming Blue Messiahs, Feet, Early Police, Feet, Ewe & Friends, Early Adam & The Ants, Feet, Pixies, Feet, Cinerama, Feet, Pugwash, Feet, The Beths, John Barry, Feet, Breeders, XTC, Feet, The Smiths, Feet, Ray Bull, Feet, The Pale Fountains, and some other new band whose name I forget.

Instrument experience:

Bass Guitar:

Advanced

EQUIPMENT

A brace of Fender Precisions (from 1963 to 1970's), Gibson Les Paul Triumph Recording Bass... plus some self-built basses.

Amp: 500w Mark Bass Big-Bang head, matched to a combination of cabs; either a 500w 1x15 EBS Cab, or two Mark Bass Traveller Cabs (1x15 and 2x10).

I'm also beginning to experiment with pedals again, but nothing anti-social... just your clean boost, chorus, and valve distortion type things. In truth, I'm a luddite and just like a well set up bass going through a high quality sound system - just as God intended.

MUSIC