Tony Levin on The Chapman Stick | Reverb Interview
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- Опубліковано 22 жов 2017
- The Chapman Stick is a curious instrument that few play and even fewer have mastered. Tony Levin demonstrates the possibilities of this oddball gear and his experience playing it on tracks with King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, and many illustrious others.
Read more about our chat with Tony Levin here: goo.gl/mvM1sk
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You realize how special Crimson is when you think that that band had simultaneously in it's lineup such beautiful madmen as Tony Levin, Bill Bruford, Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp. There's no way that lineup would make "meeeeh" music
While acknowledging the class of all these gentlemen, and with all admiration to Discipline, and Beat, do you agree with me that "Three of a Perfect Pair" is faaaaar less in quality? (I actually bought that album 3 times, and gave it away again. I kept thinking "It can't have been that bad", but it was.)
@@victotronics It's not the strogest of the three but it's good none the less. Buy it a _fourth_ time!
@@victotronics It's nowhere near Discipline or Beat, but few albums are. Still, there are some songs you can listen to, and it's better than Vroom.
@@victotronics - I’ll grant it’s not Beat or Discipline, but I personally love Three. Granted, it was the first KC album I ever heard, but I think when you think about what was going on musically in general, and the direction the the “new” KC was exploring, it sort of makes sense.
That and I LOVE the bass part on the version of Sleepless that I first heard (the “Tony Levin Mix,” without the rest on the eight note). “Submarines are lurking in my foggy ceiling.” Any band warped enough to come up with that as a lyric was ok in my book!
…and then I started discovering the rest of their collection, and it just kept getting better (for the most part - I’ll certainly concede there are times when Robert and company just lose me - but that’s ok, I’ll hang out and eventually they’ll come back around and pick me up again!
@@victotronics Sometimes ya gotta do something to pay the bills.
"I did that on, I think, a Peter Gabriel track"
track is called "I Don't Remember"
Precisely that was the very first song with a Chapman stick that I've ever heard
Pretty ironic that he couldn’t recall the name
Could have finished the sentence with the title and still not have known.
@@MonsieurMosca he really doesn't remember
Yeah that was the first Gabriel I heard and it blew my mind, what WAS that sound, it haunted me.
This is literally the first time I've ever heard Tony talk. One of the best bass players out there!
James Russo haha! Right! I actually only clicked on this to finally hear him talk!
Talk talk, it's all talk. Too much talk, small talk. Talk that trash.
I got to see The Tony Levin Band open for Porcupine Tree. They open with a hilarious Barbershop Quartet or Quintet number.
I thought he was British!! Mind Blown!!
@Jym E. Changa: or maybe he literally literally hasn't heard Tony talk before.
That opening bass line on Discipline blew us all away when we first heard it! It was like the beginning of a new era. Certainly it announced very clearly that this was a new King Crimson.
Absolutely!! I was a freshman bassist at Berklee when that album came out. Still one of my favorites today!
Saw them in London on the Discipline tour. Couldn't believe the noises they were making with their Roland guitar synths and this Stick. Easily the best gig I've ever been to.
Met Tony when I worked for Warner-Electra-Atlantic. Peter Gabriel was there, too. They were both lovely, normal people. Talkative and kind. The reward for their being such normal guys is that they both are extraordinary musicians.
This guy is a stone cold legend. His playing with Gabriel is so inspiring!
the list of people he has played with would blow your mind, so much studio work! rock solid musician and person.
I'd always thought Tony was British, but when I googled it (he's from Boston) what blew me away was finding out all the '70s classics in the US he played bass on. Prior to Crimson, he played with dozens of artists as a studio musician (and favorite of Bob Ezrin) including John Lennon, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Alice Cooper: that's him on "Welcome to my Nightmare," and that wicked bass line in Paul Simon's "You can call me Al" is his. I heard him play on well over a dozen hit songs back then without knowing it! He was SO prolific as a young session guy in NYC, Gabriel was in the middle of all that, and joining Crimson only slowed his studio gigging down a little. His discography is mind blowing, over 500 tracks with dozenS of artists, google THAT;)
I assumed the same. British.
He was one of the studio legends of the '70s in NYC.
Wasn't Levin on You Can Call Me Al, that was Bakithi Kumalo, but still Tony has a legendary discography behind him with some really big names.
@@Snandra66 wow, read he played on that album, it's on his crazy, multi-page discography, and just jumped to that conclusion. I should look up what he did play on for that album, the discography was't specific about the tracks, just the artist and album, and those were some amazing artists and some of their best albums. Read about the tracks he played for Alice on a different source. Thanks for the heads up, your majesty;), rock on!
remember: he played the bass for pink floyd!
Decade after decade, this man stays cool.
It remains consistent.
@@michaelgauthier9790 I do think it's good..
Saw kc twice w Toney levin,he is awesome
And the guy's almost 80 now, and he's still playing with Crim and there's talk of a new LTE record coming soon!
@@michaelgauthier9790 Never been so proud to understand a reference :D
Tony's playing on King Crimson's Beat is downright heroic.
Thumbs up if you started singing _"TALK? It's all talk... Arguments, agreements, advice..."_
“..... banter, bicker bicker bicker
Brouhaha, boulder dash, ballyhoo
It's only talk!”
Babble..Banter...Brouhaha!
No, but I started air drumming Bruford's part!
The wacky guitar solo eventually played in my head. 😂
Heck yes I did!
WHY ISNT IT CALLED A CHAPSTICK
Oh, Susie.
Okay, that was funny!
Already trademarked
Badun Tsssskkkkkkkkkk
Other than all those meaningless artifically created phantasy product names today, the name "Chapman Stick" links the inventors name to the instrument he createad and brought into being. Thus, whenever a "Chappman Stick" appears in media or on stage, it is also a honorful mention of the inventors name, Emmett Chapman.
Have always loved Tony Levin. The epitome of the professional bass players. There is not a classier act anywhere.
Goddamn he is amazing. His work on the King Crimson "Discipline" album is godly.
Please don't use the Lord's name as cuss word.
@@blindsquirrel7802 The Lord can defend himself.
Steve Waters It’s not being used as a cuss. If god didn’t have a sense of humor he wouldn’t have impregnated a virgin
Steve Waters holy shit dude, goddamn
And Three of Perfect Pair as well. I love that album, and it has some killer bass work. There are monster rhythm sections out there and Levin/Bruford is definitely one of them. And of course Tony was in another one, with Manu Katche in Peter Gabriel's band. But the subtlety and finesse of the Levin/Bruford combo is pretty dang magical (gosh darn the blankity heck.)
This guy played with Lennon, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Pink Floyd (it's him in AMLOR), Yes (it's him the the AWBH record). One of my greatest music moments was a short talk I had with him after he played with Pat Mastelotto, Terry Bozzio and Allan Holdsworth (an improv-ensemble, mind blowing). After the gig he was removing his gear himself from stage (so cute to see that, such a monster and such a simple guy). I chatted a bit with him while he was doing that, he was so nice!
71 years old !! Music will keep you in shape!
he's look so young
Having something you love helps I think.
Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison are proof that King Crimson slows aging
Top musicians often live a long time. Great conductors live into their late 80's routinely.
everything sounds like jerry was a race car driver
maybe it is the opposite
I agree..
Primus owes a lot to King Crimson, and Les Claypool and the guys have pretty much said so. So it's not a coincidence.
Les Claypool said in a Bass Player Magazine interview many many many moons ago that Tony Levin's Stick sound was an influence. Also Discipline came out in 1981 and Sailing The Seas of Cheese came in in 1991, math ;)
If you just erase "maybe" it will be a much better and more honest statement
I’ve met Tony and heard him perform. Nice guy. Brilliant. Fantastic musician.
A unique individual, who can has the personality to both bring forth new, creative ideas and also sit back and wait until the song calls upon him to make it complete. Legend.
I had NO idea my speed was at 1.5. I had just watched King Crimson do some 2 movement thing and didn't know it was on 1.5. Came here.... watched the intro and was like holy crap! Then when he spoke.... I thought.. spastic much? THEN... the dawning realization.... I had set it to 1.5 earlier and forgot. All that King Crimson stuff.... holy crap the classical thing dude did on the stick was too amazing, I though. Now I know why! hahahhaha crap.
Funniest comment
Are u ok?
🤣
I had the same thing yesterday but on 0.75x, I thought the dude talking was high or sedated or something …then I was like aaaaahhhh🤦🏻♂️
Hahaha! If you okay the video ay That speed he sounds like Martín Scorsese, coke Is one hell of a drug
Saw Tony do a stick demo and a music store in the 80s. The mans career has been and still is amazing.
“What can be more king Crimson then that?”
That was great
what a legendary man tony levin is, he has played with everyone
Didn't play with the best, Zappa. Belew did.
Talk! It's oooonly taaalk
Double Talk! Double Talk!
Elephant Talk1
That's Adrian, Not Tony!
These are words with a "D" this time!
babble, burble, brouhaha
Bought a Chapman Stick because of Tony.
Funny - this video has removed any desire I had to own one. Respect the man, but I really don't like the sound of this instrument. The attack/tone is too jarring.
@@Charles.Wright I totally get that. Lost interest in buying a Leslie after a touring band that had one passed through.
That was way too brief but thank you. Love the sound of that stick. The bass line from Crimsons "Sheltering Sky" is like living liquid!
The original ASMR
Best simile this month! 👍🏻
I watched this whole video with a big smile on my face. I especially like Tony's story about meeting Peter Gabriel and Robert Fripp, and how the producer was too scared to even listen to the Stick. Today, Tony is as much an icon to me as Robert and Peter and I am glad they are still making music.
Tony Levin is just a living legend, to used an overused phrase. Amazing.
So strange to see Tony with a distinguished graying goatee and not the thick G Gordon Liddy 'stache.
You don't see the two of them at parties together.
@@Lwize Ah so it was G Gordon Liddy the whole time!
G Gordon liddy! Hilarious comparison
When he started playing Elephant Talk I just heard a *SSSSSHHHH* whizz by in my head
Backwards Cymbal?
voronOsphere it might have been on the recording but on the live versions I’ve seen Adrian Belew do it himself
He seems like a cool dude
This is legit the coolest instrument I've seen in my life.
I’m told Tony Levin is the nicest, most humble and intelligent person you’ll ever meet. I have not met him, but I know people who have. But you don’t have to take my word for it, this interview says it all. He is such a gentleman! Fripp and Peter Gabriel would never employ someone who wasn’t.
He says that line is so King Crimson, but Elephant Talk is SO Tony Levin. Love it!
Tony, if you read this, absolutely love your playing with Peter Gabriel. Amazing. Love the Secret World live stuff.
He's such a gentleman and a living legend. One of the finest and greatest bass players for so many years.
Wow Elephant Talk from King Crimson right away with a little ad lib, played the record so many times, I never knew who was playing Tony, Adrian Belew, or Robert Fripp, (though I had my suspicions) sounds like Tony did a lot. Look the song up! Amazing sounds from KC!
“If you want to play both sides, it’s not hard.” For a master like Tony Levin!
12 seconds into his playing, my brain melted. Also first time I've ever heard him speak. Now I want to see him do a solo concert.
I play guitar and bass but I cannot fathom being able to play that thing. My mind goes into a complete fugue state just trying to imagine it.
Its kinda like playing a freaked out piano if you close your eyes
Heath Watson it ain't like a piano to my fat s add sausage fingers. Considerable dexterity required.
jrpipik
Ah mate, you don’t want a fugue state init 🤪
Yeah, same here. That has a bit of a learning curve, I would imagine.
i can, the problem is that it sounds like shit no matter who plays it. Overtones make it sound like garbage.
This cat is probably one of the coffee-drinkinest bassmen out there. Dude loves espresso and he visibly has that energy.
He's also a Gemini, which immediately gives you the espresso-drinking energy
@@alvareo92He's a Gemini and a coffee nut? A man after my own heart, he is!
BALDERDASH! BALLEYHOO!
Why bicker so?
"Talk, talk, it's only talk
Debates, discussions
These are words with a D this time." Lol.
Articulate announcements
Chit,chat,chit,chat
Expressions. Entails. Explanations. Exclamations. Exaggerations. Elephant talk!
This man is a true bloody legend! He uses the Chapman stick and bass like a synthesizer and it's absolutely wonderful! I wish to work with him someday.
I could listen to this man play all day. I love his playing and I love the sound of the stick.
John Lennon, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson..He's played with some names that have made a little bit of an impact in the music world...(says Capt Understatement...)
Before he played with King Crimson, I knew him as the bass player in Paul Simon's band in the movie "One Trick Pony".
So, seeing the bass player in Paul Simon's band playing this way out King Crimson music was jarring to say the least. I've of course become aware of the large amounts of music he's done the last 30 some odd years.
Look at those hands! A joy to watch you play...
I love how he starts playing a certain Peter Gabriel track at 2:28....but he doesn't remember the name...I don't remember either ;)
Ten people so far have gotten that one.
Hahaha!
@@keauxgeigh It was a loooong shot lol...
I don't remember, I don't recall, I've got no memory of anything at all...
That was an awesome video once I got up off of my knees and stopped worshipping Tony. Seriously that guy is legend
First time I've heard a description of how Elephant Talk was done. Hammer-on with the "wrong" hand, the string order is inverted, the tuning intervals are different... Oh, and then he changes to tuning too? My brain just blew up.
It's true thought, it could be no more King Crimson than that.
Hail Tony, you rule!
Tony Levin basically sums up 1980's Bass. PG, King Crimson, Robbie Robertson, etc. What a Genius!
Tony's work on Peter Gabriel's
"SO" release! Enuff said-
1:03 Hide The Trees. 1:29 Sepia... I think, but much faster?
I played bass for about 17 years and got myself a 10 string stick a few months ago. I thought it would be an easy jump, having spent years tapping away on a 6 string - but they really are different beasts. I have so much more respect for these guys now. Trey Gunn especially, that dude is on another planet when it comes to touch style instruments!
Listening to him talk about the Stick just soothes my soul.
Amazing guy, who turns up on so many records in my collection uninvited but very welcome.
If King Crimson and The Residents had a baby -- they'd call it Primus.
Les has covered songs by both artists so yep
They did and it was
HELL YEA!!!
And it would be even worse than you’d expect.
I bought my Stick about 30 years ago. I love my Stick. Very challenging. At my ripe old age I am re-learning it after a 20 year break.
Discipline stole my heart WITH this riff.
Man That Middle Section in Paradigm shift alone speaks volume about the talent this guy have .
King Crimson @ the Greek UC Berkeley in '82 and '84. I was very lucky to be there. Still 2 of the best shows I've ever seen, by far. Thanks Tony. You're one awesome presence.
I tried to play the Stick once, I was absolutely OVERWHELMED. I felt lost and have no idea what to play, I can tap yes, but I don't know what to tap on this.
i saw a band with female vox, one guy on Les Paul one guy on stick. They were twins w/made it funny. The stick was used for bass, rhythm, keys. Guy was amazing. Pulled off TOOL perfect.
Me too... I saw a performance of Stick players in Italy. Tony was there too but didn't played.
After the show they put the sticks in the handa of some lucky player... One was me!
I felt like when you're completely drunk and try to play. No notes came up, no sound, no song... completely unable to do anything!!!
I’ve been told that by someone who trained under Robert Fripp which is pretty damn advanced there, it just makes it show how damn good Tony is because Chapman Stick is just so far out there.
X Y you gotta try not to do it all at once man. find something you like, and then find something else you like, and then decide if you need both at once
major bass influence . i am always amazed by that bass groove in the middle of paradigm shift . his work on LTE especially is remarkable and also with peter gabriel/King crimson . the guy plays for the song no ego attached
So amazing! Blown away! I have loved this guy forever. Great work!
Been a fan since the late 70’s
Always including Tony Levin in my rundown of favorite bass players EVER!
Right up there at the top actually!!!
Superlative Musician! The first time I was aware of the Stick, I was watching Tony Levin play Elephant Talk, with King Crimson on a TV show called “Fridays” around ‘80 or “81. The whole band instantly blew me away. Thanks for this!
I'm obsessed with Pink Floyd, and found out that Tony was the Stick player on their Momentary Lapse of Reason album. Honestly had no idea the Chapman Stick and the lap steel existed before hearing Floyd. Even though Guy Pratt did the bass on tour (love his work too by the way), it's nice to learn about some of the more obscure instruments that played a part in some major group's music.
Also saw Brit Floyd on their 2021 tour, one of the members played bass, trumpet, and vocals, and then brought out a stick for One Slip.
everyone in king crimson is so virtuosic but they dont get in the way of eachother and try and one up another its so amazing
A total master of music. He's played for and with so many people of note.
Tony makes it look so easy
Probably my favourite bass player. Tony is one of the all time greats and nearly everything he's ever played on has been brilliant. His playing elevates everyone around him IMHO.
What an amazing musician! Instantly recognizable for me in any performance.
Saw him with King Crimson at Pine Knob near Detroit, and Peter Gabriel at Joe Louis many moons ago.
Legend!!! Tony Levin..one of the best to ever to do it!
Can you even imagine how cool it would be to play music with this guy?
Love it...Tony is the man!
A living legend. Those gnarly fingers have made history. A treasure.
Tony really is a wonderful musician, which is revealed in this short video. He is also able to articulate very clearly how the Stick works, and what are it's advantages. He seems to be a musician of great intelligence.
I'm going to tell Mom on you Tony. Thanks Mr. Reverb. Bless
Love the textures of the stick.
Liquid Tension Experiment anyone?
BiRDiE oh yeah....have listened to the live in LA concert on UA-cam hundreds of times. I have never been the same
Not the second one, they turned down Tony's bass in the mix.
LTE 3 in 2021!!!!
Cool, Sarah Longfield needs to see this!
I loved his work in liquid tension experiment
I love the album discipline more than I love most people
Top 50 album ever
How wonderful!
My favorite bass player.
The last concert I went to was King Crimson around '98. They had two drummers and two Chapman stick /bass players. What a racket! I left after the first song.
Vow, you're so cool
I remember playing that Discipline CD really loud especially on 'Elephant Talk' and hearing that phaser effect on the Chapman gave me goose bumps. I had seen them on SNL before I got into Prog Rock. I took me a while to fully understand KC, but the Discipline album was really accessible because I understood the influences better. I tried to invent the exact opposite of a Chapman Stick. Instead of tapping you would do pull offs. I played the prototype for a while but I didn't like developing these callouses on both hands because I type in my day job. It would make a good brain teaser toy trying to figure out all those pull off patterns.
Such a straightforward bloke. Great
I love this guy so much!!!
Its all talk. Commentary, Controversy, Chit Chat, Conversation, Criticism. Its only talk.
* chit chat
Babble, burble, banter, bicker bicker bicker
Brouhaha......
Travis Recio Thanks mate ;-)
"Talk, talk, it's only talk
Debates, discussions
These are words with a D this time." Lol.
Top 50 songs ever
Tony thanks for this great video really helpful
I met and Briefly talked with you in Atlanta, GA at The Cotton Club - You, David Rhodes and Jerry Morotta - with Tim Finn of SPLIT ENZ/Crowded House... , you were very cordial... , and I always dig the Creative Ways you Play
One of his humble beginnings was "Double Fantasy".......then...... . Tony and Pete's entire career together. They've not been apart to date with Pete's projects. Recording with Fripp and Narada Michael Walden on Fripp's "Exposure" album. Holy crap. The King Crimson, Pink Floyd, with Bozzio and Stevens, Peter Frampton....................the body of work. The resume. Tony is a legend.
There is an anthropologist called Georgie Born who, back in the 1970s played bass with a band called Henry Cow. As she was also a classically trained cellist she used to tune her bass in 5ths in the same way that she would tune her cello.
Tony Levin is truly one of the most amazing, one-of-a-kind, bassists of Humankind. Would love to hear an album featuring him and Les Claypool, drummer Terry Bozzio and stunt guitarist Steve Vai. It's the reason Music was invented.
I just love this thing, I want to buy one and learn to play it, this instrument is crazy and just an immense world of musical possibilities. But also a pain to tune and get into, I agree.
Amazing. He is amazing. Tony is the best of the best. Even if he sounds like Father Guido Sarducchi.
Jaco Pistorius....... just saying.
Glad he mentioned "I Don't Remember" off Peter Gabriel 3 (Melt). That song fucking rocks.
I was lucky enough to hear him on the ABWH tour...he blew my mind....
1982, Place-des-nations, Montreal Qc.: Mind Blown!!
Awesome video.
I bought a Stick in 2003 ... for half a year I didn't touch my bass or my guitar ... didn't get as far as I had wanted to so I took up guitar and bass again. Still wonder if I was too impatient to give up so early. Absolutely love Tony, he's a monster!! but if you want to hear the master of the instrument, look up Bob Culbertson. He is the superman of Stick playing. Incredible.