Nels Cline reveals the five riffs that changed his life and inspired his own fearless fretting. Visit guitarplayer.com for more music, interviews, lessons and video content.
0:53 The Byrds - "Turn! Turn! Turn!" 3:03 The Yardbirds - "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" 6:34 The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Manic Depression" 9:03 Television - "Maquee Moon" 14:51 Minutemen - "West Germany"
This man is a gift. An articulate man and a great composer. His noisy avant-guard work is astonishingly good, his jazz album is so classy and innovative at the same time, and his work with Wilco is always top-notch! Thank you Nels!
Nels and Watt used to cover Marquee Moon and Little Johnny Jewel in the Black Gang Crew days. Best musical nights of my life. Sad to say they will never be again.
You can watch this, and it’s just so obvious that he truly loves it. The enthusiasm he has for music is just contagious, and he’s such a great player. I really hope to get to see him and Wilco play in person sometime in the near future.
I was paying attention to that mixolydian riff on Handshake Drugs on Wilco's live album "Kicking Television" and always wondered if that was an intentional nod to Television. Thanks for confirming, Nels!
I heard Nels before Television, back when he was playing with Watt in the 90s. When I first heard Television (particularly Tom Verlaine), I was like "hey, that sounds like Nels Cline." So it makes perfect sense he loved them.
Nels is the kind of guitarist I aspire to be. I will never play *like* him, but the way he pushes his own stuff while understanding the way unique musical ideas have opened doors for exploration. I loved Wilco without realizing that I already knew Nels’ stuff from a Watt record. Connecting Nels’ influences with my own made it feel like he was playing stuff just for my ears. What a great musician and interesting guy
The first time I heard marquee moon I thought it was nels playing lol shows how deep it is in his dna, that song will forever sound like it just came out, incredible tune
When the piano comes in at the end, it's a climax that is almost physical. It's like a tense gallop through a forest and suddenly bursting into a blindingly bright clearing. It's so hard to explain.
I've always felt fortunate to have followed the Minutemen around for a a handful of years in the 80's at little clubs all around Los Angeles. First saw Nels Cline in a band called "Bloc" that we followed for a couple of shows until they did a double bill with a new band called "Lockup" which totally blew us away; so we started following them around. It wasn't until many years later while listening to a "Rage against the machine" song when I realized that I heard the guitar player's style before; Tom Morello had been the guitar player in Lockup!
With Tom Verlaine’s passing, I came here to see that segment. But wrapping up with a shout-out to the Minutemen was the icing on the cake. RIP TV, RIP DB.
I got to chat with Nels years ago, when he played with Carla Bozulich in NYC--just about guitar nerd stuff, his rig, the usual. What I took most from the experience was his warmth, his passionate caring, and his soulfulness. The man is a national treasure, and you hear his soul in his tone. So Much Respect.
They had a band together called Scarnella. Check it out...I think only one release but I saw em backstage at the Capitol theater in Oly WA and it was fantastic.
@@dariano2541 Saw Scarnella many times in LA back in the day. I selfishly am angry at Wilco at taking our genius underground guitarist away from our tiny scene in Los Angeles.
@@brandonbailey8649 I was also a bit bummed out that Wilco took Nels out of L.A. even though I lived in the SF Bay Area, I'd see him often with Banyan, the Nels Cline Singers etc., when he would play up in the Bay. Now he is gone to New York and I no longer live in CA. too so I have to be satisfied with the occasional Wilco show near me to get my Nels Cline fix.
What a great rundown by a legendary guitarist. Incredible variety of music, but I especially love the shout out to D. Boone... amazing guitarist and frontman. Must have been pretty wild for Nels to record Contemplating the Engine Room with Watt. Brilliant album filled with some incredible riffs.
I adore the Minutemen and I love Nels, but this just reinforced how hard it is not to sound like a hot mess when you play their riffs on unaccompanied guitar. Watt, Hurley, and Boon were really something together. Three essential cogs in a crazy-ass machine.
The weird thing is he's not even playing it the way D did, which makes no sense given how well he knows the Minutemen's music. D played the entire riff on the 10th fret which allowed for his fluid, unique phrasing. Nels knows the notes but it just sounds clunky.
yeah I noticed that he actually simplified his pedalboard, it seemed like and he omitted various pedals he deemed as essential, like Fuzz Factory and Whammy these days. you can even see that shrunk-down pedalboard here but I want to see his explanation on it
One of my all time favorite guitarists. His playing has taught me so much, not to mention his choice of tones & use of effects. He’s a real gentleman to boot. Excellent stuff guys!
Attack!!! I remember seeing Nels at Rhino and with his funk band in mid 80's at madame wongs on Wilshire in Santa Monica. Great to see him make it big big big. great player, full commitment
I really miss Madame Wongs. Went to see my friend Rusty play and got there early-thank god- to see Bloc, featuring a young Nels. Must have been around’88
My cat, who was lying peacefully next to me as I watched this on my computer, apparently didn't mind the Byrds' "Turn,Turn, Turn" segment at all, but became suddenly startled and agitated and left the room abruptly at the sound of Nels reproduong the guitar from "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago"! ****in' music to bug cats by. W.T.Heck? (Yard)BIRDS getting their revenge on CATS? -Bwt, did Tom Verlaine's example spur Nels (& Sonic Youth) among others to become primarily Fender Jazzmaster players? Jazzmasters were unpopular guitars when Tom started playing one. Now they're popular. He started playing one 'cause they were about the cheapest Fenders you could buy second hand at the time. An amusing thing about that is Tom himself gave up Jazzmasters years ago and is seen playing a Fender Stratocaster on stage nowadays - Except his Strats can fool people 'cause their head stocks SAY "Fender Jazzmaster." That's 'cause Tom still prefers the Jazzmaster neck and gets custom Strats with Jazzmaster necks on them!
I was lucky to play guitar in a band that got to open up for him in the early 90s. What was amazing was his incredible sonic range, everything from acoustic jazz to sonic youth sound manipulation, from playing coltrane solos note for note to playing all out noise.
Yes, he's great. And I know what you mean. But always think about other people who do amazing things every day that affect the world. There are so many. Peace.
I liked Nels and his playing WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY before watching this and yet he throws down on the Minutemen, Marquee Moon, Hendrix, the Byrds and the Yardbirds...all my favorites. Nels' playing is unreal and so phenomenal in Wilco as is the NC4. Thank you to this wonderful musician! *Oh, and seeing Television last year before Wilco was a dream come true!*
should be called, my life in 55 riffs. Nels just keeps goin and I'm good with it. I paused this video to go ahead on put Television on the turntable and give side 1 of Marquee Moon a spin.
i bought the expensive tickets at a venue i knew released a few awesome ones before every show. I got a pair in 3rd row and watched nels play amazing leads for what must've been a 3 hour wilco show. it was great to see what the heck nels was doing on the guitar.
This man plays and talks like a man obsessed with Guitar. He probably sleeps with one in the bed. I feel so vindicated when he explains some of my favourite songs in an academic fashion. My Heart feels guitar correctly!
That rhythm part though HAS to be Page. Can't think of another time Beck played a riff like that. Some of the lead licks are also more of the Page variety than the Beck variety.
"Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" was the first single by the British rock band The Yardbirds to feature future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in the band. Page had recently replaced the original bassist for The Yardbirds, Paul Samwell-Smith. "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" was also the first of three recordings pairing Page with incumbent lead guitarist Jeff Beck. John Paul Jones played session bass on the song, he would later play on the song "Beck's Bolero" with both Beck and Page; Jones would eventually join Led Zeppelin with Page.@playon51
D Boon forever. Thank you, Nels. Also, if any of you 'fans' of Nels are really interested. You must, must, must, absolutely MUST check out his solo albums. THIS is where he truly shines. The Nels Cline Singers are one of the greatest bands of ALL TIME!! When Nels was starving in the 90s he was uncompromising and incredibly, magnificently, scintillatingly artistic. Look it ALL up! I must recommend Inkling, Destroy, SAD, and Interstellar Space Revisited. The last four I listen to more than anything he has done. You are on the Earth with a genius right now. See him while you can. Miss you Nels.
That’s it that’s done it for me! Back to Marquee Moon for some serious listening …. Also from now on all my guitars will be fitted with those red strap locks from that well known beer brand. If they work for Nels then they work for me!
What is that 12 string he's playing on the Byrds jam? What a beautiful guitar, and what a cool way to spend 20 mins, listening to him dig into what he loves.
Nels is the rare talent that inspires me to play more, to play better, but never feels intimidating.
True. I hope you're still playing and improving and loving.
He wants everyone to ascend!
0:53 The Byrds - "Turn! Turn! Turn!"
3:03 The Yardbirds - "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago"
6:34 The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Manic Depression"
9:03 Television - "Maquee Moon"
14:51 Minutemen - "West Germany"
The Marquee Moon breakdown is a thing of utter joy.
Nel needs some type of guitar podcast.
When Nels Cline says something is hard to play, you have to believe him.
This is probably my favorite video on all of UA-cam.
I could listen to Nels talk about music for the entire week. This is great.
"Impossible Germany" is one of the most tasteful solos I've ever heard
Best thing to happen to Wilco. Sky Blue Sky is a masterpiece
Yes. Yes, it is.
Nels cline with Wilco is pure magic, def one of my favorite guitarists ever, the man is a wizard
This man is a gift. An articulate man and a great composer. His noisy avant-guard work is astonishingly good, his jazz album is so classy and innovative at the same time, and his work with Wilco is always top-notch! Thank you Nels!
Truly amazing. His breakdown of Marquee Moon is scholarly.
thank god I wasn't the only one who noticed that Handshake Drug thing he mentioned
Handshake Drugs and Impossible Germany are the two greatest Television songs Television never wrote.
Marquee Moon is just an underrated masterpiece. Is it underrated? Maybe these days often forgotten.
@@nilsx3020 Not by me. One of my favourite albums ever.
Nels and Watt used to cover Marquee Moon and Little Johnny Jewel in the Black Gang Crew days. Best musical nights of my life. Sad to say they will never be again.
I love how frantic his playing can look.
For all the weird sounds and effects Nels does, he brings heart and soul above all. Truly a great and unique player.
You can watch this, and it’s just so obvious that he truly loves it. The enthusiasm he has for music is just contagious, and he’s such a great player. I really hope to get to see him and Wilco play in person sometime in the near future.
Weird? What do you mean? Nels is a genius.
Marquee Moon was one of the first songs I learned on guitar, around 1988. The whole thing. All the riffs and solos. It’s a masterclass.
I was paying attention to that mixolydian riff on Handshake Drugs on Wilco's live album "Kicking Television" and always wondered if that was an intentional nod to Television. Thanks for confirming, Nels!
I heard Nels before Television, back when he was playing with Watt in the 90s. When I first heard Television (particularly Tom Verlaine), I was like "hey, that sounds like Nels Cline." So it makes perfect sense he loved them.
One of my absolute favorite things is geeking out about music with others. Nels is my kind of people
I just watched Nels rip it up on an Austin City Limits archive. The solo on Impossible Germany was amazing and is one of my faves!
This is just brilliant. His enthusiasm is just so infectious!!!!
Nels is the kind of guitarist I aspire to be. I will never play *like* him, but the way he pushes his own stuff while understanding the way unique musical ideas have opened doors for exploration. I loved Wilco without realizing that I already knew Nels’ stuff from a Watt record. Connecting Nels’ influences with my own made it feel like he was playing stuff just for my ears. What a great musician and interesting guy
Nels' playing routinely gives me chills. His choices here reinforce my own personal music journey. He exudes personal joy of guitar.
The first time I heard marquee moon I thought it was nels playing lol shows how deep it is in his dna, that song will forever sound like it just came out, incredible tune
First time I heard Nels. I thought it was Tom Verlaine!
”There’s no way I’m not gonna do music for life after that”
This guy is so passionate and articulate in both his guitar playing and musical insight.
The Marquee Moon guitar solo is the most rapturous extended piece of electric guitar playing existent.
When the piano comes in at the end, it's a climax that is almost physical. It's like a tense gallop through a forest and suddenly bursting into a blindingly bright clearing. It's so hard to explain.
@@bscepterthat’s a great description, that’s how it feels to me too
Got to see Nels play with Watt with the crew of the flying saucer in the 90's, he took the band to a whole other level
I've always felt fortunate to have followed the Minutemen around for a a handful of years in the 80's at little clubs all around Los Angeles.
First saw Nels Cline in a band called "Bloc" that we followed for a couple of shows until they did a double bill with a new band called "Lockup" which totally blew us away; so we started following them around.
It wasn't until many years later while listening to a "Rage against the machine" song when I realized that I heard the guitar player's style before; Tom Morello had been the guitar player in Lockup!
Massive massive shoutout to the Minutemen.
Thank you so much for this, GuitarPlayerEditors guys
Nels actually played with Mike Watt in various occasions, including Mike's various solo projects.
He bought his black Jazzmaster from Watt. Apparently Watt got it from J Mascis. Talk about mojo...
Always... a great recipe for inspiration.
When he shouts "George Hurley!"
With Tom Verlaine’s passing, I came here to see that segment. But wrapping up with a shout-out to the Minutemen was the icing on the cake. RIP TV, RIP DB.
I love you Nels. My most source of inspiration in the last 4 years! Plus playing Television...
This was really great! A lot of music I had never heard of! 🙂👍 Thank you!
oh Jens Larsen, blessings
one of the most imaginative lead guitar players ever! thanks for sharing!
When Nels Cline says "it's hard to play" you know it's hard... this is such a great document and so heartfelt
I got to chat with Nels years ago, when he played with Carla Bozulich in NYC--just about guitar nerd stuff, his rig, the usual. What I took most from the experience was his warmth, his passionate caring, and his soulfulness. The man is a national treasure, and you hear his soul in his tone. So Much Respect.
Carla Bozulich + Nels Cline = something I would like to witness
Howard Geraline Fibbers were an amazing band, lots of their live performances are on UA-cam, not the same as being there but close
They had a band together called Scarnella. Check it out...I think only one release but I saw em backstage at the Capitol theater in Oly WA and it was fantastic.
@@dariano2541 Saw Scarnella many times in LA back in the day. I selfishly am angry at Wilco at taking our genius underground guitarist away from our tiny scene in Los Angeles.
@@brandonbailey8649 I was also a bit bummed out that Wilco took Nels out of L.A. even though I lived in the SF Bay Area, I'd see him often with Banyan, the Nels Cline Singers etc., when he would play up in the Bay. Now he is gone to New York and I no longer live in CA. too so I have to be satisfied with the occasional Wilco show near me to get my Nels Cline fix.
That Marquee Moon breakdown is something else. Brilliant.
What a great rundown by a legendary guitarist. Incredible variety of music, but I especially love the shout out to D. Boone... amazing guitarist and frontman. Must have been pretty wild for Nels to record Contemplating the Engine Room with Watt. Brilliant album filled with some incredible riffs.
Love his passion for music
Nels is a truly inspiring guitarist, just oozing feel and emotion. His compositions with Wilco are just right for the overall piece...
Love seeing Nels excited like this. Great video!
This is fantastic - thank you.
I could listen to Nels talk about guitar all day. He the best. Thanks Nels.
love this guy!!
nels answers questions like no other lol... he great...
I love listening to Nels talk about music as much as I love listening to his music. He's very articulate and so honest and insightful!
Nels Cline is not only great at creating and playing music, but also at talking about it. He needs his own show about music!
You're a genius, Nels. Thanks for all the tremendous experiences. I'll see you Saturday at Club Helsinki.
This video gave me the chills. Amazing
Such an inspiring session! Thank you!
I adore the Minutemen and I love Nels, but this just reinforced how hard it is not to sound like a hot mess when you play their riffs on unaccompanied guitar. Watt, Hurley, and Boon were really something together. Three essential cogs in a crazy-ass machine.
The weird thing is he's not even playing it the way D did, which makes no sense given how well he knows the Minutemen's music. D played the entire riff on the 10th fret which allowed for his fluid, unique phrasing. Nels knows the notes but it just sounds clunky.
Awesome! I dig this guy so much!
Damn, Nels Cline, you are such an amazing guitar player and such an articulate speaker
Nels Cline is the real deal! He picked my some of my favorite songs... great energy in his playing!
Superb mix of eloquence and passion
Is there a better interview than Nels? Pure passion pours out of him.
This was an absolute pleasure to watch.
Nels rig rundown is classic too !!
This is awesome!!
This segment is amazing. I have enjoyed all of the "My Life in Five Riffs" but this one is a step or tow above the rest.
Marquee Moon was that song for me too. Unlocked everything and made me pay attention to time.
Nils is amazing. The best!
Thank you Nels Kline! It is simply fantastic to get a glimpse into what has inspired and informed your approach to music & the guitar.
we need a new rig rundown for this guy, please make that happen
There is one and it's amazing ua-cam.com/video/7GRSH8yxWjc/v-deo.html
noooooo I ve already watched that million times, his rig has changed over the course of 4/5 years since then
ahh i missed "new" in your comment gotcha... an updated rig rundown, I'm in line to watch it...
yeah I noticed that he actually simplified his pedalboard, it seemed like and he omitted various pedals he deemed as essential, like Fuzz Factory and Whammy these days. you can even see that shrunk-down pedalboard here but I want to see his explanation on it
In the end it looks like they shot a rig rundown, cause Nels is showing different guitars? God, I hope they did!
Amazing, Nels...thanks for sharing‼️💥💥💥
D. Boon and Marquee Moon... it doesn't get much better!
My hero.
One of my all time favorite guitarists. His playing has taught me so much, not to mention his choice of tones & use of effects. He’s a real gentleman to boot. Excellent stuff guys!
Anybody know what amp he’s using now? That’s not the Schroeder he used for years.
I think that's Studious amp. I forgot the model name, tho. basically its even simpler amp without that many knobs.
Yah, Nels is a real gentleman, that's a good way to put it, that he is.
Love this guy :)
Just watching this now. Use to listen to Manic Depression on my friend's headphones. Blew me away. Life changing, for sure, in 1968.
Attack!!! I remember seeing Nels at Rhino and with his funk band in mid 80's at madame wongs on Wilshire in Santa Monica. Great to see him make it big big big. great player, full commitment
I really miss Madame Wongs. Went to see my friend Rusty play and got there early-thank god- to see Bloc, featuring a young Nels. Must have been around’88
Great video.
My cat, who was lying peacefully next to me as I watched this on my computer, apparently didn't mind the Byrds' "Turn,Turn, Turn" segment at all, but became suddenly startled and agitated and left the room abruptly at the sound of Nels reproduong the guitar from "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago"! ****in' music to bug cats by. W.T.Heck? (Yard)BIRDS getting their revenge on CATS?
-Bwt, did Tom Verlaine's example spur Nels (& Sonic Youth) among others to become primarily Fender Jazzmaster players? Jazzmasters were unpopular guitars when Tom started playing one. Now they're popular. He started playing one 'cause they were about the cheapest Fenders you could buy second hand at the time. An amusing thing about that is Tom himself gave up Jazzmasters years ago and is seen playing a Fender Stratocaster on stage nowadays - Except his Strats can fool people 'cause their head stocks SAY "Fender Jazzmaster." That's 'cause Tom still prefers the Jazzmaster neck and gets custom Strats with Jazzmaster necks on them!
I was lucky to play guitar in a band that got to open up for him in the early 90s. What was amazing was his incredible sonic range, everything from acoustic jazz to sonic youth sound manipulation, from playing coltrane solos note for note to playing all out noise.
I feel like Nels is better at guitar than anyone else is at anything.
Yes, he's great. And I know what you mean.
But always think about other people who do amazing things every day that affect the world. There are so many.
Peace.
Thanks. Amazing breakdown of Marquee Moon. I heard it in a different way than I've ever had before.
I liked Nels and his playing WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY before watching this and yet he throws down on the Minutemen, Marquee Moon, Hendrix, the Byrds and the Yardbirds...all my favorites. Nels' playing is unreal and so phenomenal in Wilco as is the NC4. Thank you to this wonderful musician! *Oh, and seeing Television last year before Wilco was a dream come true!*
No wonder Wilco is so damn good,Nels brings a lot to the table.thanks for the video,along with all the other band members of course.
If he ever gets fired from a band, let this be his audition. The world needs this guy.
I put off watching this for days cause I'm not a Wilco guy as it were.
This is a Master Class!
Wow!
should be called, my life in 55 riffs. Nels just keeps goin and I'm good with it. I paused this video to go ahead on put Television on the turntable and give side 1 of Marquee Moon a spin.
Shreddin' on that Jazzmaster - so cool :)
Also Tom Verlaine's weapon of choice.
television I recommend ..this band is great... marquee moon...must have cd..
the way he tuned his guitar real quick at 6:31 was sick
i bought the expensive tickets at a venue i knew released a few awesome ones before every show. I got a pair in 3rd row and watched nels play amazing leads for what must've been a 3 hour wilco show. it was great to see what the heck nels was doing on the guitar.
This man plays and talks like a man obsessed with Guitar. He probably sleeps with one in the bed. I feel so vindicated when he explains some of my favourite songs in an academic fashion. My Heart feels guitar correctly!
Comes over as a really nice guy, love the Television bit
"drums are going crazy here!"
so sick.
Sound, is where I like to live. 🤘😍
That's great. That Yardbirds ruff with the surf descent is also in Sick of You by the Stooges.
Loving the shout-out to the Minutemen.
Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page were both on the recording of 'Happenings Ten Years Time ago' :-)
That rhythm part though HAS to be Page. Can't think of another time Beck played a riff like that. Some of the lead licks are also more of the Page variety than the Beck variety.
"Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" was the first single by the British rock band The Yardbirds to feature future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in the band. Page had recently replaced the original bassist for The Yardbirds, Paul Samwell-Smith. "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" was also the first of three recordings pairing Page with incumbent lead guitarist Jeff Beck. John Paul Jones played session bass on the song, he would later play on the song "Beck's Bolero" with both Beck and Page; Jones would eventually join Led Zeppelin with Page.@playon51
D. BOON hell yeah...such a wonderful inspiration!
Marquee moon ‘nuff said.
This man is for me, musical royalty.
0:43 minutemen baby! thanks nels
Great video. Nels is a treasure. Interestingly, "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" was basically Jimmy Page's composition while in the Yardbirds.
D Boon forever. Thank you, Nels. Also, if any of you 'fans' of Nels are really interested. You must, must, must, absolutely MUST check out his solo albums. THIS is where he truly shines. The Nels Cline Singers are one of the greatest bands of ALL TIME!! When Nels was starving in the 90s he was uncompromising and incredibly, magnificently, scintillatingly artistic. Look it ALL up! I must recommend Inkling, Destroy, SAD, and Interstellar Space Revisited. The last four I listen to more than anything he has done. You are on the Earth with a genius right now. See him while you can. Miss you Nels.
Nels is Cool!! Woof!!!
That’s it that’s done it for me! Back to Marquee Moon for some serious listening …. Also from now on all my guitars will be fitted with those red strap locks from that well known beer brand. If they work for Nels then they work for me!
Grolsch is the brand, i use them too, and you get a free drink with them!
It's a rather strong tasting beer.
Nels and Julia Lage are the two that inspire me the most, for different reasons.
What is that 12 string he's playing on the Byrds jam? What a beautiful guitar, and what a cool way to spend 20 mins, listening to him dig into what he loves.