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| The Exclusive Beatles Poll! |
| Alright hep cats, it's time to extinguish your doobs and turn off the lava lamps, because I am happy to announce that some of my past interview guests are making brief return appearances here to talk Beatles. You may even see some appearances by musicians that I have NOT interviewed here, but wanted to lend their views to the site. The list will grow over the next couple of weeks to be sure, so keep checking back. Without further ado, here is the question that has been asked of some of the world's coolest and most talented musicians: If you had the choice of selecting any ONE Beatles song to cover in your band or on your own (with total artistic freedom to do what you want with it), which song would you cover, and why? |
| And now: The answers, direct from the musicians themselves! Reeves Gabrels (Bowie/Tin Machine/NIN): "Yeah that song, Dig A Pony, would be in my top three with Yer Blues and I, Me Mine. For years, I thought I just wasn't a Beatles fan. There are a lot of Beatles songs I never need to hear again. Then one day, when I looked at what Beatles songs I did like, I realised I just wasn't a McCartney fan (all my faves were Lennon and Harrison songs). And yes, Dig A Pony was my choice (one of the benefits of being a solo artist is that you get to make those decisions). The arrangement idea I had was to do a Joe Cocker at Woodstock fakeout intro, but keep a grease band/ early Humble Pie vibe to it." Anton Fig (Late Show with David Letterman/Ace Frehley): "This will sound like a cop out - but I love them ALL!" Jimmy Carl Black (Zappa's Mothers of Invention): "Come Together!" Bert Lams (California Guitar Trio): "I would pick I am the Walrus mostly because I am curious how the almost dissonant chord progressions and cello sounds would sound like on acoustic guitar. And besides, it is one of my all time favorites." Eric Singer (KISS/Black Sabbath/Alice Cooper): "Dear Prudence. Has all the classic Beatle traits. Pop/melody/acid trip/outro... Need I say more?" Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson/MasticA/Mr. Mister): "OK, after a walkabout in Tokyo, I have made my call: Rain/(double A side single with Paperback Writer).Why?- Like all Beatle songs, it was a great song delivered with spot on attitude, it seems to me John is almost Dylan, the bass feel & tone is as good as it gets for me, sloppy but not careless. But besides being a great song, it changed the 'drum perspective' for me and maybe, I think, most of the western drum world. The loose low toms hit in an almost spastic & random manner was nothing like the ' duba duba duba drum fills' heard in pop music up to that point, it redefined our art form. That fat over- compressed (possibly vari speed) is still a much stolen trick. Would arrangements like Bridge Over Troubled Water', Phil Collins, or Hal Blaine's touch or music landmarks like James Taylor's Fire & Rain have ever been made with out this song? I dunno!" Zach Mechlem (Mohenjo Daro): "I would have to say "The Inner Light". I believe Mohenjo Daro could do a respectful version of that piece. Aside from George Harrison's incredible songwriting, you have to hand it to the guy for sticking around India with Ravi Shankar to learn one of the most difficult instruments created by man. And if it weren't for The Beatles, we would not have the amount of appreciation for Indian music that we do today. Bill Bruford (Earthworks, King Crimson, Yes) "I'd probably do Blackbird." Tony Franklin (The Firm/ Blue Murder) "Well... honestly, to me, The Beatles are almost sacred territory. Not only did they write masterful songs, they made possibly the ultimate recordings of those songs. There have been very few newer versions of their stuff that added something new... Joe Cocker's version of "A Little Help from my Friends", stands out. I honestly have no desire to cover a Beatles tune. It couldn't compare with the original. That's my honest answer!" (More to come...Keep checking back!) |
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