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We here at "On the Road" are fans of the low end.
We groove to George Porter Jr.
We bounce with Duck Dunn.
We're bombed by Phil Lesh.
This month's guest, Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, can groove, bounce and drop bass bombs with the best of them. Besides being one of the great rock bass players of our generation, Schools is a real sweetheart and a pleasure to hang with. We caught up with him on the eve of Panic's three-night run at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley as Panic plows through its summer tour. Enjoy.
Dave Schools :: Red Rocks :: 06.25.05 by T. Voggesser |
AT: New members of the Allman Brothers Band reportedly get a tattoo upon joining the band. Does Widespread Panic have any secret initiation rituals when new people join the group?
DS: We have initiation rituals, but they wouldn't be secret if I told you what they were!
AT: You're a fan of electronica music. If you were given the opportunity to spin a set as a guest DJ at a club, what would your DJ moniker be?
DS: My DJ moniker would have to be Schoolly D...oh wait...that's been taken!
AT: Gimme your best Colonel Bruce Hampton story.
Dave Schools :: Bonnaroo '05 by J. Jones |
DS: When asked what rehearsal for the Aquarium Rescue Unit consisted of, the Colonel responded, "Walking around in a circle and examining each other's intent."
AT: What DVDs/TV shows are you watching on the bus these days?
DS: Big bus fave DVDs: All three seasons of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Chappelle's Show (Season II), Miles Davis "Electric," and Shakes The Clown.
AT: You're a big Deadhead. How many Dead shows did you attend and what's your favorite year of Dead shows to listen to?
DS: I guess I saw about 100 Dead shows from 1977-1995 with the majority being in the early '80s. My fave years for listening are 1972 and 1981. I can't believe it's been 10 years since Garcia passed away!
AT: What's your favorite venue that you've ever had a chance to play and why?
Dave Schools :: 04.17.05 by J. Krolick |
DS: My favorite venues are Red Rocks (obvious reasons), The Fox in Atlanta (absolutely the most gorgeous), and the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC tied with The NorVa in Norfolk, VA. Both are great nightclubs with the emphasis on the concert venue aspect run by people who love music.
AT: Do you have any superstitions or routines you have while on tour?
DS: "I Ain't Superstitious" and the only routine I have is trying to get to sleep before the sun comes up.
If you could pick three people, alive or dead, to have sit in tonight, who would they be?
DS: Three people to sit in alive or dead... Mike Houser, Allen Woody, and John Lennon.
AT: Who's got the coolest tour bus that you've ever seen? Why?
DS: Neil Young has the coolest tour bus out there. It's old as the hills and all wood on the inside. Beautiful and weird just like Neil!
AT: John, Paul, George or Ringo? Why?
Dave Schools :: Susan J. Weiand |
DS: John Lennon of course... I mean c'mon: "Tomorrow Never Knows"! Although George is my fave post-Beatles Beatle.
AT: What's in the CD changer/iPOD these days?
DS: The iPod contains 5,500 songs ranging from a 45-minute studio jam session of the original ARU to the entire early ZZ Top catalog. It's slightly depressing that a lifetime of collecting music can fit into something the size of a deck of cards!
AT: What's one album or artist you wouldn't want to admit is in your iPOD/CD changer?
DS: My guilty iPod pleasure is KC & The Sunshine Band.
AT: You've played with or met countless musicians over the years. Was there ever an instance when you were star struck?
DS: The only time I have ever been star struck was when Chuck Leavell introduced me to Keith Richards at Stones rehearsals in Toronto. But I got over it and Keith gave me a bouquet of Marlboro reds. Did I smoke 'em? Damn skippy I smoked 'em!
Andy Tennille
JamBase | On The Road
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