January 5, 2026 • 46 mins
Welcome to the Season 5 premiere of Music Rewind. We're kicking things off with one of the most daring and divisive left turns in modern music history: Kid A by Radiohead, released in 2000.
Coming off the back of OK Computer, Radiohead had the world's attention — and then they burned the blueprint. Kid A abandoned guitar-driven alt-rock entirely, plunging into icy electronic textures, jazz-influenced arrangements, and an atmosphere of anxious abstraction that left fans and critics scrambling to catch up. It wasn't just an album — it was a statement that a mainstream band could go anywhere, sound like anything, and answer to no one.
Host Steve is joined by Jon D'Auria, Editor-in-Chief of Bass Magazine, to unpack the album's legacy, its impact on the industry, and why Kid A remains one of the most important and debated records of the 21st century.
What We Cover
- How Kid A shattered expectations coming off the success of OK Computer
- Radiohead's rejection of guitar-driven alt-rock and embrace of electronic experimentation
- The album's icy textures, jazz influences, and avant-garde structure
- How Kid A challenged listeners and reshaped what mainstream music could be
- Its critical reception in 2000 and the debate it sparked at the time
- The album's enduring influence on artists across indie, electronic, and alternative music
- Why Kid A still sparks conversation and controversy decades later
- The role of bass and texture in building the album's unique sonic world
About the Guest: Jon D'Auria
Jon D'Auria is the Editor-in-Chief of Bass Magazine and a respected voice in music journalism. With years of experience covering artists, albums, and the evolving role of bass in modern music, Jon brings deep industry insight and historical context to the conversation — illuminating not only how Kid A was received at the time, but why it continues to resonate with musicians and fans alike.
Episode Details
🎙️ Show: Music Rewind 📅 Season 5, Episode 1 — Season Premiere 💿 Album: Kid A 🎤 Artist: Radiohead 📆 Year Released: 2000 🏷️ Genre: Art Rock, Electronic, Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Ambient, IDM ⏱️ Era: Y2K, Early 2000s Alternative, Post-Britpop
Get the Album
🛒 Pick up Kid A on vinyl or CD: https://ebay.us/kwppfe
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📀 Album Archives: The Vault of Music History Every great album has a story. Counting down the Top 300 Albums of All Time — one record at a time. New episodes every Monday. 🔗 https://pod.link/1822387190
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
[Music]
(00:21):
Hello and welcome to Music Rewind, a podcast where we look to tell the stories behind our favorite albums.
I'm your host Steve Epley and in each episode we invite a guest on to tell us about their favorite music album,
how they discovered it and what makes it special to them.
Joining me tonight is thenerichief of Bass Magazine Jon D'Auria, a lifelong bassist and storyteller,
John has spent over two decades deep in the trenches of the low-end world,
(00:43):
toured with bands, laying down tracks and top studios, and riding for premier music outlets.
So, taking the helm of Bass Magazine, he's become the definitive voice for bass players everywhere.
Welcome John and thank you for being on the show.
Oh Steve, thank you so much additionally and I'm hiring you to write my bio because you just made
me sound cooler than I am so I really appreciate that. That is why I'm here, my pleasure.
(01:05):
Love it, love it, no that's great. And it's such an honor to be here, love what you do,
love the format so I'm thrilled, man. All right then well let's jump right into this.
What album did you bring to the table and what makes it special to you?
So, the album I brought to the table is the 2000 released album from Radiohead Kid Ape.
(01:46):
And when you brought the concept of the album and kind of bring that, that just definitively
popped in my head because that's to me probably my personal favorite album of all time.
Beautiful thing about music is it's subjective. I love Radiohead, I have close friends who can't
stand Radiohead. It's like nails on a chalkboard to them and I love that too because their music could
(02:08):
sound like the hillbilly's on a bender to me but this album just had such a deep impact on my life
and still does. It's one of the albums that I put on like comfort food and sometimes I'll just crave
it and be like, "Oh, I need Kid A today." And I can listen to it continuously on repeat and just
never tire of it. So that's why it was my pick. How did you discover it? Well it's funny because I grew
(02:34):
up really into hip hop and all that kind of stuff but then I started branching to kind of the
raging against the machine. Other things and when I started playing bass our singer was really big
into Radiohead and I remembered the paranoid Android video from MTV and it was that cartoon and it
had such an imprint on me that I was like in a Beavis and Butthead way else like that's awesome.
(02:58):
I don't know what's going on musically. What's a great video? Yes, I can identify what instruments are
doing what but I like this. And so that stuck with me and then you know of course stuff from Pablo
Honey and the Bens would see its way into pop culture. The early songs of Radiohead I ended up getting
okay computer first and that's just a whole 35 podcasts on its own. And then when I kind of
(03:22):
branched off on my own exploring Radiohead it was in my early 20s and when I was in my early 20s
I was pissed that nobody tells you how messed up your 20s are because you hit all these adulthood
things and for me and many people is just an existential crisis. You know you start things happening
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your life and they're bigger than they probably are in hindsight. Things like depression anxiety
might start seeping in if you nest you know kind of were able to avoid those thus far in your life
and it's a confusing time period and I was in a weird place for a while and this album I got it
and this was CD time you know I'm fine date myself but I got the CD and put it in and it was just like
(04:09):
the vaccine you know it was like the cure and explanation of what I was feeling in a very musical
sense and I became just hooked on it like really you could ask my friends that I have to this day
I would get home from classes and work and I would just go in my room I had three roommates and I would
(04:30):
just put this on I had a fairly nice stereo in my room and I would just put it on and let it cycle
on the CD and I had it on the repeat album mode and I would just listen to it until I'd go to a band
rehearsal later that night and it was what I needed it was the right album at the right time for me
yeah I'm forever grateful that it exists for that reason
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that's a wonderful thing to find when you're in that frame of mind as a young adult I completely
(05:12):
understand yeah I did my own episode of this show in season one where animals were pink Floyd was
very similar to that whole thing to this yes yes and hit me right where I wanted it and it still
sits with me to this day my exposure to radio head was okay computer in high school same same
yep me too an older cousin that told me that because I love pink Floyd so much that I'm required
(05:37):
to like radio head it's just a wreck with it yep that turned it off for me I was like yeah then no
so in 2000 though I was out of high school I had no idea this album existed I had no idea in rainbows
existed I mean I was just kind of I had shut radio head out and so it's only in my middle age here
that I'd recently been rediscovering some of these radio head albums through music rewind because we
(06:02):
did in rainbows in season one as well masterpiece as well that yeah I kind of approached this album this
said because this was so this was a first time listen for me I had never heard kid a yeah it was
fascinating and it was not what I was expecting because it wasn't okay computer and it wasn't in rainbows
no this was completely different and you know they came to a crossroads where when okay computer came
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out they came off their debuts which were Pablo honey and the bends you know both albums are amazing
I still love them to this day but you know those were pretty on the road of alternative and rock
and songwriter and they stayed in that lane you know for the most part okay computer came out and
was just like you could tell that was an album where they're like I love when artists and bands you
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can tell they were in a bubble when they were writing this and if they had influences there's
not a ton of signs of them on it what's kind of like they were on their own planet with its own
gravity and atmosphere so coming from that the whole world was kind of like where do they go next what's
the next sound and radio head is good at having their DNA in all of their music but totally transforming
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where they're gonna go so when this came out and they recorded it in Mnejac which came out I believe
a year or within the year that kid A came out and it also it's kind of showed that they didn't care
they weren't trying to like really keep people on the radio head train who didn't want to be on it
you know and they weren't making music to not pander but to really please anybody but themselves and so
(07:37):
it was such a left turn for them for sure like all their albums really and that's fascinating they
were kind of giving a silent middle finger to the record industry and and a very not so long way
because they've released it on Napster apparently for free and then it still hit number one upon its release
exactly yes it's fascinating
(08:18):
and it's such a cool thing and it's just a testament like any good music you know you brought up
pink Floyd they didn't care what was on the radio I'm listening to a lot of pink Floyd right now and
it's so dissonant and you know so much of it is it requires a little patience and requires all those
things and that goes back to what I was saying about you know when bands are writing for themselves
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and for the music and they kind of take on the role of being a steward of their expression then it's
like that's magic we live in a very much in era and you could say this in any decade where you know people
want to be famous and rock stars and rich and all that and that's great and I talked to those kind
of bands constantly amazing it's phenomenal but it's just cool when there's a very unique kind of
(09:03):
divide in that of I'm doing this for me this is what's coming out you know I can't have no control over
it listen if you want and if not you know somehow radio head has become one of those bands that
akin to the 60s and 70s of a band that that evolved their the beginning sounds nothing like their end
nowadays bands can't really they're not allowed they whether that's financial or the need to feed
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the algorithm you can't experiment you can't do something drastically different and the radio has
kind of one of the last remaining bands I think they're still yeah oh absolutely actually they just
played their first series of concerts in seven years and it looks like they just needed to kind of
regenerate and it looks like they're back full on but yeah you're totally right I mean look at
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something that's not my ballpark but like Taylor Swift just put out her album and it's different
than what she had been putting out and it was so not ridiculed but it was so scrutinized that it's
slightly different of what she was doing and I love what you said about artists who have been
able to sound you know the princes and the David Bowies and the Led Zeppelin's and those who
(10:10):
you start on album one and by the time you get to the end it's like the Beatles you know of course
the greatest band of all time it's like what was that you know what was that right I just went on
absolutely I mean even Metallica the right of the lightning sounds something like what they're doing now
or there are bands like the Foo Fighters good consistent yeah rock albums you know there's there's not
(10:32):
a lot of evolution on the overall sound but they're consistent but radiohead is one that is
yeah the bends of Pablo Honey completely different than Hale to the Thief or in Rebo so
and then you have a very unique one like this in there where apparently they threw guitars
to the side and let's let's experiment with sound and yeah a Foo Fighters
(10:54):
exactly wild it's the kind of thing where I had such that was like the one thing I listened to for
a couple of years and I was constantly hearing new stuff in it and what now and times when I put
it on now especially with how amazing headphones are and you know air buds and monitors and everything
I'm still hearing new stuff it's you know like the Beatles were kind of big into
(11:18):
experimenting like that like something you might not hear for a few decades and all of a sudden
like I never heard that tambourine or I never heard that eighth guitar lick in there this album very
much is like that for me and it's like I constantly discover new things and you know I love talking
about it with people and everyone loves talking about the music they love and so when you find someone
(11:40):
that loves what you love it's a great thing to really dive into that and so I love hearing other
people's responses and you know interpretations of it and yeah it's just a very encompassing album for me
that's not me
(12:05):
yeah on first listen I definitely thought what the hell was that what did I just listen to
it takes a couple of listens for me to compare to like Prague rock yes something like deep from like
yes or something yes yes I need to listen to it several times and really you know with good headphones
(12:28):
yeah to let it click with me and then I'm noticing the layer here the extra lyrics here something weird
over there and radio head is all about layers yes exact like like if you're talking about taste
sensory and stuff it's like you know if you go to fast food and you get a burger you're like
ah that tastes the burger that's great and if you go into like a fine restaurant that has
(12:50):
insane menu items where every bite is kind of like you're oh my gosh there's sage in this and wow
this it's like that kind of thing and I love music like that I also love the the stuff that just
makes me feel good you know I don't want to call a mindless but you know there's a reason that the
top 40 songs are the top 40 and it's because fast food hamburgers delicious and just like the way a
(13:13):
very complicated dish that took a long time to simmer when marinade is delicious but yeah this
one I could see how for you take a couple passes I was thinking about that leading up to this podcast
what if I heard it right now at you know at this point in my life like how would I receive it
differently would I have the same reaction and you know definitely not what I appreciate it as much
(13:34):
I think so but it would be different having where I am now and where my headspace is and all of that so
walk me through the album how you listen to it do you skip around or do you go front to back
I don't it's funny I am a very definitive person with everything like anyone who knows me really well
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like I'm in a lot of bands and play with a lot of artists and I write the set lists for every
band I'm in because in my head I'm like this is the first song this second song and so
track listings are huge to me and I could take any album I love and be like they messed up
so do you religiously go front to back whenever you're on an album I don't because in my head there's
(14:16):
a very specific order and which things make sense and I almost instantly know it I'm weird and
and it's only unique to you know it's for me so you have a specific order for this one that you
probably listen to that this one I don't this one I think they nailed it and radio head to me
it's that just perfect orders every album you know it's like in rainbows coming out 15 step
(14:39):
just okay computer coming out with airbag and then the sequence after I'm like oh they nailed that
you know like I'm a critique of album order for most every album and there's a lot that I think
are just perfect and then there's somewhere I'm like oh no they messed that up that's not a song
11 that's a fifth song you know I agree with that and they say that you could tell sometimes when
(15:00):
a band will put the track at four or five so that it's that that hitmaker one yep when it
wouldn't be no exact load much better later or fire exactly and so for me you know this album
kicks off with everything in its right place which is just perfect in that sequence
I always say that the first track of an album no whether it's death metal hip-hop rock alternative
(15:45):
classical ambient it should hit you in the crotch in some way and or just grab you you know and
just be like some of the heaviest song ones on albums are from the chillest bands to me and it's
just how impactful that first track is to where you're just like whatever you're doing it just grabs
you and is like nope right over here you know your focus is and then it just you sink in and then
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it takes you on that that journey you know everything in its right place it's mid bpm's and it's not
a hype song by any means but and there's not a lot of hype songs on this album no funny because the
other album I was gonna bring to this would have been tool lateralist those are kind of my top two
which is totally different that one is and it's got higher bpm's and it's something you want to
(16:31):
drive on the highway to and all that kind of stuff and this one's very different which is very
different for me too because I love that driving kind of stuff but I love the sequence of this from
everything in its right place to kid a national anthem is probably the most hyped song on the album
how to disappear completely oddly is the slowest and possibly my favorite song on the album
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tree fingers which is mainly instrumental optimistic into in limbo they kind of segue into each
other is gorgeous idiotic is a hype song morning bell and then the very long kind of meditative
motion picture soundtrack with a little brief hidden track at the end it's to me just perfect you
know they say there's like infinite ways you can shuffle a 52 a deck of cards like this album I
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think no matter how you shuffle it this is the correct order for it yeah especially through the
repeated listens I had since you you picked the cell when I agree with the order I'm definitely
(17:41):
not a fan of all the songs and I understand and I appreciate where they're at in one yes I say
everything in its right place is a very radio head start that is my main note on that particular track
and doing more research on the album I found out that a lot of these lyrics were came from dreams
and nightmares yeah yep during the okay computer tour yes and the recording of this and so you
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get some really fascinating lyrics and like waking up sucking on a lemon yeah yep we just basically
being miserable yes and then kid a we've got heads on sticks and you're to a ventriloquist I mean
it's very vivid imagery that they're painting and I could see that being pulled straight from dreams
that's crazy and that's the thing that's the funny connect lyrics are important to me for sure and
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they always have been like when I was before digital stuff when I was younger I used to write down
song lyrics and I would have to rewind and listen and listen and I still somewhere I have no books full
of my favorite song lyrics and I'm like lateralist by tool was also the right arm at the right time for
me and the lyrics are so profound to me and so meaningful that like I could refer to them
(18:50):
for advice and as a mile marker guide this album not the case it's a lot of obscure probably
nonsense the cold to the listener just like you said past work of dreams and ramblings and all
of that but it's like I love him I hear Tom York's voice most always as more of an instrument as more
(19:11):
of a lot of condominous cigarette Ross kind of way where it's like he's also an instrument using
that I'm not necessarily listening to this trying to get insight I'm always positive that on our
in-rambos episode my friend Luke said the exact same thing that Tom's voice is an instrument absolutely
in the emotion and and one thing you know kind of like what you were saying about you know woke up
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sucking a lemon and all that like the time frame when this was written they were miserable gosh I
had a VHS that I guess was for sale or maybe I don't know how I got it and it followed the band
through this time had a bunch of interviews miserable especially Tom York hated fame hated the
attention almost quit you know and just they almost broke up for no reason other than just not
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enjoying themselves for so long I believe as Michael Steip from R&M that a motivated Tom York to
keep going because they were on tour together and I like that I'd like hearing people work stuff out
through music you know you put on a Billy holiday album she had like the most traumatic life you
hear every experience in every note or the timbre of her voice and every nuance of it and I
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feel like you get that from this it can be hard for me when people are just balling out of control
living their best Hollywood lives hearing a sad song from one of them I'm like yeah
alright but you know that that's also it goes into when I listen to it the first time I like to go
in blind I didn't read any history first I just listened to the album you so hearing everything
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straight through and then that's what I said to myself what the hell did I just listen to and then
doing a little research you realized the headspace they were in yeah and I gotta give them a lot of
credit because a lot of artists in that headspace can go down a very dark path yes yes and it's
incredible to them for not doing that number one well I don't know they're all personal hats but but
(21:07):
they know you're correct you're still creating today and there's still I believe they're all still
friends I don't know of any you know gigantic blowups but they were able to turn that into art
at the time that was widely accepted and you widely different yes wildly different that's that's
that's amazing absolutely and that's the thing is I mean they've been together since they were
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ultimately like boys you know in Oxford they all still live in Oxford I think Ed O'Brien the
guitarist lives in London which they give him crap about but uh and you know I feel insanely lucky
doing what I do because for the last six years I became friends with the bass player Colin Greenwood
through interviewing him we got to talking outside of it and we keep in touch and he he'll ask me
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advice on gear and this and that and I have to very much restrain myself from letting him on to how
big a big a fan I am but I tell this to people I feel like he doesn't know he's famous and he doesn't
know how big radio it is you know the first email I got from him the subject of it said hi John
this is Colin Greenwood from Radiohead you know I was like I know who you are like I obviously I've
(22:19):
obsessed over your band for my whole adult life that that's crazy to me because what I said at the
beginning where my cousin in high school was all about okay computer you know my friend Luke who did
in rain was we're all from the Midwest yeah middle of nowhere cornfield Illinois yeah and Radiohead was
huge you still is mm-hmm I don't believe not recognize how big of a celebrity are but just to be able to grow
(22:42):
roll through that not shallotly like that that's impressive every response of his where I'm like oh my
god I love that song and he's a quote you like that you know like I was like yes like you know I know
millions of millions of people who I happen to also like that and it's funny because when we'll talk
they'll be like oh I'm on a holiday with my brother Johnny and I'm like I know your brother's
Johnny Greenwood like you know the craziest guitarist and now most renowned scores and uh
(23:08):
all of that so I love that too that they've all they're all still close never broke up they took
a seven year break like you said they didn't fall into addiction they didn't fall into the pitfalls
that are very common with artists and music and it's very logical why that occurs but they you
can really tell from their albums that that is where it goes you know they don't pocket that and have
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all you know ulcers and stomach issues because it all just goes right into the music and this album
to me is distilled is that emotion distilled not the happiest
sad old sleep and pills that we get back to you know what funny thing was I was helping
(24:04):
clean out a warehouse a while back and I had that at kid A playing a couple of my buddies and I loved it
and it was playing in my mom stopped by and she was there for a little while and she goes this is the
most depressing music I've ever heard in my life he's like are you okay and I was like oh yeah
you're right it is you know I'm like no I'm great like this makes me happy but like yeah like I
(24:29):
totally I like seeing stuff from other people's lenses and you know like I was talking to my
buddies that just can't stand radio ahead and I like that I'm like what do you hate like what do
you hate most what what bugs you you know when he's a call the voice is just whiny and just so this and
this and the guitars like don't make sense and this and the beat is in steady I'm like that is so
(24:51):
cool to hear because like I love both ends of it you know yeah because there's no lie there no
that's so hard and that's part of the point you know yeah one of my favorite quotes of all time is
arguing about music is like dancing about politics and it's like everyone has an opinion and their
opinion is correct because it's their opinion you know and that's why any arguments online which
(25:13):
is now the sounding board and the grounds of the war that is you're wrong and I'm right it's all
just gibberish because the album I like the least is someone's favorite album and that is awesome
and for that I love that album for them not for me but it's all subjective so kid A made the top
of your list what albums would have made your short list go three to five albums you mentioned
(25:36):
to already that you possibly would have brought to the table that's so funny you said because I sat
and I actually listed and I had to think so far about it this was pretty easy like when you and I
were talking before this and you're like yeah just bringing on to the table I was like oh kid A
tools later Alice was right up there and then it's a weird mix the albums that are on my short list
(25:57):
and this is just very obviously specific to my life our radio heads kid A tool later Alice
Atlions by Outcast Fiona Apple's title De La Soul's Stakes is High
Deftone's White Pony and Bjork's debut that was what I narrowed it to
Electric List my man very much so and I still have you remember those huge like 100 CD cases
(26:22):
full of albums yes I still have like 10 of those that's where all my money went my whole first half
my life was albums now I stream them I have a ton on here and you know I could make a top 100 list
pretty no problem that would get into older stuff and newer stuff and all this and that but randomly
those are the albums that I have probably impacted me most and I do think it's right place right time
(26:46):
in my life for all of those and each has like a very different and very important purpose to me so
the latter Alice tour was the only concert I ever left really right oh that's amazing see I love
you on that too I love it because I love tool I mean undertow and I'm a yep better also just that
(27:06):
that was my tool era yeah so when I was actually stationed in Hawaii oh my early 20s and they came
out to Honolulu and did a show and it was bad wow that's amazing to hear well they held it on the
UH campus and they banned all alcohol not off the bat so everyone was stone sober and a bit sport yep
(27:28):
and the antics of of Maynard and crew didn't really hit as well when everyone's just kind of
standing there yes standing there at one point he turned around and played PlayStation for 20 minutes
wow and while there wasn't really a bass solo it was just drowning doon doon doon do yes yep after that
we're like you guys want to go get a drink so we left yes yes I could definitely see how that would
(27:55):
hit and see that's what I'm tired love that because I love that album I saw that tour loved it one
of the best shows in my life that's the coolest thing Steve is that I genuinely enjoy that because
there's not a lot well there anything in life is pretty subjective aside from some principled things
but that's the coolest thing I never take a fencing suit I don't even take offense to people hating
(28:19):
music that I'm a part of it's like yeah man that's great and bands can give a bad show just
personally sometimes you know stuff happens but also there's mitigating circumstances like I said
it was it was a dry concert which yes just didn't really go over too well I'm sure there was no
opening act it was very very sterile yes but like two weeks after that I saw Pennywise at a dive bar
(28:42):
and it it was great oh absolutely Pennywise is great on their own man I mean that's the
coolest things some of the best shows I've seen were in dives and probably bands you know like
anyone not a ton of people know about on a widespread kind of level and it doesn't take anything you
know it you don't have to have the the huge food fighters stage set up or a guns and roses stage
(29:09):
set up big and you know a good show is a good show and good music yeah some of the best shows
I've ever seen were in dive bars I saw a warrant in a dive bar nearly how we were there port and they were
great yes ski exactly man that's the thing is that it's just you find it that's why it's always
worth going to see live music you never know when it's going to be something that just kind of
altars you and there's no way like that but I love hearing that you say that about that album
(29:36):
and I like that because even within bands anyone could argue like with radio head like okay computer
obviously or in rainbows obviously and yeah it's just everyone has different tastes that's
cool thing so let's talk some about your world yes tell us about base magazine you've been in that
since back in the guitar world days right yeah yeah so I've been doing this 20 years now I got into
(30:01):
journalism in 2005 so yeah 20 years now and I've been in the bass realm I'm a bass player obviously
as you can see behind me and much more that is not in eyesight and I just started as a freelance
writer had never written before never took a journalism class stumbled on it it got an opportunity
took it and then I just kind of lied and said yes to everything from that point on and it was kind
(30:26):
of like oh I'm freelance writing and then they're like oh can you take photographs I'm like of
court yeah I have some of photographers so I got a camera and started shooting and then can you be
a web editor of course I can't yes and then I did that and can you be a gear editor can you be a
managing editor and so I just yesed my way through it and then ended up at bass player magazine and
(30:47):
2011 until it was purchased in late 2018 early 2019 by a British company and they instead of kind
of going in the direction they were taking it the US staff branched off and we started bass magazine
we've been around since 2019 so right before COVID like everything halted but that was
(31:09):
embed because we are online only and so we just were getting content on the daily you know and as much
and trying to provide everything we could to the community and now we've been going on six years
strong and we have these awards that are coming up and we put out issues regularly features
interviews constantly yeah I love it it's a beautiful thing I at this point I've done over 450 interviews
(31:33):
I've gone through my entire bucket list of heroes and musicians that I would never thought of my life
I would get to talk to or hang out with and all of that and I'm thrilled about that obviously and it's
cool to know that everyone's just people you know that's the the biggest thing I say is no matter how big
the star is they have bad days they have depression they have anxiety they have relationship problems
(31:57):
they have money problems they have health issues it's cool it's just a cool thing to see the super stars
through a different lens and more so just the bass community is a beautiful insulated place that is
um the largely very supportive of the bass family unlike you know all the instruments and stuff
it really is supportive I'm not just saying that to make us sound cooler and so it's it's been really
(32:23):
rewarding and edifying being in this space for so long well you knocked off one of my questions
as well as say is there anybody left on your legends list but yeah yeah I've done Paul McCartney
would love to get we you know we have as bass player magazine we had covered him the major ones that
I still want to interact with while I have the opportunity would probably be you know John Paul
(32:45):
Jones Paul McCartney that's yeah otherwise it's I've been lucky being kind of in the the right places so
are there any out there that you have interviewed and that you interact with that still make
it nervous just by entering the room no luckily you know what's funny about that because I don't
get asked a lot of questions I don't talk a ton about what I do but that is one question I get
(33:06):
and it's funny because musicians are very comfortable to me and I think early on the shock factor of
it kind of rolled off I was thrown in some pretty wild situations early on in my career and from that
got really tempered into it but then it's funny because if I'm out in LA and I stumble across an
actor I'm like holy cow that's them and I think it's just be it's like a visual kind of thing it's
(33:30):
like because you see them on screen and all that and those I'm just even it could be like a belis
act or I'm like oh dude that's blank but then a musician can walk in and be like hey man like you
know or hey dude like this or that but yeah I've had there definitely been some cool weird
pains not weird but just like how the heck is this happening kind of situations you know pinch me
(33:53):
kind of things but yeah but I'm typically pretty comfortable you know when I function primarily
off zoom and all that I'm out in Arizona you're like leaking my questions but as I was gonna say I
my ex question was how do you do interviews these days with these guys is it remote or do you
get back stage at concerts or yeah yeah that that's the thing is I love doing them in person because
you get so much more and you get a connection the biggest thing as you know from doing this is kind
(34:17):
of comfortability and trust and when you're in person you can very much instill that a bit quicker
you know I think early into interviews the artist can relax and know that I have no malicious
intent that I'm not looking for clickbait I'm not looking for an easy headline it's just really
caring about that person and their music and connecting just in a human conversational way and I think in
(34:41):
person you can really get that across and zoom you can to a degree you know to a large degree too
phoneers are good you know doing it over the phone but it's it loses a little bit seeing facial
expression and reaction and all of that so my number one mode that I love most is in person so
you know I'll travel a lot and knock out a bunch and at once otherwise just all day zoom baby I get
(35:05):
zoom fatigue a ton from meetings and because you know even just from what we do it's like my team is
in LA New York some in Nashville some in San Francisco and all that and so and then the companies
we work with are all over the grid so it's a lot of staring into it and then it's funny because I'll
walk outside I'm like oh yeah real life like I'm not a avatar yeah that's how I conduct my interviews
(35:28):
leading into the next namshow based magazines a big part of that to me can you tell us what you all
got planned this time or a yes so coming up we have the 2026 based magazine awards we did base player
live for about 15 20 years before it was defunct and that that magazine kind of subsided and we would give
(35:49):
a words out and back then it was great I'm so thankful that we were able to get so many on the list
before they passed you know the john and whistles and the don't many that were able to come in person we
gave let me kill mr. we got him as a ward and he passed away within two weeks after that and so it
was cool to kind of I was the one that went out and greeted him from his limo and he came out with
(36:14):
a bottle of vodka and some female companions and explained to me that vodka's healthier on his
liver than whiskey and all this and that and got to let me as a god yeah see yeah see exactly and
then he passed away a couple of weeks later and I was like we always say that in our editorial meetings
where like we have to get them on the cover while we can when kind of they hit a certain point we just
(36:38):
went out to stings new york home to present him his lifetime achievement award he got really ill
last year he was our headliner and you know recipient of a lifetime achievement we just got to give him
the award last year was amazing we had sting was headlining he was very very sick so he had
to sit that one out but we gave lifetime achievement awards to Justin Chancellor of tool and we actually
(37:03):
had tool perform it's at a thousand person venue which is the observatory in Santa Ana California
and tool hadn't played a show that size since like 1991 so it was really cool getting them in there
without their setup and without everything yeah that would be neat yeah yeah it was really cool we had
an amazing legend of based john patatucci who played an amazing set we got him a lifetime achievement
(37:27):
we got future of base awards to monon neon and he performed and we actually had less clay pool come
out and the guitar stars noise perform with him which was really cool to see we had mohini day
amazing young base player who's just at the top of the field with a future of base award this year
it's Thursday January 22nd at the observatory in Santa Ana California and we have Mike Dirt
(37:54):
from green day receiving a lifetime achievement we have less clay pool of primus receiving a lifetime
achievement we have Marcus Miller is one of the greatest base players to ever do it receiving a
lifetime achievement we have Laura Lee of Krungben who's receiving a future of base award and
blue to tiger of his phenomenal who's receiving a future of base award we don't announce performances
(38:15):
going into it which life would be easier sitting in my chair if we did announce performances but
I'll say is that last year we had tool and all those amazing performances this year is like beyond
that so it's something you don't want to miss especially in a thousand person venue that you're
close you're right there at all times you know for any basis listing who are heading to namb for the
(38:36):
first time is there anything that you could recommend that they don't miss while they're there
man so I've gone I think this will be my 13th namb it is a lot it is
walking into willy wonka's chocolate factory times a million to where I'll never forget the
first time I went in I got my badge I was with a couple buddies and went through the first set of
(39:00):
doors oh this is amazing went through the second set uh here we are went got into the actual
convention center and was like whoa you know at that time it was like 90,000 people you have
50,000 people shredding and taking drum solos at the same time it's like a guitar center
(39:20):
a whole country of guitar center at the same time and it is amazing the first year I've
walked in and I was going to check out the bass stuff and all of a sudden there's a little crowd
coming by and right in front of my face is walking Stevie Wonder and I was like oh my gosh that is
Stevie Wonder take a bunch more steps I'm at the Gibson booth checking out a bass of theirs and I
(39:44):
turn around and I hear just this guy talking and I turn around and they're slash just like looking at
a model he's like oh yeah yeah this this and this and I was like this is the coolest thing but it's
a lot especially if you go the whole spin I would say like you would tell someone go into Disneyland
or something pace yourself figure out what you really want to see because that is the ultimate
(40:06):
distraction and sidetrack you know state of mind because you're like okay yo we got to go check
out orange amps let's head over this way and all of a sudden you're like oh dude look at this and
there's performances all of a sudden you look over and it's like insane it's like oh Steve
Vi is just shredding on this like holy cow and you go there I think I go yeah orange amps let's go
here and all of a sudden you go over and it's like living color the band like playing and you're
(40:30):
like oh my god obviously we're watching this and all of a sudden you know it's five o'clock and
you're like what were we gonna go see and so I would say figure out what you want to see they have
an amazing app and you can actually like set a course and kind of a schedule for yourselves use
their resources NAM has continually evolved over the years and they do a great job of evolving with
(40:52):
what people want it's like I always feel like they actually listen you know like there's some companies
where they'll put out a new iteration of something and you're like oh they got all the memos like
they listen to everybody like I feel like NAM really does that and so use the resources and just see
as much cool stuff as you can get ready to not eat much you can go a day and be like oh I don't think
(41:14):
I ate today yeah get ready to not sleep much and bring ear plugs because it gets very loud and the
aesthetic overload comes in waves you know there were years went with bass player ride meetings all day
and I would hit a point at four where I'm like I don't think I ate and then I'd be like I think I
need to sit down you know like I don't think this is healthy and then you just end up drinking like
(41:36):
medically alarming sized coffees and all this and like but it's amazing you can't experience it anywhere
else so just get ready I had a press credentials last year and then my son and daughter are actors
so when they book something you know that takes precedence over anything podcast related yep I have
press credentials this year again but there's a chance that I'll see I'll be on sets or no I keep
(42:03):
you gonna make it out and then I want to talk to you after you end up making it out but that is
amazing that your kids are actors and see I would be star struck by them not getty Lee but
your kids that would be uh yeah he likes rush there you go I need to get him and getty and a rule yeah
there you go there you go that's the next assignment he likes rush through South Park it was
(42:26):
oh I like everything through South Park of course uh any foul thoughts about Kid A based magazine
NAM anything yeah those are my thoughts um for the most part on Kid A I love it I guess now I can
pretty my yeah I'll say definitively it's probably my most meaningful and favorite album I would
(42:48):
say that we are looking for 2027 it didn't work out this year because of their shows but most likely
expect that calling Greenwood of Radiohead will be getting a lifetime achievement award so that
kind of ties in both worlds there and yeah go to base magazine awards dot com and get your tickets
if you're gonna be at NAM don't miss it it's definitely the biggest I can say that without
(43:12):
ego but it's the biggest concert event that's going on there you don't want to miss it tickets are
reasonably priced the lineup is gonna blow people away even we roll out what we announce and
every day cool new advancements come like uh we're gonna announce soon that like Mark Hopper
of Blink 182 is gonna come give Mike Dern you know the award he's gonna be one of his we have other
(43:35):
celebrity musicians be the presenters we'll roll those out kind of one by one so stay tuned for more
details go to base magazine dot com follow us on socials blah blah blah like and subscribe all that
crap everyone says yada yada but it's a really amazing night and it's awesome being there and we're
gonna have full coverage being backstage and in the green room is bonkers last year it was like
(44:01):
I walked into one of the green rooms and it was less clay pool popping one of his bottles of
champagne from his vineyard with the members of tool while Verdean white of earth wind and fire
was eating a plate of pasta while less clay pool was telling Verdean he's the reason he started playing
base while who else it was like it was not it was just like all while Victor Wooten was taking a
(44:26):
picture with towel looking fell then you know it's just nuts and and so the podcasters fever dream
yes exactly and the cool thing is they want they go wander around you know like I remember at one
point of the show because I go out and kind of announce the the people coming out I looked out and
it was like Rick Biotto with Maynard of tool with less clay pool all this whole group standing with
(44:48):
just the crowd and I was like that would never happen they're usually so secure but it was it's such
a secure and safe environment where everyone's just there celebrating base players hey we rarely
get celebrated us base players so this is kind of a night for all the the girls and boys out there
who play the four string five string six string and live in the low end world awesome well
(45:10):
John I want to thank you for being a guest on a music rewind I really do appreciate it it was a
pleasure to sit and talk with you about Radiohead's Kid A and and all things base so it's a pleasure
David was such a pleasure man it was such a good time I love the concept of this and the depth of it
usually it's kind of like you get on plug your thing and give a few cool cool things you know
(45:30):
pull quotes and and see and this this is a amazing concept you do music rewind is a beautiful thing
I fully support so thank you so much for having me on tell your friends I will tell trust me
well I'll make them like and subscribe thank you for listening to this episode of music rewind
as always we appreciate a really good review wherever you listen and go to music rewind podcast.com
(45:56):
for information on the show more extras and future episodes so as I always say listen to the full
well until next time.
a podcast from the Sidereal Media Group. Back to you, anchors.
[Music]
(00:21):
Hello and welcome to Music Rewind, a podcast where we look to tell the stories behind our favorite albums.
I'm your host Steve Epley and in each episode we invite a guest on to tell us about their favorite music album,
how they discovered it and what makes it special to them.
Joining me tonight is thenerichief of Bass Magazine Jon D'Auria, a lifelong bassist and storyteller,
John has spent over two decades deep in the trenches of the low-end world,
(00:43):
toured with bands, laying down tracks and top studios, and riding for premier music outlets.
So, taking the helm of Bass Magazine, he's become the definitive voice for bass players everywhere.
Welcome John and thank you for being on the show.
Oh Steve, thank you so much additionally and I'm hiring you to write my bio because you just made
me sound cooler than I am so I really appreciate that. That is why I'm here, my pleasure.
(01:05):
Love it, love it, no that's great. And it's such an honor to be here, love what you do,
love the format so I'm thrilled, man. All right then well let's jump right into this.
What album did you bring to the table and what makes it special to you?
So, the album I brought to the table is the 2000 released album from Radiohead Kid Ape.
(01:46):
And when you brought the concept of the album and kind of bring that, that just definitively
popped in my head because that's to me probably my personal favorite album of all time.
Beautiful thing about music is it's subjective. I love Radiohead, I have close friends who can't
stand Radiohead. It's like nails on a chalkboard to them and I love that too because their music could
(02:08):
sound like the hillbilly's on a bender to me but this album just had such a deep impact on my life
and still does. It's one of the albums that I put on like comfort food and sometimes I'll just crave
it and be like, "Oh, I need Kid A today." And I can listen to it continuously on repeat and just
never tire of it. So that's why it was my pick. How did you discover it? Well it's funny because I grew
(02:34):
up really into hip hop and all that kind of stuff but then I started branching to kind of the
raging against the machine. Other things and when I started playing bass our singer was really big
into Radiohead and I remembered the paranoid Android video from MTV and it was that cartoon and it
had such an imprint on me that I was like in a Beavis and Butthead way else like that's awesome.
(02:58):
I don't know what's going on musically. What's a great video? Yes, I can identify what instruments are
doing what but I like this. And so that stuck with me and then you know of course stuff from Pablo
Honey and the Bens would see its way into pop culture. The early songs of Radiohead I ended up getting
okay computer first and that's just a whole 35 podcasts on its own. And then when I kind of
(03:22):
branched off on my own exploring Radiohead it was in my early 20s and when I was in my early 20s
I was pissed that nobody tells you how messed up your 20s are because you hit all these adulthood
things and for me and many people is just an existential crisis. You know you start things happening
(03:43):
your life and they're bigger than they probably are in hindsight. Things like depression anxiety
might start seeping in if you nest you know kind of were able to avoid those thus far in your life
and it's a confusing time period and I was in a weird place for a while and this album I got it
and this was CD time you know I'm fine date myself but I got the CD and put it in and it was just like
(04:09):
the vaccine you know it was like the cure and explanation of what I was feeling in a very musical
sense and I became just hooked on it like really you could ask my friends that I have to this day
I would get home from classes and work and I would just go in my room I had three roommates and I would
(04:30):
just put this on I had a fairly nice stereo in my room and I would just put it on and let it cycle
on the CD and I had it on the repeat album mode and I would just listen to it until I'd go to a band
rehearsal later that night and it was what I needed it was the right album at the right time for me
yeah I'm forever grateful that it exists for that reason
(04:50):
that's a wonderful thing to find when you're in that frame of mind as a young adult I completely
(05:12):
understand yeah I did my own episode of this show in season one where animals were pink Floyd was
very similar to that whole thing to this yes yes and hit me right where I wanted it and it still
sits with me to this day my exposure to radio head was okay computer in high school same same
yep me too an older cousin that told me that because I love pink Floyd so much that I'm required
(05:37):
to like radio head it's just a wreck with it yep that turned it off for me I was like yeah then no
so in 2000 though I was out of high school I had no idea this album existed I had no idea in rainbows
existed I mean I was just kind of I had shut radio head out and so it's only in my middle age here
that I'd recently been rediscovering some of these radio head albums through music rewind because we
(06:02):
did in rainbows in season one as well masterpiece as well that yeah I kind of approached this album this
said because this was so this was a first time listen for me I had never heard kid a yeah it was
fascinating and it was not what I was expecting because it wasn't okay computer and it wasn't in rainbows
no this was completely different and you know they came to a crossroads where when okay computer came
(06:27):
out they came off their debuts which were Pablo honey and the bends you know both albums are amazing
I still love them to this day but you know those were pretty on the road of alternative and rock
and songwriter and they stayed in that lane you know for the most part okay computer came out and
was just like you could tell that was an album where they're like I love when artists and bands you
(06:50):
can tell they were in a bubble when they were writing this and if they had influences there's
not a ton of signs of them on it what's kind of like they were on their own planet with its own
gravity and atmosphere so coming from that the whole world was kind of like where do they go next what's
the next sound and radio head is good at having their DNA in all of their music but totally transforming
(07:14):
where they're gonna go so when this came out and they recorded it in Mnejac which came out I believe
a year or within the year that kid A came out and it also it's kind of showed that they didn't care
they weren't trying to like really keep people on the radio head train who didn't want to be on it
you know and they weren't making music to not pander but to really please anybody but themselves and so
(07:37):
it was such a left turn for them for sure like all their albums really and that's fascinating they
were kind of giving a silent middle finger to the record industry and and a very not so long way
because they've released it on Napster apparently for free and then it still hit number one upon its release
exactly yes it's fascinating
(08:18):
and it's such a cool thing and it's just a testament like any good music you know you brought up
pink Floyd they didn't care what was on the radio I'm listening to a lot of pink Floyd right now and
it's so dissonant and you know so much of it is it requires a little patience and requires all those
things and that goes back to what I was saying about you know when bands are writing for themselves
(08:40):
and for the music and they kind of take on the role of being a steward of their expression then it's
like that's magic we live in a very much in era and you could say this in any decade where you know people
want to be famous and rock stars and rich and all that and that's great and I talked to those kind
of bands constantly amazing it's phenomenal but it's just cool when there's a very unique kind of
(09:03):
divide in that of I'm doing this for me this is what's coming out you know I can't have no control over
it listen if you want and if not you know somehow radio head has become one of those bands that
akin to the 60s and 70s of a band that that evolved their the beginning sounds nothing like their end
nowadays bands can't really they're not allowed they whether that's financial or the need to feed
(09:28):
the algorithm you can't experiment you can't do something drastically different and the radio has
kind of one of the last remaining bands I think they're still yeah oh absolutely actually they just
played their first series of concerts in seven years and it looks like they just needed to kind of
regenerate and it looks like they're back full on but yeah you're totally right I mean look at
(09:49):
something that's not my ballpark but like Taylor Swift just put out her album and it's different
than what she had been putting out and it was so not ridiculed but it was so scrutinized that it's
slightly different of what she was doing and I love what you said about artists who have been
able to sound you know the princes and the David Bowies and the Led Zeppelin's and those who
(10:10):
you start on album one and by the time you get to the end it's like the Beatles you know of course
the greatest band of all time it's like what was that you know what was that right I just went on
absolutely I mean even Metallica the right of the lightning sounds something like what they're doing now
or there are bands like the Foo Fighters good consistent yeah rock albums you know there's there's not
(10:32):
a lot of evolution on the overall sound but they're consistent but radiohead is one that is
yeah the bends of Pablo Honey completely different than Hale to the Thief or in Rebo so
and then you have a very unique one like this in there where apparently they threw guitars
to the side and let's let's experiment with sound and yeah a Foo Fighters
(10:54):
exactly wild it's the kind of thing where I had such that was like the one thing I listened to for
a couple of years and I was constantly hearing new stuff in it and what now and times when I put
it on now especially with how amazing headphones are and you know air buds and monitors and everything
I'm still hearing new stuff it's you know like the Beatles were kind of big into
(11:18):
experimenting like that like something you might not hear for a few decades and all of a sudden
like I never heard that tambourine or I never heard that eighth guitar lick in there this album very
much is like that for me and it's like I constantly discover new things and you know I love talking
about it with people and everyone loves talking about the music they love and so when you find someone
(11:40):
that loves what you love it's a great thing to really dive into that and so I love hearing other
people's responses and you know interpretations of it and yeah it's just a very encompassing album for me
that's not me
(12:05):
yeah on first listen I definitely thought what the hell was that what did I just listen to
it takes a couple of listens for me to compare to like Prague rock yes something like deep from like
yes or something yes yes I need to listen to it several times and really you know with good headphones
(12:28):
yeah to let it click with me and then I'm noticing the layer here the extra lyrics here something weird
over there and radio head is all about layers yes exact like like if you're talking about taste
sensory and stuff it's like you know if you go to fast food and you get a burger you're like
ah that tastes the burger that's great and if you go into like a fine restaurant that has
(12:50):
insane menu items where every bite is kind of like you're oh my gosh there's sage in this and wow
this it's like that kind of thing and I love music like that I also love the the stuff that just
makes me feel good you know I don't want to call a mindless but you know there's a reason that the
top 40 songs are the top 40 and it's because fast food hamburgers delicious and just like the way a
(13:13):
very complicated dish that took a long time to simmer when marinade is delicious but yeah this
one I could see how for you take a couple passes I was thinking about that leading up to this podcast
what if I heard it right now at you know at this point in my life like how would I receive it
differently would I have the same reaction and you know definitely not what I appreciate it as much
(13:34):
I think so but it would be different having where I am now and where my headspace is and all of that so
walk me through the album how you listen to it do you skip around or do you go front to back
I don't it's funny I am a very definitive person with everything like anyone who knows me really well
(13:54):
like I'm in a lot of bands and play with a lot of artists and I write the set lists for every
band I'm in because in my head I'm like this is the first song this second song and so
track listings are huge to me and I could take any album I love and be like they messed up
so do you religiously go front to back whenever you're on an album I don't because in my head there's
(14:16):
a very specific order and which things make sense and I almost instantly know it I'm weird and
and it's only unique to you know it's for me so you have a specific order for this one that you
probably listen to that this one I don't this one I think they nailed it and radio head to me
it's that just perfect orders every album you know it's like in rainbows coming out 15 step
(14:39):
just okay computer coming out with airbag and then the sequence after I'm like oh they nailed that
you know like I'm a critique of album order for most every album and there's a lot that I think
are just perfect and then there's somewhere I'm like oh no they messed that up that's not a song
11 that's a fifth song you know I agree with that and they say that you could tell sometimes when
(15:00):
a band will put the track at four or five so that it's that that hitmaker one yep when it
wouldn't be no exact load much better later or fire exactly and so for me you know this album
kicks off with everything in its right place which is just perfect in that sequence
I always say that the first track of an album no whether it's death metal hip-hop rock alternative
(15:45):
classical ambient it should hit you in the crotch in some way and or just grab you you know and
just be like some of the heaviest song ones on albums are from the chillest bands to me and it's
just how impactful that first track is to where you're just like whatever you're doing it just grabs
you and is like nope right over here you know your focus is and then it just you sink in and then
(16:11):
it takes you on that that journey you know everything in its right place it's mid bpm's and it's not
a hype song by any means but and there's not a lot of hype songs on this album no funny because the
other album I was gonna bring to this would have been tool lateralist those are kind of my top two
which is totally different that one is and it's got higher bpm's and it's something you want to
(16:31):
drive on the highway to and all that kind of stuff and this one's very different which is very
different for me too because I love that driving kind of stuff but I love the sequence of this from
everything in its right place to kid a national anthem is probably the most hyped song on the album
how to disappear completely oddly is the slowest and possibly my favorite song on the album
(16:52):
tree fingers which is mainly instrumental optimistic into in limbo they kind of segue into each
other is gorgeous idiotic is a hype song morning bell and then the very long kind of meditative
motion picture soundtrack with a little brief hidden track at the end it's to me just perfect you
know they say there's like infinite ways you can shuffle a 52 a deck of cards like this album I
(17:16):
think no matter how you shuffle it this is the correct order for it yeah especially through the
repeated listens I had since you you picked the cell when I agree with the order I'm definitely
(17:41):
not a fan of all the songs and I understand and I appreciate where they're at in one yes I say
everything in its right place is a very radio head start that is my main note on that particular track
and doing more research on the album I found out that a lot of these lyrics were came from dreams
and nightmares yeah yep during the okay computer tour yes and the recording of this and so you
(18:04):
get some really fascinating lyrics and like waking up sucking on a lemon yeah yep we just basically
being miserable yes and then kid a we've got heads on sticks and you're to a ventriloquist I mean
it's very vivid imagery that they're painting and I could see that being pulled straight from dreams
that's crazy and that's the thing that's the funny connect lyrics are important to me for sure and
(18:25):
they always have been like when I was before digital stuff when I was younger I used to write down
song lyrics and I would have to rewind and listen and listen and I still somewhere I have no books full
of my favorite song lyrics and I'm like lateralist by tool was also the right arm at the right time for
me and the lyrics are so profound to me and so meaningful that like I could refer to them
(18:50):
for advice and as a mile marker guide this album not the case it's a lot of obscure probably
nonsense the cold to the listener just like you said past work of dreams and ramblings and all
of that but it's like I love him I hear Tom York's voice most always as more of an instrument as more
(19:11):
of a lot of condominous cigarette Ross kind of way where it's like he's also an instrument using
that I'm not necessarily listening to this trying to get insight I'm always positive that on our
in-rambos episode my friend Luke said the exact same thing that Tom's voice is an instrument absolutely
in the emotion and and one thing you know kind of like what you were saying about you know woke up
(19:32):
sucking a lemon and all that like the time frame when this was written they were miserable gosh I
had a VHS that I guess was for sale or maybe I don't know how I got it and it followed the band
through this time had a bunch of interviews miserable especially Tom York hated fame hated the
attention almost quit you know and just they almost broke up for no reason other than just not
(19:57):
enjoying themselves for so long I believe as Michael Steip from R&M that a motivated Tom York to
keep going because they were on tour together and I like that I'd like hearing people work stuff out
through music you know you put on a Billy holiday album she had like the most traumatic life you
hear every experience in every note or the timbre of her voice and every nuance of it and I
(20:22):
feel like you get that from this it can be hard for me when people are just balling out of control
living their best Hollywood lives hearing a sad song from one of them I'm like yeah
alright but you know that that's also it goes into when I listen to it the first time I like to go
in blind I didn't read any history first I just listened to the album you so hearing everything
(20:46):
straight through and then that's what I said to myself what the hell did I just listen to and then
doing a little research you realized the headspace they were in yeah and I gotta give them a lot of
credit because a lot of artists in that headspace can go down a very dark path yes yes and it's
incredible to them for not doing that number one well I don't know they're all personal hats but but
(21:07):
they know you're correct you're still creating today and there's still I believe they're all still
friends I don't know of any you know gigantic blowups but they were able to turn that into art
at the time that was widely accepted and you widely different yes wildly different that's that's
that's amazing absolutely and that's the thing is I mean they've been together since they were
(21:28):
ultimately like boys you know in Oxford they all still live in Oxford I think Ed O'Brien the
guitarist lives in London which they give him crap about but uh and you know I feel insanely lucky
doing what I do because for the last six years I became friends with the bass player Colin Greenwood
through interviewing him we got to talking outside of it and we keep in touch and he he'll ask me
(21:53):
advice on gear and this and that and I have to very much restrain myself from letting him on to how
big a big a fan I am but I tell this to people I feel like he doesn't know he's famous and he doesn't
know how big radio it is you know the first email I got from him the subject of it said hi John
this is Colin Greenwood from Radiohead you know I was like I know who you are like I obviously I've
(22:19):
obsessed over your band for my whole adult life that that's crazy to me because what I said at the
beginning where my cousin in high school was all about okay computer you know my friend Luke who did
in rain was we're all from the Midwest yeah middle of nowhere cornfield Illinois yeah and Radiohead was
huge you still is mm-hmm I don't believe not recognize how big of a celebrity are but just to be able to grow
(22:42):
roll through that not shallotly like that that's impressive every response of his where I'm like oh my
god I love that song and he's a quote you like that you know like I was like yes like you know I know
millions of millions of people who I happen to also like that and it's funny because when we'll talk
they'll be like oh I'm on a holiday with my brother Johnny and I'm like I know your brother's
Johnny Greenwood like you know the craziest guitarist and now most renowned scores and uh
(23:08):
all of that so I love that too that they've all they're all still close never broke up they took
a seven year break like you said they didn't fall into addiction they didn't fall into the pitfalls
that are very common with artists and music and it's very logical why that occurs but they you
can really tell from their albums that that is where it goes you know they don't pocket that and have
(23:34):
all you know ulcers and stomach issues because it all just goes right into the music and this album
to me is distilled is that emotion distilled not the happiest
sad old sleep and pills that we get back to you know what funny thing was I was helping
(24:04):
clean out a warehouse a while back and I had that at kid A playing a couple of my buddies and I loved it
and it was playing in my mom stopped by and she was there for a little while and she goes this is the
most depressing music I've ever heard in my life he's like are you okay and I was like oh yeah
you're right it is you know I'm like no I'm great like this makes me happy but like yeah like I
(24:29):
totally I like seeing stuff from other people's lenses and you know like I was talking to my
buddies that just can't stand radio ahead and I like that I'm like what do you hate like what do
you hate most what what bugs you you know when he's a call the voice is just whiny and just so this and
this and the guitars like don't make sense and this and the beat is in steady I'm like that is so
(24:51):
cool to hear because like I love both ends of it you know yeah because there's no lie there no
that's so hard and that's part of the point you know yeah one of my favorite quotes of all time is
arguing about music is like dancing about politics and it's like everyone has an opinion and their
opinion is correct because it's their opinion you know and that's why any arguments online which
(25:13):
is now the sounding board and the grounds of the war that is you're wrong and I'm right it's all
just gibberish because the album I like the least is someone's favorite album and that is awesome
and for that I love that album for them not for me but it's all subjective so kid A made the top
of your list what albums would have made your short list go three to five albums you mentioned
(25:36):
to already that you possibly would have brought to the table that's so funny you said because I sat
and I actually listed and I had to think so far about it this was pretty easy like when you and I
were talking before this and you're like yeah just bringing on to the table I was like oh kid A
tools later Alice was right up there and then it's a weird mix the albums that are on my short list
(25:57):
and this is just very obviously specific to my life our radio heads kid A tool later Alice
Atlions by Outcast Fiona Apple's title De La Soul's Stakes is High
Deftone's White Pony and Bjork's debut that was what I narrowed it to
Electric List my man very much so and I still have you remember those huge like 100 CD cases
(26:22):
full of albums yes I still have like 10 of those that's where all my money went my whole first half
my life was albums now I stream them I have a ton on here and you know I could make a top 100 list
pretty no problem that would get into older stuff and newer stuff and all this and that but randomly
those are the albums that I have probably impacted me most and I do think it's right place right time
(26:46):
in my life for all of those and each has like a very different and very important purpose to me so
the latter Alice tour was the only concert I ever left really right oh that's amazing see I love
you on that too I love it because I love tool I mean undertow and I'm a yep better also just that
(27:06):
that was my tool era yeah so when I was actually stationed in Hawaii oh my early 20s and they came
out to Honolulu and did a show and it was bad wow that's amazing to hear well they held it on the
UH campus and they banned all alcohol not off the bat so everyone was stone sober and a bit sport yep
(27:28):
and the antics of of Maynard and crew didn't really hit as well when everyone's just kind of
standing there yes standing there at one point he turned around and played PlayStation for 20 minutes
wow and while there wasn't really a bass solo it was just drowning doon doon doon do yes yep after that
we're like you guys want to go get a drink so we left yes yes I could definitely see how that would
(27:55):
hit and see that's what I'm tired love that because I love that album I saw that tour loved it one
of the best shows in my life that's the coolest thing Steve is that I genuinely enjoy that because
there's not a lot well there anything in life is pretty subjective aside from some principled things
but that's the coolest thing I never take a fencing suit I don't even take offense to people hating
(28:19):
music that I'm a part of it's like yeah man that's great and bands can give a bad show just
personally sometimes you know stuff happens but also there's mitigating circumstances like I said
it was it was a dry concert which yes just didn't really go over too well I'm sure there was no
opening act it was very very sterile yes but like two weeks after that I saw Pennywise at a dive bar
(28:42):
and it it was great oh absolutely Pennywise is great on their own man I mean that's the
coolest things some of the best shows I've seen were in dives and probably bands you know like
anyone not a ton of people know about on a widespread kind of level and it doesn't take anything you
know it you don't have to have the the huge food fighters stage set up or a guns and roses stage
(29:09):
set up big and you know a good show is a good show and good music yeah some of the best shows
I've ever seen were in dive bars I saw a warrant in a dive bar nearly how we were there port and they were
great yes ski exactly man that's the thing is that it's just you find it that's why it's always
worth going to see live music you never know when it's going to be something that just kind of
altars you and there's no way like that but I love hearing that you say that about that album
(29:36):
and I like that because even within bands anyone could argue like with radio head like okay computer
obviously or in rainbows obviously and yeah it's just everyone has different tastes that's
cool thing so let's talk some about your world yes tell us about base magazine you've been in that
since back in the guitar world days right yeah yeah so I've been doing this 20 years now I got into
(30:01):
journalism in 2005 so yeah 20 years now and I've been in the bass realm I'm a bass player obviously
as you can see behind me and much more that is not in eyesight and I just started as a freelance
writer had never written before never took a journalism class stumbled on it it got an opportunity
took it and then I just kind of lied and said yes to everything from that point on and it was kind
(30:26):
of like oh I'm freelance writing and then they're like oh can you take photographs I'm like of
court yeah I have some of photographers so I got a camera and started shooting and then can you be
a web editor of course I can't yes and then I did that and can you be a gear editor can you be a
managing editor and so I just yesed my way through it and then ended up at bass player magazine and
(30:47):
2011 until it was purchased in late 2018 early 2019 by a British company and they instead of kind
of going in the direction they were taking it the US staff branched off and we started bass magazine
we've been around since 2019 so right before COVID like everything halted but that was
(31:09):
embed because we are online only and so we just were getting content on the daily you know and as much
and trying to provide everything we could to the community and now we've been going on six years
strong and we have these awards that are coming up and we put out issues regularly features
interviews constantly yeah I love it it's a beautiful thing I at this point I've done over 450 interviews
(31:33):
I've gone through my entire bucket list of heroes and musicians that I would never thought of my life
I would get to talk to or hang out with and all of that and I'm thrilled about that obviously and it's
cool to know that everyone's just people you know that's the the biggest thing I say is no matter how big
the star is they have bad days they have depression they have anxiety they have relationship problems
(31:57):
they have money problems they have health issues it's cool it's just a cool thing to see the super stars
through a different lens and more so just the bass community is a beautiful insulated place that is
um the largely very supportive of the bass family unlike you know all the instruments and stuff
it really is supportive I'm not just saying that to make us sound cooler and so it's it's been really
(32:23):
rewarding and edifying being in this space for so long well you knocked off one of my questions
as well as say is there anybody left on your legends list but yeah yeah I've done Paul McCartney
would love to get we you know we have as bass player magazine we had covered him the major ones that
I still want to interact with while I have the opportunity would probably be you know John Paul
(32:45):
Jones Paul McCartney that's yeah otherwise it's I've been lucky being kind of in the the right places so
are there any out there that you have interviewed and that you interact with that still make
it nervous just by entering the room no luckily you know what's funny about that because I don't
get asked a lot of questions I don't talk a ton about what I do but that is one question I get
(33:06):
and it's funny because musicians are very comfortable to me and I think early on the shock factor of
it kind of rolled off I was thrown in some pretty wild situations early on in my career and from that
got really tempered into it but then it's funny because if I'm out in LA and I stumble across an
actor I'm like holy cow that's them and I think it's just be it's like a visual kind of thing it's
(33:30):
like because you see them on screen and all that and those I'm just even it could be like a belis
act or I'm like oh dude that's blank but then a musician can walk in and be like hey man like you
know or hey dude like this or that but yeah I've had there definitely been some cool weird
pains not weird but just like how the heck is this happening kind of situations you know pinch me
(33:53):
kind of things but yeah but I'm typically pretty comfortable you know when I function primarily
off zoom and all that I'm out in Arizona you're like leaking my questions but as I was gonna say I
my ex question was how do you do interviews these days with these guys is it remote or do you
get back stage at concerts or yeah yeah that that's the thing is I love doing them in person because
you get so much more and you get a connection the biggest thing as you know from doing this is kind
(34:17):
of comfortability and trust and when you're in person you can very much instill that a bit quicker
you know I think early into interviews the artist can relax and know that I have no malicious
intent that I'm not looking for clickbait I'm not looking for an easy headline it's just really
caring about that person and their music and connecting just in a human conversational way and I think in
(34:41):
person you can really get that across and zoom you can to a degree you know to a large degree too
phoneers are good you know doing it over the phone but it's it loses a little bit seeing facial
expression and reaction and all of that so my number one mode that I love most is in person so
you know I'll travel a lot and knock out a bunch and at once otherwise just all day zoom baby I get
(35:05):
zoom fatigue a ton from meetings and because you know even just from what we do it's like my team is
in LA New York some in Nashville some in San Francisco and all that and so and then the companies
we work with are all over the grid so it's a lot of staring into it and then it's funny because I'll
walk outside I'm like oh yeah real life like I'm not a avatar yeah that's how I conduct my interviews
(35:28):
leading into the next namshow based magazines a big part of that to me can you tell us what you all
got planned this time or a yes so coming up we have the 2026 based magazine awards we did base player
live for about 15 20 years before it was defunct and that that magazine kind of subsided and we would give
(35:49):
a words out and back then it was great I'm so thankful that we were able to get so many on the list
before they passed you know the john and whistles and the don't many that were able to come in person we
gave let me kill mr. we got him as a ward and he passed away within two weeks after that and so it
was cool to kind of I was the one that went out and greeted him from his limo and he came out with
(36:14):
a bottle of vodka and some female companions and explained to me that vodka's healthier on his
liver than whiskey and all this and that and got to let me as a god yeah see yeah see exactly and
then he passed away a couple of weeks later and I was like we always say that in our editorial meetings
where like we have to get them on the cover while we can when kind of they hit a certain point we just
(36:38):
went out to stings new york home to present him his lifetime achievement award he got really ill
last year he was our headliner and you know recipient of a lifetime achievement we just got to give him
the award last year was amazing we had sting was headlining he was very very sick so he had
to sit that one out but we gave lifetime achievement awards to Justin Chancellor of tool and we actually
(37:03):
had tool perform it's at a thousand person venue which is the observatory in Santa Ana California
and tool hadn't played a show that size since like 1991 so it was really cool getting them in there
without their setup and without everything yeah that would be neat yeah yeah it was really cool we had
an amazing legend of based john patatucci who played an amazing set we got him a lifetime achievement
(37:27):
we got future of base awards to monon neon and he performed and we actually had less clay pool come
out and the guitar stars noise perform with him which was really cool to see we had mohini day
amazing young base player who's just at the top of the field with a future of base award this year
it's Thursday January 22nd at the observatory in Santa Ana California and we have Mike Dirt
(37:54):
from green day receiving a lifetime achievement we have less clay pool of primus receiving a lifetime
achievement we have Marcus Miller is one of the greatest base players to ever do it receiving a
lifetime achievement we have Laura Lee of Krungben who's receiving a future of base award and
blue to tiger of his phenomenal who's receiving a future of base award we don't announce performances
(38:15):
going into it which life would be easier sitting in my chair if we did announce performances but
I'll say is that last year we had tool and all those amazing performances this year is like beyond
that so it's something you don't want to miss especially in a thousand person venue that you're
close you're right there at all times you know for any basis listing who are heading to namb for the
(38:36):
first time is there anything that you could recommend that they don't miss while they're there
man so I've gone I think this will be my 13th namb it is a lot it is
walking into willy wonka's chocolate factory times a million to where I'll never forget the
first time I went in I got my badge I was with a couple buddies and went through the first set of
(39:00):
doors oh this is amazing went through the second set uh here we are went got into the actual
convention center and was like whoa you know at that time it was like 90,000 people you have
50,000 people shredding and taking drum solos at the same time it's like a guitar center
(39:20):
a whole country of guitar center at the same time and it is amazing the first year I've
walked in and I was going to check out the bass stuff and all of a sudden there's a little crowd
coming by and right in front of my face is walking Stevie Wonder and I was like oh my gosh that is
Stevie Wonder take a bunch more steps I'm at the Gibson booth checking out a bass of theirs and I
(39:44):
turn around and I hear just this guy talking and I turn around and they're slash just like looking at
a model he's like oh yeah yeah this this and this and I was like this is the coolest thing but it's
a lot especially if you go the whole spin I would say like you would tell someone go into Disneyland
or something pace yourself figure out what you really want to see because that is the ultimate
(40:06):
distraction and sidetrack you know state of mind because you're like okay yo we got to go check
out orange amps let's head over this way and all of a sudden you're like oh dude look at this and
there's performances all of a sudden you look over and it's like insane it's like oh Steve
Vi is just shredding on this like holy cow and you go there I think I go yeah orange amps let's go
here and all of a sudden you go over and it's like living color the band like playing and you're
(40:30):
like oh my god obviously we're watching this and all of a sudden you know it's five o'clock and
you're like what were we gonna go see and so I would say figure out what you want to see they have
an amazing app and you can actually like set a course and kind of a schedule for yourselves use
their resources NAM has continually evolved over the years and they do a great job of evolving with
(40:52):
what people want it's like I always feel like they actually listen you know like there's some companies
where they'll put out a new iteration of something and you're like oh they got all the memos like
they listen to everybody like I feel like NAM really does that and so use the resources and just see
as much cool stuff as you can get ready to not eat much you can go a day and be like oh I don't think
(41:14):
I ate today yeah get ready to not sleep much and bring ear plugs because it gets very loud and the
aesthetic overload comes in waves you know there were years went with bass player ride meetings all day
and I would hit a point at four where I'm like I don't think I ate and then I'd be like I think I
need to sit down you know like I don't think this is healthy and then you just end up drinking like
(41:36):
medically alarming sized coffees and all this and like but it's amazing you can't experience it anywhere
else so just get ready I had a press credentials last year and then my son and daughter are actors
so when they book something you know that takes precedence over anything podcast related yep I have
press credentials this year again but there's a chance that I'll see I'll be on sets or no I keep
(42:03):
you gonna make it out and then I want to talk to you after you end up making it out but that is
amazing that your kids are actors and see I would be star struck by them not getty Lee but
your kids that would be uh yeah he likes rush there you go I need to get him and getty and a rule yeah
there you go there you go that's the next assignment he likes rush through South Park it was
(42:26):
oh I like everything through South Park of course uh any foul thoughts about Kid A based magazine
NAM anything yeah those are my thoughts um for the most part on Kid A I love it I guess now I can
pretty my yeah I'll say definitively it's probably my most meaningful and favorite album I would
(42:48):
say that we are looking for 2027 it didn't work out this year because of their shows but most likely
expect that calling Greenwood of Radiohead will be getting a lifetime achievement award so that
kind of ties in both worlds there and yeah go to base magazine awards dot com and get your tickets
if you're gonna be at NAM don't miss it it's definitely the biggest I can say that without
(43:12):
ego but it's the biggest concert event that's going on there you don't want to miss it tickets are
reasonably priced the lineup is gonna blow people away even we roll out what we announce and
every day cool new advancements come like uh we're gonna announce soon that like Mark Hopper
of Blink 182 is gonna come give Mike Dern you know the award he's gonna be one of his we have other
(43:35):
celebrity musicians be the presenters we'll roll those out kind of one by one so stay tuned for more
details go to base magazine dot com follow us on socials blah blah blah like and subscribe all that
crap everyone says yada yada but it's a really amazing night and it's awesome being there and we're
gonna have full coverage being backstage and in the green room is bonkers last year it was like
(44:01):
I walked into one of the green rooms and it was less clay pool popping one of his bottles of
champagne from his vineyard with the members of tool while Verdean white of earth wind and fire
was eating a plate of pasta while less clay pool was telling Verdean he's the reason he started playing
base while who else it was like it was not it was just like all while Victor Wooten was taking a
(44:26):
picture with towel looking fell then you know it's just nuts and and so the podcasters fever dream
yes exactly and the cool thing is they want they go wander around you know like I remember at one
point of the show because I go out and kind of announce the the people coming out I looked out and
it was like Rick Biotto with Maynard of tool with less clay pool all this whole group standing with
(44:48):
just the crowd and I was like that would never happen they're usually so secure but it was it's such
a secure and safe environment where everyone's just there celebrating base players hey we rarely
get celebrated us base players so this is kind of a night for all the the girls and boys out there
who play the four string five string six string and live in the low end world awesome well
(45:10):
John I want to thank you for being a guest on a music rewind I really do appreciate it it was a
pleasure to sit and talk with you about Radiohead's Kid A and and all things base so it's a pleasure
David was such a pleasure man it was such a good time I love the concept of this and the depth of it
usually it's kind of like you get on plug your thing and give a few cool cool things you know
(45:30):
pull quotes and and see and this this is a amazing concept you do music rewind is a beautiful thing
I fully support so thank you so much for having me on tell your friends I will tell trust me
well I'll make them like and subscribe thank you for listening to this episode of music rewind
as always we appreciate a really good review wherever you listen and go to music rewind podcast.com
(45:56):
for information on the show more extras and future episodes so as I always say listen to the full
well until next time.
a podcast from the Sidereal Media Group. Back to you, anchors.
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