GUY PRATT BLOG

08.11.2006: Vor ein paar Tagen hatte man die Möglichkeit über Gilmours Homepage Guy Pratt 3 Fragen zu stellen. Eine von Bas und zwei von mir sind bereits von ihm beantwortet worden. Jetzt sind im Blog die ersten seiner Antworten veröffentlicht worden. 

Which was your favourite venue/gig during the 'On An Island' tour? (KenF)

GUY PRATT: All of them. Although Gdansk was a bit special… As was Venice.

What were the stand-out moments from the 'On An Island' tour? (Victor)

GUY PRATT: It was one big stand-out moment. I really can’t express just how great it was, the combination of friends, family, great crew, great music, lovely venues and great audiences.

Did the rest of the band have any input to the set list for the 'On An Island' tour or did David decide? (Andy)

GUY PRATT: We were asked for suggestions but then basically ignored...

On the Summer Tour 2006, David took the train from Linz (Austria) to Munich. Did you and the other band members also travel by train? (Werner, Pulse & Spirit)

GUY PRATT: We did, and were none too happy when we found out that our six hour two-train journey only took two hours by road...

Where can I get me a "Didn't They Do Well?" tee shirt?! (Julie Gunn Davies)

GUY PRATT: Savage London on Portobello Road knocked them up for me.

How can you sum up the 'On An Island' Tour journey? (Patoch')

GUY PRATT: Too short.

What did you get Rick for Father's Day? (Matt Parish)

GUY PRATT: Nothing, seeing as he's not my father. It's not a big day round our house to be honest.

Do you get along with your father-in-law and have you ever purchased any of his solo efforts? (John nff)

GUY PRATT: It is extraordinary that anyone thinks I would actually say I didn't get on with Rick on a public forum. So, yes, I do. I have been around the world with him four times, and even sailed the Atlantic with him, I truly love the man... I did actually buy 'Wet Dream' but by the time 'Broken China' came out I was with Gala so we got given one.

How did you happen to meet David? (Gian Luca)

GUY PRATT: Through Dream Academy and then Bryan Ferry.

Were you a Pink Floyd fan during your teenage years? (IMcK)

GUY PRATT: I went to 'The Wall' shows at Earl's Court, front row, every night, both years, once on Acid. I knew then it was the best show I would ever see and it's quite sad that 26 years later I was right.

What's your absolute favourite Pink Floyd or David Gilmour song? (bas swanenberg)

GUY PRATT: 'Comfortably Numb', 'I Can't Breathe Anymore'.

What did you think about Roger playing with Pink Floyd at Live8? (Beau)

GUY PRATT: I was all for it, it was high time they sorted things out, although sadly David asked me to play on 'Wish You Were Here' and I had to say no as I was booked to play in Berlin with Roxy Music. That wasn't easy I tell you. We'd finished and were having dinner by the time Floyd went on but there was no telly so I was getting running commentary text messages from practically everyone I know every 10 seconds. I didn't get to see it til about two weeks later.

Is it true that Roger Waters asked you to play bass on his 'Amused To Death' album? (Werner, Pulse & Spirit)

GUY PRATT: Good question!!! Roger didn't but his producer, my dear friend Pat Leonard, did... I asked David if it would be ok, and of course he said yes, but I think Pat bottled out of asking Roger... Probably for the best as I live over here if you know what I mean.

On Lemon Jelly's remarkable album 'Lost Horizons' I spotted your name in the credits of the wonderful track entitled 'Nice Weather for Ducks'. What was your role on this track? Did you play bass? (Julie Gunn Davies)

GUY PRATT: Yes, isn't that what I usually do? My duck call isn't up to much.

Being somewhat of an Icehouse fan, I have to ask how that experience compares with working with David and the Floyd? (Erik)
- I haven't got the first idea of how to answer that. But before the first show of this tour Jon Carin and Steve DiStanislao got to be in Icehouse for a day as I'd been asked to do a TV show with Iva in Germany, and he asked if I could put a band together, so we went to Munchen and mimed 'Hey Little Girl'.

Who was the one person that influenced you the most? (Renee B.)

GUY PRATT: My Father.

Do you plan to do a little more on the singing side, I would love to hear more of your distinctive voice. I know it's more yelling than singing that you do, but love it. (Karen)

GUY PRATT: Why thank you Karen. I'm only really happy as a backing singer to be honest, unless it's shouting of course.

What was your most musically challenging session gig? (EchoesBob)

GUY PRATT: I remember doing something for Jeff Beck a few years back that kept me on my toes. When I played on the score of 'The Last Action Hero' Michael Kamen did actually ask me to play something that after a few tries I had to confess I just couldn’t.

What is your most memorable gig and why? (Tim C)

GUY PRATT: Venice with Pink Floyd. Because we were on a bloody great oil rig in the lagoon.

Are you involved with your father-in-law's next album? (KenF)

GUY PRATT: I hope so.

You're well known for playing with a number of established bands and artists. Have you ever had the desire to start your very own band and take the world of music by storm, or are you happy enough with your solo show as it stands now? (Neil Pudney)

GUY PRATT: I was about to start a band with Johnny Marr, as The Smiths had just imploded, when I first got the call from David back in 87. Now I'm too lazy and old and don't have a manifesto.

Will there be more dates of your one man show, maybe in Europe? (bas swanenberg)

GUY PRATT: Yes.

Is it possible to bring your show to North America? (Bill S.)

GUY PRATT: I hope so.

Where else are you touring your 'My Bass And Other Animals' in the new year? (KenF) 

GUY PRATT: Everywhere hopefully. Check my site: www.guypratt.com.

I've heard lots of great things about 'My Bass and Other Animals' but living in Canada I will not have an opportunity to catch one of the shows. Just wondering if there is any chance you will record any of the performances for a DVD release? (Christopher Martin)

GUY PRATT: Probably, but I hope to get to Canada.

What made you decide to try the trial by silence that is stand-up? (Kieran Fleck)

GUY PRATT: I've always wanted to do something comedic, and realised I had a rich seam of material to mine i.e. my life, but if I'd thought about how terrifying standing up on your own actually is, I would never have done it. I get absolutely terrified every time I do it still.

You mentioned the other day that you have a book coming up next year. What will it be about? Is it like a memoir or something not as personal? (ayako)

GUY PRATT: It's like a memoir, although it's like the show in that it's basically just the amusing bits of my life.

What are listening to right now (or if not right now, what's your current listening)? (nickster)

GUY PRATT: Right now? Celia Cruz, Queen of Latin Rhythm. (That's the album title, not an opinion.)

You've played with some of the most famous bands in the world since you were just a boy. Has the young Guy ever had the anxiety of performance, playing close to those geniuses of music and in so many different styles (from Pink Floyd to Roxy Music and so on)? How much have you studied for that, or did you do that just using your heart? (Lucia)

GUY PRATT: Young, maybe. Old, no. I didn't really study for either of those artists as it was music I knew and loved anyway. That's if I understood the question.

Are you familiar with My Morning Jacket, from Kentucky? (Will)

GUY PRATT: No. Should I be?

With which band would you like to perform in the future? (Kees Nijpels)

GUY PRATT: The Who. Peter Gabriel.

If you could play bass for any musician (not including any member of Pink Floyd or anyone you may have played with in the past) either alive or dead, who would it be? (Dom)

GUY PRATT: Pete Townshend, Peter Gabriel. Syd Barrett. Jimi Hendrix.

Who inspired you to pick up the bass? (bas swanenberg)

GUY PRATT: John Entwistle.

Who is your favourite other bass player? (Tim C)

GUY PRATT: Bernard Edwards.

If you had to choose just one, which is your absolutely favourite bass line of all time? (nickster)

GUY PRATT: 'Good Times' or 'Forget me nots' by Patrice Rushen. Or any number of Disco classics, which I'm afraid to say is where I think all the greatest basslines are. Or 'Teentown' by Weather Report, or 'What’s Goin’ on', or any number of Studio 1 Reggae classics, or practically any Bob Marley song, or 'The Real Me' by The Who, or...

Do you like playing guitar the same way as bass? (Gian Luca)

GUY PRATT: No, I'm not as good. I really like playing guitar, but not the same way at all.

Was the bass your first instrument? (TomiSue)

GUY PRATT: I did briefly wrestle with the clarinet previously.

What's you preferred bass guitar? (Dom)

GUY PRATT: Fender Jazz.

Do you play any acoustic basses? (peter mcconnell)

GUY PRATT: I'm going to get a Double Bass as I enjoyed the stand-up on tour so much. I do have a Bass Balalaika which I played on the soundtrack for 'The Wings of a Dove'.

Standup acoustic bass or electric bass? I know different songs have different requirements, but just kicking about. (John nff)

GUY PRATT: I love the Standup because it limits me so much, and it's basically a new experience, even though I've had the bloody thing for 24 years.

What FX (Pete Cornish board?) did you use during the 'On An Island' tour? (Ernest Peske)

GUY PRATT: No, I don't have one of David’s cast-offs if that’s what you mean. But I do have… Avalon DI, Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, Demeter Compulator Compressor, Ashdown Bass Overdrive Plus, MXR Phase 90, Boss CE-2B Bass Chorus, Boss OC-2 Octave, Boss DD-5 Digital Delay, Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer, Boss T4-2 Tuner (2), Boss SCC-700 Pedal Controller, Roland SDE 3000 Digital Delay, Melody Evidence Audio Guitar cables. God bless cut and paste!

What is the deal with the alembic preamps? Do they really make that much of a difference? I know the Big D uses them, but I was wondering if they really make that much of a difference. (Shawn Madden)

GUY PRATT: I've never played through one, but I did used to have a Trace Elliot thing that was a copy, although to be honest I don't like too much of a "Valvey" sound on my Bass. Peter Hook swears by them, too.

I know what basses you use, what amps and cabs you use, but I'd like to know what do you have on you pedalboard. (Alex)

GUY PRATT: See above.

Links:

Phil Manzanera

Steve DiStanislao

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