Let’s all keep Sir Paul in our thoughts and prayers today as he has his gig in Tel Aviv, Israel tonight and has received recent death threats from Palestinian extremists saying that he would not be safe while in the Middle East. Paul has said that he just does what he feels is right and did not cancel the show, claiming that he has many close friends who support Israel and that he is bringing to the Middle East a “message of peace”. Read more here.
From BBC News:
“If he values his life Mr McCartney must not come to Israel,” Muslim cleric Omar Bakri, who has been banned from the UK, was quoted by the British Sunday Express newspaper as saying.
“He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him.”
But the veteran musician has dismissed both the threat and the boycott calls.
“Most people understand that I’m quite apolitical and that my message is a global one and that it is a peaceful one,” Sir Paul said ahead of his concert.
I’ll tell you what. All I’m saying is that Paul better remain safe over there, or I foresee the start of the third World War.
A Big thank you to Newms for inviting me to post my series on bassist/vocalists. I’m going for a roughly chronological theme here..by “roughly” I mean that if I get to the mid-80′s and suddenly think of a guy from ’72, i’ll just stick it in. Who else to start with but the Daddy:
PAUL McCARTNEY
When it comes to the bass guitar, there are two people whose importance cannot be overstated: Leo Fender, who pretty much got everything right with his first attempt when he invented the Precision Bass, and Paul McCartney, who elevated it to an art form, and almost single-handedly saw to it that it was recognised as a serious instrument in its own right.
McCartney wasn’t satisfied with simply underpinning the song, he wove wonderful countermelodies between the chords, demanding the listener’s ear. Take the bassline to “With a little help from my Friends” – taken alone, it is a wonderful melody, never resting on the root notes, but moving around with a great fluidity. But what also elevated McCartney into a very select group was the fact that he was a lead vocalist, and probably the first of his kind that doubled on bass. Traditionally, its a lot easier to strum along on rhythm, or intersperse your vocal with lead breaks, than to play lines that cut directly across what you’re singing. McCartney did this to perfection, unwittingly laying the blueprint for the role of the bassist/vocalist in the glut of power trios that would follow in the Beatles’ wake. This series aims to highlight the bassists who’ve taken on the mantle of singer – interestingly, in almost every case – to great success.
Suggested McCartney basslines to listen to: With a little help from my Friends; Penny Lane; Come together. Suggested McCartney vocals: Got to get you into my life; I’m Down
…was so 2 years ago! Happy Birthday, Paul!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ajOMY-ShkM&hl=en]
Here’s some great albums around town you should grab whilst you can…
Rockrula’s got The Yardbirds’ Little Games
Head to Recessed Filter for The Best of Gregory Isaacs
Turn yourself on to the band If, over at Musicology
Massive UFO sighting at DUDU2doVINIL
Bootleg Paul McCartney tracks at MusicNews
Dig it and dig in!
