Les Paul rips some guy a new one...
- ubertar
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Les Paul rips some guy a new one...
Went to see Les Paul tonight-- it was paid for by my work b/c we want to get him to be a guest speaker. Unfortunately he wasn't feeling well and didn't do his usual thing of coming out to sign guitars etc after the show, so we didn't get to ask him directly. But that's not what this post is about...
He had a lot of guest musicians join him on stage, and they were all really professional, talented players. But there was one guy from the audience who asked to come up and play "summertime" at the end of the set, and Les said ok. They started playing while the guy was setting up his guitar, and things were going fine until the guy started playing. His tone was awful. Les stopped playing and cracked some jokes about it. The guy managed to fix his tone but couldn't find his way into the song, and they had to stop again, and Les really ripped into the guy. They let the guy start out so they could follow him, and he started to sing the song... he sang it really slowly, like a dirge (and not well), and Les ripped into him again. The whole audience was laughing at this guy, and he was totally humiliated. Finally Les jumped to the end of the song and they finished it up; then they played a quick version of how high the moon so they could at least end the show on a high note. This guy totally brought it on himself, but damn, Les was merciless. Seriously, this guy is going to be in therapy for quite a while. I guess when you're 90 years old, your tolerance for bullshit goes waaaay down. No time to waste.
He had a lot of guest musicians join him on stage, and they were all really professional, talented players. But there was one guy from the audience who asked to come up and play "summertime" at the end of the set, and Les said ok. They started playing while the guy was setting up his guitar, and things were going fine until the guy started playing. His tone was awful. Les stopped playing and cracked some jokes about it. The guy managed to fix his tone but couldn't find his way into the song, and they had to stop again, and Les really ripped into the guy. They let the guy start out so they could follow him, and he started to sing the song... he sang it really slowly, like a dirge (and not well), and Les ripped into him again. The whole audience was laughing at this guy, and he was totally humiliated. Finally Les jumped to the end of the song and they finished it up; then they played a quick version of how high the moon so they could at least end the show on a high note. This guy totally brought it on himself, but damn, Les was merciless. Seriously, this guy is going to be in therapy for quite a while. I guess when you're 90 years old, your tolerance for bullshit goes waaaay down. No time to waste.
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les
What a great story! I saw Les a few years ago, glad that guy wasn't there. Almost wish he was so I could've seen him get chewed by a 90 year old man who happens to be a genius.
- ubertar
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I was shocked. I mean, he seems like such a sweet, happy old man. He looks so happy just to be up there playing. He really ripped this guy to shreds. I'm surprised the guy didn't go straight home after that. If you're going to invite yourself on stage with Les Paul, you'd better have the chops to back it up. The best thing he could have done, once things were going badly, would be to say, "you know what, I can see I'm not actually up for this, I'm sorry to waste your time". I was hoping the guy would play well enough to redeem himself, but he just didn't have the ability-- by staying up there, he just dug himself deeper.
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- SaneMan
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I saw Les Paul about a year ago and he was a complete asshole to almost every one of the musicians who joined him(all professionals). He even gave this chick shit for being fat, while she was killing it on her cello. While it doesn't change what he's done, I did lose some respect for him as a human being. Man he was a dick.
Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you. - Carl Jung
SaneMan's comment reminds me of the story my wife tells about Dave Brubeck coming in to her high school for a few sessions to coach the Jazz Choir. The guy was a total horse's prick to these high school kids. Had some of them in tears. High school kids..... WTF? She's still incredulous to this day.
Like film celebs and sports stars, some of the most gifted musicians are the biggest assholes.
Like film celebs and sports stars, some of the most gifted musicians are the biggest assholes.
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I own a Les Paul
God bless the old coot.
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