Bill Laswell Interview

[@rothloaf1980]

Before I heard any of Bill's music, I read an interview with Bill where he said Rick James "can't even hold a f*ckin' bass." I went right out and found a Golden Palaminos compilation and it really influenced me as a bassist and engineer. I would later cut recording deals with jazz players at NTU if they'd throw a track at my weird drum/bass tracks. To explain it to these big band players, I only had to say, "goin' for a Herbie Rockit-ish thing, but more 90s." Mr. Laswell made me realize there were players/producers who were seminal to the expansion of music. The universe around Bill was/is ten years ahead of most music it influenced.

[@prajnachan333]

Bill saw Cream and Ginger Baker when he was 14! That is so cool. I didn't see them but was certainly listening to them not long after that. And he wanted to play with Tommy Bolin. What a trip. Then he met Miles Davis and Brian Eno and many others. Incredible. A life destined to meet people and make music.

[@theadventofpanurge]

Great interview with the master, thank you

[@Emlizardo]

Fantastic interview - thank you for asking informed questions that really helped draw out Bill's memories. One thing I think we can infer from this oral history: when people met Bill, they liked him right away.

[@DonaldSturgeAnthonyMcKenzieII]

AMAZING!!!!

[@rockgodoftheuniverse]

Surprised he has not much memory of ZU. We actually played a bit before this jamming at GG's place. Later, Daevid asked me to play in NY Gong. I went up there to suss it out and played with Bill, Daevid, Kramer, Beinhorn, & Rob Hertzberg. I recorded it and still have the recording. The only recording of this config of what Daevid wanted to be NY Gong. Planning was sketchy so I bailed. Wish things back then were different vis-a-vis planning and time. I could not hang there without a solid plan. C'est la vie. I did end up playing on Daevids last proper record Daevid Allen Weird Quartet. Good work Rick.

[@rockgodoftheuniverse]

@@henrybrant-lf7ge They got Stu Martin (!) in to replace me. He didn't last long. Bill and I were....sort of...friends back then. So I thought. He has never contacted me since those days. Guess I am not hi falootin' enough. I hope his health improves.

[@rockgodoftheuniverse]

@@henrybrant-lf7ge PS thanks for kind words! The Muffins/Cuneiform just released a 13 disc set and a Zu track is on there. The ONLY track ever released officially from that fest as far as I know.

[@rockgodoftheuniverse]

@@henrybrant-lf7ge Yes, David is a great guy & sent me all that stuff long ago. I was able to gussie up 1 tune to listenable.

[@IONEYE]

wowwwwww this is fantastic, thank you!!

[@ericarmstrong6540]

Enjoyed this. Once he gets warmed up and gets on a roll, the story gest interesting.

[@johntree8760]

Nice!

[@mikehirsh1896]

Oooo another question did Laswell remix Emergency by TWL I heard he did because I have the 2nd remix but the first I never saw anywhere yet .... He if he did remix it please release it like the second one ... Because the first remix for Emergency 1991 SUCKS SO BAD I CAN'T WRITE ANY FURTHER

[@rodrigoaquinoofficial]

Alejandro Jodorowsky.

[@edanmor4778]

say more

[@prajnachan333]

I thought this was going to go into Material and that period. The previous years are interesting to a point but a little overdone for me. Bill on a Firebird bass was pretty great at the end.

[@amlakiealelign]

please tell me...... he is ethiopian singer egigayehu shibabaw gigi husband 10 years ago. now she is newerk city,plee give me Bill laswell telephone,

[@abrahamdebasu2751]

He is the one who let her to live such difficulty life. They are no longer together (they're separated) and he took her son with him. She cannot live her life properly without her son. It causes her mentally and a lot of thing. She is currently struggling a lot. I pray to get her son back and back to her legendary artistic work. She is amazing, and unique ❤ Who knows his contact information.