Earl Slick on Being a Sideman with Bowie, Lennon, and More | Reverb Interview

Earl Slick, the legendary and infamous Earl Slick, came by the Reverb office to discuss what it means to him to be a sideman. Slick came to prominence in the mid-70's playing in studio and live with David Bowie, John Lennon, Robert Smith, and many more. In this interview, Slick describes what it takes to be a sideman and how his philosophy on guitar playing has contributed to that.
Read more about Earl Slick at bit.ly/2ySCmLT.

[@theplourde]

Earl is underrated and under appreciated in my mind

[@MusicCollaborator]

I think your mind is correct. I've seen him live many times he has always been intense. Met him in 2000 with Bowie and he was exactly what you see here.

[@NolalanD]

He always has great tone! Especially his rhythm sound, it's so damn crunchy.

[@djangomango9553]

oh you are completely right, ill back this statement all the way to hell. a true rock and roll master

[@petedavis7970]

Why do people always say this about people like him? Underrated by whom? Under appreciated by whom? He was clearly highly rated and appreciated by Bowie and Lennon. And pretty much anyone in the music business in the 70s and 80s know who he is and what he's done. I mean, I'd take the musical appreciation of Bowie and Lennon over just about anyone else. After that, nobody else's opinions would really matter. Clearly Reverb.com knows who he is. He's been covered in Guitar Player and Guitar World magazines for decades. Rolling Stone... Who's not appreciating him? Who's underrating him? Seems to me, whoever they are, they don't really matter.

[@rrdream2400]

@@petedavis7970 it's one of the two standard youtube comments, usually says "criminally underrated". The other comment is any music vids not in this century "back when there was talent... no autotune, not like the crap we have today". Look at any vid and you'll find those 2 types of comments.

[@SabateFede]

I love this man. An unknown name and, at the same time, a name written in capital letters in the history of rock music. That "Stay" riff on itself makes him a legend for me. I think it reflects his essence: pure passion + intelligence + humility (that's what geniouses are made of)

[@davidjameschamberlain]

It's not often that you see such a realist in the music world. Earl, you are the man

[@dragan4658]

Just listen to Earl, he is such a cool down to earth guy! His feet are grounded even after being such a big success as a musician. 👍🤟

[@billorourke7152]

What he said makes so much sense no matter what career field you are in.

[@rrdream2400]

Slick, Alomar, Murray and Davis were my fav band Bowie ever had, I wish there was live footage of them.

[@igolfjtweetler4097]

He has his own cool blues rock style and he's the best at that style.

[@BIZARBIES]

Perfect interview... know what you do and do it 100%.

[@davegilbertmusic]

Earl telling it like it is, you have to love his honesty & conviction

[@BIgBass255]

What you did to that Guitar on, Stay Live @ BBC, made me admire you ever since. It shows what thousands of hours of work looks like.

[@durango8882]

I love Earl, such a straight shooter. Fantastic sideman and frontman. !!!

[@michaelbingley9887]

Great video. Certainly gives an insight into Bowie. Love Earl's guitar work.

[@johngore7744]

Known his sound with Bowie for years. Saw him in 76 on the Stationtostation tour in Montreal. I’ve been a blues fan too all my life never know had his roots in the blues. Too cool and nice National steel Slicky. 😎

[@rrdream2400]

Stacy Headon replaced him on the Station to Station tour when Slick backed out, so I don't think it was him.

[@johngore7744]

@@rrdream2400 thanks I didn’t realize of course I was only 15 and high as a kite lol. It was the first time I smoked Afgani hash

[@sweetbermudaonions60]

I remember seeing him with Bowie during the Diamond Dogs tour....he was a great player then and a great player now. He just looked so different back in 1974...

[@poobum9857]

he straight up !! Bowie always had best people play with him !!

[@looksdirty]

So true. To me, Earl Slick is a legend for what he did on Station to Station alone. But also, being a photographer, I know what I'm good at and what I don't know how to do and it's great to hear someone else say that it's ok to say "No" to certain jobs.

[@janlovestocraft]

Love Slicky. I actually met him a couple of years ago. He's amazing and totally down to earth.

[@djangomango9553]

true musicians know to serve the song and this man is the embodiment of serving the song...one of the gratest!

[@MrKmoconne]

Earl is so slick. He is a total professional.

[@djangomango9553]

such a legend! true vision and mastery of his very own style. gotta love Mr Slick!

[@advancedguitar1]

Earl has an incredible sense of time, I just became a fan.

[@cobblewright]

A great musician can adapt to any given situation and be authentic. Earl here is basically a tradesman, like a carpenter or plumber, who knows his narrow niche where he's comfortable and is smart enough to avoid straying from it.

[@rickshipman9279]

Why I love Slick just the way we are!

[@Scipted]

I can only play certain styles on guitar and always thought it was a weakness but after listening to earl I kinda realise maybe what I revert back to after trying to play other stuff is what Im meant to play.

[@Astr-w6y]

I met him playing at a music store promotion thing around '91 and his playing was very simple to the point but his feel, sense of groove was impeccable that is what separated him from a lot of musicians..the old sayin' goes either you have it or don't applies.

[@gpeddino]

His pairing with Gerry Leonard in Bowie's Heathen tour was pretty on point. Very complementary sounds.

[@jeffdenoe2689]

One of the best guitarists.Listen to Bowies station to station album, mind blowing guitar, all Earl, no wonder David had him on tour more than any other guitarist. Very underrated!

[@mrbojangle6118]

He is selling himself short. He is a better guitarist than he claims. He is not a sloppy guitar player like he said. I also think he could be a session musician if he wanted. He clearly has the ability.

[@kevinmalone8903]

Sloppy is good for rock n roll. Jimmy Page is the king of it

[@Astr-w6y]

Great advice !

[@TomSmerk]

Very good points. Well said!

[@gdub999tub.]

This dude is worth listening to -- makes a lot of sense.

[@brodmontgomery]

Bought Cover Girl by Phantom Rocker & Slick when it first came out in the early 1980s & played the Hell out of it ... Love this Guy's guitar playing

[@user-zo4hq5bp3m]

Genius, 'nuff said. ❤

[@johnrambo7630]

Lot of wisdom coming out of Earl here.

[@Wedontwantnowarnomore]

I would love This man to at least play one time with The Stones 🙏

[@johnstark5344]

Hey Earl love ya man,hope you can play in the south someday.

[@kernalkarma4752]

One of the greats .

[@tolvajakos]

Well, that last insight should basically be an advice to all people seeking jobs (as well as to people seeking employees). Don't try to impress people who are looking for somebody else. If you are trying very hard to appear as something you are not, you are going to be hired to do a job that is unnatural for you. So you are going to dislike it, and most likely suck at it. So in general, I believe that people should not do any other preparations for a job interview than look up the company, the tasks and responsibilities of the position, and maybe ask around about the team. Any preparation for interview questions is fooling the employer, and yourself. At the same time, the whole trick interview questions, and typical HR BS just makes sure that the people applying for your position will tell you all sorts of BS in return. Just try to generally get to know that person, and have a technical test ready to find out whether they can do the job or not. All else is unnecessary counterproductive BS.

[@Johnny_Dregs]

I can say enough great things about the Slick/ Guitar Fetish line. Sooooo good for the money.

[@SpleenOverseas]

I just love what you say !!!!!!!!!

[@3340steve]

YEAH. Earl SLICK....

[@fullfatdeano]

Say it how it is - always loved your playing - keep on keepin on fella :-)

[@natemendsen1629]

Agree with everything dude says with one exception , and had he said almost anyone else he would have been right, but Adrian Belew can do what ever he wants on guitar.Dudes like him or Mike Keneally are chameleons on the instrument.

[@GregoryHillSr]

At he's being honest

[@sn95_mustang_garage]

I so want that Tele, it would match my Strat perfectly.

[@wartimemodels]

It's a Nash. Great guitars.

[@VINCAO11M]

Is he using the Supro in the background? If yes: Which model? If no, what amp is he using? Any pedals? Sounds great

[@jamesparker1063]

I thought I read somewhere that he did the leads for "Talk To Ya Later" (Tubes), but I can' confirm.....

[@tshouse2782]

That was Lukather

[@rrdream2400]

it doesn't sound like him, it sounds more refined and processed.

[@guitarman6742]

Cool cat. I'd love to jam with him. Does he play jazz?

[@sho1155]

A self kept man ..

[@gogajira2]

But has he met KSI ?