Tony Levin - Pioneering Bass With Peter Gabriel and King Crimson

[@DarrinSnider]

I've interviewed hundreds of musicians on my podcast. None of them have ever run with a nice, straightforward question and been as energetic and interesting as Levin in this interview. What a gift!

[@gyrogearloose1345]

Yes indeed! One of the best! And I'd say Mr Levin is a rare and precious kind of man - certainly very relatable. Kudos and thanks also to Miss Ellen!

[@nunzio1747]

I saw him a few months ago with his brother. What a great guy .after the show he'd talk he'd sign he'd take pictures.. awesome person!

[@paulcochrane1028]

Great interviewer....you let him tell his story. Well done!

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

Chris Squire is my favorite rock player ever, for over 40 years, but Tony Levin is just an amazing bassist, and what a resume. He can play anything and kill it. He is a legend, and what a nice guy.

[@williamsporing1500]

You’ve got good taste my friend.

[@buckemptier]

I honestly like Chris Squire better

[@TheTwangKings]

So talented, and so down to earth. Nice man.

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

What an excellent interview Ellen! And Tony is a true, articulate, thoughtful gentleman who deserves his success. 😎

[@mikshawyer5138]

What a lovely feeling to find out not only is this man a legend in the music soundtrack of my life he’s also a wonderful human being, great interview, thank you 👍

[@ianmackenzie686]

Tony has been "my man" since that early 80's king crimson group. He's been my biggest bass influence and "hero" to this day.

[@TheTwangKings]

Yeah, I think that particular group really brings out Tony's unique playing style and vice-versa. It's was a perfect combination, with Bill Bruford on drums!!

[@hdavis21ch]

I "worked" with Tony in the 60's! facebook.com/groups/OSOTT

[@buckemptier]

"In the court of the crimson King" in my opinion, is the only really good album King Crimson made, and Tony Levin doesn't even play on that album. And people talk about his work with Peter Gabriel, which is alright but no like mind blowing or anything. So maybe you can help me understand, what is it about this dude that makes everyone think he is just so great

[@ianmackenzie686]

@@buckemptier Well, for me he's a master technician. His chops are rock solid and he's very musical. I'm in no way limiting him to his work with Gabriel or crimson. Crimson was just when and where I first "discovered" him when I was I high schooler. The album he and his brother Pete did, called "The Levin Brothers," is my favourite mainly because of their arrangements. Also that album has the type of music I love and try to emulate in my little ensemble. I haven't listened to his other solo stuff just because I'm not very into that sort of rock-"progressive" stuff anymore. Levin is also very versatile without being a show off.

[@user-mh1jz4yp7e]

Tony was my reason for getting into bass guitar

[@PLively]

He's why I play Chapman Stick.

[@danieledaroma1446]

He's a very brilliant man and an extraordinary musican! Nice to enjoy this interview!

[@PaulGrunwald]

Saw Tony live with “Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe” at the Paramount in Seattle. The BEST CONCERT I have ever seen!

[@davin6175]

Saw them at Constitution Hall in DC. Honestly I was so disappointed when the live album came out and Jeff Berlin was on it instead of Levin. If wasn't clear before, that really drove the point home that Levin makes a HUGE impact in anything he does. His sound and feel has so much personality and he has those "big ears" he talked about from jazz that make him so responsive and respectful of the music and musicians he is working with. One of his big hallmarks is knowing when not to play. But when he comes in, his judgement of what to play and how to play it is just unbelievably impeccable! I've also seen him (and met him) at a small club called the Birchmire with the Tony Levin Band. And of course several times with Peter Gabriel. Never seen King Crimson though. That might have to be next!

[@glicmathan1771]

Incredible! I’m a huge KC fan and never watched Tony interviewed. What a great guy!

[@kevinrombouts3027]

Am intelligent and humble man. Great attitude from a great musician.

[@michaeladdiego7786]

I recently met him in a bagel shop in Saugerties. I told him I appreciated his body of work. He was absolutely amazed that I recognized him. Seems like a beautiful person.

[@TracedaBassman]

A great musician and a great man. It is very rare that a musician, much less one of his pedigree, mentions the tough times the crew went through financially during the lockdown. It must be great working with Tony Levin.

[@thestringdoctor7635]

Cannot express enough how much I personally wish to thank you for this! Mr Levin… your body of work and attitude are and have always been so rewarding! Eloquent and realistic questions put in a beautiful manner. Thank you. Steve

[@mrgabrielssalvation]

What a wonderful guy! Love him!

[@in2gadgets]

God I love this interview - well done Ellen and God don't we all love Tony :-)

[@bens4295]

Ellen, you are a delight and a fantastic Interviewer. Cheers.

[@Thedagda801]

Seen Tony with King Crimson, wonderful.

[@jeffmckinnon5842]

I have seen Tony twice with Peter Gabriel. His presence is huge and he is an awesome bassist.

[@smabass2913]

Best all around Bassist, and extraordinary Human Being, Tony Levin in a wonderful interview! THANKS ELLEN, you're the best! Not to mention, but I will, you are Beautiful with a stunning smile! Your questions are well thought out and best of all, you let your subject finish his thoughts without interrupting. A Great Interview!

[@ianprice238]

Great bass player,lovely man. An interesting Interview.. thanks for sharing.

[@bytornsnowdog1347]

Tony Levin is one, if not, the best bass musician and artist in the world, no doubt.

[@robinjones363]

Remarkable man and an intelligent and inspiring guy for all instruments and he is 75 wow and just watching hypersonic on you tube makes me laugh and cry at the same time 😄

[@josemiguelfernandezdemarti7799]

Great man, great bass player. The only one that could stand up in the shoes of Chris Squire, which he did with Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe back in 1989.

[@keiththomas8957]

The Black Light Syndrom is the bomb!!!! Bozzio. Stevens and Levin rocked!!!

[@bens4295]

Papa Bear in the House!! Easily Top 10 Bass players of all time. We love you Tony!!

[@MatthewDowell-qt5lt]

Fantastic interview! Thank you for this! What a gift!

[@reineralex9270]

An excellent interview, Ellen. To open up to talk and respond this way makes this talk very special. Thanks a lot!

[@DeadPerspective]

One day I'd like to have an espresso from Tony

[@markmilner842]

I finally got to see Tony on the Rock, Paper, Scissors tour a few years back. Such an incredible player.

[@ColoRADbro420]

So cool Tony is a fan of SGM, I have been lucky enough to see SGM 3 different times and they always did put on an intense show and it completely takes you over and you’re sucked into their surreal world of artistic gravity.

[@jazzyal5365]

Great interview Ellen , with a great musician . And your great smile ;O) Thumbs up !

[@SpikesTrailerPark]

How cool! Loved Tony's work since the first time I heard him even though I didn't know him then.

[@browe]

Such a huge influence--what an awesome chap.

[@mikehersh9798]

Upstate NY in the house! Tony Levin is a superstar on bass and stick

[@charleswidmore5458]

I was lucky enough to meet Mr Levin after the Peter Gabriel So concert in Philly. Very cool dude and one of the main reasons I bought a bass.

[@jacquesfinster5034]

Early 80's was terrific to Tony Levin, The Gabriel's albuns and Crimson's were very creative and revolutionary and your playing was very unique, timbre, techniques and conception.

[@kevinsweeney443]

Very underrated and very humble, this monster of a Bass master,I am so fortunate to have seen him back in 86 for the So tour.

[@martinheath5947]

Brilliant! Great interview, made my day Thank you

[@Digmen1]

Tony is such a really nic eguy. When I frist saw him live with Peter Gabriel I was amazed by his appearance. But I sooned warmed to his personality on stage, and the way in which he really got into the theatrics!

[@PiperbonesJ]

Thank you, Uncle Tony, for falling into our lives. What a gift. And thanks, Ellen, for that gorgeous accent and voice. Fun interview. Going to see KC at Ryman on 7/28. Fun fun funksticky bliss. !

[@scottmccloud4231]

Bravo! Thanks for making this!

[@unamacarana]

That was great - thank you for posting !!!

[@danburnes722]

What a wonderful man

[@godeplatformyourself7108]

This was a great interview. He was allowed to talk, and the whole episode was engaging.

[@ytadamdeus]

Wonderful piece Ellen, most impressive; yet I wonder why you didn't explore his exemplary playing on "Don't Give Up" with its use of compression? That Bass line truly drives that song in a special way, almost a counter melody in fact!

[@regaltip8A]

Watch the doco of Classic Albums So where he says he put his baby daughters dipers under the bass strings to mute the strings for Dont Give Up. True.

[@poststructuralisthero9290]

A "zen" musician talk that doesn't make me puke in my mouth. Right amount of humble. And at 17:42 : Loved his approach to playing 'least favourite' songs live. I might steal that answer for when I get interviewed... edit: I might also steal the expression "all this kind of crack" (19:12). Thanks Ellen!

[@theelephant2887]

Crazy to think that this guy has been making music for about 50 years now.

[@wernerhaider2338]

excellent, thank you!

[@gyrogearloose1345]

Thanks to Ellen for a totally excellent thirty eight minutes of Tony Levin. She has a rare and precious skill, I think!

[@brentheathersimons7042]

Such a nice, humble guy! :) Tony is awesome! :)

[@isfahani]

I was just starting my musician's journey when KC reappeared in the early 80's... Early teens, I was going to be a guitarist, then bassist. I had started out learning Yes and Rush tunes, and then this guy comes along... whew. I probably heard him earlier on many various sessions, and I never really did develop a liking for Peter Gabriel - but Tony is one of the half dozen musicians from that era that I still keep up with because the quality of the playing hasn't diminished, nor has his kind and frank personality. RESPECT.

[@d.michaelmcbridedc1082]

Awesome interview, what a great bass player and person got to see him in Vienna with Peter before Corona Crazies. What a God shot meeting Peter and king Krimson on the same day!

[@krzysztofmazurkiewicz6678]

I must have first heard Tony on Paul Simon's "One trick pony", but I was not aware, I only know it now. I first saw Tony on Peter Gabriel's concert DVD, and I thought "Nice groove, nice smile, nice dance and a nice guy, too". I've only recently managed to see Tony being interviewed and I think "What a great guy! So true, so kind and so generous." It was a real pleasure to listen to that interview (bravos to Ellen) and I think I can now better understand how can play and get along with Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Robert Fripp, Liquid Tension, etc. A bit on their side, but another huge bit on his side. At worst (as he put it) he does great espressos during the sessions. Not to mention, a "first call" session player. Simply a legend.

[@yrdGBA]

My favorite Bass line is from "BIG TIME " from PGs record Sosj

[@bertwilbrink2679]

What a nice guy. I saw him about 10 times with PG, King Crimson and ABWH and what a fantastic bass player.

[@bens4295]

When we look up Legend in the Dictionary, we should see a picture of Tony with a vintage Musicman.

[@pedersolvang4794]

THANKS TONY

[@randyeisensmith1483]

His blog and post-concert photos are great fun. My wife and I have been combining vacations with Crimson shows since 2014, so it's very entertaining for us to go through all of the pictures to try to find ourselves in Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Pompeii, London, Stockholm, Krakow, Oslo, New York, Red Bank, Northampton, Mexico City, Newark, Philadelphia, Berlin, and too many other places to remember. Sometimes we even forget we were at a show until we find ourselves- "Where's Waldo"-style - in Tony's crowd shots. See everyone soon at Ravinia, Saratoga, Northampton, Forest Hills, and Philadelphia. Don't start clapping until AFTER they play the coda for The Court of the Crimson King. 😉

[@bassimprovjams3772]

It’s cool seeing you hold a stingray!! You should start paying them!!! Thanks for getting Tony on! I love listening to him!! He looks great on this interview too

[@klantic2]

I'm so glad LTE came up too. LTE3 (which is out now) is incredible! What a great guy. Levin is just pure amazing.

[@philiphaigh8349]

Magnificent, x

[@Likeaforest]

היי כולם , אני בת 52 ומכירה את כל מה שטוני עשה כל חייו , לפחות אני מקווה ועוקבת. התרגשתי מאוד לראות ולהקשיב לגבר המדהים הזה . מודה לכם מקרב לב . הוא באמת אליל שלי כבר המון שנים . תודה רבה היה מרתק אני בטח אראה את זה עוד כמה פעמים 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘🤩

[@shipsahoy1793]

Luck or no luck, Tony’s the man! 😎

[@eatmoreporkporky4342]

LTE baby! Tony's bass mastery is unreal.

[@albinrose418]

Steve Gadd and Tony Levin, in college. Lordy. Imagine being in school with them & someone says "hey, let's go catch Steve & Tony at their gig this weekend" and then years later to watch their careers grow...

[@keithquintrell6912]

Pino Palladio in his session days had a huge influence with that fretless bass on an octave pedal. He had had such an impressive run in the late 80s while he was a relatively unknown session player. His discography prior to becoming better known with “The Who” is so impressive! This would be great interview as well!

[@evankeal]

Still breaks my heart King Crimson could not do their plans for 2020, it was a barrage of giant festivals, the first ever for the band.

[@jameskrivitsky9715]

Saw Tony with Peter Gabriel on stage in Houston years ago. I bought the laser disc to play at home and am able to enjoy Paula Cole, Tony and Peter dancing on stage for evening music appreciation. I wondered what the tube-like finger extensions were for ? Never knew that he had played with so many other musical talents ! JwgK

[@achaille9110]

I loved the way Peter and Paula sang together. They had terrific chemistry.

[@alshob]

attaboy & thank you for sharing as you do

[@damian4590]

Im going to be seeing him play with king crimson later this year. Cant wait to see a chapman stick played live

[@BenCDaugherty]

Maybe you could help me out here. Tony Levin said in one interview that it the sledge bass was a saber but he put a graphite neck on the base because the original neck warped. In other places, I hear him say that it is just a stock cutlass ii. I think maybe he has forgotten. Do you know what it is? It’s one of his coolest bases in my opinion.

[@georgewilcox3797]

Awesome, luv ya Mark, thanks.

[@joannmannello9158]

like the new bass!

[@danepaulstewart8464]

😄 AHAAaa, Tony! Like there aren’t LEGIONS of people who would want to hear about where you grew up…. And every single thing you’ve ever done. ….or THOUGHT! Could you REALLY not realize how much of a MONSTER influence you’ve been on MORE than just bass players around the whole freakin’ world??!! …. All that and modest too. What a guy! 👍👍

[@BenCDaugherty]

Tony played Sledgehammer on a Cutlass ii Fretless longstory short. BUT in one interview he claimed it was a sabre (wood neck) and he replaced the neck with a graphite cutlass one. Other than that he said he played a cutlass. What is the actual bass? Maybe someone can help me out

[@UncleGrunt]

Killer finish on your Stingray

[@MM1717mm]

seems like a good chap ! im sure if i was the bass player on “sledgehammer” id demand free girls, drinks and diamonds all day long 🤣 he doesnt seem the type at all ..... on a sidenote tony plays on Gowan’s “strange animal” ... its decades old but worth a listen 👍 thanks for this nice break from all the internet noise of today 👍👍

[@Digmen1]

First time I have seen that interviewer, she asks some really good questions Eg how did you get that Sledeghammer sound live?

[@alxcortes7265]

Lo podrían poner subtitulado al español?♥️

[@h.m.7218]

Discipline really was groundbreaking music.

[@lylelehman3456]

You will be hard pressed to find someone with less ego and more talent than Tony.

[@greatwhite61967]

A Podcast with one of the forerunners of the electric bass guitar would be great & that is the one & only Carol Kate who was the only female to work within the predominantly male environment of the elite musicians in " The Wrecking Crew " If your not aware of The Wrecking Crew they were hired & used on thousands of top hit songs & Carol has played bass on more Number 1 songs than i care to mention... Back in the 50s it was all to common for session musician's to be hired to play whatever was missing within a specific song & that included solo acts & bands & the Management wanted their acts that they have signed or have booked into their studio to have the best musicians possible & Carol featured on many famous solo & bands songs long before she joined The Wrecking Crew & were talking the Best Of The Best... I can only guess that it was a pain & problematic for Managers & the Producers of these songs to find the musician's they were looking for to work on all of these songs & so " The Wrecking Crew " was born & they were all together in the same city in the same room which meant a quicker turn over of these great musician's playing on all of those solo acts & bands & one member went on to become a huge star in his own write & that was Glen Cambell who had played with The Wrecking Crew on electric guitar before finally going on his own solo career & if i may take a minute more of your time it would be to inform those out there that Glen Cambell was literally amazing on acoustic & especially on electric guitar & was so ahead of his time that he has been seen by many of the best musicians that he worked with as the Jimi Hendrix or even Eddie Van Halen of his day & long before Hendrix did his show piece of playing the guitar behind his back then i say put in the research time as Glen was known to do this for a laugh & part to show how gifted he was for a self taught or professionally taught musician... I've seen footage of Glen playing many styles & there's times he'd just go on solo's , but this was pre distortion pedals , & i bet if you put his guitar solos through a distortion pedal he'd sound like he was shredding the hell out of his electric guitar but for Glen they were just fun little noddling parts that he loved doing & many more gifted & highly thought of in the music industry said that Glen was so good on the electric guitar that he was way too ahead of his time... Funny anicdote was when The Wrecking Crew where in the recording studio playing for Old Blue Eyes himself Frank Sinatra & as Frank sang he could see Glen looking up at him but once spotted he looked forward & this happened a few times that after a few takes Frank asked whats with the guitarist as he doesnt look at the sheet music in front of him & he has looked at Frank more than he felt comfortable with & said " whats with that guy is he gay " At that point they said No & that Glen didnt need to read sheet music as he knew exactly what to play & was a guitar prodigy who happened to be a huge fan of Frank Sinatra's & even Frank was impressed by the level of musicianship Glen had as he could play something better than was written on sheet music but the benefit of being in The Wrecking Crew meant that when Glen felt ready to go solo he got his friends from the Wrecking Crew to play on his songs as he knew that firstly they were the best & he knew theyd give him the sound he was looking for & one major factor in the hits that Glen Cambell had was Carol Kaye playing a specific style she came up with for most of Glen's songs & that was slighlty muting the strings by just pressing enough on them so the notes sound muted but you could still hear the notes & then Carol used a plectrum for a more percussive click sound & her bass lines are easy to pick out on songs that she played on for some of the biggest acts in the world as the investors wanted the best sound possible & even if you played your own instruments they were known to get The Wrecking Crew to play on some of the biggest names at that time as they wanted their songs to have every chance of becoming a huge hit & ultimately a Number 1 Hit & you'd be surprised at some of the huge names that were either solo acts or bands that The Wrecking Crew stepped in & played over what had already been recorded... You can hear them on The Beach Boys cult classic Pet Sounds album as Brian Wilson had tired of touring & in fact Glen Cambell stood in for a time on bass guitar for The Beach Boys when they went on Tour without Brian as Brian wanted to stay home to write new songs & work on new ideas for the music for their next album... Meanwhile Brian's at home tinkering away to try & find new sounds & ways to play on songs & Brian heard about The Wrecking Crew & wanted to work with them which they obliged but at first they didnt feel comfortable that Brian wanted to be in charge but they soon saw that Brian knew what he was doing/talking about & was like them & on a whole another level & they soon took to him as if he was one of their own.... If there is one bass player that you should do a Podcast Interview with then it would be great if you could speak with Carol Kaye as she is 86 now & it'd be great to let others know about this pioneering lady who played on so many hit records before she passes away... In light of this still ongoing coronavirus stay safe & healthy wherever you are in this world... .....

[@daviddevilliers2828]

The boss

[@marsstubblefield]

26:14 WHOOPS!!!!

[@Игорь-р2ы2ы]

Почему у Tony,нет школ для басистов?И пожалуйста,делайте перевод на все языки мира!!!!Нам всем он нужен,как воздух.

[@Игорь-р2ы2ы]

Tony Levin=God's Я не знаю Английского языка ,хочу просто сказать,что всю жизнь он для меня пример.Дай Бог ему здоровья и играть,сочинять музыку.Что бы в его семье был мир и любовь.

[@rbotton6272]

PG Melt period best period!!

[@paultraynorbsc627]

👍👍

[@ricky4001cs]

Who is better? Sklar or Levin?

[@drawebajo1750]

THANX MARK!!!

[@oldman1031]

Who knew coffee making skills were the key to being a successful bassist 🤣👍❤️☮️

[@regaltip8A]

Anyone who has played with an ex Beatle is top of the list in my book

[@Insight99999]

Didn't talk about the technique with the finger extensions!

[@morbidmanmusic]

Maybe just because that has been talked about a lot already. You know about them...

[@stefanbranden4898]

I loved Tony since he worked with Alice Cooper/Bob Ezrin!! Less is more. Listen to Escape!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKbJnYqAjpusarM

[@loafscience275]

She is beautiful

[@hetul784]

Can someone tell me what happened to mark? Wasn't mark a guy? Am I tripping???

[@johndoyle1810]

The first time i heard tony levin was sledgehammer brilliant improvisation and distant from the song but very suitable to the song

[@allangmiller]

Subtitles render 'Stickmen tour' as 'stick mentor' ...