Rober t Randolph What were you thinking !!!!!

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 10 Mar 2004 1:22 pm

Hey! Does this mean we're through slapping Garcia around? Can he be a real steeler now that we appear to have found someone else to flog?

Just wondering....

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Fessenden D-10 8&8
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Randy Pettit · Post by **Randy Pettit** » 10 Mar 2004 1:31 pm

Upon entering Stanton, Texas, you'll see a sign along I-20 that reads,

"Stanton: Home of 3,000 friendly people and a few old soreheads."

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 10 Mar 2004 1:33 pm

No, you can still flog Garcia if it makes you feel good about yourself.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 10 Mar 2004 1:40 pm

Face facts Robert at this moment doesn't realize he's suppose to be representing anyone or anything but Robert. I'm not sure
he is wrong. A tour with Eric Clapton proves
he's doing something right![This message was edited by Chuck McGill on 10 March 2004 at 01:44 PM.]

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 10 Mar 2004 1:45 pm

Tony,
See what happens when you use the word
B@^j0

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 10 Mar 2004 2:03 pm

Does this mean we're through slapping Garcia around?

If Garcia was still alive, and he and RR were gay, do you think they'd get married?

Seriously, I agree with Tony, Robert SHOULD have used the opportunity to talk a little about the instrument. When I saw him live, he did so at the beginning of his set. I think his answer to the question was a lapse in judgment.

But who among us has not also had lapses in judgment from time to time. I hope Robert realizes that he lost an opportunity to help promote our instrument, and does not repeat the mistake.

There has been a lot of discussion here in the past about the impending death of the pedal steel guitar, and the assumption (which is incorrect) that there are no younger players.

Then Robert comes along and for the first time since Sleepwalk was a hit, is bringing the steel guitar to the attention of the general public, and people here are complaining because they don't like his style, and saying that even if he inspires some people to take up the instrument, they won't be interested in learning the traditional styles of playing.

Now we have TWO new members, who have said that they were specifically inspired to take up the study of our instrument because of Robert, and having done so, ARE now interested in learning to play the traditional ways. And yet, some people are still complaining.

Robert is clearly doing something right, and he is clearly giving our instrument a much needed shot in the arm. Whether you like his style of music or not, this is a good thing for us.

On a slight change of subject, I agree with Jeff, that much of what he does can be done on a regular E9. Personally I use a more or less standard E9/B6 U-12 and am convinced that even without the B6 half, this is the best possible tuning for playing rock and blues.

I drop my low B string to A on the A pedal, giving me a really big fat chord and a lot of room to solo in the bass range. I don't get down into that area often, but when I do, it adds a lot to my playing. [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 10 March 2004 at 02:05 PM.]

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 10 Mar 2004 3:06 pm

Tony-I too saw R.R. on the television show this morning-I was miffed at his response to Regis's question and the "not a keyboard" reply with no mention of it as a P.S.G.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 10 Mar 2004 3:26 pm

.......When I retired from playing in May of 2002, I was working theater shows with age "20's something" musicians and performers, and presenting our shows to a young family type audience.

At that time the RR phenomenon had not yet arrived, so I have never been faced with being expected to sound like him. However, I was frequently asked the question, "have you ever heard of a guy who plays the steel guitar named Buddy Emmons?"

The implied, but unspoken question, of "why don't I sound like him", was intimidating enough for me.

Of course I never did play like BE, and I never even did a very good job of playing like me, so I'm really glad that I am retired and will never be expected to play like RR.

www.genejones.com

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 10 Mar 2004 3:48 pm

First people complained because RR wasn't playing country, now they're complaining about what RR DIDN'T say. What's next?

cheers,
Drew

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The Saltines

Randy Pettit · Post by **Randy Pettit** » 10 Mar 2004 3:56 pm

I'll bet RR knows where bin Laden's hiding but he's keeping that mum, too.

Charlie Moore · Post by **Charlie Moore** » 10 Mar 2004 3:58 pm

Regis should have asked,whut dat is?.........
charlie.......

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 10 Mar 2004 4:06 pm

This is all "a tempest in a teapot"! Anyone who is going to be inspired to take up the pedal steel will do so whether or not it's "identified" on T.V.. If someone sees an interesting instrument they can't identify, they'll certainly ask around on their own until they find out what it is. (That is, if they really have an interest.)

So lighten up. RR is getting famous, having a good time, and making money. I suspect that's all he wants to do. Besides, exactly who was it here that officially appointed him to be "our" spokesman?

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 10 Mar 2004 4:14 pm

With as much whining and abuse he has taken around here, maybe he doesn't want to be associated with steel players...

(though I am still tweaked that he hasn't replaced the logo on his guitar...)[This message was edited by John Macy on 10 March 2004 at 04:15 PM.]

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 10 Mar 2004 4:43 pm

I was equally disappointed when Regis said to R.R., "Play something on that ..." I thought that Regis was requesting to hear how the steel sounds, when the rest of the band is excluded. R.R. chose to enlist the band. When Regis was offered the picks, he quickly surrendered the chance to play the pedal steel guitar. Perhaps Regis can ask someone on his millionaire T.V. Show what instrument does R.R. Play?

Bill H.

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 10 Mar 2004 4:46 pm

Maybe what we'd like to have heard....
R.R.: Regis, what is that you do with a microphone and the band?

Regis: Well, it's not singing!

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 10 Mar 2004 6:00 pm

Hey Joe A.,
You're right. What he's playing, he IS playing on a steel guitar.A damn nice steel guitar I might add. The music he's playing has nothing to do with the steel guitar. AND, for those watching Regis that morning, they don't know what in the hell he was playing! All they know and Regis knows is that it wasn't a keyboard. Thanks for clearing that up pal!

Robbie Bossert [This message was edited by pix1 on 10 March 2004 at 06:01 PM.][This message was edited by pix1 on 10 March 2004 at 06:02 PM.][This message was edited by pix1 on 10 March 2004 at 06:32 PM.]

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 10 Mar 2004 6:39 pm

Well, maybe he's not too clear on exactly what it is....

No need to over-estimate these Sierra Owners....

EJL

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 10 Mar 2004 7:24 pm

crap, the only thing people ask me about my instrument is to turn it down

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 10 Mar 2004 10:11 pm

In Robert's Church (the House of God) a lot of the steel players just call it 'my music'. I remember asking Robert if he was going to play at the National Assembly that night, and he told me 'I left my music in Jersey'. I was thinking 'geez, I didn't know Robert read music' until I realized what he was talking about.

BTW, this discussion happened in my rent a car in Nashville, on the way to Lloyd Green's house. Lloyd is a big Robert Randolph fan (but then again, what does Lloyd know about the steel guitar).

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www.tyack.com

Jesse Pearson · Post by **Jesse Pearson** » 10 Mar 2004 10:33 pm

I was hanging out at my girlfriends mother's house and we had the cable radio blues station going on the T.V. I had my back to the T.V. set and all of a sudden I heard some really good juke joint style blues funk playing, I love that style of music. I was listening to the guitar player thinking of how I miss the south sometimes and I decided to turn around to see the name of the artist? I was surprised as heck to find out it was Robert and his band!

I told my girlfriends mother that I guessed I had some egg on my face and didn't know the guy could play that style so good.

Orville Johnson · Post by **Orville Johnson** » 10 Mar 2004 11:49 pm

i don't know how many of you fellas have ever done interviews on live TV but sometimes you say dumb things or forget to say something you wish you would have said. it can be a nervewracking experience if you're not used to it. plus having to talk to Regis!....eewww!...cut the guy some slack!

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 11 Mar 2004 5:47 am

NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF TONY PRIOR HAD BEEN WATCHING OPRAH!!!

John Ciano · Post by **John Ciano** » 11 Mar 2004 7:50 am

The first time I saw Rusty Young at the Fillmore East in 1972 at the impressionable age of 17 I went around telling my friends about this guy who played an organ with strings that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand-up. Somehow I found out that it was a PSG, bought one and two years later heard about some guy named Emmons.
Also I would like to publicly apologize to all of you for telling people for the past 20 years that I play a veg-a-matic.

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 11 Mar 2004 8:02 am

Everytime I check the steel guitar forum I see these large threads with all this talk about RR. What I want to know is why y'all care. I sure don't. I am sick of hearing about him. Most of his playing is out of tune anyway. Enough already !!!....

[This message was edited by Ron Sodos on 11 March 2004 at 08:04 AM.]

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 11 Mar 2004 8:07 am

I'm rooting for Robert. I like his music, his playing, and his direction.

I think, that for whatever reason, his answer lacked common sense and disapointed those of us who want to see our instrument be taken more seriously.

I still support him and what he stands for. Yes, I'll cut him slack. I just honestly feel disappointed.