Sit down!

[Lonesome Cowboy Squirt]

Hi, Frankie.

I have a couple of questions, but I'll only bother you with one for now.

I had the privilege of seeing the band in 1988 after a few years of collecting and treasuring your records.  As I said in another thread, it was the best concert I've ever experienced by anyone, anywhere (and believe me, I've seen quite a few).  I understand by that time (June), things were quite tense among the ranks, but from my observation there was no indication from any performer that night that anything was wrong.  Very professional; my deepest respect to all parties involved.

Okay, enough flattery; on to the question.  The first thing you said when you came on stage was, "Sit down!  We're not starting the concert until everyone is sitting down."  And everyone did.  It was great.  I liked that; it came across like you were a teacher of sorts and you wanted your unruly class of hungry freaks to pay attention so that maybe they'd learn something.  Now, Frankie, I know about all the problems with rioting maniacs from past tours, and your primary interest was the safety of the band members and the audience participants in the front rows.  No one likes to be squashed.  Even fewer liked to be sued by schmucks who'll take you to court over a chipped fingernail.  What I'd like to know is:  when did you actually start insisting that the audience sits?  Was it a direct result of the rioting maniacs?  Did this practice start earlier?  Why don't other bands implement this?  It made watching your show that much more enjoyabe.  Praise to you.

Best wishes,
Lonesome Cowboy Squirt
a modified dmt

P.S. :  Kind of a shame about Scott, though.  He's quite a talent, but it's more important that one is happy.

[Frankie]

Hi, Frankie.
Hello
(the mind boggles at all the humorous epithets I could hurl at this nom de plume)
What can I do for ya, LCS?
Okay, enough flattery; on to the question.
Thanks - tho' your words were very kind. And well directed; I've played with some real motherfuckers in my day...
The first thing you said when you came on stage was, "Sit down!  We're not starting the concert until everyone is sitting down."  And everyone did.  It was great.  I liked that; it came across like you were a teacher of sorts and you wanted your unruly class of hungry freaks to pay attention so that maybe they'd learn something.  Now, Frankie, I know about all the problems with rioting maniacs from past tours, and your primary interest was the safety of the band members and the audience participants in the front rows.  No one likes to be squashed.  Even fewer liked to be sued by schmucks who'll take you to court over a chipped fingernail.  What I'd like to know is:  when did you actually start insisting that the audience sits?  Was it a direct result of the rioting maniacs?  Did this practice start earlier?  Why don't other bands implement this?  It made watching your show that much more enjoyabe.  Praise to you.
Hmmm...
LCS? That's more than one question... Sorry; I've always been into Math and I don't want to come off sounding like a snob, but...
Okay, let's see... 1) I discovered back in the very early days - lets say, by '67 - that you could either tell the crowd what you were doing (because they were there to "get down" and not to listen), or what to do (they couldn't "get down" unless they did listen). Depending on the crowd, you vary between those two poles. I often used the first tactic on the more "serious" audiences. The second was good for the folks on drugs...
My demeanor was generally dictated by the crowd I perceived. They wanted something for their admission; I wanted them to "get" what I was doing. Sometimes it worked; other times...
And then there's the response you wanted to receive.
Take, for example, audience participation time; the folks tended to really pay attention then, or they might miss something...
You have to get a feel for your audience as you go; some are best talked to, some best talked at.
By '88, I'd been telling audiences what to do for quite a while.
2) No.
3) Yes.
4) I don't know... And I've never asked...
It never occurred to me to ask John Lennon, "Hey, why didn't you guys just refuse to play until they shut up?"
I dunno, LCS; it's something I'd done for years - and had nothing to do whatsoever with the '88 band, or the show you attended.
Thanks for writing,
Frankie

[Lonesome Cowboy Squirt]

Hello again, Frankie.

(the mind boggles at all the humorous epithets I could hurl at this nom de plume)

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I chose it.  I'm all ears...

Thanks - tho' your words were very kind.

You make it sound like expressing kind words is a character fault.  If one derserves praise, I'm willing to let him know.

Hmmm...
LCS? That's more than one question... Sorry; I've always been into Math and I don't want to come off sounding like a snob, but...

Okay, okay, you got me there.  I stand corrected.  What I meant was, "I have several questions about a couple of topics, but I'll just bug you with one...topic, that is."  Come on, Frankie.  When ya get into a typing frenzy, sometimes you can overlook the details.  Snob?  No, you're just a touch pretentious, but that's acceptable; that sort of thing can be helpful.

It never occurred to me to ask John Lennon, "Hey, why didn't you guys just refuse to play until they shut up?"

I speculate that most people would not shut up and just keep screaming.  In my humble opinion, most people are pretty stupid, especially when they're in a large group.  And yes, now I'm coming across like a snob...

...and had nothing to do whatsoever with the '88 band, or the show you attended.
Thanks for writing,
Frankie

I didn't think it did.  Your answer is very informative and entertaining.

Thanks for answering.

Lonesome Cowboy "Squirt"
(he uddered!)

[guacamole]

"Stop it, you're squashing Joey Psychotic"