Post your favorite quotes from musicians

[ElvisNixon]

Frank Zappa on the stupidity of rock critics trying to describe music with words:

“Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.”

“What the large print giveth, the small print taketh away.”

~Tom Waits

 

[Highway 49]

“I can’t handle being part of a bad song. Writing a song is super easy. You can go to the library or bookstore and there’s actually a formula for writing songs. But here’s the hard part - writing a song I’m going to want to sing in front of people five years from now.”
Kim Deal The Cleveland Scene, 2010

 

[dogmeat]

"well... Eric's not here is he" ... Jeff Beck's response to "eric did this..." when he rehearsed with the Yardbirds

 

[UPtele]

Robert 'Fish' Fishman: Oh I'm responsible alright. Responsible for partying till my nuts catch fire!

 

[WingedWords]

Choose one lesson according to thy capacity, which give not over by looking over others, or straggling from one to another, till thou have got it reasonably perfect; and do not only begin it by going through it to the end at first sight, but examine each part of it diligently, and stay upon any one point so long (though thou play it over a thousand times) till thou get it in some sort.

John Dowland - Varieties of Lute Lessons 1610

" - in some sort...." !!

 

[MainLine Florida]

1. Ginger Baker on ability: "You either got it or you don't".
2. Zappa: "Shut up and play your guitar"
3. Ringo when asked at a press conference what the Beatle's contribution to western civilization was: "records".
4. Duane... my favorite: "I love being alive and I will be the best man I possibly can. I will take love wherever I find it and offer it to everyone who will take it. . . seek knowledge from those wiser and teach those who wish to learn from me.”

 

[zook]

"The life I love is makin music with my friends."

-Willie Nelson

 

[AliceAngelTele]

 

[Gardo]

Write a lot of notes but only play the important ones. Aaron Copland

 

[elihu]

When asked what the most difficult instrument was to play, Leonard Bernstein replied "Second fiddle."

 

[TelecasterSam]

"Give the drummer some" - James Brown

 

[tele12]

.....
Frank Zappa

...

Not really a quote, Steve Vai was auditioning for Zappa. Frank asked him to play something impossible, Steve called him on it. Frank said "I hear Linda Ronstadt is looking for a guitarist"

 

[Geoff738]

Don’t bore us, get to the chorus. John Bonham on Jethro Tull I believe.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Geoff738]

We’re just musicians, here to thin the thickness of your skin. My sig line from Canadian band Max Webster. Possibly written by their lyricist Pye DuBois. Who was not a musician.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[O- Fender]

"If I knew I was going to be singing this for the last 60 years, I would have at least written another verse or two for this song." - Peter Noone during "I'm Henry The VIII"

"I thought, if you're going to join a band, you might as well join the best." - Ringo

"Most of my work is more abandoned rather than finished." - Leonard Cohen

"I had a bad experience with drugs once. It lasted for 11 years." - Kinky Friedman

During the recording vocals for the charity song "Tears Are Not Enough "
David Foster: Neil, that last note was sharp.
Neil Young: But that's my sound, man.

"I must love the guy, I've been staring at his @zz for the last 30 years." - Tico Torres on Jon Bon Jovi.

I forget who said it:
"With jazz, you have to really listen, really study, really practice and play a lot so you can sound like you don't know what you're doing."

edited to correct a silly typo.

 

[badinfinities]

 

[ISmellSmoke]

"How you doin' toniiiiiiight ?? I can't heeeeeeeear you !! "

 

[toanhunter]

'Where I come from, you don't really talk about how much you're earning. Those things are private. My dad never told my mum how much he was earning. I'm certainly not going to tell the world. I'm doing well.'

Paul McCartney

 

[Tone Quest]

"How ya doin' " Joe Walsh

 

[elihu]

View attachment 1389575

Funny and sad at the same time.