Well, this segment begins with John rehearsing for the road in New Jersey and new songs release talking about business over his managers house John took a ride with his manager to meet a friend of his named Dominic who was going to finance the recording and promote the project for release. While John was sitting there, he heard a knock on the door and as the door opened it was Clarence Clemmons and Jackson Browne who at the time were jamin down some tracks while the Boss was in off season taking a rest, well they all got to talkin and dominic asked John to pull out the double neck and play something so they can see and hear it, after about 5 minutes of playing they were smilin and whispering among themselves, then John heard Clarence saying to Dominic after a phone call we are all set., then they left. John asked Dominic what were they talking about, his reply to John was that you are all set you are going to the NAMM show in Anahiem, CA and Clarence got you hooked up to stay at a flight attendent friends pad for 2 nights no charge right outside LAX airport. Well to make a long story short John played a Bass at one of the Booths there and before he knew it people started to gather around and listen to what he was doing, after he stopped playing a man approached him and said it was really pleasurable to hear you play and asked John if he would mind later coming by his both to play and handed John a card..It was Martin son of James Howe from Rotosound. Later when John went to the both and started to play more people watched John going at it. When John stopped this time Martin introduced him to a friend who was with him from England and that friend was Gordon Sumner,. John told Martin about the custom Alembic Bass that he had built but it wasn't with him. Well after the show John and Martin kept close contact via phone calls Johns phone bill was sometimes $1000.00 in a month, Martin in turn supplied John with all types of strings to try and asked John if he would get some photo's taken of the Bass with these new sets of custom fitted strings he had sent him with directions on how to put them on. So John had the Band photographer take the pictures and they were sent off to Rotosound..the new strings of course were called Superwound. That next year John met Martin and his dad at the NAMM show in Atlanta and to John's astonishment there was a 5 foot likeness behind a curtain along with a release form to release the ad to Guitar player Magazine and International Musician, so after John signed the poster likeness was placed out and the deal was made. Shortly afterwards while John was playing ALfonso Johnson walked up and John instructed him to put his hands on the top fretless neck while John was playing the 8 string and the next thing he knew there was about 10 Japanese guys snapping away with Camera's..Martin afterwards said to John have you ever heard of the Police and John replied no and Martin said you are going to very soon, my friend Gordon that you met last year now goes by Sting now and they are rehearsing for there show and album just got released...Too much stuff here to tell...till next time feel free if you have any questions or comments p.s. John told me to tell all of you that if this stuff gets boring then to let me know, he is afraid I am writing too much stuff for you to read just trying to fill in the gaps and questions you might have of the past Cheers everyone! oh yeah P>S> John got to meet Stanley Clarke that first NAMM show which at the time John really admired Stanleys work on the Piccolo Bass and it was his dream to meet him in person
(Message edited by gyonnii on March 28, 2009)
