Beyond the Bass Clef [Paperback]

Tony Levin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1998

Fantastic 1998 book by King Crimson bassist Tony Levin. Fascinating look at life behind the scenes of the music world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Papa Bear Records (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966813707
• ISBN-13: 978-0966813708
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,747,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "In the beginning there was a bass.", December 16, 2002

By 

spiral_mind (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Bass Clef (Paperback)

So begins Tony Levin's introductory meditation on the life of a career four-stringer, the first of many in a series of profound insights and endlessly enthralling anecdotes. A masterpiece for the ages, Beyond the Bass Clef stands in the highest echelon of human literature...

[ahem] - sorry about that. Ok, so this book really isn't much more than a quick, brisk read about the life of one particular working musician, but I've greatly enjoyed it all the same. I'll admit to being quite biased since I've admired Tony for years; anyone who isn't either a musician or a fan of his work (or both) might not get quite the same enjoyment I did. The overall tone is one of friendly storytelling, the kind that keeps people up in small bars until closing time trading one quick anecdote after another. Expect much more and you'll probably be disappointed.

There are some nice thoughts on general road life and developing one's playing/performance skills, but the real meat of the book is a gathering of numerous little snapshots of Tony's musical career. There are glimpses of life working with King Crimson, touring with Peter Gabriel (and some of the wacky stuff the band got up to along the way), doing various sessions or gigs with just about half the musicians on the planet, some of the difficulties of traveling in foreign countries, and some interesting background on his own life and solo work. Sometimes it wanders a little too far into aimless randomness, such as his descriptions of some early public performances as a youngster (including the day he almost shot President Kennedy), but overall it was enough to keep me smiling and laughing until the last page. We learn where that burned-barn picture on the Thrakattak insert came from, how to conduct an interview with oneself for a magazine when the regular guy is too busy, some of the hazards of working for Buddy Rich, and even pick up a nice recipe or two along the way.

So there you have it. You've heard this guy play somewhere, whether you realize it or not; for those who do, here's a nice way to take a closer look. Just beware of those fast high notes...

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instant favorite!, May 6, 1999

By 

David B. Thomas (Albuquerque, NM, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond the Bass Clef (Paperback)

Every once in a while, a writer comes along with the extrordinary ability to take you by the hand and escort you on a friendly walk through the amusements, trials and adventures of his life. Tony Levin is such a writer. His stories are so vivid that you will feel as though you have lived them yourself. You'll laugh at loud at stories you couldn't get others to laugh at if you repeated them in your own words.

This book attempts to be all things to all people, and succeeds. In it you will find hints and tips on playing the bass, advice on the business of music, stories from the road, epic tales of adventure and conquest, and general wisdom which will genuinely help you get through the rest of your life.

Your side will still be aching from laughing at a high school band story when you encounter a completely authentic recipe for carrot cake. Next up is advice on recording. You don't know where you will be taken next and that's half the fun.

I implore all bass players to read this book, and heartily recommend it to everyone else.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read, February 27, 2001

By 

John Hendow (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Bass Clef (Paperback)

I found this book to be pretty entertaining. I didn't expect it to be a method book or contain any secrets on playing bass. Tony is a phenomenal player, and has played with some very heavy hitters in the music industry including YES, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, John Lennon, Paul Simon, Laurie Anderson, Buddy Rich etc. etc. But I have also read the content on his web site (www.tonylevin.com) and am familiar with his writing style.

Besides being a great player, he's also a very nice person. I once interviewed him and found him to be warm, funny, down-to-earth AND astonishingly talented. I have waded through plenty of autobiographical hubris from big-name players, and frankly, I don't think the world needs yet another collection of instrumental speed drills or guidance on playing technique. What makes him special is his approach to music and to life. If you want to know HOW Tony plays bass, listen to his CDs, watch the live King Crimson DVD or better still, go see him play. If you want to understand WHY he plays bass and what makes him tick, read this book. It's a good bit of insight into his playful nature.

He's got a penchant for finding absurdity and humor in things. He freely experiments with playing technique and unusual tones (how many players have ever stuffed a diaper under their bass strings?). And Peter Gabriel once said of him "Tony Levin is one of the world's best bass players, if not THE best."