Re: [Harp-L] Leonard Chess - Ticking off LW and it worked

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

Miles Davis used to use similar techniques to get his musicians to play beyond what they thought they could.



-----Original Message-----
From: Buck Worley <boogalloo@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, Oct 30, 2014 11:35 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] Leonard Chess - Ticking off LW and it worked


In the days of Chess Records' dealing with Muddy, Howlin Wolf, Etta, Little 
Walter et al, those guys would cut heads regularly. The Mississippi All Star 
Trio aka The Head Hunters. They used to piss a lot of people off and people got 
hurt, maimed or killed over blues music to establish hierarchy. Leonard Chess 
used tactics that humiliated and pissed off some of the artists intentionally to 
bring out their emotion and make a better recording.
I have played in some blues bands where those tactics are still used today. And 
many times it works. I can give examples too. I have been on the receiving end 
of guitar players that would rip my head off at the end of a gig. Fortunately 
for me, I know this tactic well and know what it's all about and EXACTLY how to 
deal with it. I have beat the s*^#t out of more than one guitar player. One just 
because his intonation sucked. BUT GUESS WHAT? He promptly learned how to adjust 
his intonation. OOOH I have had my but whipped and my head cut too. Been shot at 
2 times and know a well known drummer that keeps a .38 special under his seat.
My question: Is anyone on this list been through anything similar in live 
performance, road gig or studio. I would love to hear about it.
Buck Worley