Al
Pritchard - The Bass
IT'S BEEN
A LONG SLOG!
Born in Gloucestershire UK, at the end of the flower power decade..... vague, let's just say that I'm nearly the same age as Nate! But better looking! lol.
Coming from a musical family, there was always music playing in the house, either from dad playing the keyboard/piano or record player, or tunes screaming from one (or both) of my sisters cassette players and I soon learned to sing along.
Dad was always playing in bands, going out with the local dance bands on the weekends, we always had a piano, then he got a Welson electronic keyboard. Of course at a young age, I was curious and wanted to play too, so I was taught to play, dad must have had the patience of a saint. Played for a few years as dad upgraded to some pretty amazing Technics electronic wizardry - that’s not to say he relied on the gizmo’s, dad was a very talented musical genius and influenced my musical path.
The trouble was, I was at an age where top of the pops were full of bands with guitars, drums and screaming groupies! And I wanted some of that! The keyboard player was usually stood (or sat) at the back and I wanted to be like the guitarists. I wanted a foot on a monitor too!
The keyboard playing became a chore and I gave it up for a few years, much to dad’s disgust.
Enter a certain couple of gentlemen in the 80’s Mr Gordon Sumner - aka Sting, Bruce Foxton of The Jam and Simon Gallup of the Cure, I was in a trance, that’s who I wanted to be! I loved it!
Now, this is true, but most people think that bass players are derived from failed lead guitarists, I actually wanted to play bass, not guitar! The bass player (I hate the word bassist) was more like a drummer with strings and he stood at the front! Result! And I just loved the sound, just listen to some early Jam, Police and The Cure, the bass was so much of a lead instrument. I was sold, that was it -
Bass lesson #1 - learn root notes
Bass lesson #2 - learn fifths
Bass lesson #3 - uh...i got a gig!
Thats a bit of a standing joke against bass players.
After playing in various outfits from the age of 18, I joined a band called Garrison Damn who belted out some very fine rock in the vein of a heavy Springsteen. Following two US tours which took us from Nashville to New York, our livers called it a day and one of the most fun-filled chapters of my life was written.
Moved to New Zealand in 2003 and played with covers band in Nelson for a year, which was fun for a while, but I needed more!
Met Mr McG in 2006 and proposed my cunning plan. I have wanted to form a Foo Fighters band for a very long time. I’m not really into the tribute band thing, well, what I mean is the costumes, wigs and the whole dressing up thing. I wanted to recreate the Foo Fighters sound and live show and I think we have come damn close....you decide! See you out there!