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rich said: >after this thread... now i'm really feeling guilty for my liner >notes, where my credits of 'loops and treatments' is a direct, >intentional cop from mr. eno. and 'bass vibrations' a direct and >intentional cop from spacemen3. I blatantly copy Bob, crediting myself on everything my band does to "Organ and Devices". I do not feel guilty about this, because ... well ... I just don't. I figure there's quite a bit of humour in someone that lugs a Hammond and two Leslies around and calls it "small and mobile" ... that is, a soul organist who's as influenced by Bob Fripp as Booker T Jones strikes me as kind of funny. When I play a gig, they ask me if I like Jimmy Smith. I say "Nah ... that guy's an asshole." Then I point out the pewter KC (Thrak tour) pin on my lapel ... and say "that's my favourite band." Well, I have a lot of favourites ... but its always good to distance yourself as much from the genre you're operating in as possible. But, Bob is not the only thing I blatantly copy. Not by long shot. I don't claim originality or creativity. I'm not here to "make a statement". I do what I enjoy, and some people here in Peoria IL like what I do. I have fun with the music. I will play the most banal covers you'll ever want to hear ... the sort of stuff that prog peeps say is "lame" and Bob says is "the humiliating act of being a professional musician". But right after I play "Fly Like An Eagle", I'll throw that Isaac Hayes number ("Hung Up On My Baby") with the extended ambient loop over the top of it. But I _never_ play a song I don't like. My best friend's favourite band is Shellac. His last album sounds _exactly_ like Shellac with the singer from Blonde Redhead singing. He will not admit to having "influences". I think that's kind of funny. I guess my point is that originality and creativity are subjective and overrated. I'm very open about my influences, I put a bunch of stuff that makes sense to me (but not to some of the people around me ... they have a hard time seeing the direct lines between concepts) in a pot and try to balance it all ... get it to sound good and harmonise. Like what Dave Torn said about synthesisers of concept ... that's my bag. I don't innovate. And I'm not one bit embearassed about it. Eric Williamson www.suitandtieguy.com