Growing up Bass Player

The Hiatus

As a musician I went in to hibernation (hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in a bass player). Some of you may know the feeling. I sold all my equipment, and swore I would never play again. I had several people call me and ask if I would like to join them in their existing band or a new band. I always responded by saying “no thanks I am not playing music anymore”. Soon the phone calls stopped. I didn't go out at all, even to listen. I was done. (Ya right!)

I made it about 6 months though, maybe a little more. Playing music is like an addiction. It’s hard to go very long without a fix. After my 6 months of sitting around the house feeling sorry for myself, my wife bless her heart, took me out to clubs. Just to listen of course fore I was never going to play again. I ran in to a band I really enjoy and spent a lot of time listening and talking with the band. That led to sitting in on a few songs. And that led to………………..well, you know.

I kept going back. Usual I went to all the clubs in town with music, but I always ended up back listening to the same band. They had a girl bass player who was always willing to let me sit in. The name of the band was Sugar Mountain. The lead guitar player was the younger brother of Ken, the lead player I started with almost 10 years before. Gary was his name and he was twice as good as his brother. His playing is what drew me to the band. The drummer was mediocre to say the least. I felt all he needed was a good bass player. The bass player, she was ok but…….no I won’t say anything negative about a fellow bassist. Sue was her name. She was a single mother and a real nice person. The lead singer and rhythm player was real good. He sang a lot of country, looked and sounded like Elvis and did a pretty good imitation of him. His name was Bill. The more beer Bill drank the more he sounded like Elvis. They sometimes did a little novelty act were Bill would turn his collar up and sing some Elvis songs. (Thank you very much)

Sugar Moutain