I Wish My Spanish Speaking...

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 2:17 pm

...language skills were better. I was flipping through the TV channels last night and came across a band appearing on a local Spanish language station.

The guitarist/vocalist was using a 620JG and the bassist had a 4003 FG. For the life of me, I could not understand the lyrics nor did I recognize the music.

bigbajo60 · Post by **bigbajo60** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 2:32 pm

Being a "Spanish-speaking, Latin-blooded" person myself, I have noticed that Rickenbackers... particularly the 4000 series basses... are very popular among "alternative rockers" all across Latin America.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 9:11 am

My Spanish is terrible but I'm living in Lima Perú and I have seen several Ric 4000 basses on MTV here in the last three weeks and I don't watch it that much. I saw one last night. As far as Lima itself though, they are very scarce, everytime I play I have people asking me about it.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 4:03 am

Are you actually doing gigs there in Peru, Bob?
If so, what kind of music do you play, and where did you find your band?
I'm thinking of taking a trip to South America soon (for pleasure) and I'd like to know more about what the music scene is like in Peru...
What is on MTV there? Is it different from the rapfest we have here in the states?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 4:37 am

I dunno about So. Amer., but I've been to Southeast Asia/China recently and rap is not an MTV staple. Vietnam, for example has an anti- violence/anti bad influence on the children policy. Signs in the airport say anything you bring in deemed harmful to children will be confiscated. I think they put drug dealers to death as well.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 9:18 am

Gene, No, MTV is not the rapfest that it is in the US. that's why I can watch it, there is a little but not too much and what there is is actually more like hard rock rap, and it's in spanish so you don't have to listen to kill the cops and all that krap unless your Spanish is very good. There's a lot of hard rock on MTV, there's also a lot of American bands on MTV and also on the radio. Radio does not have the strict formats like they do in the States here either. They have stuff here on MTV like The Ozbournes (subtitled) and the idiots who almost kill themselves in wheelbarrows every day, they have the American programs but most of the music is from S. America. Gustavo Cerati was one musician that I particularly liked, he came from a band from Argentina called: Stereo Soda. There are some pretty good bands here, classic rock is big here, everyone loves Los Beatles, jazz is big here, and of course Latino music. Actually I am coming back (personal problems) but I got hooked up with some geezers such as myself who are pretty good, they had a semi-famous band here during the 60's called Los Drags! They played on TV every week and did records, (which were good garage rock by the way, Farfisa and everything, and an ancient Vox amp that I've never seen the likes of before). We had a good laugh over that name especially another American guy I know here. I also met a guy who's been famous here since the 60's and was supposed to use me when his bass player was out of town.
On average the musicians I have seen, met or played with were as good or better than many I know in the states, I saw two bass players and neither was really that good, so I think if a good bass player comes out here they could do good in a short amount of time as I was hoping to do, they love the Rics too, they are rare out here. The voltage is 220, but transformers are cheap. There is also native Peruvian folk music, which is very different than anything I'm used to. It is a very interesting city, I'm sorry I have to leave it.