It's all about that bass...eventually

Provided.

As a musician, no one I know actually set out to be a bass guitarist.

In my teens, everyone wanted to be the lead singer, lead guitarist or the drummer.

They wanted to be the front man, the wailing guitarist or the wild man drummer.

But I don't recall anyone saying, "I just want to be the bass player."

The Southern Rock bands that had so many guitarists to choose from, used to make the worst one play bass.

My favorite (not!) quote when people approach me..."Bass must be easy, there's only four strings." Miles Davis famously said, "It's not the notes you play, it's the notes you don't play." And, I believe it was Nathan East (Eric Clapton et al) that said, "Bass guitar is not the notes you play, but what you play between the notes."

I am a recovering drummer. I have always loved the crisp snap of the snare drum guiding my rhythm on the three! (Most people clap on the one.)

On Feb. 9, 1971, I was awoken to the God-inspired and assisted drum solo of my sister Kelley's drum set (a recent Christmas gift from our dear Uncle Nate). I loved that little kit. Just looking at it gave me goosebumps and I knew we were destined to be together.

Fast forward to 1980 in the Bay Area. I had the opportunity to purchase a drum kit of my own but I had no income as a 17-year-old. That same sister (I have four) sent me $200 and I became the proud owner of the ugliest, stripped-down drums I have ever seen...and I adored them.

We had to move to Northwest Florida suddenly, but my drums made the trip. My dad insisted that I practice in the aluminum shed we had, about 100 feet from the house on a 10-acre parcel he had purchased 18 miles from the nearest town, DeFuniak Springs.

A local high school guitarist had heard about my banking in the middle of nowhere and I had my first audition with Rampage. Tim Haney, Steve Orlosky and Brian Simmons took me in as part of their family and I was in my first actual, bonafide rock band!

That's where it all started...the journey begins.

To contact Nohawk Rob, email [email protected]/.