the man in the van with a bass in his hand
A little break from bike writing, still biking a lot. But it strikes me that too often little posts like this only get written after someone is gone, when they should be recognized more while alive. So, continuing on the last post, a short look at my favorite bass player.
Mike Watt is a punk rock national treasure, and a hella nice guy. I saw fIREHOSE play pretty much every time they came through town from about 1988-1993 or so, and he was a huge influence on me as a bass player. I doubt there’s anyone with his experience and influence on the music scene who is as humble and generous as Watt. Hanging out in the Entry before the opening bands, Watt would be wandering around just like the rest of us, happy to say hi and shake your hand.
I heard the Minutemen some while i was in high school, but california punk rock wasn’t exactly prevalent in mid-1980s Rockford, IL (though i still have my vinyl copy of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables). It was in college that i discovered fIREHOSE, and it was shortly after buying my first bass, and just old enough to see the good shows in clubs.
Here’s an old fIREHOSE video, perhaps the best ever use of drag racing footage in a music video. This song cannot be played loudly enough.
Since fIREHOSE, Watt has stayed busy with a couple of solo albums and plenty of interesting side projects. He’s still going strong, after a near-death illness and 30 years of playing and touring. It’s fun to read his online diary and listen to his radio show and hear how excited he is to be playing in the Stooges. Yes, Watt is playing bass for Iggy and the Stooges. Oh man. Watt’s turning 50 this year, and he’s touring with his high school musical heroes. Please please, let them play in the Twin Cities.