Episode 10

The Magnets, learning bass, and other musical experiences

I had lived and been friends with the guys from the Electromagnets while I was initially living in Austin. I kinda got to know them pretty well. At that time, Blair, a really good friend of mine knew Steve (Stephen Barber - Electromagnets' keyboardist) from childhood. So when they used to come down to Houston they would stay at Blair's house. And then I got to be really good friends with them so some of them would stay at my house whenever they had a gig in Houston. We ended up being their party pad in Houston. Definitely partyville. We really showed them a good time in Houston.

We went to every one of their gigs, no matter what club it was. It was incredible to see the 'magnets every time - going through all their changes.

Pat playing with Eric Johnson

They started in 73 and went through several incarnations. Bill Maddox the drummer and Steve started the band. I think they were pretty much the original guys. Then they went through a series of players before they met Eric. And once Eric got in the band they really took off.

I got to be really good friends with Kyle Brock (Bassist - Electromagnets) and I was learning a lot from him at the time. For the sake of learning I would drive back to Austin with Kyle and as a friend he would always show me licks on the bass.

At the time I was a huge Jack Bruce fan so I was playing a Gibson ED 3 bass. One thing about that was that unless you played that bass on a Marshall amp on 10 they don't sound very good. He convinced me to get a Fender Jazz bass and get a more modern sound - so I progressed from there.

Pat's band gets a bad critique

Since it was so convenient and we were playing similar music, the 'magnets and One Hand Clapping did a lot of shows together. Whenever they would come to Houston we were their backup band. And that's how we got into playing at the Armadillo in Austin.

Pat playing with Eric Johnson

Anyway, around 79 - 80 One Hand Clapping went by the way side but at the same time Mark, Mike and I were like this rhythm section for hire. We got picked up by "Wild Cat and the Dragons" which is where that review came from. Written by Ed Ward - living in Berlin now. Speaking his wisdom from afar.

A love note to Pat

Then we got hired by Stephen Doster. That became quite a good band. We thought we were going to make it. We had this guy from "The Pretenders" helping us out. And then he passed away and the whole thing kind of flittered and floundered.

One Hand Clapping

About that time I started working with Bill in the "The Project". That was a great learning experience. Of course, Bill is an absolute genius not just on the drums but as an all round musician, songwriter and arranger. He taught me a whole lot about how Bass parts and Drums parts should work together to make a song sound right.

Pat One

I learn't a lot about the perspective of the rhythm section as opposed to being just a bass player. I never actually realized until then how important that is as opposed to being a virtuoso.

Pat Two

Doing that work with Bill was a great honor and pleasure. The Project went through so many incarnations. It was always him and Stevie Wilson - a great drummer, singer and entertainer. Stevie could really get you going.




Kyle played in his band as well and so did another famous Austin bassist, Glenn Fuginawa. There were so many bassists who played with him in The Project. All kinds of different guys.

The Project

That band was his band. It started out "Project Terror". But in the 80s with all the terrorism happening he couldn't tour in Europe with that name. It's original intention was a Saturday morning / night monster movie TV festival thing that they had in San Antonio where they showed all the old Boris Karlof movies. But everyone in Europe would have thought of Terrorism if they heard that name.

Pretenders Headline

That band really lasted. In fact it's still lasting under the name "Receiver Set". Which is a further incarnation of "The Project".

More later!

- Pat Cieply