The Bryan Beller Interview
PlanetBass.com
by Chris Dale
Published October, 2004

What inspired you to first pick up a bass and what were your first attempts at playing it like? 
I took up bass - acoustic at first - because it was the largest instrument in the orchestra and I was obnoxious as a youth. It hurt my hands but I liked the idea of playing fewer notes than the violins. Electric bass inspired the same line of thought.

Who were your early influences and what did you learn from them?
John Paul Jones - rock groove and basic rock basslines
Flea - slapping
Jaco Pastorius - finger funk and muting, first exposure to jazz
John Patitucci - soloing, interspersing blues and jazz licks
Scott Thunes - radical reharmonization in rock and jazz/rock bass

Did you take lessons or are you self-taught?
Private lessons (jazz) throughout high school, Berklee College Of Music degree (Performance)

What’s the most important bit of advice you were given by another musician?
Learn music by ear

What’s the most important bit of advice you could give to new bassists?
Lean A LOT of music by ear!

Where do you stand on the old fingers vs. plectrums debate and why?
If you want to be a true sideman, there's no debate - you master both techniques. If you're only interested in your own voice, you can emphasize whatever you like. I'm better with my fingers, but I can use a pick when necessary.

Do you play 4, 5 or 6 string basses mainly? Fretted or unfretted?
5-string fretted as the main axe, 5-string fretless and 4-string fretted when necessary

How would you define your style of playing?
Rock bass with benefits. :-)

Tell us a little about the artists and bands you have worked with, and how/if you adapted to playing with each of them?
Dweezil Zappa - leaned to memorize large chunks of riff-oriented music
Mike Keneally - found my own voice both on stage and in the studio, learned to improvise in various band settings (Mike employs everything from trios to 11-piece small ensemble), learned to always listen onstage no matter how familiar the song or form or whatever
Wayne Kramer - emphasis on consistent and steady power in a bassline
Steve Vai - studio detail work, emphasis on perfection in execution, as well as modern rock tone

Of the artists and bands you've played with who was the most inspirational and why?
Mike Keneally - my musical soulmate, who has always pushed me to try things I thought I could not do, and explore tonalities I never bothered to consider in the past

Do you warm up before a concert and if so how?
No, I don't warm up

Do you have any other last minute rituals or habits before a concert?
I like a drink of vodka and orange juice about 30 minutes before downbeat

What do you drink onstage?
See above

Have you ever played while drunk or under the influence of drugs?
Yes - the former is far more enjoyable than the latter

What’s the biggest disaster you’ve ever had onstage, and how did you cope with it?
Lost power to my entire rig on live nationwide French TV performance with Wayne Kramer - I pretended it didn't happen

What’s the biggest disaster you’ve ever had in the studio, and how did you cope with it?
On a project I won't name - bad personal relations with an engineer during a several-month session. I simply kept tracking until it was done. I wasn't in control of the timeline.

What’s been your proudest playing moment?
With Steve Vai and the Metropol Orchestra, live in Holland in May, 2004.

What’s been the most fun playing moment, and why?
With Mike Keneally and a small ensemble of professional Dutch musicians in Groningen, Holland in October of 2000. Musical art for art's sake, with an unusual instrumentation and a high degree of comfort. Plenty of room to play, but also a piece of a larger unique sound.

What’s been the least fun playing moment, and why?
Some cover band gigs I did when I was younger...for obvious reasons.

What equipment do you use live and in the studio and why?
Various pieces of SWR amplification products, too many to mention, both live and in the studio. It's just my sound. Go here.

Are you fairly flexible about the equipment you use or must you always play with the same gear?
I much prefer my thoroughly researched setup.

What one piece of equipment would you advise all bass players to own?
A passive, 4-string Fender jazz bass.

Do you read music?
Yes. 

Do you play any other instruments, and how well?
Piano/keyboards - I'm adequate, no better.

Do you write or co-write songs and if so do you write on the bass?
I do write music, either on bass or keyboards depending on the tune.

Do you ever play cover versions, and if so how do you learn the originals note for note or do you improvise you own parts?
I first try to learn cover tunes note for note, and then embellish once I've reached that point.

Do you sing? Do you feel it is important?
Not well...I wish I sang better and I do feel it's important.

If you could nominate one song that you’ve recorded to sum up your playing style and feel which one would it be?
I don't claim for this tune to be "my definitive sound", but it's the "single" from my just released album "View". It's called "Seven Percent Grade" and you can find it here

What have you been doing recently?
Playing with Mike Keneally both acoustically (as a duo) and electrically (with the Mike Keneally Band); recording an album for (Dream Theater lead singer) James LaBrie's Mullmuzzler; in May I played some truly remarkable shows with Steve Vai and a complete orchestra in Holland, which will eventually be released officially; and for my own material, I recently did my very first live gig with the six-piece "Bryan Beller Band" (or whatever it will ultimately be called) at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles.