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Steve "Dude" Barr
Featured Bassist
Probably long overdue, this feature is on who I would like to call our very own Steve "Dude" Barr, but who, in fact, is shared across his own popular forum, the Dude Pit and his own company Vintage Bass Trading Co. A long time regular on a.g.b., Steve has earned a reputation as being very knowledgable and dedicated in the bass arena. Keeping us entertained with his quips and pics of either the vintage and unique bass guitars that pass through his hands or some just downright ridiculous snaps, he never fails to amuse or... cheese someone off, but as the song goes, to know him is to love him. Regularly attending the NAMM shows for the last several years and reporting back to a.g.b. with pics and commentary, Steve has met many agbers over the years. Steve's own stock bio can be read on his Vintage Bass Trading Co. website.
Lynda LeCompte
Q. How do you spend your time when you're not in the Pit, a.g.b. or taking pics of yourself?
"LOL...in my defense I will state that I have been alone in a garage in a desert for going on three years now. You'd prance around half-drunk playing to Quadrophenia in the middle of the night and urinating on cacti under moonlight too! Trust me...you just would ok?? That aside, it's always a pretty busy day around "the garage" out here in a geriatric city in the middle of the desert as the 24/7 caregiver for my elderly and infirm parents for going on three years now. It was a huge adjustment after being on the vineyard in Sonoma County, CA cranking out through my Mesa rig and the Azola "Tele-Dude" I'll tell ya that!
I'm also an authorized dealer for many industry leading manufacturers. Cream of the crop only! I more than doubled my number of dealerships this past NAMM show in January and I'm still busy setting up all the accounts and rolling out the product lines. I'll be at the Lakland 10th Anniversary Concert and events this month in Chicago for four days which should also be a great time! We have three tables of six up front & center....it's gonna be a blast! Finger foods will be supplied of course and "The Pit" will be well represented and making a substantial donation to the Merit School of Music in Chicago, a very worthy cause folks!"
Q. It hasn't gone unnoticed that you're a bit of a trend setter. To help us novices keep up with what's hip, can you let us in on where you shop for clothes and where your fashion sense came from? We're especially interested in the white tiger outfit.
"Having been on eBay for over 6 years as a "Power Seller" I have to admit that I've bought underwear on eBay! I do all my shopping online. Here's a few of my favorite fashion websites that you might wish to post links to for the benefit of some AGBers??"
www.bowlingshirt.com
www.t-shirtsthatsuck.com
www.lileks.com/institute/dorcus/nellie.html
"I've probably watched Goodfellas more than Casino but it's close."
Q. Fave 5 CDs?
"The Who's "Quadrophenia"
Cheap Trick's "Sex in America" box set
Genesis' "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"
Stones "Sticky Fingers"
Clatter's "Blinded by Vision".....(sup Amy & Joe? Sez the chicken in the desert!)"
Q. Fave food?
"You mean "solids"?? Hormel corned beef has in a can with those little cube taters in it with an egg cracked on top with buttered toast and a pot of coffee and about 4-5 "Boosts"....season to taste."
"Not a thing actually...more the other way around. I'm not hurting anything really so I just don't get the seemingly unidirectional animosity bouncing at me from some "Noisy Cats" out there. Life's too short to sweat it ya know??"
Q. First instrument played?
"Piano in first grade to alto sax in 4th grade to trombone in 7th grade to bass guitar at in 9th grade and the rest is history...first bass was a Kent through a Heathkit guitar amp.....more basses than women since."
Q. I admire your courage for breaking out of the rat race and walking away from a well established real estate venture to pursue your love of vintage bass. What was the final turning point that helped you make the decision to take this big step?
"Truth??? A successive series of judges. It really wasn't quite as noble as some may think. Now that I'm "here" though, I'm enjoying my life just as it is thank you very much!! I have a lot of gratitude in my life these days. Probably has a lot to do with doing what I'm doing every day with my folks. If anyone is in a similar caregiving situation to the elderly please go here for answers. This is an organization that I am beginning to become very proactive with for obvious reasons:
"See above...LOL...too many "judges" in my life for my personal taste of all sorts. My philosophy about this common trip we're all on is that is to have no real regrets in my life. Does it really matter in the end? I'm old enough now at 46 to pretty much have come to the conclusion that it's about the roller coaster and not the merrry-go-round. I'm actually living a pretty cool life right now... know why? I literally have 100's of friends or more. The people I've come to know within the bass community have been awesome!! The success of The Dude Pit has been a true blessing. We average over 30,000 daily visits now and are approaching our 4th Anniversary on March 19th and have over 4,500 registered bass offenders. So thanks you guys...Special shout out to my best friend and Dude Pit Co-Founder, Peter "Harleyyy" Dapello. This is my personal "Bernie Taupin".
He's had my back from day one...thanks Pete!"
Q. What's the stupidest thing you ever did?
"The statute of limitations isn't up yet sorry...let's not go there."
Q. What's the best thing you ever did?
"Doing what I'm doing for my folks right now. It gives me a pragmatic perspective on life...and death."
"Anywhere besides fuggin Sun City West, AZ I'll tell you that!! I hate this place with a vengeance. I loved Sonoma County, CA the best in my life hands down so probably back up there for numerous reasons but "Dude Jr." and his gal Angela have promised a pool house for "Pops" on an estate in "The O.C." in exchange for baby sitting duties so I'm covered either way. What did Lou Reed say about drooling on a dirty T-shirt? From one generation to the next...I love my kids!!"
"There's so many in many categories but I'll list those within the bass community that I admire greatly how's that?? This will be a fairly long list and even at that I'm not even scratching the surface because there are 100's of people if not more that I admire but some big inspirations for me in my life have been:
Denise Chaparteguy
Peter & Karen Dapello
Cam Barr & Angela Tietzer
Rudy Sarzo
Evan Sheeley & Chad Beeler
Dan Lakin & John Pirruccello
John East
Roger Sadowsky
Steve & Jill Azola
Michael Dolan
Kevin Reynolds
Ed Frieldland
Billy Sheehan
Ron Garant
Jim Roberts
Richard Johnston
Bill Leigh
Rick Turner
Steve & Linda Rabe
Mark Kendrick & Mike Eldred
Rana & John Ross
Brian Barrett & Chris Benavente
Hippiesandwich, Jazzbass2001, Bovinehost, Funkycarnivore, Westport, Offbase, Steve Lawson, Jaquo, Jonathan and Helen Starr and all the Pitters."
"You're kidding right?? LOL..umm the best advice I can depart upon any bass player is:
"Don't fear the truss rod and 1/4 turn at a time."
Put that on my tombstone along with Beck's bottle caps."
Will do. We'll start the cap collection right away... hic!
Steve, thanks so much for taking part in this a.g.b. feature. It was an honor to get to know more about you and on behalf of the agb community, wish you the very best in your future endeavours. Don't go changin'!
We'll all drink to that!
All rights given to Linny to publish and edit at will.
"R.I.P" Hunter S.....I miss you on this Earth!
Previous Featured Members
Ted Partin Tom Comber Brian Running Edward G Kloka Mo'
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May 12th, 2007