I finally got an op-ed printed

Patrick M · Postby **Patrick M** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 10:17 pm

And it's music related.

For those of you in the Lexington area, consult page D3 of last Sunday's Herald Leader. Or just read on.

This is actually the third time I've contacted the Herald Leader about a correction to something Walter "Toonces" Tunis wrote. This is the first thing they've printed.

Who's on bass?

In Walter Tunis' June 13 review of the new Metallica album, St. Anger, he writes:

"Ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo proves a hearty new recruit, drummer Lars Ulrich deftly pilots the pile-driving rhythms and a post rehab James Hetfield wails with a vengeance during Frantic and Shoot Me Again."

In fact, Trujillo does not play on this album. Bassist Jason Newsted left the band in January 2001, and Trujillo's hiring was not publicly announced until February 2003. During the period that Metallica was without a bassist, St. Anger was recorded in its entirety with producer Bob Rock filling in on all bass parts.

Trujillo does play on the bonus DVD, which accompanies the St. Anger CD. However, Tunis' review is of the album and makes no mention of the DVD.

Rspaight · Postby **Rspaight** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 7:54 am

I take it you're not enamoured of our local music critic? I've met him on many occasions, though I can hardly claim to "know" him. He seems like an OK guy -- very opinionated, naturally, but that's to be expected.

He interviewed me for an article about six years ago on the Marillion tour fund. He persuaded the H-L to give that story a lot of column-inches and a big picture, even though the band weren't even playing Lexington. He's a good egg in my book for that.

And he's a pretty good actor, to boot.

Ryan

Patrick M · Postby **Patrick M** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 4:57 pm

He's OK, he just has that 'know it all' music critic thing going on, IMO. Practically all music reviewers are like that. I got really offended last year when he wrote a an article about King's X, then didn't go to the show, ergo no follow up. He also tends to make quite a few factual errors. In this case, I think missing that Trujillo didn't play on the album is pretty bad. I mean, I knew that and I don't even own the album.

He does, however, have good manners at concerts. I stood right by the guy for the Bears @ Phoenix Hill.

Xenu · Postby **Xenu** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 1:38 am

I saw the St. Anger vid a few days ago. The arrangement really *does* make no sense...it's shocking.

Patrick M · Postby **Patrick M** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 1:54 am

Xenu wrote:I saw the St. Anger vid a few days ago. The arrangement really *does* make no sense...it's shocking.

I haven't seen it. Could you elaborate?

Also, did you know Trujillo didn't play on the album before you read this thread?

Xenu · Postby **Xenu** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 1:37 pm

Yes, but only because I read the liner notes of the disc, I think...it wasn't something I was really paying attention to (for all I knew, they dubbed in bass at the last minute).

The song just goes on and on....i.e. "HERE'S THE SONG-LIKE BIT! WE'RE GONNA THRASH NOW," but while something like that might've worked in the past, the production ensures it makes no sense...there's *nothing* holding it together.

Patrick M · Postby **Patrick M** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 3:02 pm

Xenu wrote:Yes, but only because I read the liner notes of the disc, I think...it wasn't something I was really paying attention to (for all I knew, they dubbed in bass at the last minute).

Did you actually buy the thing? :shock:

Metallica was big for me in high school and college, but after Load...

Ryan, I am required by the FLO Charter(tm) to haze you. It's all spelled out.

Rspaight · Postby **Rspaight** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 3:06 pm

What the flaming crap did I do???

Unless you're talking to Mr. Xenu. In which case you're calling him Ryan, and Mike is calling me Ron, and...

I think we're all just figments of Luke's fevered imagination anyway.

Ryan