Today At ADE

MILES DAVIS

Used to call Nile Rodgers on the phone every night, saying "Write me a 'Good Times.'" Nile's point being we all want mass success.

Nile used to be a jazzer, but then his mentor said "You're too good for pop?" If millions love it, it can't be bad. And Nile went home and wrote "Everybody Dance," mashing up jazz and dance.

DRUGS

Nile gave them up because he heard a recording of a live show where he thought he was killing it, and found out he sucked. He loves drugs, but he loves music more.

DAVID SMITH

You probably don't know him, I certainly didn't. But I know his products and so do you, the Juno! He's one of the original synthesizer innovators. When asked for advice, Smith said you have to have fun doing it. Too many people focus on the end goal, mass acceptance, fame and riches. But if the journey there is gonna bore you, do something different.

TIESTO

Said they were trying to turn Ibiza into St. Tropez, that there's been no innovation and the prices are too high, that's why he skipped the season and went to Vegas instead, where everybody can get in and have a good time.

CURIOSITY

It's the key to Giorgio Moroder's success. He's always wanted to try new things.

BLACK PANTHERS

Nile was one. He's friends with Bobby Seale to this day. He said the black panther was actually the Esso tiger! Just painted black! His section leader's dad had created the mascot for the oil company and the Panthers repurposed it!

BURNING MAN

That's where Mikhail takes all his potential investors. To bond as people before he pitches them. Because humanity comes first.

SALESMANSHIP

It's the hustler's currency. It's the essence of the entrepreneur. You've got to learn how to tell a good story. I was sold by some of the best today.

ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Is about the beat, not the words, and therefore it's international. Shailendra said it was booming in India, where you reach your audience via social media on mobiles.

BICYCLES

Have their own special lane in Amsterdam. Keep your eyes and ears open, otherwise you'll get mowed down, cyclists brake for no one, and wear no helmets.

BAKED GOODS

Are better here than at home. Or maybe it's just the weather, everything tastes better on a gray autumn day.

TALL PEOPLE

They say it's the milk and cheese. It builds better bodies.

ROXY MUSIC

Was the inspiration for both Nile Rodgers and Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire. Nile was playing in a soul band but after seeing Roxy Music in London, he went home and started Chic. You think you want to imitate, but really you want to innovate.

PRODUCING

Musicians are generous, when it comes to skills. See something you admire and its propagator will tell you how he did it. Nile learned to be a producer by picking up tips in the studio. Luther Vandross taught him how to record vocals, Quincy Jones instructed him. To the point where when he was in the studio and somebody was doing something wrong, he'd speak up and say "No, this is how you do it..." Do that enough, and they put you in charge.

HITS

Are outnumbered by Nile's failures. People only remember the hits. And if you've got the chops, you know the failures are only momentary blips.

HEARING

Is not easy for Giorgio Moroder. Too much loud music or old age, I don't know. Protect your ears.

TWEETING

Tiesto does most of his own, because the public can tell the difference.

MOANING

Donna Summer said she couldn't, didn't wanna try. But Moroder sent her husband out of the studio, turned down the lights, and she got into it for ten minutes, which Giorgio cut up and inserted into "Love To Love You Baby."

THE OHIO EXPRESS

Inspired Giorgio Moroder, he sang a few bars of "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy."

COCAINE

Made Giorgio's studio musicians blow out the monitors on a regular basis, not when they were recording, but when they were playing back after hours, when they were high and Giorgio was home eating and sleeping.

COCAINE 2

Refused to allow Nile Rodgers's heart to keep beating. They had to restart it eight times in the hospital before it would keep going. Nile swore off the marching powder...for two weeks.


--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1

If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25

To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25




--
Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com --