A Chat with Clive Woodvine

by Martin Simpson

Clive has been on our Bass contacts list for a while and has contributed a few sentences to the Why I Play Bass article. I thought it was time I asked the man for an interview. This was one of the best interviews I’ve done to date (certainly the best ‘local’ interview) – Clive and I have so much in common (maybe I should ask him to help me run the Bass Collective). Anyway, this is what I found out in May 2007. 

How long have you been playing Clive?

It sometimes feels like when God the Father was in nappies !! In fact it wasn’t that long ago – around the beginning of ’68 . . though I only bought my first “proper” bass in ’71. 

How did you get started?This I have already covered at length in “Why do I play bass ?”; I forgot what homework I had to do and my nearest classmate played guitar. He put the low 4 on a spare acoustic and then discovered that I was left-handed- too late !! I played this way until I bought my first bass and was forced to play “properly” by an organist who was our drummer (?). I haven’t improved much, but I’ve never looked back. 

Do you come from a musical family?

How does one define “musical”? If you mean by formal training, then, no. If you mean by appreciation then, yes. No-one actually played an instrument – discounting my elder brother’s foray with a clarinet – but Mom enjoyed a good sing-song and Dad had a few records which he encouraged me to listen to. I received no encouragement to play and was actually dissuaded by my Dad from going to the USA and enrolling for a Sound Engineering qualification !!  

What’s your favourite band / solo artist?

Hmmm . . . difficult, this one !!
Band for overall listening : Beatles, Jethro Tull, Spyro Gyra, 

Band for basswork : Yes, ELP, The Who, Renaissance, Genesis, Elton John, Grand Funk, Deep Purple, Rush, Starcastle, Free, Wishbone Ash – all the “progressive rock” bands fro the ‘70’s. 

Band for technique : Bob James / Fourplay, JamesTaylor, Sting., Chick Corea. 

Solo Artist - Bassist : Stan Clarke

 - Guitar : Al di Meola, Steve Morse

 - Drums : Steve Gadd, Mike Shrieve

 - K/Boards : Rick Wakeman, Richard Souther

-          Vocals : Peter Cetera,  

Wow! Someone that actually knows of Starcastle – I was beginning to think I was the only person in S.A. who knew of them. From your list, looks like we share an interest in the Proggies and the Fusioneers!  

Over the years I took it on myself to “introduce” myself by way of letter, to certain musicians who drew my attention – the late Gary Strater from Starcastle was one of these. His tone was rightly “Ricki” and his technique was awesome ; I love his 16^th note passages in “Lady of the lake”, similar to Chris Squire’s early work but more intense. [ Don’t now if you are aware that Starcastle have recently released a new album ? Around March 2007.] Another recent passing of note was Brad Delp – the voice behind Boston. Too soon, man, too soon. 

From a bass player’s perspective how can you not love the progressive players ? Rutherford’s mix of Ricki and Taurus pedals on “Watcher of the skies”, Squire’s harmony notes in “The Clap”, Lake’s frenzied counter-points on “Brain salad surgery”, Cornick’s work on early Tull, not to mention “The Ox”es intro to “Can you see the real me” . . . As for Schacher’s buzz-saw tone on “I’m your Captain” – the stuff of dreams, though how many of us actually follow Glover’s bass line in “Smoke on the water” ? Jon Tout’s work on “Northern lights” is inspiring – even now. For me, the ultimate was how Martin Turner managed to fit in his bass lines between the twin-leads of Wishbone Ash – listen to the “New England” album.   

What are the amps and instruments you currently use?

Currently – none, as I haven’t played a note in just on a year !!

What do I have ? You asked !!

Bass :

Marshall 72115 combo for “Bread & butter” jobs. I add an EV B115-M cabinet for spread, if needed.
Acoustic #220 top with #408 ( 4x15”) cab for big jobs.
Marshall SupaBass 100w valve c/w 4x12” for rock.
Marshall Major 200w valve c/w 1x18” soundbouncer cab for O.T.P. work.
My Orange 120 and Fender 100w Bassman tops were stolen but I still have the cabinets.

 Guitar :

Marshall 50w valve c/w 4x12” cab & ’64 18w 2x12 combo.
Vox Century 100w c/w 1x15” cab
Lab-Series L4

Instruments :

Ibanez Musician Bass, Rickenbacker 4001, Alembic Epic V, Goodfellow Fretless, Shergold Marathon fretted & fretless, Squier Precision, Shergold 4 / 12 twin-neck, Fender Telecaster guitar, Charvel-Jackson guitar . . . . all lefties.
Gibson RD Artist right handed.

Just for fun – keyboards :

SCI Prophet 600, Prophet 10, MemoryMoogPlus, ARP Odyssey, Oberheim Ob-Xa, Kawai K1.
Modules : Roland U-110, D-110, Yamaha T81Z, Ensoniq ARS,
Drums : Yamaha Rx-5, LinnDrum, Simmons pads. 

My studio rack has a medley of Graphics, Parametrics, Reverbs, Delays, etc. 

Mixers : Yamaha M1604 for drum machines. Main unit is a TAC Scorpion MkI 24 / 16 / 2 

Looks like you’ve got enough gear to equip a complete band – and then some. Why haven’t you even played a note in just on a year? I remember when I came to this country in ’82, I had no gear so I would spend an hour or so in music shops each week playing their basses just to ‘keep my hand in’. 

True – I can equip a full band; the result of severe G.A.S. [ gear acquisition syndrome ] for 35 odd years. Why don’t I play? All my “playmates” have either moved on or moved away from the Triangle – ask the guys from Three Foot Thang [ Geoff, Kevin, Bert, Nigel ]. Who in their right mind wants an aging, ailing, cack-handed proggie bassist in their band ? I’ve the perfect face for radio. When you’re short, fat and furry no-one cares about what magic your fingers can weave on a fretboard. As for spending time in music shops : mention my name to Bennie at TOMS, or Abie – they can attest to my lurking in their showrooms for hours on a Saturday morn. 

Why the right handed RD when your other axes are lefties? The RD is certainly not the kind of instrument you could play upside down. 

Like I’ve said elsewhere – I’ve always wanted a Gibson bass. I saw this one advertised and bought it. Some would call me a dog in a manger – I call it making sure a Trooper gets a good retirement home ! 

What instruments would you like to have if money were no object? 

Basses : Precision – natural finish with a maple neck / board.
              Wal MkII – Wenge finish with ebony fretboard.
              Alembic Scorpion 8 – coco bolo with Brazilian rosewood
              Moonstone  - any one !!
              Gibson Thunderbird IV – antique sunburst / ebony board
              Rickenbacker 4001 – Burgundy finish

All lefties.

Guitars : Gibson 335 or Les Paul Custom. 

Bass rig : Acoustic 470 amp c/w 6x15” cab
                Marshall 200w “Pig” amp c/w 2 x [4x15”] cabs
                Mesa Pulse c/w 2 x [4x10” + 15”] cabs

And a roady . . . . 

What have you been doing for the last five years or so?

Not enough !!

Played blues . . . . got nowhere.

Played ‘80’s music with a pair of party animals & a chick on drums – haven’t been told that the party is over, I just don’t get called any more.

Currently on hold. Chicky drummer just had twins; waiting for a keys-man and non-widdler guitarist to appear with Black silky-voiced chick to sing . . . . Dreams !!! 

What recordings that you’ve played on would you recommend for listening?

Only one worth mention – “Staytskool” : Love under fire.

I am trying to convert it from Cassette to CD but the original mix was shakey – mastered by someone with ‘flu ( no kidding ).

I have featured on a few albums recorded locally but the artists and their works never received any marketing or media exposure – though I remember one track aired on “Sing Country” one night with the regular crew providing mime-backing. Jethro’s rendition of the lead break was “most enlightening” and the bassist massacred my chops . . . 

What’s been the low point in your career so far?

Having to go back to a day-job after a time as a “Pro” features pretty high. Losing a guitarist to cancer when he was 26 wasn’t too hot, nor was having my club-band drummer cure his headache with a piece of lead at high speed, or my keys-man to bone cancer last year – it’s getting lonely. My vocalist is now a dairy farmer, my guitarist is a director in the corporate world, my songwriter now writes computer programs. How’s that for low ??? 

That’s pretty awful - So what has been the high point of your career?

Playing “pro”. Winning a local Battle-of-the-bands with a unit writing all our own material. Watching how the next generation have benefited from watching me play – Llew John : you beauty.

Not a normal name dropper, I suppose the night in RPM studios recording a few demo’s as the prize for the B.O.T.B’s win could qualify – especially the look on Kevin Kruger’s face [ he happened to stick his head into the control room ] when the drummer and I pulled off a particularly outrageous note-for-note / beat-for-beat bridge in 9/8 timing; the facial morph from gobsmacked to coat-hanger grin was priceless. 

What are your goals currently?

1. To get my Rickenbacker’s neck re-set so that I can use it.
2. To get a new transformer in the Major.
3. To service my Taurus II pedals.
4. To record the “prog-rock” ideas in my head at present.
5. To play to an appreciative crowd of more than 5 again.
6. To show the youngsters that, for a “ballie” I can show them a thing or two.
7. To negotiate a deal with the local radio station for a late-night slot – music for musicians. A kind of a Vaal Triangle version of Chris Prior / Malcolm Gooding.

Thanks for the interview Clive – really nice talking to you. 

My pleasure – now gizajob . . .