Dek Hopper

 

All about Dek Hopper  

Dek Hopper

 
Instrument/Equipment : I play mainly a Yamaha TRB 5-string bass but also use a Wasburn MB-2 4-string occasionally. My main bass rig is a EBS 350 watt head through an EBS speakers - 2x10" and 2x12". I also have a 50w Laney combo as a practice amp for recording.
Band Role : Bass Guitar and the voice of reason
Playing Style : I prefer finger playing due to the dynamics involved but I've used a pick in previous bands and I'll ocassionally "slap". I believe the role of bass is about percussion as much as melody and that working well with John (drummer) is when I get the biggest kick.
Favourite Band : The Beatles
Favourite Musician : John Entwhistle
Musical Influences : The Beatles and The Who feature large. McCartney being a much under-rated bass player and Entwhistle being the bassist who's skills I'd most like to have attained. Jack Bruce (Cream), Jack Cassidy (Jefferson Airplane) and Bernard Edwards (Chic) also rate.
Previous Bands/Musical History : After completely falling for the magic of the Beatles I played rythmn guitar in various school & college bands however nothing serious until my future wife bought me a bass guitar (my trusty Washburn MB-2) as an engagement present.

I joined a couple of guys who'd originally played semi-pro in the sixties and after a stream of vocalists we settled on a line up and name (Blue Rinse) and played for about five years. On a good night we kicked ass - on a bad night the emarrassment was truly awful but we had a good time and often considered how four entirley contradictory personalities had even managed to get together; let alone stay together.

Due to advanced old age and illness (them - not ME!) it all came to a halt in 1997 so I joined a folk rock outfit - "The Gayle Warning Band". This wasn't entirely my 'cup of tea' and, after a few years playing folk clubs and the odd street festival in Berlin, it all fell apart through lethargy, recriminations and pregnancy (again, them; not me!).

I then joined a covers band - The Bar 6 Band (originally called "The Fabtones") - and played all over the midlands for six years and had a rare old time until this to fell apart due to even more lethargy, marriage breakdowns, recriminations, musical differences and pregnancy (once more, not me!)

After a brief stint in Roadhouse I had an email from a chap called Roy and joined 021 as the last member of the current line up.
Current top 5 Songs :
  • Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles
  • Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
  • Place your hands - Reef
  • Jumpin' Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones
  • My life story - Strumpet
...And I quote : "I'll get the website done over Christmas - no probs."
Most likely to say? : It's actually a G11, not a G7"
Least likely to say : "I've finished building the website fellas!"
Favourite Website : cricinfo.com