Re: 9V Apologies to Eric Johnson


timepixdc wrote:
> In article <1127542500.466474.93040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> "Ether" <ether@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > > As with most artists, his quest for perfection is the reason that he's
> > > > successful.
> > >
> > > Respected? certainly. Successful? Not really.
> >
> > He makes a living playing the guitar. Fender is producing a guitar with
> > his name on it. And as you say, he's respected.
> >
> > I'd call that "successful".
>
> Considering the guy's obvious talent the fact that he keeps getting
> dropped from labels

And picked up by others, apparently. Happens to a lot of good
musicians.

> and manages to spend years recording an album

Brian Wilson was a perfectionist, too--but no one would consider him
"unsuccessful". And he had WAY more personal problems back in the day
than Eric Johnson will ever have.

> would suggest that there's a few problems that he hasn't quite resolved.

So...what's your point?

> There are thousands of musicians around the country that manage
> to make a living

Ok. How many of them have a high-end signature guitar made by Fender?

> but I'd like to see EJ do a lot better than that.

People do however they do. EJ is doing quite well. He's never going to
sell as many albums as Britney Spears, though, if that's what you mean.

> Frank Lloyd and the Wrights make be able to "make a living"

Who?

> but the Rolling Stones are "successful'.

This discussion began with a focus on EJ's tone perfectionism being
detrimental to his personal life. As far as the quality of musicians'
personal lives go, I'd rate EJ's *way* above that of Mick & Keith. The
two Stones have had a catalog of failed relationships and addiction
problems.

There are also a hell of lot of acts that haven't reached the Stones'
legendary heights but which still may be considered "successful". After
all, as a performing musician, most people would consider EJ to be much
more "successful" than you are, right? Do you therefore consider
yourself to be "unsuccessful"?

Only EJ can decide whether he's happy with what he has accomplished.

--E

.

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