Levin is just one of those people that can take a pretty wanky idea and make it good, partly through skill, but primarily through being happy to just be an excellent musician helping to bring another artist's vision to life. Levin is a big name because of the people he's worked with, not because he puts himself out there as some insane bass-playing muso who could shred moonlight sonata on a chapman stick with drumsticks tied to his middle and index fingers in ten seconds flat.
Neither the Chapman Stick nor Levin himself were the focus of that King Crimson song. It just worked pretty well as part of the overall sound of the band and the way they were working together. That's a proper musician.
And I do find "solo" artists a bit annoying. I like my music fairly full-bodied. When I see a full band setting up in a pub I think "Oh, cool". When I see a lone guy plugging in his acoustic guitar, I tend to drink a bit faster and try and think of other bars I could go to. Not judging anyone or anything, it's just not my thing.
chapman stick
Moderated By: mods
