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"A lot of those guys in Nashville hate my guts," says an emphatically disappointed Randolph. "All these redneck dudes calling me every name in the book."

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Do you think maybe he's been reading the Steel Forum?

I did say ,that to me , with this style of music , all the songs sound the same..but I did not say that I would not buy his records because of that.

That was clearly a misquote..I told the author there were many artists where the music sounded the same to me and I am at a point in my life that I do not buy much music anyway..a handfull of CD's each year.. ..if that...

I told the author I am a huge Eric Clapton fan too,but have not bought a Clapton Cd in years...

I told him that Roberts energy reminded me of both early Johnny Winter, who he never heard of and the the late Dwayne Allman...

To me, thats a huge compliment, as I really like both of those guys..

I told the author that I thought Robert was breaking new ground..but at the same time he should not be considered the first to step away from Country Music with the Pedal Steel.

That was the primary point I was making with the author. Period.

I told the author that I thought Roberts band was great,playing in a very funky groove..

I also told the author that I would certainly go out and see Robert play if he were in my area..

The author didn't know who Paul Franklin or David Lyndley were..but he did know who Dire Straits and Jackson Brown were.

Robert, if you are reading, the author makes it almost seem like I was dissing you..not the case...

He sure left a lot of stuff out...

to the author..I would have thought a few more positive remarks would have shown up...

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Randolph's debut, Live at the Wetlands, ...

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Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 15 April 2006 at 02:24 PM.]

Who cares?

Is there some ninny that thinks those types of statements are important?

I'd be willing to give big betting odds that Janis Joplin hated Kitty Wells, and Jimi Hendrix hated Jimmy Capps.

So what?!

(Shucks, a lotta people don't like me either!)

PS: Robert...if you ever come to Glen Burnie, I'm an old dude, and I'll jam with 'ya. I can't jump around much, but I can still pick a little R&B.

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"All these redneck dudes calling me every name in the book."

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... the pedal steel guitar has all the sex appeal of a picnic table....

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I'd still like to see the forum be more inclusive:

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"There are a lot of idiots who will say, 'He's not playing country, I won't even listen to that,'" says Prior. "That's just ignorance."

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And by the way, RR's "redneck" statement is antiracist. There's a huge difference. It's like the first blow in a fight being felonius assault, and the second blow being legal self-defense. Too bad the second blow is necessary in this case. For those who don't care for his characterization, what have you done to make it unnecessary? The bigoted scorn heaped on RR is a great shame to the Forum and the steel guitar community (it’s still happening in this and another thread today). Some things just never seem to change.

First of all, did the writer or Robert Randolph name anyone who expressed there PERSONAL hatred of him or did they give a list of all those many personal names that he was called??? No.

What you have here is the typical victim mentality thing. "Someone" says they don't like my music, so that means they don't like me.

"Someone" says they don't like the way I play the pedal steel guitar so that means they don't like me.

You can look back through all the threads about Robert Randolph that have been on this forum and you will read of my support for him and his furthering the pedal steel guitar.

Hopefully my experiences are the exception-but I have had a number of situations in my life where I have thought after reading something in a newspaper, etc.: "Hey I was there that day and that's not what so-and-so said at all!"

"There are a number of white steelers who have recordings of some very experimental non-country stuff, yet I cannot recall one word of criticism about any of them."

-Jerry Garcia?

He has never been personally attacked here. His music/playing have. His music/playing and his person are totally separate. Randolph is playing the race card and claiming that people hate HIM. What image does the phrase "redneck dudes from Nashville hate me" conjur up. If I was a steel player from Nashville I would be ticked off big time at what he said.
Tommy White was extremely gentlemanly in his post.

Of course, there has been considerable negative discussion relative to Robert's playing here. I suppose that happens whenever anybody breaks the mold others put on them. He would not be incorrect to say that there are some steel players out there that who have said they don't care for his playing. It wouldn't take much of a phrase twist to come up with the attributed quote, although it doesn't seem to me that such attitudes are restricted to Nashville.

But Robert - if you're reading, know that many steel players, including many traditional country players, support what you're doing 100%. I know I do - I'm not in Nashville, but I think you have more friends there than you realize.

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Yet even with JG, the objections seem to have been more about him being overated rather than musically flawed. Did anyone ever call his music "garbage" or "cacaphony?"

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This is an unfortunate thing this article. I hope that RR will recant his statement or at least put some good spin on it so that everyone can understand where he was coming from.

Edit. Musicians who have had their music called garbage?? Try Stravinsky or Coltrane or Bach or Satie--it is quite a long list. I have read plenty of reviews by critics trashing plays, movies, shows, concerts etc. They never trash the person, only the work of the person.

[This message was edited by Bill Hatcher on 17 April 2006 at 04:50 PM.]

Rick

[This message was edited by Rick Garrett on 17 April 2006 at 06:05 PM.]

Rick Garrett

P.S. I haven't "took offense" to anything. I simply think those statements are ludicrous.

[This message was edited by Rick Garrett on 17 April 2006 at 05:32 PM.]

Has this ocurred to anyone?

It was very refreshing to read some of the positive comments, some from the heavy Nashville players. Your comments on RR were positive also.

As an aspiring hack steel picker, I can say without a doubt the MOST personal thing anybody could insult me with, would be my playing ability or lack thereof. So, you can't blame RR for being hurt by the comments here even though he may have said it in the wrong manner. Probably as someone already suggested, his life history possibly made him feel that way. Thanks for your understanding and willingness to discuss this in an amiable fashion.

-I dont think it has, but that is an excellent point.

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Robert Randolph's "Redneck" statement is blatantly racist and blankets a whole community of mostly white steel players in Nashville.

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I feel like there are some of those "mostly white steel players", that have some deep seated insecurity towards RR. Perhaps even some repressed envy. Like his style or not, he is out there promoting the steel guitar, while most of us are bickering about whether or not he is even considered a player.
Ironic, is it not? RR is actually out being seen having a good time with steel guitar, while the rest of us argue behind computers whether or not he can play.
BTW, ever notice how he smiles while playing? Not too many steel players can smile and laugh while they are wailing away with the band. Most of the pictures of other steel players that I have seen show a very serious, almost strained expression.

RR my friend, keep up the good work! I appreciate your contribution.

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I'd rather be opinionated, than apathetic!

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... be thrilled about the exposure he's giving the instrument, but there are also those who want to see it represented by music more typical of its Americana roots ...

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