Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL February 2015 NAMM Issue | Page 14

good deal of personnel changes through the

made, by others, that you should fill the

years, they have managed to maintain a core

bass chair. Did you know what a bass

of four original members. The stalwarts are

guitar was at the time?

Rocco on bass, drummer David Garibaldi, tenor

I did not. I had joined the band as a guitar

saxophonist and band leader Emilio (Mimi)

player. I could play about three chords... and

Castillo, and bari saxophonist Stephen “Doc”

not very well.

Krupka.
Do you remember what guitar you had
Okay, back to suggesting some tunes to hear.

back then?

Here’s my main point, this band is so good,

A Silvertone. I wish I still had it.

that their live albums are as tight and polished
as most other bands studio production.

I

How long had you been playing guitar

therefore suggest that any neophyte TOP

prior to the switch?

listeners simply grab the collection: Tower of

Oh gosh, you know - I was one of those guitar

Power Live. It was recorded live at the Filmore

players whose mother would say, “It’s time to

in San Francisco and at the Fox in Stockton, CA.

practice.” I wasn’t really serious about it. I was

It has a few of my favorites: Soul Vaccination,

semi-serious... maybe. I was probably playing

What is Hip, and You’re Still a Young Man - all

for three to four years.

delivered with the energy that only comes from

bassmusicianmagazine.com | 02.15

a live performance. Now, they have a lot more

I didn’t realize you had played guitar

fantastic tunes on numerous CD’s, with stellar

that long.

bass parts by Rocco - but this is just a sampler

Well, I had joined the band (Tower of Power)

to get you in the groove!

when I was fourteen, so it couldn’t have been
too much before then.

I’ve read that you actually started out on
guitar and that the decision was quickly

It’s incredible that you could be in one