Purple Haze & Star Spangled Banner - Hendrix - Von Cello

[eggmangoogoogoojoob]

At first, I thought that this was nothing more than desecration of the great Jimi Hendrix' work, but then I watched it again and I must admit that Von Cello is actually a very talented musician. That said, it is only really a novelty act and as such it's all rather tongue-in-cheek. It bears little comparison with Hendrix' original apart from the lyrics and musical arrangement, but people who think he is trying to rip off the great man are missing the point. It's not altogether serious, guys.

[voncello]

I's not a novelty act. It's classic hard rock being played in a power trio using a cello. It's like what Ian Anderson did with the flute - revolutionizing an instrument! Now there is even a genre called Cello Rock.

[eggmangoogoogoojoob]

Sorry about that, voncello, I didn't mean to speak out of turn. It's just that I've appreciated Hendrix' work for so long now that it's difficult for me to accept others' interpretations of his music. You're quite right, though, it is just a different angle on a hard rock power standard - very much in the style of Ian Anderson, as you say. Great stuff!

Cheers,

John

[NickFeder]

THIS IS SICK!  You should do...everything! =D

[voncello]

Okay, since two people asked I guess I better respond. The cello is a school quality regular "acoustic" cello that I filled full of car foam and then painted blue with a gold trim. The pick up may be an Underwood. Honestly, I don't remember. I converted this cello in 1988 when I premiered my "Ten American Cello Etudes" at the First World Cello Congress. I don't know, but I bet I was the first person to ever electrify an acoustic cello, fill it full of foam, and paint it blue!

[BreakofReaIity]

what kind of cello are you using? and what kind of pickup?

~BREAK OF REALITY

"heavy cello thunder"

[americanrazorkid]

whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oo now this is the music ive been looking for!!!!!rock on

[TogDitties]

what cello are you using here? this is great and my name is aaron too =)

[UKNintendoManiac]

VC, that was a great performance! I wasn't really aware that the cello and guitar were so close in range; cellos are much more interesting instruments in my opinion anyway.

How do you get the (what sounds like) whole range of a guitar on a cello when a cello has 2 less strings? (excuse my ignorance, but I don't play a string instrument yet).

[voncello]

Good observations! I started out as a rock guitarist and when I first decided to move my rock knowledge to the cello I wondered the same thing. Eventually I realized that because of the deeper sonority you don't have to play as many notes to get a full sound. I do chords with 2 - 4 notes as opposed to the 6 note guitar chords, but it still sounds good. My published cello pieces provide a blueprint for my new style, which I call "Celtar" (cello mixed with guitar). My 4th CD will be out this year.

[LordPeng1]

@UKNintendoManiac As for the question of range, the strings of a guitar are tuned closer to each other than those of a cello. Cello strings are a fifth apart (seven half-steps) while guitar strings (in standard tuning) are a fourth (five half-steps) apart, except for one pair which are a major third (four half-steps) apart.

[voncello]

Hey Harry Honda! I can't believe you are still trolling here. (Still trying to publicize your page?) As for intonation (I can't believe I'm responding) you can listen to any of my CD's to hear that it's excellent. You can also listen on my audio pages to live performances of classical music, like when I was on WNCN. When playing rock music live it is sometimes hard to hear yourself. So the intonation is sometimes out. You hear this on many live recordings with even the commercial "rock stars".

[voncello]

I just got asked to perform my new "Ten International Cello Encores" (Oxford University Press) at the New Directions Cello Festival, Ithaca College. The video above is from a performance there about 10 years ago. The hall was built for acoustic instuments so I could barely hear myself. But the point is that it was a ground breaking event: a cellist playing Hendrix! The audience reaction speaks for itself. This summer I will also be giving a masterclass for the college students. It should be fun!

[voncello]

Well, maybe we got rid of the good doctor. Where did he come up with that anyway. Doctor Lexus! Why not Professor Porshe, Sir Saturn, Mr. Mazda! LOL! He's like a music teacher from hell. "Your intonation is pathetic. Your bowing is abominable!" It's soooo weird! Reminds me of the kind of nonsense I ran into in college. How unhip can you be? Is that what music is about? It's that uptight classical vibe that turns people off, and has nothing to do with Beethoven and Bach, who were REAL people!

[DoctorLexus]

Dude, your intonation ACTUALLY IS pathetic. Yet you imply GUSHINGLY, repeatedly and in many different ways that YOU r a (WOW!) musical genius...in both rock AND classical. NO WAY. No one of any True Stature would ever want 2 professionally associate with such phoniness. Word. people who actually play well are never so full of it. (Oh no they're not!) As for my own playing, I know how good I am. I'm well compensated. I just have a healthy and well-founded aversion to liars and phonies...like u.

[voncello]

Listen here Harry Honda, if anyone's intonation is pathetic it's yours. You wouldn't know a G# if it hit you on the head. LOL!!! Sorry, I'm trying to sound like you! But I'm not angry and jealous enough to get that vileness in my tone. The fact is you know nothing about who I am, what I have done, and what I am doing now. I'd be happy to discuss this if you can curb your absurdly angry tone. All you are doing is making yourself into a joke, and helping me get more views. BTW, thanks!

[strumr91]

lmao...harry honda - i like that one

[strumr91]

lol - we should make this thread public on your mailing list. that would be classic. hahaha

[DoctorLexus]

VC's intonation actually is very poor. Easy to document. VERY easy. If VC were smart (and he's not very), he wouldn't push such a point...or so many other absurd points, lies, exaggerations.

"We should make this thread public..." "We"!? Clumsy but apt wording. Very likely that u r, in fact, VC. Yes, please do share these legitimate observations. And don't worry, I will continue to do my part, too. The information on my URL accurately explains the existence of folks just like VC. Enjoy!

[strumr91]

first of all, he plays rock. the energy is more important than the specifics. if u think his points are absurd, it may be because you don't realize how amusing you are, and as a result we take you far less seriously, sorry.

i say we, because im part of the mailing list, and this conversation. you're not still on about that conspiracy bullshit are you? lol

[comunidadjudiamurcia]

hey doc lexus remember THIS IS the vc youtube page ans VC could erase your comment instantly but HE DOESNT.

WHY?

probably cause your comments recipe is..1 part jealousy 2 parts envy and 3 parts no job.

you infact are here to market youself and vc ,who could erase your antivc comments doesnt.and vc could erase your pro lexus comments but doesnt dont know who either of you are but doclexus..youre no lexus maybe a volkswagon..

[voncello]

I am you and you are he and he is me and we are all together!

[strumr91]

right on!

[voncello]

Hey Robert, I don't think I have ever said this before, but I am proud that you were my student! You have handled yourself well against someone who has shown himself to be angry, frustrated, and unreasonable. You are right, all he had to do was check your profile and see your videos to know that you are not me! But it was rather entertaining to watch someone who thinks himself so "whatever" who couldn't figure out he was talking to a teenager! And Levihello, thanks for chiming in on Mr. Bell!

[DoctorLexus]

U referred to me as "Mr. Bell"! Ha!!! How amazingly perceptive of u, VC. But seriously, JB's playing and my playing r not all that similar.

Okay, so if anyone is ever in doubt about the AMAZING extent 2 which VC habitually exaggerates and lies, just read ALL the texts about himself, written by himself. (It will only take about a week!) Begin with his OVER-THE-TOP B.S. oriented bio in which he directly compares himself to...Jimi Hendrix and Ian Anderson. Tip of the iceberg. Truly pathetic.

[voncello]

Obviously I know him. In fact, 20 years ago I was good friends with a top executive at Nonesuch Records. We discussed doing a recording of Beatle tunes mixed with Bach for cello and harpsicord. He sent me a tape from a young Joshua Bell who had already come out with a classical Beatle mix. Ever since then I have been quite aware of him, but I didn't realize that he had spawned "Bell Freaks". You are so caught up in anger that you missed my joke! I said, "CHIMING" in on Mr. Bell! Get it? ;-)

[DoctorLexus]

VC...AMAZINGLY exaggeration and lie oriented...to the end.

[voncello]

AMAZINGLY unusual sentence structure there, my boy! Anyway, I don't know why you are so amazed that I, or any musician, would be friends with a record executive. Is that such a big deal to you?

[DoctorLexus]

My syntax is sound, unlike VC's technique. Wishful of him to imply that all I was referring to was the idea that he befriended a record executive. I was referring 2 much, much more. The curious may closely examine his GIANT website. Begin with his hilarious autobiography. Laughable, but pathetic. BTW, I never would've posted a thing, had VC ever shown even a fraction of an OZ of humility. Even the very best musicians don't lie and exaggerate like he does, and he really isn't very good.

[strumr91]

hah thanks man...ahhh this brings back memories...that was a pretty insane class!

[voncello]

Hey, this is classic! Now I bet this guy thinks I'm making believe I'm you, or you me! He probably thinks I'm talking to myself. LOL!!!

[strumr91]

you know, with all this identity confusion, for a while there i thought DoctorLexus was you, pulling some kind of prank. for surely, i believed, no one could possibly jump to that conclusion before making absolutely sure, and someone who did was clearly insane.

doctorlexus, i say to you -- where is the love? and the common sense? chill out, man, live and let live.

[DoctorLexus]

U swear, u insult...but u avoid the GIANT PILE OF LIES AND EXAGGERATIONS 2 B found on the VC website. And then u pretend 2 b fluffy-cool-nice. Sad.

VC is, IN FACT, an acad-anemia certified pseudo-professional with delusions of grandure. Pathetically so. His obsessive focus on his credentials speaks volumes. He is trying desperately 2 look good ON PAPER. But he simply DOES NOT play well. Nor can he compose well. The earnest fact of publishing, in itself, means little. Aloha!

[strumr91]

i have no way of knowing whether or not what is on his site are lies or exaggerations, but i know his character, and based on that i don't think he'd blatantly lie on his site.

As far as insulting you, well, you did insult me first, although i guess if i wanted to remain consistent i would've risen above that. sorry, I'm only human.

dont u have something more productive to do? or do you think as a result there will be a public outcry about how the corrupt Von Cello betrayed the masses? CHILLOUT!

[DoctorLexus]

There r many "ways of knowing." But if one's brain doesn't function all that well, then those "ways of knowing" just don't happen to be options. "Corrupt von cello"? I never said corrupt, but, yes, now that you mention it, he is very corrupt. Anyone who is so over-the-top full of himself and full of lies...can be said to be corrupt. That's an apt term. If u ever check out my URL, you'll know just why I'm so willing to point out his glaringly hyped-out averageness. He is a musical dudd. Word.

[strumr91]

are u saying i have a dysfunctional brain? just shut up and let the man play his cello. if you want, when he becomes rich and famous you can present your case to the public on entertainment news, and they'll all be shocked and it'll be a big stupid controversy and you'll be the righteous voice of reason. in the meantime, GET OVER IT. he's making music, and people like it, so whats the problem? i've been to his website and i don't know why you ASSUME everything there is a lie.

[levihello]

what is the joshua bell affect?

is that your name..mr bell or is there a real bell affect?

[DoctorLexus]

Joshua Bell ia a talented violinist. U did't know that? As 2 what The Joshua Bell Effect is, it's a project regarding the various ways in which people r becoming increasingly desensitized. I posted the URL. Use your eyes. Though it's not 4 the feint of heart...or mind. By the way, insultingly self-hyped-up forms of averageness and worse SURELY are poisoning the American music scene, be they hilariously acad-anemia certified/legitimized or not. Pompous pseudo-pros are a bad joke. Why lie?

[levihello]

why do you not just call youeself by your name  joshua??

why thre coverup ? why the name doctorlexus?

[strumr91]

are you joshua bell? theres a direct link to his site on your profile, and youre criticizing aaron minskey for speaking in third person. if you are joshua bell, then from what it says on your myspace page you're pretty cool, except that you're being a hypocrite.

[DoctorLexus]

There's no direct link 2 "his site." Your reading comprehension is shabby, and you appear to be rather unperceptive. I am not Joshua Bell. If anyone's in doubt, please compare our playing. Perceptive people can easily differentiate among violin family players, as they r invariably highly idiosyncratic. Though if anyone were ever 2 confuse my sound with his, it would not hurt my feelings. There are far worse forms of confusion. Thanks for calling me a hypocrite! Have a nice day!

[strumr91]

i was being ironic, how does it feel to be accused of being someone you aren't?

[strumr91]

anyway, how about we drop this whole argument. some nasty things have been said, and its gone farther than i intended. I was just trying to defend my old teacher, and it turned into quite an argument. sorry if i offended you, enough fighting! =)

(im really NOT von cello though...lol)

[DoctorLexus]

My youtube posts r valid, and consist entirely of honest, perceptive observations and detailed analysis. In fact, usually they r POSITIVE. But phoniness, lying, and naive fluff r poisoning the music world. Youtube users who can't coexist with legitimate negative criticism do not appreciate the meaning of the word FORUM. And thank you, VC, 4 your irrelevantly rude and personal messages, but let's keep this PUBLIC. Looks like posts can take 24hrs+ to install. Understandable glitches.

[strumr91]

1. For the last time, Im not VonCello. check my page.

2. i can appreciate legit criticism but it doesn't mean i can't argue with it.

3. i messaged you because youtube was freezing up, which i explained. if i seemed rude, well imagine if someone accused you of being someone you weren't, would you not be amused?

I'd just like to point out that people like what he does. he isnt poisoning the music world. hes being innovative, no matter what phoniness you're talking about. live and let live.

[DoctorLexus]

Reality-check: Some folks may be impressed by such hyped-up schlock, but he just doesn't play very well. Not at all. Just an over-facilitated ne'er do well. Had to research him. Holey cow but he likes to write about how wonderful he thinks he is. Absurdly pseudo-intellectual and self-aggrandizing. Get this: He actually wrote, with regard to himself: "Yo-Yo Ma can't write songs, and James Taylor can't play the cello." Implying WHAT??? Yipes! And no way was he the "first" rock cellist. Delusional.

[strumr91]

This guy used to be my cello teacher quite a few years back, and let me assure you in no way was he ever "pseudo-intellectual or self-aggrandizing." If it appears that way, maybe it's because as a musician you have to promote yourself a little to get any gigs. lay off him, man, he's a good cellist and a cool guy.

[DoctorLexus]

1 gets (real) gigs by playing WELL, not via a FLOOD of phoniness. The very 2nd note he plays in this vid is nasty-bad FLAT. Truth. Artlessly pompous. Just clumsily APING Hendrix. What part of "Yo-Yo Ma can't write songs..." do u think WASN'T self-aggrandizing? Text 2 this vid: "HE was the first..." "HE," as if someone BESIDES HIMSELF wrote his laughable ad-copy. VIEW his website. Whoa! THICK with gross exaggerations and lies. U think he's a "cool guy"? Irrelevant. U r NOT objective. U r naive.

[strumr91]

he does play well. hes playing jimi hendrix here, who played sloppy and out of tune, so why should HE play it any differently? I knew him personally, hows that irrelevant? Im talking about his character in person, not via internet, where he is clearly trying to promote himself, hence the exaggeration. As for you calling me naive, I'm seeing a pattern-do you just sit around exploiting the internet's anonymity all day judging people? whats it matter to you? whos he hurting? get a life, man.

[DoctorLexus]

I didn't c the truth at 1st: That u entered your 1st response 1 day after I posted my response. #91s recurring, too. No coincidence. Only conclusion? U r that Minsky dude himself, posting comments about HIMSELF...anonymously. Bet THAT happens a lot, huh? And u have the nerve 2 accuse me of exploiting internet anonymity? HA! BTW, Hendrix wasn't sloppy, but EZ 2 c y you'd like 2 believe so. U "knew" him = lie or GROSS exaggeration. (Good 2 know that YOU think that YOU'RE a "nice guy"!) Pathetic!

[DoctorLexus]

I didn't c the truth at 1st: That u entered your 1st response 1 day after I posted my response. #91s recurring, too. No coincidence. Only conclusion? U r that Minsky dude himself, posting comments about HIMSELF...anonymously. Bet THAT happens a lot, huh? And u have the nerve 2 accuse me of exploiting internet anonymity? HA! BTW, Hendrix wasn't sloppy, but EZ 2 c y you'd like 2 believe so. U "knew" him = lie or GROSS exaggeration. (Good 2 know that YOU think that YOU'RE a "cool guy"!) Pathetic!

[strumr91]

you know what? i could try to disprove you, but i think its much funnier knowing someone out there thinks I'm aaron minskey, not a 16 year old guitarist from the suburbs.

fuckin' nut...lmao

[DoctorLexus]

Sure, u could TRY 2 disprove me, but u wouldn't get very far without some assistance. And judging by the flood of exaggerations and lies that you've posted on your eerily GIGANTIC website, u seem 2 like 2 do YOUR OWN lying. Besides, others will naturally tend NOT to want to lie for you. But, hey, maybe you've got some friends or family who could help u out!

Again, you entered your response less than a day after I made my post. How obvious could you have made it? (Nice use of profanity!)

[strumr91]

okay, seriously man. look at my videos. theyre all of me and my friends playing music. my TEENAGE friends. if you're going to go so far as to say im stealing somebody else's identity, well then theres not much i can do for your poor, DELUSIONAL, paranoid brain at this point.

[xvvvvvx91]

Scuse me while I kiss this guy.

Har, har...

Also check out

The Vitamin String Quartet Tribute To Jimi Hendrix CD available from CD universe etc.

[Cheeseman66666]

wow nice. thats really original. Hendrix would b proud.

[eggmangoogoogoojoob]

I'm absolutely lost for words! My eight-year-old daughter is learning to play the cello and I have been teasing her mercilessly that she'll never be able to play Hendrix, but now I'm not so sure ... great use of a wah wah pedal ... just, well, wow!

[howeeye]

hey aaron....great work...when you can get it...canarsie rules!!

[Erudecorp]

No one's drowning out anyone. It's just the recording that's messed up.

[lexum44]

awesome but wayy too much base, yo

but thats pretty cool

[zodri]

u dullis really rock :)

[PassionOfDenmark]

KICK ASS!!!!

[oddmusic]

cool !

[ash88888888]

Sounds a bit like "'Scuse me while I kiss this guy" ... hmmm ...

[ernestovillalobos]

crazy...but really nice...

[LILKrNGuRl]

is that an electric cello????

[ash88888888]

Naw, you can see the mic on the tailpiece. It must have been destorted at the amp.

That is amazing!!!

[RockinThaLP]

two words... freakin NUTS!!!!

[punk495]

good job!

[hypermason]

more lyk...von smello

[mangypunk]

AWSOME

[G470l2]

This is absolutely incredible! I play cello and now want this music, I have never seen or heard anything like it! I enjoy Apocalyptica, but this is just a breath of fresh air out of this new genre of cello playing! Bravo!