Mike Campbell on the Heartbreakers “The Waiting” Solo & Its Electric Spontaneity | Shred with Shifty
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- Опубликовано: 18 янв 2024
- Mike Campbell knows how to write the perfect parts to a song, and records them with the perfect guitar, amp, and tone to match. That’s why Shifty has the Heartbreakers’ lead man on this episode to get a look under the hood at what drives Campbell’s solo on “The Waiting.”
The song, from 1981’s Hard Promises, was tracked at Sound City, where Campbell recalls the band had “every amp in the world lined up across the room, every amp you can imagine.” After miking and testing each, Campbell says they settled on a Fender Twin, which he brought to life with a white Les Paul he got from a pawn shop. Shifty notes the song’s music video led him to believe the solo was tracked with a Rickenbacker, but Campbell snickers that it was just for show: “I did that different just to fuck people up,” he grins. (“I hate that video, I think I look like a total idiot,” he adds.)
Campbell, who started playing guitar by ear at 16 on an “unplayable” Harmony acoustic, says he didn’t labor over the solo for “The Waiting,” favoring spontaneity and instinct instead. “I like to come in fresh and capture as I’m discovering what it is, there’s some electricity in that moment,” he explains. “The listener can hear that you’re discovering it as they’re discovering it at the same time.” That approach applies to his songwriting experience in general, too: “I don't even wanna talk about it too much, because it's mysterious,” he says. “It comes to you when it wants to.
Later, Campbell lays out how he and Petty balanced their guitar parts, and why Campbell favored “droning” open notes over complexity for many of his leads. And stick around to hear how about the difficulty of backing Bob Dylan, and why original Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch almost got in a fight with Johnny Rotten.
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Mike IS an American treasure.
He most certainly is ! Well said !
He’s a world treasure.
Thank you
to hear the phrase" That's it! you're hired!" from Mike has got to be the highest compliment.
This series, by far, is the best guitar content on RUclips in a long long time.
🙏
Holy crap I love Mike Campbell. Such a subtle genius. Like Lukather, he's so modest about his work.
When i think of the perfect part to the solo or perfect phrasing to a solo I think of Mike Campbell and Elliot Easton. Automatically!
Mike never was a flashy "its about me" guitarist. He wrote and played the perfect parts making perfect songs. Excellent tone,superb playing and all very tastefully done.
CRIMINALLY underrated guitar player. Both of these men are.
There's the "criminally underrated" comment! 😂 I'm just messing, don't hate
Its such a treat to listen to Mike tell stories about the old days, I could sit and listen as long as Mike was willing to keep talking...lol. Mike mentioned twice how much he loved George Harrison's guitar playing. I wish I could have got a chance to ask Mike if he ever got a chance to play or jam with the Traveling Wilbury's? I bet he would have loved that. Mike is one of those rare individuals
who can make little mistake's while playing guitar ( like during this interview) but when the pressure is on ( like during the Superbowl performance) makes NO mistakes. The Beatles final concert on the Apple rooftop is another perfect example of this, watch the 3 part documentation called Get Back.
I read an article once that said something to the effect of "Mike Campbell has never played a wasted note". I think that sums it up. He serves the song and not himself. He is, was, and always will be my musical hero. I've seen the Dirty Knobs three times now, and will go any time he comes remotely close. See him while you can. Thanks Mike and Chris.
This is kind of mindblowing. Sitting here on youtube and we get to learn exactly how maestro Mike played on that iconic song. From Mike himself. I'm pretty grateful for that opportunity . So cool. I'm like 20yrs younger than Mike, but I learned to play guitar the same way he did, by listening careful to the solos and tried to figure out by ear how to play. I also used live music videos sometimes to see where they put their fingers 🤣 Man that was a long time ago!
Thanks for an awesome video!
Thanks Chris and Mike! Chris, please have Mike on 100 more times so we can get more Heartbreakers songs on here 😇
Another great one would be Elliot Easton... maybe for "Bye Bye Love!" (There's other videos of him doing other Cars' songs).
@premierguitar The one to have Mike Campbell come back for, in an encore presentation, is "Love Is A Long Road." That song was just chosen as the theme song for the Grand Theft Auto 6 video game. It will be a bigger and bigger song over the next few years, and would be a huge hit with multiple age ranges if MC came back and did a video of it with Chris. 🙏
I like to say that Mike Campbell taught me guitar. All his tunes are a lesson in great song writing and playing the notes that suits the song just right. His contributions to rock and roll are immense!!
Going back and watching live videos of Tom Petty and Heartbreakers from the late 70s and 80s , great band , very tight and Mike's playing so tasteful that just weaves itself around the song and your heart ❤️. Just can't get enough !
Mike is one of my favorite guitar players ever.
Mike is so great. That video and solo catapulted my guitar playing journey starting in '82. What a treasure he is. We love and appreciate you Mike! Thank you for this interview😊
Agreed, he is just one of the best players on top of incredible creativity and musicality. How miraculous he and TP got together and clicked, exponentially increasing their individual genius. .
Note for note, he's the best, no extra stuff, no wanking, just beautiful stuff. Even some of the newer Petty stuff like 'Good Enough' really shows ALL of his abilities, his genius and his tone. what tone....
Back in 1983 my guitar teacher decided I needed to learn how to play this solo... so much to unpack, such as; melodic Tasty Licks combined with unison bends, great tone and dynamics
Great example of Mike's lead guitar genius
That’s a masterclass. Thank you so much.
Great video, Chris! Mike Campbell may be my favorite guest so far; and a great pick for the song/solo to focused on. He is such an awesome player and was a massive part of all those killer hit songs. Mike and Tom were a powerhouse together and I can’t imagine those tunes without all his contributions. Heck they even sound similar, when they’re just talking. Thanks for all that you do Chris; I’m definitely a big fan.
I love how he see’s music as sort of a spirit that comes to you and if you’re lucky you can grab what it’s giving you, and then it’s gone for a while. He certainly takes advantage of those times - great stuff!
Whenever I see a new episode of "Shred with Shifty" has come out I think, "Damn, this is the best day EVER!" Thank you SOOO much, Chris! We love you!
He and Tom were like peanut butter and jelly - I have grown up soaking in all that Mike Campbell's tones and guitar parts had to offer and keep uncovering more as I get older. What a consummate professional and all-time creator. His work in the Heartbreakers should go into the Library of Congress! Every song had that added sugar or frosting thanks to Mike Campbell and he often provided the meat too. My favorite albums are definitely Into The Great Wide Open and Wildflowers back to back - he has so many great guitar moments in both, with electric AND acoustic. I love his acoustic playing too - he's a wizard to us mere mortals much like Steve Howe.
A master of understatement. Never a wasted note, never a note too many
Follow the melody, add some Chuck Berry, be tasteful with your vibrato, and don't over-complicate it. These are life lessons.
In my mind Mike is the absolute coolest.
I absolutely love these shifty video's. Mike is such an awesome dude!
What a gentleman. I like him a lot. I wish I could play the way he does-perfect part, perfect tone-always serving the song. I realize I play far too much of the “check out this cool guitar stuff I can do”.
Mike and Elliott Easton - both have a knack for beautiful solos that added to the song, never overdone.
Great interaction! It almost felt like you guys were buddies just hanging out. Was also nice hearing Tom referenced here and there. Awesome interview. Well done!!
What a gracious, brilliant, humble musician. TP's co-pilot but a great captain in his own right.
Happy Birthday Mike Campbell!
Mike and Tom....two of the all time great contributors to American music. So thankful that I happened to live at the same time as Tom Petty and Mike Campbell and the Hearbreakers.
This is amazing. Thank you so, so much for this series! Please keep it up, it is so good.
Enjoying this interview. Mike is one of the greatest. Thank you
great episode! Thank you Chris!
Awesome awesome interview. Thank you!
As always these interviews are amazing! Both of you are amazing too!!🎸🎸✌🏻✌🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
I think the hardest part of learning any Mike Campbell song is realizing that everything is simple, except the part where playing it ‘perfectly’ gets you about 10% of the way there. Then you have to figure out how to actually work out his vibrato, the tiny phrasing nuances, the dynamics. I’ve never really gotten all the way there … I guess you just have to be Mike to do it right. A good friend of mine, who is also friends with Mike, told me some time back that it’s nearly impossible to get it right, because Mike is the best guitarist on the planet and it isn’t anything to do with technical ability. Hearing that from someone who is the best guitarist that I know in real life is eye opening.
The perfect interview! Thank you.
Brilliant video - big thanks to both
Great interview!! Thanks Shifty!
Thank you Chris and Mike! Great interview. Always enjoy Mikes humbleness and tips.
What a fantastic series of interviews. Thank you Shifty from all us guitar geeks!
Shifty, that yellow black guard Tele is meant for you. You sound so good on it! Mike Campbell is fantastic!
Had to watch this one again, Chris. I’m a huge fan of both of you.
I also just paused the beginning to go watch their original video. Haven’t seen it in decades, but I love it! Very straight forward. And Mike, you look cool as hell in that thing. Y’all just look young. Of course U was in college back then, so we all did. This had to be early in the MTV days before videos had to have weird and totally nonsensical content, like a horse walking thru the set or a wizard in the corner.
Anyhow, back to the Epi. Really great story to a really great lead. Thanks again, Chris and Mike. Great job to you both.
This is absolutely Awesome!
He would arpeggio over the learning to fly strumming into and that little thing is the single best sound I’ve heard guitars produce. Listen to the first 4 barres, it’s supernatural.
Thank you so much Mike! From my heart, thank you for the music and the perfect parts.
This is so awesome! ❤️🔥
My Gosh I just found your show. You are a fantastic host and Mike is most certainly an American treasure. Thoroughly enjoyed this show . ❤
Thanks for this, Chris! Mike Campbell is one of my all-time favorites. I can't get enough of listening to him and how things were developed!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Living legend. One of the best ever. Wildly underrated.
Fantastic episode..this is my favorite PETTY /Heartbreakers song. So melodic, modal and beautiful on the solo and fills.
Awesome interview! 😎👍
Love Mikes playing, he's a great example of serving the songs perfectly and not his ego!
You can fret behind the slide as well. But you guys know. Thank you Chris and Mike for your music, style..........etc.
You actually played my favourite lick in your sign-off Chris, that is just my absolute fave. It's function within the song is absolute gold!
Mike made a good point. If you over think your playing it will sound stiff. Notice how none of his solos are complex but instead they compliment the song. For instance, this solo he played what Tom was singing when he got stuck. Just play those notes. Most would be doing speed runs, etc. Well done, you don't need all that for a hit song.
Great interview Shifty🎸👍
Mike is the best.. love his personality i could hang with him no problem….love seing guys that are masters and dont wear it on their sleeve … thats the true definition of a cool human being not to mention he was part and founder of a band that truely had a unique trend setting vibe….. he and tom set the bar in rock and roll… what a great soul.. love you Mike and best of luck with the Knobs… you and Tom ate without a doubt American icons… may you live forever brother
These interviews do a great job of humanizing great artists. Simply said, MC songs are fun to play. It’s funny how I hear his influence in the Congregation solo. ✌️
I am so glad I watched the entire interview. Mike is so easy to hang with, and so NOT a big time celebrity personality. I just want to hang and play guitar with him. I could do that for hours. I've learned so much from his playing over the years, even if I haven't been doing the solo parts for songs like "The Waiting" exactly as Mike shows here.
Rad- I just read Mike Campbell- and clicked!
Even better when I realized it’ was the latest episode of Shred with Shifty’
Siiiiiick
Thanks that was great fun.
"Drone Sounds"... Always make me think of Jimi Hendrix's - "Castles made of Sand". The intro & out's. I'll never forget hearing those sounds in 1968 at 13. Love them.
Easily my favorite one so far. Mike is cool as can be and Chris asks the perfect questions.
Great interview! I did't know Mike was influenced by Chuck Berry. I was too. I use Chuck Berry licks every chance I get when soloing. Thank you so much Chris for bringing the great Mike Campbell on your show! What a nice guy he is!
Please never stop doing these 😅
Love Shiftys vids👍Should be a good one 😊❤️🎸
I was starting to think you had left us iam glad you didnt.
🤘 this is becoming my favourite podcast ❤
I love that Pete got his question on this one! I loved playing with him in Signicci and when he sat in with the Redheads. Love to you, Chris!
Dude looks great still awesome interview! \m/
Mike is the man.
That's my favorite Heartbreakers track. Heard it on the radio today here in Auckland, NZ, on the way to an American car show in my Dad's '66 Vette.
Never thought about Bloomfield as being an inspiration for Campbell but it makes plenty of sense
I'm the same way when it comes to learning songs! I just hear it and find the notes using my ear. It's the best way to learn! Throw on a backing track and just expand the pentatonic into something else. Mike is a legend and an inspiration!
What a great guitar mind!
What a classy smart dude.
Wow!!! Just wow. 😮
Absolutely love Shifty!
Love you Mike 🎸❤️
Mike is the man!
29:03!!!! Yes! So glad he went there. I always joke theres a turkey gobbling there😂😂 Love that part.
One on my all time favourites (along with Albert Lee). Definitely one of the most underrated guitarists of all time. Hasn’t wasted a single note.
I always LOVED that lick at 26:55. It's the perfect punctuation. When I figured it out, I was amazed at how simple AND effective it was.
Mike is so so good.
"You Got Lucky" and the solo riffs off that song, play in my head whenever, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are brought up.
I didnt have my glasses on so what I intially read for the title was ...
THE PERFECT FART
Listen up kids. When Mike Campbell talks guitar, you listen!
Th his is a fantastic video! He’s buddies with John McFee their vids are hysterical. Exceptional guitar player.
Mike is the best!
For many of us who play, this is all so familiar and relatable.
Thank you!!!
Two of my favorite fellow picking dudes in one video! Now how cool is that???
"did it just to f&*k people up" Love it!
That boutique guitar comment is gold 😂
Saw Mike and the Dirty knobs and Chris with foo fighters in 2023. Great freakin shows.
Just wached the video and Mike plays/fakes the solo the exact same way as he showed here. What a legend!
Mike is a walking God!
Got my Glasgow ticket ages ago….canny wait
the album hard promises has always been my favorite love tom petty and the heartbreakers and love mike