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Billy Sheehan
Bassist
Billy Sheehan has played with David Lee Roth and Mr. Big. Back in
the early 90's, Sheehan, an endorsee of Ampeg Bass Amps, showed up at Lentine's Music in
Cleveland late one afternoon at about
5PM to prepare for his bass clinic later that evening. He would be
performing solo electric bass, without a band or any backing track;
then would take questions from the audience.
He was dismayed that customers would actually be allowed
on the premises at 5PM when he planned to do his "sound check". (For
non-musicians, there is not much involved in a sound check when all you're
doing is playing electric bass thru an amplifier. You simply turn on
the amp, plug in the bass and set your volume and tone.) In no
uncertain terms Sheehan expressed his displeasure with the
situation.
Sheehan then demanded that we empty the store of all clientele. That did
not sit well with us commissioned salesmen who needed every customer
we could find in order to try to eek out a living. As such, we refused
his demand to clear out the store. That caused Sheehan to go to the stock room and throw a hissy fit.
He stayed there
and pouted until it was it was time for the clinic to start.
Now, normally the attendees at music clinics are musicians,
and for the most part, that was the case. In the audience could be
found a number of big haired, leather clad, tattooed bass players,
but; there were also two very attractive young blonde females showing
off significant cleavage and sporting incredibly skin tight jeans.
Now, I could be wrong, but it appeared to me that the young ladies probably
wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a bass guitar or a
ukulele, let alone know how to play either instrument. Yet, it was
interesting. The two seemed completely engrossed in the clinic. This
could be a coupe for Ampeg! (They were offering clinic specials on
their entire line of bass amps.)
Finally, at the end of the event, Sheehan cast a smirk our way as he
walked toward the exit to head back to his hotel; his arms around two
attractive blondes with his hands on their asses. He glanced back toward
us one last time and with a wry smile, he winked and said "Oh well.
All's well that ends well!" Final Score: Sheehan 2; Salesmen 0.
