--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we first started it was just Russell…" description: "\"When we first started it was just Russell and myself and a guitar player, Earle Mankey, and unlike virtually any other band in Los Angeles, we began by..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/ron-mael-5107_band_when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russel_2133492.png" --- # When we first started it was just Russell and myself and a… ![“When we first started it was just Russell and myself and a guitar player, Earle Mankey, and unlike virtually any other band in Los Angeles, we began by recording rather than playing live, and so we had no feedback at all on what we were doing and we didn't realise how unusual it was.” quote by Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/ron-mael-5107_band_when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russel_2133492.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/ron-mael-5107_band_when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russel_2133492.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/ron-mael-5107_band_when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russel_2133492.png) > “When we first started it was just Russell and myself and a guitar player, Earle Mankey, and unlike virtually any other band in Los Angeles, we began by recording rather than playing live, and so we had no feedback at all on what we were doing and we didn't realise how unusual it was.” [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Their band started by recording first, lacking live audience feedback, which was unusual for L.A. bands. **In simple terms:** They recorded before performing live, missing audience input. Key Takeaway Consider audience feedback early in creative projects. Themes creativity process feedback Mood analytical curious Type process reflection When to use this quote - music production - band formation - creative workflow Key Concepts unconventional methods recording first Questions to Reflect On - What are benefits of recording before performing? - How to balance studio work with live testing? A Different Perspective Lack of feedback may hinder audience connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angeles Began](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angeles-began-4408455/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Began Recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/began-recording-4408453/) [Feedback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feedback/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-player/) [Just Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-russell-1664516/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Los angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/los-angeles/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Russell Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russell-guitar-4408454/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [So he's above the law because he's a celebrity or something. Just because you're Russell Crowe doesn't mean you can do whatever you like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-freeman/so-he-s-above-the-law-because-he-s-a-celebrity-or-something-just/) [Becky Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-freeman/) > [I looked at myself, and I just said, well, you know, I can sing but I'm not the greatest singer in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-looked-at-myself-and-i-just-said-well-you-know-i-can-sing-but-i-m/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I’ve worked with such legendary guitar players as Allan Holdsworth, Ronnie Montrose, Eric Clapton, Lowell George and Steve Vai, but none of them come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-templeman/i-ve-worked-with-such-legendary-guitar-players-as-allan-holdsworth/) [Ted Templeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-templeman/) > [“Without you, I’m just a guitar player.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-jeanisse/without-you-i-m-just-a-guitar-player/) [Bella Jeanisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-jeanisse/) > [There's every other guitar player and then there's Chet. He transcended musical boundaries for more than fifty years. God only lays Chet Atkins on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/there-s-every-other-guitar-player-and-then-there-s-chet-he/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [Too bad that Paul Ryan confessed to being a fan of Rage Against The Machine. By doing so, he not only begged for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/too-bad-that-paul-ryan-confessed-to-being-a-fan-of-rage-against-the/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [And this whole period of time of gradually working at being a better guitar player and songwriter have gradually led me to the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/and-this-whole-period-of-time-of-gradually-working-at-being-a-better/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [I did a song, "Court and Spark," for a Joni Mitchell tribute album that's yet to see the light of day. So she's someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/i-did-a-song-court-and-spark-for-a-joni-mitchell-tribute-album-that-s/) [Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/) > [Ask any guitar player - it's hard to feed yourself when you're picking for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/ask-any-guitar-player-it-s-hard-to-feed-yourself-when-you-re-picking/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I was a guitar player in a band that had two keyboard players, sometimes two other guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer, four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-was-a-guitar-player-in-a-band-that-had-two-keyboard-players/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [... another guitar player who had a tremendous influence on my life was Howard Roberts ... I'd listened to a lot of Tal Farlow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-baxter/another-guitar-player-who-had-a-tremendous-influence-on-my-life-was/) [Jeff Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-baxter/) > [I'm a rock/blues guitar player. I'm not wanting to be a pop star or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-m-a-rock-blues-guitar-player-i-m-not-wanting-to-be-a-pop-star-or/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [I sit down with a guitar player and if there's a situation I feel strongly about, or a guy that I've been thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/i-sit-down-with-a-guitar-player-and-if-there-s-a-situation-i-feel/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [The guitar player that I'm doing my solo tour with, Angel Vivaldi, he's been releasing incredible guitar albums and people just don't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-strauss/the-guitar-player-that-i-m-doing-my-solo-tour-with-angel-vivaldi-he-s/) [Nita Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-strauss/) ## More by Ron Mael > [Even before we had a band, the merging of music and movies just seemed so perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/even-before-we-had-a-band-the-merging-of-music-and-movies-just-seemed/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [I can't say it wasn't fun in the 70s having screaming people in the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/i-can-t-say-it-wasn-t-fun-in-the-70s-having-screaming-people-in-the/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [Having more people accepting what you're doing - that's the kind of limelight we really cherish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/having-more-people-accepting-what-you-re-doing-that-s-the-kind-of/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [We just thought that bands from the U.S. in general were just really boring, and they didn't represent what we felt pop music should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-just-thought-that-bands-from-the-u-s-in-general-were-just-really/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [When things are sequenced really hard, it has an effect similar to the one power chords had in the '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/when-things-are-sequenced-really-hard-it-has-an-effect-similar-to-the/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [I'm so happy that the first time Russell and I saw 'Annette' with an audience was at the Cannes Film Festival, and even more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/i-m-so-happy-that-the-first-time-russell-and-i-saw-annette-with-an/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [We detested folk music because it was cerebral and sedate and we had no time for that. But the Byrds were OK because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-detested-folk-music-because-it-was-cerebral-and-sedate-and-we-had/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [Of course everybody wants to be filthy stinking rich. But we've seen the effect that having that kind of massive success has had on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/of-course-everybody-wants-to-be-filthy-stinking-rich-but-we-ve-seen/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [People have told me repeatedly of how scared they were of seeing me on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/people-have-told-me-repeatedly-of-how-scared-they-were-of-seeing-me/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [We kind of have a cranky side of ourselves, so when people get upset about what we're doing, we kind of feel that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-kind-of-have-a-cranky-side-of-ourselves-so-when-people-get-upset/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [There aren't enough people fighting for being conservative with your sexual tastes. There's a little too much adventuresome stuff going on, so it's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/there-aren-t-enough-people-fighting-for-being-conservative-with-your/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [There is something encouraging about the rebellious spirit of the Internet. It's like the modern equivalent of punk - anyone can make a record.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/there-is-something-encouraging-about-the-rebellious-spirit-of-the/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [It's almost as if the most successful people don't put too much effort into being so brilliant at what they do, that they're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/it-s-almost-as-if-the-most-successful-people-don-t-put-too-much/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [We're not trying to be esoteric. There is that about what we do, but we like to be there at the table with everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-re-not-trying-to-be-esoteric-there-is-that-about-what-we-do-but-we/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [In a personal way, we like to irritate by just staying around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/in-a-personal-way-we-like-to-irritate-by-just-staying-around/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) [Explore all 103 Ron Mael quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) [Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we first started it was just Russell and myself and a guitar player, Earle Mankey, and unlike virtually any other band in Los Angeles, we began by recording rather than playing live, and so we had no feedback at all on what we were doing and we didn't realise how unusual it was.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ron Mael" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russell-and-myself-and-a-guitar/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Band" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russell-and-myself-and-a-guitar/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/ron-mael-5107_band_when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russel_2133492.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/ron-mael-5107_band_when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russel_2133492.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/ron-mael-5107_band_when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russel_2133492.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we first started it was just Russell and myself and a guitar player, Earle Mankey, and unlike virtually…” — Ron Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ron Mael", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we first started it was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russell-and-myself-and-a-guitar/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/when-we-first-started-it-was-just-russell-and-myself-and-a-guitar/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```