Willie Basse Is The Cultural Ambassador For The Sunset Strip?

There is a great sketch in Monty Python's Holy Grail where a couple peasants are mining filth as their king approaches on his faux coconut shell horse. As King Author tries to explain who he is, the dirty peasant woman replies "I didn't know we had a king...well I didn't vote for you."

That pretty much sums up my reaction last week when I found out Willie Basse was the new Cultural Ambassador for the Sunset Strip. Who appointed him is anyones guess. Maybe he assigned the title himself. Part of his job as a Cultural Ambassador was to conduct interviews for the Sunset Strip Music Fest. This has always proven to be a great way for Basse to solidify the status of his 80's band Black Sheep as one of the greats of the rock scene. During countless interviews on the Sunset Strip, Basse can be heard chatting about the great iconic bands that ruled the Sunset Strip. He stated "The Sunset Strip is an icon within itself. You had Otis Redding, The Temptations played the Whiskey, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Van Halen, Motley Crue in that era. Then Black Sheep, and Guns N' Roses." (see here) Black Sheep??? Really? I want to know where Black Sheep fit in with all of this?

Willie Basse was a founding member of Black Sheep in the early 80's. At one point in the band's history, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash was a member of the band for like a second. Black Sheep never really broke out of the Sunset Strip scene like many of the other bands of the era, but that doesn't stop Basse from tooting the Black Sheep horn to anyone that will listen. Willie Basse was more famous for hosting the decadent parties at his studio than his musical talent. His motto was/is "3 bands, 3 kegs, 1000 people." Willie also owned the printing press that supplied the tour posted you'd see wallpapering the Sunset Strip.

While we are at it, another thing bugging me about Willie is when you play a charity event like Crue Fest 10, you do so to raise money and awareness for Skylar Neil, it isn't about you. If your name is at the bottom of the Whisky's marquee, don't threaten staff with a refusal to play unless you get higher billing. It makes you look worse than showing up in that van wrapped with your CD cover.

Maybe he should go back to producing "Smelly Cat" on NBC's Friends. It might just be the only hit he was involved with, too bad it isn't real. (see video below). At least it was something people have seen him in. Willie Basse released 'Which Side Are You On' in February.

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Tags:  Willie Basse, Sunset Strip   

Jason Fisher    August 31, 2011