Speaking The Language Of Pop: An Interview with Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.

Posted in Current Faves, Interviews, Music |

Roger Manning: He had a really great sense of humor and we stayed in touch, even though it was just that one meeting. He would invite me to projects he was working on with this band he was starting at the time and we just stayed in touch over the years.

Well, cut to two and half, three years later and we were still in touch about weird gear and eccentric records—we were really into Italian film soundtracks and stuff—it came up that he had been good friends with Beck before Beck was who we all knew Beck to be. (laughs)

Popshifter: Right, when he was sleeping on the street and recording songs into his tape recorder.

Roger Manning: Yeah. For a while, Beck was living at Ross’s house and they were in a band briefly together. Before Beck went solo he was in a band called Loser. And all these people to show up later in his life were part of that group or “scene,” if you will.

That scene was extra weird because it had a lot of child actors in it. Like Ross himself, was a child actor in the 70s and early 80s. The most famous thing he’s known for is being the little boy in the first Airplane! movie. He sits in the cockpit and gets tutored on how to fly the plane.

Popshifter: (laughing) Oh, is that the one with “have you ever watched any gladiator movies?” That kid?

Roger Manning: Exactly.

Popshifter: (cracks up)

Roger Manning: That’s Ross Harris.

Popshifter: That’s hysterical! I never knew that.

Roger Manning: He lost interest in that as a teenager; he was more into music and video production. Basically Ross had a huge role in me getting into Beck’s band. We had a few mutual acquaintances. Beck knew Moog Cookbook, but not Jellyfish or Imperial Drag.

When [Beck] had a falling out with his keyboard player on the Odelay tour, I asked Ross, “If there is any way you can put a good word in for me, I would really appreciate it.” I know he did and I think that had a lot to do with me getting called to audition.

We just stayed in touch and he did the artwork for my solo record [Solid State Warrior]. I wish I could see him more, but I only see him every three to four months. (laughs)

Popshifter: You showed quite a few of your keyboards in that video and I don’t remember if you actually had a count, but you obviously had to for insurance purposes. How many keyboards proper do you have?

Roger Manning: It got stupid. I’ve been selling a lot of stuff these past few years. But before I started selling stuff, it was somewhere around 150 pieces.

Popshifter: Oh my god.

Roger Manning: Now it’s about half that. Which is still ridiculous.

Popshifter: (laughs)

Roger Manning: I’ve got 60 to 70 keyboards, which is still absurd but I have been selling a lot of equipment.

Popshifter: But these are things you can play.

Roger Manning: Yeah, I use a lot of them.

Popshifter: I mean, having that many pairs of shoes might be a little. . .

Roger Manning: (laughs)

Popshifter: . . . although there are people who do!

Roger Manning: Oh god, yes.

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Click to read more from Roger Manning on. . .

Bill Bartell and MST3K
Playing well with others: new TV Eyes EP!
Jamming with Beck and Ross Angeles
The importance of humor
Where does Jellyfish fit in?
Movie soundtracks
Favorite kind of music
The music mafia model
“Just do what you’re passionate about. . . “
A reason to get out of bed in the morning
Speak my language

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