CEB Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Rocco has passed away. Quote "It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne "A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!! So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEB Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 https://www.musicradar.com/news/rocco-prestia-if-you-attack-everything-like-its-the-first-time-you-ever-played-it-itll-stay-fresh-and-will-lead-to-new-ideas Rocco Prestia: 'If you attack everything like it"s the first time you ever played it, it"ll stay fresh and will lead to new ideas' Quote "It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne "A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!! So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 RIP. Such an important link to the ToP sound. Quote AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightbg Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Thats a huge loss. R.I.P. Rocco. Jake Quote 1967 B-3 w/(2) 122's, Nord C1w/Leslie 2101 top, Nord PedalKeys 27, Nord Electro 4D, IK B3X, QSC K12.2, Yamaha reface YC+CS+CP "It needs a Hammond" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RudyS Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 So sad! RIP Rocco Quote Rudy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 He and DG were among the baddest of the bad. dB Quote ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 One of a handful of bass players with a truly unique and immediately recognizable style. RIP Francis. Quote Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Listened to a lot of Rocco when I was playing bass he really drove TOP. Thank you for all your music Rocco. Peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJUSCULE Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 I'm so sad, but so grateful I got to see him and DG play together in TOP at least once. Thank you Rocco, RIP. Quote Eric Website Gear page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reezekeys Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 AWB opened for TOP many times through the years, and I got to play with him a bit once while we were setting up for our sound check. How many bass players haven't worked on playing "What Is Hip" at some point in their development? A big loss. RIP and condolences to his family and all the TOP faithful. Also - I can't help noticing zero mention (as of this posting) in the lowdown forum here. Really? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 My fave bass player, Steve Evans, tells this story on Facebook today: "my great bud, FABULOUS drummer ( was in TOP for a number of years ) and longtime musical compatriot/ friend of mine, Mick Mestek, was there when Jaco met Rocco!!! â Mick told me Jaco immediately bowed to Roccoâ HELL yeah!!!....â ohhh - just talked to Mick - there s more to that story - holy crap!! It was at rock entrepreneur of ALLTIME ,-Bill Graham s b day party (or some party for Bill) in Marin âand when Jaco came in and met Rocco, Jaco got on his KNEES , and bowed to Rocco, then proceeded to kiss Rocco s hands- the Rocco pulled his hands away ( humbly) and said 'C mon Man!! Frigging PERFECTION......." Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 There was nobody like him at all. A totally unique and somewhat inimitable style. RIP Quote Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathOfInsects Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Huge loss. Quote Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material. www.joshweinstein.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Such an under appreciated talent. Rocco really drove TOP. Glad I took the chance to hear them when they played in lowly Elmira NY at the Holiday Inn (NOT KIDDING, one of the best shows I have ever heard!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griswold Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 He definitely made a musical impression on me. I've seen TOP dozens of times & even though Rocco hasn't been there the last few gigs, his musical legacy & style will always live on. Godspeed Rocco. Quote Kurzweil Forte 7, PC3, PC4, Hydrasynth, Kronos 61, UltraNova, Rhodes, Clavinet D6, MiniMoog, GSI Burn, ELX112Ps, SpaceStation, Assorted Weapons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Hadn't he been in and out of the band for health issues? Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKeys Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Rocco and Garibaldi we a force together! When you have a foundation like that to build on just listen the funk they produced! RIP Rocco! Quote Jimmy Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. Groucho NEW BAND CHECK THEM OUT www.steveowensandsummertime.com www.jimmyweaver.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reezekeys Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Hadn't he been in and out of the band for health issues? He was in & out of the band a few times before retiring from the road. Marc van Wageningen has had the gig since 2018. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Also - I can't help noticing zero mention (as of this posting) in the lowdown forum here. Really? I fixed that - thx for the heads up. dB Quote ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I don't know how many times I've been with a band covering a TOP song and seen the bass player shaking their head in quiet humility, usually on What is Hip, but other stuff too. Lots of times. I can't think of a more profound tribute than that. Drummers too! Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamuelBLupowitz Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I don't know how many times I've been with a band covering a TOP song and seen the bass player shaking their head in quiet humility, usually on What is Hip, but other stuff too. Lots of times. I can't think of a more profound tribute than that. Drummers too!True that. The bass player in my funk band is a beast, and big TOP fan, but he has deep scars from playing What Is Hip in a cover band back in college. As a bass player myself (and as an organist!) I can relate. Quote Samuel B. Lupowitz Musician. Songwriter. Food Enthusiast. Bad Pun Aficionado. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Paxton Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 One of the more foolish musical endeavors of my youth was trying to arrange "What Is Hip" for a New Orleans brass band. That was 25 years ago, and I don't think the sousaphone player has forgiven me yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Hadn't he been in and out of the band for health issues? He was in & out of the band a few times before retiring from the road. Marc van Wageningen has had the gig since 2018. I had heard he had a transplant and it didn't go all that well? Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX88 Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 This is tough...but I sort of knew it was coming... I also somewhat disagreed with the fact that TOP let him go a few years ago. I wish they would have considered hiring an understudy who might have also been able to provide roadie functions. He had been ill for many years....miraculously he was given many additional years through several major operations. Some info has come to light recently through interviews regarding just how many drug issues were a part of t Tower during their classic years. I was surprised that it even affected David Garibaldi... Though it caused Rocco to be fired during that time. Still ..he recovered and gave us many years of great music in this century... A huge loss and a shock for today...wow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vortmaxx Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 When I wrote my TOP tribute song for my album, I listened to a bunch of TOP just for the bass lines and tried to write one similar. I gave it to our bass player who was like 'well okay'. And I said it had a Rocco vibe, just do that and he educated me that basically nobody can play like Rocco plays in his totally unique style. It's somewhat inimitable. (He still did a great job on the bassline though). Quote Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Coda Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 So sad ! Followed TOP from the beginning and have seen many gigs. Wonderful gigs w/ Rocco ... [video:youtube] [video:youtube] Rocco and D.G. ... a perfect rhythm section ! R.I.P. Rocco ! A.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Just watched 10 min of the above vid. Man it's so good. I'll have to watch the whole thing sometime. Quote Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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