In other words, musicians know that going back to the Spoonful, what we were doing was not copying.

Meaning of the quote

The quote from American musician John Sebastian is saying that when musicians make new music, they are not just copying or imitating other artists. Instead, they are building upon the work of previous musicians, like the group Spoonful, and creating something unique and original. This means that musicians understand they are not simply copying others, but using their own creativity to make something new and different.

About John Sebastian

John Sebastian, the founder of the rock band The Lovin’ Spoonful, had a successful solo career after leaving the band in 1968. He is known for hit songs like ‘Do You Believe in Magic’ and ‘Welcome Back’, the latter of which was used as the theme song for the sitcom ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’.

More about the author

More quotes from John Sebastian

You have to remember now, I was not being terribly successful at going solo.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

When I left the band I said Look, I am ready to move on. I was interested in playing with some of the other people that I had bee a studio musician with.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

Now, I was the Summer Concert guy. I played every Summer concert there was.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

My father was invited to play on a television show when I was 17 or 18 that was an early equivalent of educational television, a Sunday afternoon kind of variety art show.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

First of all, I think that is true, if you are a musician, particularly on the come, that you do have to end up in one of these musical centers, some way, to be viable, saleable and so on.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

It might be thematic work. It might be theatrical. I enjoy that kind of work.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

But, what did happen is I went to Woodstock as a member of the audience. I did not show up there with a road manager and a couple of guitars. I showed up with a change of clothes and a toothbrush.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

I think that my past stands me in good stead in that it does have a certain strength for musicians.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

To the extent that ’60s guys own things, yes… but I don’t have the publishing, just like most ’60s guys, and that was an error, you know… part ownership in publishing was the kind of era that started a little bit later, when real businessmen started to manage artists.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

Well, I did a harmonica instruction tape for Homespun tapes.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

Geez, I wish I could tell you I had a whole bunch of ’80s hair bands, you know something you really wouldn’t expect, but I don’t know that the music police would be that surprised, because most of the stuff that I am influenced by is in evidence in the music.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

My father was a classical musician and my mother was a writer.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

In other words, musicians know that going back to the Spoonful, what we were doing was not copying.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

The Jug Band was exactly what I wanted to do, and it wasn’t my idea.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

I was wildly out of style when that television theme song suddenly pushed its way onto the Top Ten. It was certainly not the record company trying to make that happen.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

I’m seeing and hearing lots of B to B instruments, and everybody isn’t, you know, using them… a lot of these guys are trying to do it on conventional guitars, although that has its own sound, and maybe its okay.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)

Sometimes you really dig a girl, the moment you kiss her, And then you get distracted by her older sister.

John Sebastian

American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1944)