I learned to play piano in a rock n' roll context or band context from country records - you know, Floyd Cramer - and from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and Stax. And none of those are keyboard records. Benmont Tench bandbeatlescontext share on social
What a good session musician does is listen to the song, to the artist, and to the other players. That way you can help bring out the song and help the artist express what they want to express. It's never about you stepping out and showing you can play something fancy. Benmont Tench artistbringexpress share on social
Besides, I'm fairly incompetent. I can't play that fast. Benmont Tench fairlyfastincompetent Change image and share on social
I think that with Bob Dylan around, we're living in an era where we have Whitman presenting new work, we have Dickens presenting new work, we have Yeats and Shakespeare presenting new work. It's that level. Benmont Tench bobdickendylan share on social
I was just writing songs because, if a song shows up, you've gotta write it. I didn't know what to do with them. I didn't have any faith in my voice. Benmont Tench faithgottahave Change image and share on social
I've spent most of my life playing with Tom Petty, and he's a damn good songwriter. Benmont Tench damngoodhave Change image and share on social
I learned that the songs that mean the most to me are the songs that I write by myself. While there were people I wrote really well with, particularly Gary Nicholson and Delbert McClinton, and I really enjoyed the experience, I came away from it feeling like I need to write by myself. Benmont Tench delbertenjoyexperience share on social
Whoever hired me might've just heard 'Refugee.' Well, I'm not the secret to 'Refugee.' The secret to 'Refugee' is the song. But if somebody really good calls me up to play on something because they like the way I played on 'Refugee,' then I wind up playing on another really good song. Benmont Tench callgoodhave share on social
If you call attention to yourself at the expense of the song, that's the cardinal sin. Benmont Tench attentioncallcardinal Change image and share on social
We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record producer. He knew exactly how to take a band that knew absolutely nothing, and guide you without trying to tell you what to do. Benmont Tench absolutelybandcordell Change image and share on social