NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Iconic music men are not uncommon in our city, but few have been as influential as George Porter Jr., bassist for the legendary band The Meters.
And while the band’s place in the annals of music is the undisputed kings of funk, early on young George worked hard to learn his craft.
Porter says, “My mom pulled that guitar out of the bed with me many a nights. I kinda fell asleep with that guitar. That’s what I wanted to be, I wanted to be a guitar player.”
Porter bounced around playing with a host of different acts until getting a shot to play with the great Art Neville in the early 1960s.
According to Porter, the gig didn’t go as he’d planned.
“Unbeknownst to me Art needed a lead guitar player. I was not a lead guitar player; I was a rhythm guitar player. Art would be looking at me to take solos, and I ain’t taking no solo. We’re in trouble if you want me to solo. At the end of the night Art said, ‘Bro, you’re the worst guitar player. You’re horrible.'” [laughs]
Porter eventually settled on bass (guitar) and teamed up again with Neville to form The Meters.
And while they’re successes with Allen Toussaint and their break-ups are well-documented, and the group manages to play a few dates, Porter says the years have taken their toll on the group’s trust.
“There’s still third parties making those important decisions that puts us all in the same room. Right now, that seems to be the only way it’s gonna work because I believe even today we just don’t trust each other,” said Porter.
He continues to play festivals and shows around the world with his own band, we asked him if he still considers the music he plays as funk.
Porter modestly told us, “Other people make a living naming our music, so I’ll just leave it to them.” (laughs)
Throughout the month of June, The Porter Trio plays the Maple Leaf Bar on Monday nights at 10.