Questlove Supreme Podcast: Pino Palladino

Questlove’s Supreme Podcast podcast dropped a new episode on February 1st. His guest is the legendary Pino Palladino.

“One of the greatest bassists ever joins Questlove Supreme in the studio for a special interview,” they shared. “Pino discusses his journey from working on hit songs in the 1980s to joining Questlove, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and others as a critical figure in the Soulquarians sound in the late 1990s. In the 2000s, he toured with The Who and continues working with the best in music. Pino discusses his playing style on the fretted bass, his move from Wales to the United States, and some stolen guitars. This episode is for lovers of innovative musicians discussing their craft.”

Check out the time stamps below the video.

Episode Time Stamps:

• 0:00 – Questlove Supreme roll call and intro, why Pino Palladino is a Questlove and Team Supreme favorite
• 6:20 – Pino Palladino’s journey, starting in Cardiff, Wales
• 8:10 – Why Pino plays the fretless bass
• 8:40 – Pino Palladino played on Paul Young’s “Every Time You Go Away.” He talks about where the joy of playing comes from
• 13:40 – Pino started playing bass at 17. A conversation about rhythm and the power of a Fender Precision bass
• 18:55 – How Pino Palladino gets his bass tone, and why he does not break strings. He has the same strings for over 30 years
• 19:10 – Pino Palladino has had two basses stolen. Questlove talks about his relationship to different drum sets
• 25:05 – What is Pino Palladino’s special approach
• 29:30 – Unsung heroes of the bass, in addition to James Jamerson
• 30:40 – Pino’s first session, and what did his professional lifestyle look like
• 34:45 – Buying his first fretless bass on 48th Street in New York City, getting to work with Chris de Burgh and Gary Numan
• 40:45 – Gary Numan led to Paul Young which led to Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and Chris de Burgh, and a great quote on creativity
• 42:40 – Pino Palladino met Questlove and D’Angelo on the same day. It presented a special relationship. Questlove gives some cool history surrounding Brown Sugar, Voodoo, Erykah Badu, and Bob Power – and why Ron Carter was not on a D’Angelo album cut classic, and how Pino Palladino got down with the Soulquarians
• 50:30 – The post-Voodoo effect of Pino Palladino and his style of playing, and a discussion about the special chemistry around Voodoo
• 56:40 – Memories from the Voodoo Tour, including a special stop in Minneapolis that involves Prince
• 1:05:00 – Pino reached a new generation in his forties with Voodoo
• 1:06:40 – Pino Palladino takes a call that changes his life. How did he learn The Who catalog to play, on the fly, after the death of John Entwistle?
• 1:12:50 – Stopping touring with The Who after 14 years, and Pino’s son Rocco Palladino is carrying on tradition, as is Pino’s daughter Fabiana
• 1:16:00 – Pino mentions his work with John Legend, Chris Dave, and The Drumhedz
• 1:21:00 – Some reflections about D’Angelo’s catalog and “Another Life” and “Sugah Daddy” and Black Messiah
• 1:24:50 – Pino on working with Simon & Garfunkel, and working in the studio with The Who
• 1:31:00 – Closing remarks and gratitude