In 1990, amid financial desperation, Matthew Nelson and his brother Gunnar, members of the Nelson band and descendants of American music and television royalty, found themselves at a critical crossroads. With only $17 in their joint bank account, the duo made a daring decision to walk unannounced into the offices of Geffen Records on Sunset Boulevard. There, they performed their song (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection directly for an initially reluctant A&R executive, John Kalodner. This bold move, driven by sheer necessity and a last grasp at success, not only secured them a record deal but also catapulted the track to the top of the charts, establishing their careers in the music industry.
Matthew Nelson’s story was shared in an interview published in the inaugural digital issue of Bass Empire, now available on Magzter and DiscountMags. He recounted: “That particular song came about when Gunnar and I, along with a friend named Mark Tanner, were down to our last 17 dollars in a joint bank account. We were living out of our car and wrote the song in that desperate state. We walked into John Kalodner’s office at Geffen on Sunset Boulevard unannounced, and despite his initial annoyance at our lack of an appointment, we persuaded him to listen. We played the song for him there with just two guitars. After we finished, he looked up and said, ‘That’s what I’ve been waiting for. You’ve got your deal; get in the studio.’ It was a moment of truth for us.”
Nelson also discussed the initial recording challenges of Love and Affection. He explained how choosing to re-record with producer David Holman transformed the track into a chart-topping hit and propelled Holman’s career as a celebrated producer for major bands. “Interestingly, ‘Love and Affection’ almost didn’t make it onto our album because it didn’t feel right when we initially recorded it in the studio. We had to fight for it, believing in its potential. We decided to try recording it again with another producer we had worked with on the soundtrack for Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, David Holman. This time, I played the bass using a vintage Fender Precision, and it just felt better. David mixed it, and it became a number one record. Following that, David went on to produce and mix hits for No Doubt and Bush, establishing himself in the industry.”
Read the full story in the August issue of Bass Empire digital magazine, now available online.
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