the_skezz

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='993210' date='Oct 19 2010, 09:48 AM']Now that is a set! I really want to play SoD in a band, i've been pracising my Dave Mustaine impression and everything lol. And yeah, also the avatar...[/quote]

Aha, the covers were always my favourite aspect of that band...even if we didn't play them that well I thought there was maybe a bit too much Metallica in there, but fun to play nonetheless. Hope you do get to play Symphony of Destruction in a band, can be really satisfying to play when done right

And yeah, the avatar...I was bored and messed around on paint for a few minutes, figured it'd probably be a bit more interesting than my old avatar of my band

Only noticed after reading the article, but yeah, blatent similarities. At least they've admitted the influence/ripoff - maybe not the most legally advisable thing to do, but still good to see the original source getting some acknowledgment.

Tends to be a pick n mix of the following, depending on the length of the gig, with some originals thrown in.


Holidays in the Sun - Sex Pistols
California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys
Chinese Rocks - Johnny Thunders
Seventeen - Sex Pistols
What a Wonderful World - Joey Ramone Version
My Way - Sid Vicious version
Career Opportunities - The Clash
So What - Anti-Nowhere League
Get Off My Back - The Casualties
Blitzkreig Bop - The Ramones
American Jesus - Bad Religion
Shut Me Up - Mindless Self-Indulgence
Territorial Pissings - Nirvana

There's a couple of others, but I can't remember them at the moment. Currently working on a punkish version of Bob Dylan's 'Hurricane' as well. I know it ain't a huge amount compared to the lists posted above, but most of our gigs last maybe half an hour so more than enough for those (especially with originals included).

EDIT: Ok, other people's lists are starting to give me an inferiority complex, so I'll boost this with the numbers we used to play in my old metal band.

Breaking the Law - Judas Priest
The Trooper - Iron Maiden
Run to the Hills - Iron Maiden
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica
Master of Puppets - Metallica
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Symphony of Destruction - Megadeth
Domination - Pantera
Sweet Child o Mine - Guns n Roses (I always thought it seemed a bit out of sorts with the thrash ¬¬)
Ace of Spades - Motorhead
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Slither - Velvet Revolver
Pain for Pleasure - Sum 41

We also tried learning others such as 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' 'Dividian' etc. but never ended up doing them well. And we had a couple of others that the guitarist would decide to not play if he didn't like them ('Woman' by Wolfmother, 'Highway to Hell' and 'Eye of the Tiger' being the main examples, the latter two going as soon as sacked our first guitarist).

We also tried 'War Pigs' at our first ever gig...as my Dad once commented, it was the first time he'd ever seen it done in four minutes We've got footage of it somewhere, it still makes me cringe...

Not much one for lending gear after some of the stories I've seen on here, but still would be preferable to the alternative at the gig this Saturday...six bands and all their gear in a room we've played before that was barely able to hold three bands and their gear We're playing with the same other bands on Halloween, so I might see if any of them fancy lending one gig and borrowing the next...

Only played seven gigs so far, but they've all had a couple of originals in...working more of them into the set as fans (or rather, the other band members and the friends we bring along) become more familiar with them...at the moment it's about a 50/50 ratio of covers to originals.

Been sticking my old ones in the dishwasher recently. Works a treat, they're nearly as good as new (and from what I've heard, better for them than boiling). Been meaning to try spirits for a while, but haven't really had the chance.

Stuck with Ernie Ball Super Slinkys for yonks, and thought they were great...however, I recently changed the strings on my Squier to D'addario Nickel Wounds...brilliant, really bright which is perfect for me, think I'll be sticking with them in future

I'm with everyone who said Squier. Affordable and of great quality...I much prefer my Vintage Modified Jazz to my 50s Fender P (which was over twice the price). Good for beginners and more experienced players.

Dexys Midnight Runners version of 'Jackie Wilson Said'. Pretty easy to figure out and play, but a nice bit of fun.

Stranglers...though I wouldn't have the imagination/ability to write the lines that Burnel came up with...

Got to the pub expecting to play relatively soon, maybe midway through the five other bands, then got told we'd been playing last (above the band that were headlining!) Had a few drinks, finally got up to play, and did four songs (lasting just over ten minutes overall) before being told the barstaff were annoyed with us jumping into stools and swearing. We were going to tone it down after that, until the manager came up and told us that we'd have to play our last song then (quite annoying, since we were prepared for a fourteen song set) and so we blasted into Territorial Pissings. People seemed to enjoy us, we've had a few people telling us we were great (and a few more avoiding us at all costs )

Playing the Hollybush in Cradley Heath with the same five bands next week...considering that I've seen larger living rooms than their 'stage area', it's gonna be interesting trying to fit in six groups worth of gear...

Couple more rock-ish ones...

Europe - Rock the Night (think it uses keyboards, but not to the extent that it's unplayable without em)
The Clash - Complete Control (one that a lot of people seem to know a like, but I don't recall ever seeing it covered elsewhere)
Alice Cooper - Elected
Aerosmith - Draw the Line
The Who - I'm Free

Most people I know seem to like these, but I ain't seen any of them covered much/at all.

Day-um...that's some serious skill...

Not my sort of music, but excellent bass writing/playing.

Slither - Velvet Revolver (dunno how difficult the guitar solo is, but bass and drums are pretty managable)
Territorial Pissings - Nirvana
Dirty Deeds - AC/DC
Running Free - Iron Maiden
Woman - Wolfmother

Others come to mind, but they walk the tricky line of being popular but also overplayed...doubt the punters would mind though.

And + 1 for Hoppo and leschirons suggestions, some good 'uns there.

This is becoming the new Rick Roll...

Very nicely snuck past us though

Cos while people seem to enjoy our originals, they're not familiar enough with them to really get into things. Hence a lot of cover material slowly being replaced by originals as we write them - the audience knows the songs and like the familiarity.

Plus Territorial Pissings as a closer is f***ing [i]brilliant[/i].

Before I started playing, I would've found that hilarious. Now I just cry at how true it is

Varies...sometimes Chinese Rocks, if it's a shorter gig we play one of our original numbers (usually one called 'No Prospects') and for the gigs in October there's the possibility of it being Dead Kennedy's 'California Uber Alles'.

Looking at the clips on youtube, that looks pretty damn helpful, I'll have to consider picking it up myself at some point.

[quote name='TimR' post='969336' date='Sep 27 2010, 12:19 PM']It's a band and supposed to be a co-operative.

Singer-songwriter is different. You just need to be clear what you are in.[/quote]

Very true. That's pretty much the best way of putting it IMO.

I don't like playing the root note when I reckon something else would sound better, but I'm happy to do it...if the guitarist will let me tell him what to play on the guitar for any songs that I write. Of course, trying to get them to understand this can be a difficult matter.


Me: "Right, I've got an instrumental that I've written, nothing fancy but I reckon it could be good. I'll show it to you at practise on Saturday if you want."

Guitarist: "Awesome, you play it and I'll start soloing over the top of it..."

Me: "Erm...it doesn't have a solo in it..."

Guitarist: "What?!? Really?! Alright then, I'll just come up with some other riffs over it..."


Needless to say, it never came to frution

I'm happy to play a bassline that someone else wrote for their song (my current band doesn't see me slapping a solo into Blitzkreig Bop) but for me it has to be a two-way street. I know there are plenty of bands out there who are all the better because one person pretty much dictates the songs, but I myself wouldn't feel happy in them...guess I'm just awkward that way

[quote name='Truckstop' post='967463' date='Sep 25 2010, 12:33 PM']Well, to be fair to Burton, I guess he was pushing the boundaries of rock/metal bass playing and had a very individual and recognisable 'sound' too. I think also his image did a lot for bassists in the way that suddenly bassists could take more of a lead role in metal. In a musical way and also in a performing way too. Having said that though, I do think he was too high on the list.

Truckstop[/quote]

Very true...definately influential within the genre, most metal bassists seem to list him as an influence. He certainly did more with the instrument than quite a few metal players at the time - but far too high on the list.

'Straighten Out' by the Stranglers. Learnt the bass earlier...I swear JJ's lines will give me arthritis someday...

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='967067' date='Sep 24 2010, 07:35 PM']Wow, Paul Gray from Slipknot at no.3? Cliff Burton at no.5? I guess it's amazing what being dead will do to your musical credibility. [/quote]

Couldn't have put it better mate. Before his death, I don't think I knew many people (bassists included) who knew who Paul Gray was, let alone would've included in a greatest bassist list.

The problem with compiling a list like this based on a poll is that it will always be affected to some extent by people who'll vote for their favourite bands or for those who're dead, rather than strictly looking at ability, technicality, creativity, etc. The 'best' bassist is a subjective concept and so there'll never be a perfect list, but it's still dissapointing to see cases like this that demonstrate what is most likely bias on the part of (some of) the voters.