99ster Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Was flicking through the new issue of Bass Player magazine in WH Smith today & there's an article about Flea & the new RHCP LP. Said he used two '61 Jazz basses on the LP - one being the white that he's well known for...but the other was a [b]gift[/b] from his mate Damien Hirst ([i]after Hirst had asked him what was the best bass ever made[/i]) - custom painted by Mr Hirst with butterflies. The shot in the magazine showed only the rear of the bass - which looking quite amazing... A quick Google turned up this pic (there's a video on the NME site as well I think): [attachment=90533:flea-damien-hirst.jpg] I would think that the Damien Hirst connection would very likely make this one of the most valuable basses in the world... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 You mean to say it's not carved out of a shark and preserved in formaldehyde? I'm disappointed..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Flea looks a bit like Mark King in that pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I don't have a copy but I understand Bass Player magazine has a whole page on our very own basschatter star Alberto Rigoni [url="http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=2317020839352&set=a.1406188909123.59950.1064406791&type=1&theater"]http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=2317020839352&set=a.1406188909123.59950.1064406791&type=1&theater[/url] for those of you who don't know Alberto Rigoni here is a youtube clip [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-0P4eKBAHs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-0P4eKBAHs[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewm Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I'm not usually one for graphics on instruments, but that is really quite lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 being damien hirst.... i guess they are real butterflies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I'll bet he never went near it though. He'll have got one of his in house lackeys to knock it up under his name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L_Bass_Dog85 Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 [quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1317499020' post='1391374'] You mean to say it's not carved out of a shark and preserved in formaldehyde? I'm disappointed..... [/quote] +1! It is a lovely bass though, bet that'll fetch a fair bit of cash... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 These basses are now on sale, at either £25,000 or £10,000. [url="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/17935/damien-hirst-flea-from-red-hot-chili-peppers-spun-bass-guitars.html"]http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/17935/damien-hirst-flea-from-red-hot-chili-peppers-spun-bass-guitars.html[/url] Whilst it's a worthwhile cause, I just wonder if Flea had a load of unsold stock? Apparently DH employs a load of people to paint in his style, so a DH original may not actually be done by him. I think If I bought one and found it was not done by him I'd feel a bit sheepish..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1337556778' post='1662055'] I think If I bought one and found it was not done by him I'd feel a bit sheepish..... [/quote] How about half a sheep in brine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1337556778' post='1662055'] I think If I bought one and found it was not done by him I'd feel a bit sheepish..... [/quote] He's just trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Bah ha ha ha. There's a real irony in that while these instruments are become more valuable the older and less damage they have, Damien Hirst is probably one of the few people in the world who could add value by defacing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='99ster' timestamp='1317494864' post='1391312'] I would think that the Damien Hirst connection would very likely make this one of the most valuable basses in the world... [/quote] All this talk of valuable basses .. makes me wonder what Macca's original Hofner would fetch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1337603866' post='1662532'] All this talk of valuable basses .. makes me wonder what Macca's original Hofner would fetch [/quote] God knows where it is. It was nicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1337604016' post='1662540'] God knows where it is. It was nicked. [/quote] Really? Didn't know that, thought he still had his 61 and 63 models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1337581789' post='1662140'] Bah ha ha ha. There's a real irony in that while these instruments are become more valuable the older and less damage they have, Damien Hirst is probably one of the few people in the world who could add value by defacing it. [/quote] banksy defaces buildings, maybe he should do some basses (but then i'm not sure if he makes a living from it.) Edited May 21, 2012 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1337603866' post='1662532'] All this talk of valuable basses .. makes me wonder what Macca's original Hofner would fetch [/quote] I had a 61 Hofner Violin Bass. Played like a dog and sounded like someone kicking a cardboard box. Sold it for 15 quid - including its original case (( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1337581789' post='1662140'] Bah ha ha ha. There's a real irony in that while these instruments are become more valuable the older and less damage they have, Damien Hirst is probably one of the few people in the world who could add value by defacing it. [/quote] Defacating it? Jings, the sh*te some people will buy nowerdays. Right ho, off for my appointment with Specsavers now. Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1337581789' post='1662140'] There's a real irony in that while these instruments are become more valuable the older and less damage they have, Damien Hirst is probably one of the few people in the world who could add value by defacing it.[/quote] In a slightly surreal mind side step I made the leap to the argument that musicians are in effect committing the audio equivalent of "defacing" silence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I'm saving up for a Tracy Emin one. It has a tampon for a truss rod. So [i]now[/i]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I always thought there was something a bit odd about Flea. I can't quite put my finger on it. You can't doubt his ability but not the sort of guy you could imagine spending a few hours propping up a bar with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1337603866' post='1662532'] All this talk of valuable basses .. makes me wonder what Macca's original Hofner would fetch [/quote] [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1337604183' post='1662542'] Really? Didn't know that, thought he still had his 61 and 63 models. [/quote] He still has the 63, I think. Its possible value at auction is discussed in this thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/108172-maccas-hofner-on-jools-holland"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/108172-maccas-hofner-on-jools-holland[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Funny how after all the hype before the tour including the magazine article and the comment about Flea telling Damien that the Jazz was the best bass ever made that on that tour he never touched one in the end! 2 Modulus basses at every gig afaik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1337625422' post='1663066'] I always thought there was something a bit odd about Flea. I can't quite put my finger on it. You can't doubt his ability but not the sort of guy you could imagine spending a few hours propping up a bar with? [/quote] I got very pissed at a RHCP gig years ago, babbled drunkenly on and on at the band after the gig and tried to join the tour by attempting to get on their bus *deep shame* Under the circumstances they were very nice about it... Flea was a top geezer as I remember (insamuch as I can remember anything). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1337626322' post='1663085'] I got very pissed at a RHCP gig years ago, babbled drunkenly on and on at the band after the gig and tried to join the tour by attempting to get on their bus *deep shame* Under the circumstances they were very nice about it... Flea was a top geezer as I remember (insamuch as I can remember anything). [/quote] Legend. Did you point out his mistakes for completeness/bass-playing-kudos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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