ubit Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='Number6' timestamp='1445341715' post='2890665'] Ability, Skill and Understanding is a very broad spectrum of which only the degrees vary, but we are all on and spread out across that spectrum. [/quote] How true. I think there's a few musical snobs who think ability is about flashy runs and technical dexterity rather than pure feel for music. I myself, think lead guitar with feeling like Slash , is better than lead guitar with speed, like Buckethead. Same with bass playing. Then again, that's only my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1445334145' post='2890573'] At the risk of injecting yet more life into this zombie thread, let me lay this urban myth to rest. From interviews with Trevor Horn and other engineers who were working at SARM at the time of FGTH, they were unhappy with the playing on "Relax" so they got the Blockheads in to re-do the instrumental parts. While the results were better technically they didn't have the right feel - does that make NWR a poor bass player since he didn't play what was required for the song ;-) Eventually the track was assembled in Page R on the Fairlight. Some of the individual notes used create the bass line might have been sampled from the Blockheads session but that hardly makes it NWR's playing. The actual performance came from whoever did the programming - most likely one of The Art Of Noise. [/quote] Fair enough. It doesn't even sound like there's a bass anywhere on Relax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colgraff Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Can anyone be considered a poor player if they have been doing it professionally for decades? I remember whatshername from the Pixies saying that the hardest thing for a bassist to do is to consistently play root notes on the beat and not to put any runs or fills in or any big endings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm with Xilddx's reply earlier in the thread. Only a few bass players care if the bloke on the big guitar can do a zillion note per second arpeggio or are playing in the phrygian dominant scale or what have you. The rest of the audience are listening to the song as a whole and enjoyimg it or not on its merits. I still don't get how Adam Clayton is 'bad'? I don't like U2 but he seems like he's doing exactly what they need and loads of people love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1445346738' post='2890729'] I'm with Xilddx's reply earlier in the thread. Only a few bass players care if the bloke on the big guitar can do a zillion note per second arpeggio or are playing in the phrygian dominant scale or what have you. The rest of the audience are listening to the song as a whole and enjoyimg it or not on its merits. I still don't get how Adam Clayton is 'bad'? I don't like U2 but he seems like he's doing exactly what they need and loads of people love them. [/quote] Completely this!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Limited as my understanding is, in the context of the song 'bad' is out of time and/or out of tune... so basically, me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='mart' timestamp='1356646486' post='1912091'] I give it three minutes before someone mentions U2. Oh, wait, it's already happened! [/quote] I am by no means a U2 fan, as their music does nothing for me. Granted, Clayton's playing (AFAIK) has not been tested in another genre, but IMO he plays what the song requires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 The irritating thing is that people seem to equate poor with simple. Whereas simple is effective and poor is actually just bad. The only successful band I ever heard of with a poor bass player was The Sex Pistols. But that was kinda the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1445352572' post='2890826'] The irritating thing is that people seem to equate poor with simple. Whereas simple is effective and poor is actually just bad. The only successful band I ever heard of with a poor bass player was The Sex Pistols. But that was kinda the point. [/quote] And even then that was the Sid era - Glen Matlock was really rather good. Agree re simple - why on earth people equate simple playing with poor playing is beyond me. OK, ACs lines are simple, but are they out of time, do they get in the way of either Bonos or The Edges performance, does his tone not suit the songs? Also, New Years Day - what a bassline, virtually the whole song written around it. Take that away from it/change it, completely different song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I can't understand the negativity about Adam Clayton either. I agree that I'm not particularly a fan, but that's more down to that annoying twatt Bonio, who does my head in, but Adam is a perfectly good musician who has produced some great bass playing over the course of their albums and is well thought of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Clayton does what suits the tunes which is what matters really. Just so happens I think the songs are garbage but it's irrelevant when talking about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Just been watching U2 on TFI Friday and thought Clayton was pretty good. Not my kinda thing but sounded fine to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I think he's a poser , I'm not a fan, but not sure how he can be considered a bad bass player within the context of what he does 24/7 with U2? Did, he create the bass line to New Years Day ? If so that's pretty iconic, and also one of the few lines in pop that most people would name if played solo, not a bad acheivement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonbladet Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Apart from Sid Vicious there's that Stuart Sutcliffe from the Silver Beetles. I told them "You'll never get anywhere with that muppet on bass - he's faking it most of the time and when he isn't you wish he was." But would they listen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Not exactly sure about what constitutes a 'Super Band', but Hooky's playing on Joy Division's [i]Unknown Pleasures[/i] is cringeworthy in places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1445430454' post='2891386'] Not exactly sure about what constitutes a 'Super Band' [/quote] My interpretation (correct me if I'm wrong OP) is of a band that is generally well known around the world, and fills large venues on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I actually think Adam Clayton is great in U2... is he great anywhere else..?? Well, no one is calling him and he doesn't need them too either but he does a good job there, IMO. I'll throw this one in though as I've said it before. Verdine White fits the bill of the OP, IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Larry Klein with Joni Mitchell. AWFUL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1445448499' post='2891599'] I actually think Adam Clayton is great in U2... is he great anywhere else..?? Well, no one is calling him and he doesn't need them too either but he does a good job there, IMO. I'll throw this one in though as I've said it before. Verdine White fits the bill of the OP, IMO [/quote] You only need to be "versatile" if you're not earning enough money from just being in one band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 [quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1356681721' post='1912278'] Jason Newsted / Metallica[/quote] Jason's recorded works, whilst he was in Metallica, were "buried" in the mix, he is, in fact a great bass player. If you listened to the three album he made with Voivod after he left Lars & Co., you [b]will[/b] hear some great bass work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 In the same sort of area as Adam Clayton, what about Nicky Wire of Manic Street Preachers. I`ve spent a few days just jamming to them and they`re very easy lines to play, but similarly, what he does gels with the drums and doesn`t get in the way of James Dean Bradfields guitar lines or vocals - both of which are excellent and more the better for being given the space they need imv. Wonder how many people think he isn`t very good because he hangs back out of the way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1356692280' post='1912401'] There are more rotten bands around than useless bass players. Most rock bands are unbelievably, stunningly dull and boring...but are completely oblivious to it. [/quote] You obviously don't like rock. Edited October 23, 2015 by steantval Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 [quote name='steantval' timestamp='1445581323' post='2892470'] You obviously don't like rock. [/quote] I agree. That's just a troll type comment to say most rock bands are dull and boring and should be ignored. Which is exactly what I haven't done...... Damn ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Cliff Burton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 [quote name='ubit' timestamp='1445583528' post='2892489'] That's just a troll type comment to say most rock bands are dull and boring and should be ignored. [/quote] I don't see a troll type comment there at all, but just a serious opinion with a valid point. Also, he didn't state these bands should be ignored by others. He just found them dull and boring himself, as do I and as I presume do you yourself. I mean: of all the rock bands in the world, how many would you actually want to go and see live, or even play a CD of? Me, I'd certainly not buy the CD of the "club band" of our ferry to Denmark, or the band that often plays at market days in our community. BTW, he said it three years ago. It's not certain he visits this thread to see the responses and explain or "defend" himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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