stingrayPete1977 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) I never see much love for Alex James on this site, maybe we should correct that? [media]http://youtu.be/LgEin42blfk[/media] [media]http://youtu.be/obEE6AULAGU[/media] He does appear to take more drugs when he uses a Stingray for some reason but lets gloss over that Anyone else a fan? Edited December 21, 2014 by stingrayPete1977 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) Totally agree with you, Alex is one of my fave players, quite a few inventive basslines scattered throughout the Blur back catalogue. Colin Zeal one of my faves. Edit - I also happen to live about 5 miles away from his house. Often thought about asking him to sign my Blur albums but chicken out massively! Edited December 21, 2014 by 40hz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 I heard Stereotypes on the radio the other day and thought how it was weird that he does not get much of mention on here? Being Basschat its only a matter of time before the debate starts, Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 For you then 40hz [url="http://youtu.be/SfUJrueI7e0"]http://youtu.be/SfUJrueI7e0[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I know the term underrated is thrown about and clichéd but it really does apply to Alex massively. Great Stingray and Precison tones, inventive, melodic basslines. He's a really nice bloke in real life and cool as f*** to boot! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I remember hearing him say that he was very influenced by the Duran Duran bass player. Can't remember his name, the one that Mrs RR used to fancy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) I thought The Stereotypes were Welsh ? Edited December 21, 2014 by yorks5stringer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) I also remember reading an interview where he was asked what bass he played, and in a rhetorical gesture shrugged and asked the tech, who informed him that it was a Stingray. He went on to state that to a bassist, the choice of bass was no more important than the choice of pen is to an author. I was a bit outraged at this at the time, but am coming round to that viewpoint more and more. Edited December 21, 2014 by Roland Rock 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) Thanks StingrayPete, I have now got that song stuck in my head! "Looks at hiiis waaatch, he's on tiiime yeeeet agaaain" Edited December 21, 2014 by 40hz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 He has a program on Classic FM Saturday nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1419179264' post='2637277'] He went on to state that to a bassist, the choice of bass was no more important than the choice of pen is to an author. [/quote] Some authors did choose their pens with care, but I still like that line. I wish I'd thought of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1419180416' post='2637296'] Some authors did choose their pens with care, but I still like that line. I wish I'd thought of it. [/quote] I don't doubt it. The way I read that is "find one that works for you, then forget about it and get creative" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedmanzie Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1419178277' post='2637253'] Anyone else a fan? [/quote] Yes! His first autobiography is excellent and a real insight into being in a great band. (But the second one is unbelievably dull) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1419179264' post='2637277'] I also remember reading an interview where he was asked what bass he played, and in a rhetorical gesture shrugged and asked the tech, who informed him that it was a Stingray. He went on to state that to a bassist, the choice of bass was no more important than the choice of pen is to an author. I was a bit outraged at this at the time, but am coming round to that viewpoint more and more. [/quote] Part of their image was to be too cool for school, at the same time Damon Allbran was collecting antique harpsichords and stuff so I'd take that with a pinch of salt, on the other hand I think he sounds the same to some extent on any bass, Jazz bass in the very early clips, P bass, Stingray and he even sounds the same in some clips with him on electric upright bass! Its that plucky right hand technique imo, works just right for the band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Can I say I find him quite cheesy? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1419185713' post='2637371'] Can I say I find him quite cheesy? [/quote] Yes, yes you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Great clips in the first post from Pete there, really good melodic inventive lines, plus some great Precision tones as well. Def think Alex James comes into the under-rated category. And he plays those lines looking so laid-back as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) Remember seeing him whilst I was uni - he did have that too cool for school swagger. Whilst technically not brilliant a bass player I think I'm probably not alone in thinking that some of his bass lines were sublime and were exactly what the song needed - girls and boys example. Blur I thought were a brilliant lineup of people. Dave Rowntree behind the drums... He's the definition of bland. How did that ever work? But it did. On another blur related note, I'm bumped into graham coxen in Camden once. "You're Graham Coxen are you?" I asked. "Yeah" "Ah. Ok" end of conversation. Edited December 21, 2014 by EBS_freak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 http://youtu.be/WDswiT87oo8 Have to say GC really was my fave guitarist of the Brit Pop era. When I last saw him live (Hyde park - I was meant to be support but that's another story) it made me remember how he was really a master in texture and timbre as opposed to anything else. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I have seen him in my town once or twice. He is awfully tall. Great bassist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquipment Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Too cool for skool Check him out smoking a fag whilst mashing dat bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1419178909' post='2637265'] I remember hearing him say that he was very influenced by the Duran Duran bass player. Can't remember his name, the one that Mrs RR used to fancy [/quote] John Taylor? I suppose I can understand that. Neither are root note plodders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Does he now make cheese? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTypeV4 Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Alex James is a hero. As a 15 year old in 1998, Alex along with Alonza Bevan (Kula Shaker) were my influence at the time and helped me shape my style. (Until I found Fyffe, Clarke, Miller, Zender etc of course) They are two players who I think are both very talented, unique and somewhat under-appreciated and whom today I still have massive respect for today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subbeh Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 They're one of those bands I wasn't into at the time but listening to some of his bass playing has seen them grow on me a lot recently. Girls and Boys is such a great line, adds so much to the song and is a blast to play. As for the man himself he makes his playing look so effortless, almost as if he's never played bass and just walked in, picked one up and knocked out a great line without trying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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