Sky Arts ,Worlds greatest Basslines .28/11/25

[Wolverinebass]

1 hour ago, shoulderpet said:

I don't understand how anyone could argue that his style is not distinctive, you literally know it's him from the moment you hear his bass

That's an autocorrect fail. It should have said "isn't."

[Wolverinebass]

27 minutes ago, jazzmanb said:

Who else played like Hooky ? Then or now ? Cure guy maybe but I'd say he was influenced by him . I'm not a massive Jd NO  fan but he has his own sound 

 

27 minutes ago, jazzmanb said:

Who else played like Hooky ? Then or now ? Cure guy maybe but I'd say he was influenced by him . I'm not a massive Jd NO  fan but he has his own sound 

It's an autocorrect fail. It should have said "I don't think anyone could say his style isn't distinctive."

 

Anyways, edited my post.

[BigRedX]

12 hours ago, SpondonBassed said:

Re:  Peter Hook; no-one mentioned his stance.  He says it has done his neck no favours in later life.  He stood out by playing his bass so low on the strap.  Considering Mark King's bass slung at nipple height, it made for quite a contrast at the time.

 

Also, did I see him with a six string Shergold Marathon or was that someone else?

 

He has his own signature version made by Eastwood. When I saw him last he was using the Eastwood, although judging from recent gig photos he's gone back to the Shergold

 

 

11 hours ago, jazzmanb said:

Who else played like Hooky ? Then or now ? Cure guy maybe but I'd say he was influenced by him . I'm not a massive Jd NO  fan but he has his own sound 

 

Back in the early 80s there were plenty of bass players influenced by him. Have a listen to early Section 25, the first Modern English album, Modern Eon and some Dancing Did to name but four.

 

Nowadays? Me:

 

Edited Wednesday at 08:20 by BigRedX

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

I’ve just finished watching it. I really enjoyed it and thought the final episode was the best.

In the scope of basslines that are great, it actually covers little ground, but I can see potential in a further series.

[lowdown]

It's probably worth digging this up again. This thread could do with it...

 

 

 

[NancyJohnson]

Filmed my piece for this about ten months ago, but disappointingly was cut from the final edit.  

 

 

[Sparky Mark]

Since feeling a little disappointed by the lack of imagination shown in this series, I've restored my fascination with bass by rediscovering Graham Maby's brilliant playing on Joe Jackson's first two albums, Look Sharp! and I'm the Man, both from 1979.

A change in my circumstances has enabled me to retrieve my teenage vinyl collection after decades in storage, and these were there, unplayed this century. 

I was 16 when I bought these albums and was inspired then, and even more impressed 46 years later. At only 26, Graham had pretty much mastered what he was doing. Every track on these albums is worth listening to in my opinion, for his catchy, skillful, melodic basslines that are front and centre in the mix.

Each album is under 40 minutes long, with influences from new wave, reggae, rock, blues and probably more, so if you've never done so, have a listen, Graham is one of the best IMO.

Edited yesterday at 01:30 by Sparky Mark

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

2 hours ago, Sparky Mark said:

Since feeling a little disappointed by the lack of imagination shown in this series, I've restored my fascination with bass by rediscovering Graham Maby's brilliant playing on Joe jackson's first two albums, Look Sharp! and I'm the Man, both from 1979.

A change in my circumstances has enabled me to retrieve my teenage vinyl collection after decades in storage, and these were there, unplayed this century. 

I was 16 when I bought these albums and was inspired then, and even more impressed 46 years later. At only 26, Graham had pretty much mastered what he was doing. Every track on these albums is worth listening to in my opinion, for his catchy, skillful, melodic basslines that are front and centre in the mix.

Each album is under 40 minutes long, with influences from new wave, reggae, rock, blues and probably more, so if you've never done so, have a listen, Graham is one of the best IMO.

Yes, 100% agree with this 👍

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

On 17/11/2025 at 12:34, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Didn’t Sky Arts produce a three part series on drummers that didn’t once mention Neil Peart?

 

N.B. I haven’t seen it, but I was told this by a drummer who had.

 

On 17/11/2025 at 20:06, Sparky Mark said:

Your drummer friend was incorrect. According to IMDb NP was referenced in the first episode. 

Apologies - I saw my drummer friend last night and we were talking about both the drum and bass series’ that Sky produced.

I mentioned about the Neil Peart thing and he said it wasn’t Neil Peart after all, it was Cozy Powell that wasn’t mentioned.

A slightly less glaring omission, but as we know from the bass series, only a small percentage of known players get mentioned.

[prowla]

So, I watched the 1st episode (I think there are a couple more?).

It was from Hooky's perspective, which was someone who started in the mid-70s and thought punk was great musicianship.

Love Will Tear Us Apart is of it's time; if only Jumpin' Jack Flash hadn't stolen the bass line.

[Sparky Mark]

1 hour ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

 

Apologies - I saw my drummer friend last night and we were talking about both the drum and bass series’ that Sky produced.

I mentioned about the Neil Peart thing and he said it wasn’t Neil Peart after all, it was Cozy Powell that wasn’t mentioned.

A slightly less glaring omission, but as we know from the bass series, only a small percentage of known players get mentioned.

I guess it could've been difficult to include Cozy without some of the circumstances surrounding his tragic premature death? 

[tauzero]

5 hours ago, Sparky Mark said:

I guess it could've been difficult to include Cozy without some of the circumstances surrounding his tragic premature death? 

 

Why? All that Hooky said about Ian Curtis was that he died - in fact, IIRC, he said that they lost him. Ditto Nate Mendel about Taylor Hawkins.

[Sparky Mark]

38 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

Why? All that Hooky said about Ian Curtis was that he died - in fact, IIRC, he said that they lost him. Ditto Nate Mendel about Taylor Hawkins.

True, maybe Cozy just wasn't considered innovative enough to be included?

[Stub Mandrel]

12 minutes ago, Sparky Mark said:

True, maybe Cozy just wasn't considered innovative enough to be included?

 

He died so long ago... his influence is fading.

[Sparky Mark]

9 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

He died so long ago... his influence is fading.

Also true.