Who's lines do you like better, Dirk Lance or Ben Kinney. This one for me is a know brainer. Dirk Lance is who inspired me to start slapping. That solo in "Redefine" is simply amazing. Now they kicked him out and [Mod Edit] replaced him with a new player of a different style that I dislike [/Edit]

They both are amazing in their own rights, Dirk inspired me to first start playing bass a few years ago, but Benny Kenny is one hell of a musician. He plays something like 9 instruments and is according to mike einzinger "a better guitarist than he (mike) is." Benny probably knows alot more theory than dirk and is overall a better musician, as for bassist, benny's lines are somewhat creative and he just has a different "style" than dirk, thats all. Just my two cents.

-Ryan

I would vote for "both" or "tie" if I could. In lieu of that I voted Ben Kinney for the reason that I think he deserves great kudos. I have found his lines interesting, great tone, very supportive, and flashy when they need be.

I've also liked Dirk's lines a lot, and he simply strikes me as a different player -- While supportive, a little bit more emphasis on being up-front. Very noticable exploration of a wide variety of tones and styles.

Of course, there's no right and wrong. Ben's style is just where my mind is at right now.

HooBass

Both

I'm also diggin alot of ben's basslines on the Time Lapse Consortium cd/project thing he did, pretty funky stuff.

i liked incubus better when they were called Faith no more.

i saw them open for primus a while back, but i don't remember if they were any good.

I liked Dirk's sort of aggrofunk bent on the older stuff (Science, etc) but I guess if they plan on doing more of this laid back stuff, Kenney will work out better. I liked Time Lapse, it was what it was, and I liked Incubus before they put out Mornign View, but I think the new one is a bit of the worst of both worlds.

I was pleasantly suprised with Ben's playing on the new album, but I don't think he's in the same league as Alex(Dirk), so this is a no-brainer for me, Alex is much better. I believe one of the main reasons Alex left the band is because the other guys were getting pissed with him stealing all the attention, so they decided to go mellow and it pretty much drove Alex out of the band. He was a big fan of the old stuff. Ben's a simpler player, not very technical, so he fits in perfect with the new stuff, plus, he's not so flashy and won't steal anyones attention.

alex was asked to leave the band due to ongoing issues he had with the band mostly with brandon alex would allways show up late to rehersal and complain alot and storm out when thigns didn't go his way he was like this from day one and the band finaly had enough of it

alex was asked to leave the band due to ongoing issues he had with the band mostly with brandon alex would allways show up late to rehersal and complain alot and storm out when thigns didn't go his way he was like this from day one and the band finaly had enough of it

The Alex split was mutual. He left as much as they wanted him out. Having known these guys since High School, Alex was very much the guy who came up with the main groove to all of the songs, then the rest of the band came up with their parts after that. Things really started to change right after the SCIENCE album. They got a lot more popular, and their marketing people realized that Brandon was the person they had to put their focus on. Sony had them change producers at that point to the guy who worked with REM. At that point the band changed to fucus on Brandon and Mikey's playing. The result was evident with Make yourself and even more so with Morning View. Alex was very opinioated about the song writing, and he could see that he was being fased out. He used to be the bands spokesperson untill Make Yourself as well, which then became Brandon and Mikey jobs. Plus Alex likes to party, and the rest of the guys aren't really into it as much. They would rather just smoke dope all day!

The Alex split was mutual. He left as much as they wanted him out. Having known these guys since High School, Alex was very much the guy who came up with the main groove to all of the songs, then the rest of the band came up with their parts after that. Things really started to change right after the SCIENCE album. They got a lot more popular, and their marketing people realized that Brandon was the person they had to put their focus on. Sony had them change producers at that point to the guy who worked with REM. At that point the band changed to fucus on Brandon and Mikey's playing. The result was evident with Make yourself and even more so with Morning View. Alex was very opinioated about the song writing, and he could see that he was being fased out. He used to be the bands spokesperson untill Make Yourself as well, which then became Brandon and Mikey jobs. Plus Alex likes to party, and the rest of the guys aren't really into it as much. They would rather just smoke dope all day!

Finger-pointing over why Dirk left aside (verification please? WOuld like to confirm what actually happened...) I'm given to understand part of it was that was also due to him wanting to keep playing old stuff of theirs not just the FM Radio stuff like Warning. Dirk was a lot more fun to listen to, all in all....much more adventurous.

well, i hate to say that i haven't heard much of incubus' earlier stuff (pre-morning view) but from what i hear when i listen to incubus' stuf, is that the two bass players play two different styles of music. i don't see how we can decide which one's better. I think it's like deciding between Jaco and Marcus Miller for greatest bass player, when although they both do jazz, one is fingerstyle, and the other is slap.
past all that i picked ben kinney, because although i really like pardon me, i think meglomaniac is closer to the genre of music i usually listen to.

Charlie

i liked incubus better when they were called Faith no more.


This is so funny! I was listen to A Crow Left... yesterday in the truck, and thought "Wow, some of this stuff reminds me a lot of Faith No More!"

Glad to see I'm not crazy.

I thought Make Yourself was fantastic. I haven't heard all of SCIENCE, but what I've heard was fantastic as well.

Morning View was just so-so, and Crow is a little better in spots but some of it's again just so-so.

Thus, I voted for Dirk.

Ever notice that the guy with more theory/training seems to be less creative? He can play, for sure, but maybe Dirk-buddy woulda though of a completely different line...

I love science.MYS is good enough and Mornin View is very good too.I have to get a copy of A Crow..... so I don't know

I find Dirk to be a much better bassist. Som of you say that Ben is more educated, plays several instruments and therefor makes interesting lines. Does it really matter if a musician plays several instruments, or knows his theory? Dirk makes in my ears much better, groovy,more interesting lines then Ben, and that's what counts.
The songs on the new album do not sound like something that should be released by a great band such as incubuc. This shows that bass players really can change a bands sound.

Dirk Lance for me. Ben Kinney is cool, I dig their new stuff but I still miss Dirk alot.

What bass's does Ben use?

What bass's does Ben use?

A four string Lakland Joe Osborn with Lindy Fralin passive pickups.

A four string Lakland Joe Osborn with Lindy Fralin passive pickups.

You sure? In a recent article I read he uses an Epiphone Jack Cassady and A Fender MIA Jazz

~Patrick

You sure? In a recent article I read he uses an Epiphone Jack Cassady and A Fender MIA Jazz

~Patrick

Yes, In the most recent interview that he did in Bass Guitar Magazine, he says that he's using the JO. In a prior Bass Player Magazine article however, he did say that he was using the Cassady on tour.

Yes, In the most recent interview that he did in Bass Guitar Magazine, he says that he's using the JO. In a prior Bass Player Magazine article however, he did say that he was using the Cassady on tour.

That BG article is where I got my information.

i swear i saw him using a jazz at this live thing on much music. And on there latest video i believe he was using a jazz.(megalomanic)

That BG article is where I got my information.

I think you should take a look at it again because I have it right here in front of me on p.22 right in the section the says "BOOMBOX." To quote verbatim "BASS: Four-string Lakland Joe Osbourne with Lindy Fralin passive pickups." To go a step further, there's even a picture with him and the JO strapped around his shoulder.

I think you should take a look at it again because I have it right here in front of me on p.22 right in the section the says "BOOMBOX." To quote verbatim "BASS: Four-string Lakland Joe Osbourne with Lindy Fralin passive pickups." To go a step further, there's even a picture with him and the JO strapped around his shoulder.

That's what I was trying to say, I have it in front of me, too. I was backing up my own statement.

That BG article is where I got my information.


I'll be going for their 16th March concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Will take a close look at the bass(es) he'll be playing.

This should clear up any confusion....
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2038&stc=1

This should clear up any confusion....
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2038&stc=1
he must have more than one, then, because the one in BG wasn't sunburst (tho it was a B&W photo) and it had a cover over the neck PU. Looked pretty sweet. Gave me Lakland gas for about a week.

In the megalomaniac vid he uses a blue jazz with ashtrays.

incubus was never called faith no more, faith no more is a completely different band. personally i dont even think they sound alike. anyway, the frontsinger of faith no more's(mike patton) other project mr. bungle had a huge inspirational impact on the early days of incubus brandon boyd said in an interview. so if you like early incubus i would suggest you to listen to mr. bungle to, they have an awesome bassist too, trevor dunn.

A four string Lakland Joe Osborn with Lindy Fralin passive pickups.
This is funny because he plays just like Joe Osborn and has a similar tone and I told my friend when i saw hiom first play that he's got to be a Joe Osborn fan/clone/wannabe/whatever. No respect from me no no.....

Went to the Incubus concert in Kuala Lumpur. Was pretty good, didn't blow me away though. Highlight of the show has to be the tribal drum solo Jose did(Ben was playing a snare drum and Brandon was playing a percussion instrument)

Ben played a sunburst Fender Jazz and a Lakland Joe Osborn for the show.

I voted for Dirk because I liked listening to his lines more than the current guy...

As far as the theory of Incubus Evolution...the following is my opinion (this is my opinion only)

I loved Incubus with Dirk....with heavy love for Fungus Amongus and Science....

I really dislike Incusuck with the new guy and focus on boring ballads. Especially after witnessing them live. It was like being at a boy band show....all the screaming teenies and freeze tag going on.

I will admit, I bought the ticket, owned all of their albums, and was excited to go to the show, but, man it turned me off on them. Especially the obviously choreographed Brandon shirt removal episode. It's amazing how a live performance can really sour someone on a band's music. I feel bad even admitting this!

I voted Dirk, he was awesome. Ben seems like a cool guy, but the new Incubus album didn't really do it for me. I'd be interested in hearing what Dirk does post-Incubus, if he appears on/releases anything...

DIRK all the way. interesting creative inspirational very technical and most of all very groovy basslines which are most of the time determining the songs character.
While the new guy ..just simple _simple can be beautifull but not this way_ dull basslines , no character no soul....could be easily someone else IMO

Destruction of another solid rock band !

Dirkinator.

Dirk for sure... I loved his unpredictable and always tasty bass grooves. Plus, the music was good. I don't like the direction Incubus is headed in (and has been heading in for the last few years).

Dirk is an amazing bass player, it's true,but Ben has his own style,and he's good. I recomend to everyone to read the bass player magazine's interview to Ben Kenney,maybe you'll understand a little bit the new Incubus album.Morning View was a good album, but it sounds repetitive to me,it's like make yourself II.The new album sounds fresh,aggressive,a little raw.Another thing,Ben is a fan of Darryl Jenifer (Bad Brains), so maybe that's why the album sounds with a punk vibe,at least some of the songs.

VS. Thread! :spit:

VS. Thread! :spit:

very good. I find the 2 bassists very good ones,but with different styles.

k, i liked incubus and dirk lance alot before, but i can't say i was inspired by them, the new record and ben kenney's playing has inspired me, there is this organic groove going on that is just so refreshing to me, i find he band has a real strong identity now, seeing incubus live before was nice but thats it now there is really something great going on.

Honestly I don't understand what possessed the band to bring such a different player into the picture. Incubus' very strong rhythm section was one of the most positive features the band had. Few bands had such a creative drummer and bassist that locked so well together. For them to bring a player like Ben Kenney into the equation baffles me. I like Ben Kenney, I think he has a good sense of dynamics and melody, however I find that he doesn't listen to Jose as much as Dirk did. I was watching "Alive At Red Rocks" a few days ago, and at times Bens playing annoyed me when they were playing their pre-Kenney material. To me it sounded like he was playing too much and actually took away from the song as a whole. The tightness between the bass and drums really took a blow, thus Mike and Brandon lost the solid foundation of the songs that Dirk delivered.

I think Ben Kenney is a talented musician, but Incubus aren't the same band since he joined. It's a huge pity that Dirk no longer plays with them. I think a player like Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne) would have been a much more suitable replacement. Does anyone agree?

I'm a Dirk Lance fan personally.

ben kenny, bens got a cool laid back, sleazy, but busy style and tone that rocks my socks....dirk lance is just too...i dunno, just looks a little like feidly playing les fleapool-ish

OK.... .... I've read about and heard enough in these forums about dirk lance. Can anybody suggest what should I listen to to give me a few good examples of why I keep hearing about him.

This bass makes me feel like a poor man- looks like a joe osborn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sfvGnl4spg&mode=related&search=

incubus' science and fungus amungus albums are a good place to start....also check out some of ben kennys work with the roots

incubus' science and fungus amungus albums are a good place to start....also check out some of ben kennys work with the roots

Cool- cheers, Heath (Still trying not to think about Laklands)

ben kennedy for me. infact i like the new incubus songs much more than the old songs. songs like megalomaniac, stella, i miss you are more my type of music i guess. while technically dirk is prolly the better bassist, but i really cant get into their old stuff like 'certain shade of green'

Just thought I'd add my .02...

I've been listening to Incubus since Fungus and I can still remember the first time I heard them. It was really inspiring, not just because it was a heavy rock band with a really up-front bassist but because they didn't sound like ANYONE else out there. It was something new and fresh and I could totally dig it.

These days I hear incubus and the fourteen year old inside of me just wants to scream "sell out!". I've matured a bit since those days and I won't say that, but their music, to me at least is just uninspired and.... just blah. It just doesn't have that unique quality that it did when Alex was with the band.

I honestly don't know about the new guy so I'm not even gonna comment on him, but I definitely think the band as a whole was better with Alx. Just MHO.

I can't decide between the two bassists...but I did notice a well placed mod edit! I would have loved to see what was originally there.

Cool- cheers, Heath (Still trying not to think about Laklands)

either am i actually...im saving up for my fender p...but those lakland jazz's are always at the back of my head

nowadays... incubus sux... 'nuff said

that is such a bolddddd statement, and i actually think there are about a billion people that will disagree with you. me being one of them. ive gotten over thinkin about who was better cause it's plain and simple, they are both different. for you to say they suck lets me know that your a close minded person who is afraid of change. and what does it mater to them that you think they suck. i know if i were in incubus i wouden't want people with opinions like yours to like my band, and if everyone was like you most musicians would have given up long ago with such bad fans like yourself. how about next time your gonna say something like that you express the fact that it's in your opinion or just keep it to your self

VS. Thread! :spit:

thats another band :D

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/57/6f/9138a2c008a0f3b8bf4b7010.L.jpg

Nice

I think Dirk Lance is far better because of his versatility. Everyone mentions his slapping on SCIENCE and Fungus Amongus and don't get me wrong it's great but that cat could play all kinds of styles. I love some of the stuff he does on Make Yourself and Morning View even when the songs are mellow. Dirk also had a really deep tone that seperated him from the guitar.

I feel that Ben's overdrive tone works sometimes but it's something of a one trick pony. Ultimately it sounds too similar to the guitar for my liking. And the lines are occasionally creative, but I just dare Ben to come up with a bass line as great as 'Sink Beneath the Line'

I thought Incubus broke up in 1999, shortly after apologizing for making a bad joke of a sellout album?

Oh wait that was just some wonderful dream I had.

i think ben kenny fits the band better. they are both amazing bassist however. i think im more of a ben kenny fan. dirks like were sick though. but i think ben's tone and live deliverence is way better.

I play in an Incubus cover band and have spent a lot of time learning Ben and Dirk's bass parts. Bottom line is Dirk is a natural bass player while Ben Kenney is a guitar player who converted to bass. He plays with a pick and eliminated all of Dirk's slap parts. As a bass player I do not like this. Dirk is a more creative and versatile bassist.

I voted Dirk, he was awesome. Ben seems like a cool guy, but the new Incubus album didn't really do it for me. I'd be interested in hearing what Dirk does post-Incubus, if he appears on/releases anything...

Willies Nerve CLinic

I prefer Alex mainly because I lke Incubus earlier stuff and I think is funk n grooves fit the music perfecty. Also in those days the music seemed more clean sounding. Nowadays they've gon a little psycadelic (spelling) and overdriven, Alex wouldnt have fit in at all. Ben fits the sound they have now, which I'm not a huge fan of except a handfull of songs however the band changed the sound not Benand so he cant be blamed.

What really F**ks me of is when they completely change the Science songs in concert and Ben creates a completely different bass line. Its as though they just wanna destroy all their pre Make your Self songs and redo them in their current sound. It doesent work, I wanna go go mental to New Skin, but to the old heavy funked up version, what we get is just a watered down version

...(Dirk's) solo in "Redefine" is simply amazing.

+1

That is one of THE best slap and crunch tones I've heard in all my life! The technique and accuracy is beautiful. I suggest that if any of you do not have Science...go get it! :bassist:

As anyone of u guys actually seen Ben play? Everyone complains about how he doesn't slap, but when u compare just their regular playing Ben is superior. Dont get me wrong im a big fan of Dirks playing but when Ben plays his old stuff especially on Are you In? you totally forget about Dirk. Ben turns Are you In practically into an entire bass solo, and he totally goes over the top on another solo i saw live. Look on youtube for Incubus bass solo, i believe its the first one.

and u guys do realize if he played the exact part that Dirk played for their old songs u would be saying that he sucks and isn't original enough to create his own parts to those songs.

i should also slap u for saying Make yourself was a sell out album, some of their greatest songs are on their such as: Stellar, Make yourself, i miss you, battlestar, pardon me!!!

i could seriously probably write a book on this, and the answer is alex katunich aka dirk lance. as marvelous a musician that ben kenney is (i have seen them both live), incubus has yet to put out any worthwhile music since he's been in the band. their styles are polar opposites (dirk = super clean, powerful and funky, ben = gritty , subtle and laid back in the groove), but the bottom line is none of it matters if the band is lame, which IMO incubus is nowadays. give him credit, but in the context of incubus it's not even close.

edit: here we go again with the sell-out crap. make yourself is a solid album, end to end. while i do admit their music got increasingly less aggressive over time, the only major change in sound IMO came between morning view and a crow left of the murder, which coincidentally was when they changed bass players...the previous albums all had an excellent balance between all the members' parts, but ACLOTM came out extremely vocal-heavy, with the guitar a close second...the battery section on that album failed to accomplish anything IMO. maybe a cool bass line here and there, but i get sick of every song on that album about a minute in.

i'm extremely opinionated about this, in case you can't tell....no disrespect to ben at all, but Zee Deevil compared to Redefine or A Kiss to Send us Off compared to Stellar??? hmmm, i think i'll take Redefine and Stellar, thanks...

If i could still vote i'd go for Ben Kenney?

That is, becuase i like ACLOTM better than any Album in this world, and he played bass on it.

The better player would be Alex.

I do think however that Ben has a lot of Groove, but a different kind of groove, more like Motown groove as opposed to Alex' more jazz-y groove.

Alex, all the way, so much more of a bassist! Ben used to be a guitarist and converted for Incubus and Alex has much better basslines and is one of my favourite bassists of all time, also Ben does ruin a fair few songs, Certain Shade Of Green sounds HORRIBLE with Kenney playing.

I dont know about you guys, but I like Ben much more than dirk. From the tone down to the playing. I heard that dirk is a tone freak, but to be honest I dont see whats so unique about it.Yeah it sounds good, but I cant really tell him from say les claypool if you just lemme listen. I just watched Incubus: rock Am ring live just now, and holycrap I didnt know Ben is such a monster on bass. His overdriven, trebly tone sounds surprisingly good...and hes about the only guy Ive heard who sounds and play like that. Fingers or picks, he sounds equally good with both

I dont see how you guys can complain how Ben is unadventurous, he improvised through most parts of the show, and was tasteful for the most part. Btw, am i the only one who notice that Ben is very influenced by Jaco? Im sure all the bass elitist are gonna slam me for it, but I swear hes shown more than a few glimps of 'jaco' in his playing. From the harmonics to the solos up the neck. Sure, there will be people who disagree with me. But fair enough, everyone has their own opinion

Just wanna say that Ive been inspired recently by his playing...way to go ben

i liked incubus better when they were called Faith no more.

i saw them open for primus a while back, but i don't remember if they were any good.

I saw that tour as well. I do remember Incubus' sound being messed up, but the band was good.

I've got to say Ben on this one, Dirk was awesome, but I just like Ben's melodic style more than Dirk's style

Never really took much notice of Incubus until we recruited our drummer who's a complete fanatic. From all the stuff he's played me I'd definately go for Ben Kenney. If I was ten years younger I'd say Lance. Having said that, I think Supergrub and Ben Kenney solo are way superior to Incubus......don't kill me

Dirk. Listening to SCIENCE/Make Yourself/Morning View made me want to pick up a bass. Battlestar was probably the best bass song he had done. That groove is sick. Don't get me wrong I'm still an Incubus fan regardless of the bass player.

I liked Ben better with the Roots though.

+1 Dirk

I stopped being a fan of Incubus after Morning View....

After that everything they did was Absolutely Horrible...Their music format changed and became way to poppy for me.

Im sad to say Incubus has lost it... I'd rather listen to echo and the bunnymen..

Dirk, easily. I don't like the new incubus stuff much. SCIENCE was the album for me. I'm not even into slap players, but that album is downright FUNKY.

I have to say that I'm torn between who to pick. On Fungus Amongus I thought Alex's playing was phenomonal for them all being so young. I believe the were all 16 maybe 15. On Light Grenades Ben's playing just melds in with everything else and its acheives a great synergy IMO. I really dig the bassline to "Dig" no pun intended. So I'm dead even on them both. Miss Alex, like Ben.......oh what to do.

wow.... 53 to 53

I play in an Incubus cover band and have spent a lot of time learning Ben and Dirk's bass parts. Bottom line is Dirk is a natural bass player while Ben Kenney is a guitar player who converted to bass. He plays with a pick and eliminated all of Dirk's slap parts. As a bass player I do not like this. Dirk is a more creative and versatile bassist.

he might not play slap stuff, but he certainly doesn't use a pick. Watch the whole alive at redrocks dvd and you'll see. He might use a pick on some stuff, but the majority, and I mean the fast majority is fingers.

I always like the bass lines in Megalomaniac, but when I saw Incubus early this year in a concert in Jakarta, hell....what a poor performance.

I think Dirk is better

Well you can't really compare the Dirk Incubus to Ben Incubus b/c they are two different bands....that is apparent listening to the albums. Dirk Lance to me is far more of a groove stoner bassist and that is the main reason I liked Incubus. I listen to their new stuff too....but Dirk is the man.

i should also slap u for saying Make yourself was a sell out album, some of their greatest songs are on their such as: Stellar, Make yourself, i miss you, battlestar, pardon me!!!

Right on! Even though Incubus has had a different sound on all they're albums I still love them. I can confidently say they are my favorite all around band. Each of the members is very talented and as I said before. Both Dirk and Ben have brought awesome talent to the band. Styles might be different but IMO they are both kick A$$ bassists.:bassist:

I liked Ben better with the Roots though.

On guitar?

Both are great bassists, though I prefer Dirk's stuff more.

On guitar?

precisely, he was better on guitar.

Dirk, but I'm not sure if it's because of I like old style Incubus better, or if I truly feel that Dirk is a better player.

Dirk got me interested in Warwicks and also more into a "groove" style of playing rather than shredding or just slamming out root notes or whatever you want to call it.

In terms of Incubus though, I was never a fan of anything after SCIENCE. I LOVE Fungus Amongus and SCIENCE though -- they're two of my all time favorites. But when Incubus started changing their sound, I started to lose interest. I like a handful of their newer songs and stuff, but the old, more funky Inc. is much better.

That said, I don't discredit Ben or anything like that. I just like Dirk's style more; he's very in-your-face and has an awesome tone. He holds everything together and also seems like he's in command and the most upfront. Dirk is an amazing player and he really helped define the sound that Incubus once had, and that's the sound I like.

So since the intention of this thread is Dirk vs. Ben, I'll say Dirk but only because I liked Incubus better as a whole when he was part of the band and was still upfront.