I just wanted to see how you guys predict TBer's from the future would talk about Flea. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a Flea-aholic, but I must admit, he's brought bass to the masses.

I personally don't consider him a virtuoso or anything, but he does make nice, grooving "lead bass" lines, and he is a pop icon for the bass. I think in a few years he will be viewed not so much as a pioneer, but probably as one of the most influential bass players of this generation, and maybe even any generation.

I would agree. I dont like calling him "this generations Geddy", It makes me feel old; which i am not.

I agree. With the rate that RHCP is kareening into rock history and longevity - Flea is one of the most influential of all time - but that's because he does more than play the bass, which puts him into critical territory.

Think about it - Sir Paul played the bass - but who honestly knows him as only the bass player for the beatles?

You really can't look at this through the rosy colored - "I'm a bass player" glasses - you have to look as the issue of Pop influence from those that do NOT play the bass.

Flea is simply more recognizable as a bass player than most - and that gets kids to pickup the instrument.


And for those of you who really want to feel old - RHCP will be eligble for Rock Hall induction in two years.

You guys really need to listen to more bass players. lol

How do you mean, T?

I agree that he is bringing bass to the masses, but don't ever try to put him up there with Geddy. No. Not gonna happen.

Just because The Chili Pepper's music doesn't call for crazy-intricate off time lines doesn't mean that Flea's ability isn't on par with Geddy Lee or any other bass player. I think the bass world needs to just admit that he's a great player in a great band.

His lines are repetitive after a while. Ged's are not. (Listen to Red Barchetta, Far Cry, YYZ...)

You know Geddy is still alive right?

His lines are repetitive after a while. Ged's are not. (Listen to Red Barchetta, Far Cry, YYZ...)

Lots of people call that repetition a hook, every good groove should have a hook IMHO, thats one of the reasons I can't really get into rush.

Say what you want about Flea as a technician - but he writes great pop hooks and thats what he will be remembered for one day.

As always JMO.

No, my point is is that those lines are completely different from each other.

Cuz the bassline for Californication sounds SO MUCH like Hump de Bump.

+ don't forget all of his other work with Jewel, Alanis Morissette, The Mars Volta etc etc etc.

de-loused in the comatorium - has some inspirational bass lines, the best Mars Volta effort so far IMO.

Dale.

No, my point is is that those lines are completely different from each other.

I don't agree, of course individual bass players will always have a commonalities between track but if you listen to his early work Uplift Mofo / RHCP through Blood Sugar then onto By the Way, I believe that he used all that he learn't along the way in Stadium Arcadium.

Cuz the bassline for Californication sounds SO MUCH like Hump de Bump.

I dont see how..

I don't agree, of course individual bass players will always have a commonalities between track but if you listen to his early work Uplift Mofo / RHCP through Blood Sugar then onto By the Way, I believe that he used all that he learn't along the way in Stadium Arcadium.


I was refering to Geddy. I think that a lot of the RHCP lines are too repetitious, which I strongly dislike.

Rocknroll, I was being sarcastic.

I wish they had a sarcastic smilie face or symbol for the internet...

I dont see how..

really, you couldnt tell he was being sarcastic.....

Flea is deffinitly a big influence in this generation of bass playing, he's does alot with the bass, he uses his imagination and has an open mind which i like pretty much more than anything in a player

Flea is one of the best out there. That being said though, he is not Jamerson, McCartney or Lee. It impossible to compare him to any of them because he sounds nothing like any of them. His big thing is bringing slap bass into mainstream rock. Also, any of those players (aside from McCartney who is not my favorite on bass, although I think him an amazing composer) is a much better groove master than he is. I would say on a whole different level, but there is a difference.

I agree that he is bringing bass to the masses, but don't ever try to put him up there with Geddy. No. Not gonna happen.

I enjoy listening to both bass players and both bands. As much as you may disagree Cygnus, Flea will be but up there with Geddy. I understand where you are coming cause Geddy does have more complex lines, but that doesnt mean hes more of a musician. Both bass players create lines for their type of music and it works.

Flea is still growing as a bass player which anyone can tell from their first album to what they are playing now. Either way, just because you may not like his style or RHCP, you cant deny his growth and skill.

this argument is pointless..........to me McCartney is dull and boring but to somebody else is is a freakin God.
To me what makes a bass player good is how good of a team player he is and how well he holds the low end, not how intricate his lines are

I wasn't talking about who was better, I was wondering if he will be as iconic to bass players, musicians, and the common listener as McCartney was.

I really have to compare Flea best to Geddy (not technically or sound), because they are the only two bassists that I can think of (of course you guys will think of guys that I stupidly forgot) who made bass a legit instrument (to the mass population), not just a guitar's little forgotten brother.

I personally like McCartney as a musician, and I respect his bass playing, but that's just my opinion.

Do you guys mean in the context of the bass playing communities or general public? Because in the general public more people under 40 know who Flea is more than they know who Geddy is. I don't have numbers to back that up, but I dare you to find numbers that say otherwise or better yet, go up to anybody and ask them who Flea or Geddy Lee are. Flea is already an icon whether we like it or not.

Well, in all fairness, to know that a bass player is a good bass player, you have to be a bassist first.

Before I started playing bass, I knew who Flea was, and I knew who Geddy Lee was, but it wasn't until I started playing bass that I realized how good they were (I always knew they were unique, because I could hear the bass more in their recordings).

I'm not one of those people who shout "Flea iz teh best bassist evar!!!11!!"

But to to deny his ability, as well as his contributions to music and bass itself is blasphemous. As for the repetitive lines argument, his most repetitive lines are in songs where Anthony has more prominent rap lines than actual vocals. I'd rather hear the line from Sir Psycho repeated for nearly 8 minutes than to hear the same rooted 8th notes for 3 minutes (Blink, FOB, etc.). His parts are for the most part fun and interesting, especially when you compare them to most of today's music.

hey now, blink had rooted AND fifth 8th notes:p

Well, in all fairness, to know that a bass player is a good bass player, you have to be a bassist first.
Nonsense. All you have to know is that you are moved by the music.

I think Flea won't be this generation's McCartney or Lee, but he'll be this generation's Flea.

this argument is pointless..........to me McCartney is dull and boring but to somebody else is is a freakin God.
To me what makes a bass player good is how good of a team player he is and how well he holds the low end, not how intricate his lines are

Are you implying Sir Paul wasn't a team player?

His stuff on Dear Prudence is very imaginative without overshadowing. I doubt if anyone else would have come up with that.

While Flea is a good bass player, he is not even in the same league with Jamerson or McCartney. The RHCPs are technically excellent and their music is fun, but I doubt their music will still be listened to in 50 years, while Motown and the Beatles will still be all over the radio (or the Internet, whatever replaces radio in 50 years). Many of the lines McCartney and Jamerson wrote for various songs are truely masterpieces.

While Flea is a good bass player, he is not even in the same league with Jamerson or McCartney. The RHCPs are technically excellent and their music is fun, but I doubt their music will still be listened to in 50 years, while Motown and the Beatles will still be all over the radio (or the Internet, whatever replaces radio in 50 years). Many of the lines McCartney and Jamerson wrote for various songs are truely masterpieces.

I know I'll be listening to the chili peppers in 50 years, and I can't be the only one.

The Peppers have proved their staying power. I think their music WILL be listened to in 50 years.

The Peppers have proved their staying power. I think their music WILL be listened to in 50 years.

+1 I will be listening to it...ill be 70 tho

Flea's the greatest bassist who couldn't play, EVER!


Seriously, aside from a couple of cool lines, I'm not all that impressed....

but, hey....I'm entitled to have a negative opinion about Mr. Fruito DeLoomo

All I can say is he wouldn't go in my list of recommendations

I think Flea won't be this generation's McCartney or Lee, but he'll be this generation's Flea.

thats it right there. IMO timing is EVERYTHING in the music industry...

Flea is good, but I honestly can't see people freak out over him so easily.

Nonsense. All you have to know is that you are moved by the music.

I think Flea won't be this generation's McCartney or Lee, but he'll be this generation's Flea.


Jimmy, you nailed it.
why does everything have to go back to jamerson or jaco or geddy or squire or whoever?

flea is cool. maybe not the best, but i didn't think there was ever such a thing as "the best".....

I would say he is very much the Jamerson of the 90's (at least on the pop music scene). of course, that is, for his effect on popular bass playing, I'm not trying to say he sounds like Jamerson!

I'd say Flea is more like bootsy collins. And Victor Wooten is like a meld of stanley clarke and Larry graham

You guys really need to listen to more bass players. lolWord! :rollno:

I agree that he is bringing bass to the masses, but don't ever try to put him up there with Geddy. No. Not gonna happen.

Gotta realy agree with you there.

While Flea probaly being the best SLAPPER of the Two :p

And then Jonas Hellborg/Mark King/Stuart Hamm et al come along and make Flea's slap game look like that of a chimp.

And then Wooten and Claypool sneak in through the back...

Along the lines of the original poster's proposition...

Flea is certainly influencing hordes of today's bassists, much as the others did. His playing is having a wide ranging influence on other bass players.

Whether you admire the guy or not, many do, and many people are more aware of what a bass is because of him and the success of RHCP.

There's little point in getting into some "who is better" argument. And of course there is no comparison among the styles anyway...

I had the honor of sitting in on a photo shoot with Flea and upright bassist Charlie Haden. What really struck me in listening to their conversation was that Flea had a working knowledge of bebop jazz that was on par with Haden. It occured to me that much of what he does musically is heavily influenced by that style of music and its icons.

He's a pretty smokin' trumpet player too.

http://seekingalpha.com/wp-content/seekingalpha/images/apples_oranges717601.jpg
No question Flea is a very good musician (+1 on the trumpet-playing -- that's the instrument he started on), but in no way can you compare him to the others you mentioned.

i think geddy is this generations geddy.

I think he will be this generation's Jamerson/McCartney/Lee in the sense that he is such a widely influential player. I wouldn't compare styles, but I wouldn't compare any two bassists' styles. Like it or not, though, he will be remembered as a bass player who showed everyone that bass players didn't have to be the guy in the dark corner, better heard and felt than seen.

What a g-d stupid thread. I can't believe that I tried to contribute to it intelligently. All of you who feel the need to s--- on Flea because his playing isn't up to par with Victor Wooten should try to play the bass line to "C'mon Girl" off Stadium Arcadium, and then tell me he's not that good. And besides, who gives a crap if there's someone else who can play better than him? I'm not even that big a Flea fan, but it's absolutely ridiculous to judge music on how hard it is to play. Wankers judge music on how hard it is to play. However, using my ears, I hear plenty that Flea does that's hard to play, and I'm not getting why people don't see it, unless they judge Flea's abilities on "Aeroplane" and "Under the Bridge." Which I think they do.

The "Delete thread" option should be returned to Talkbass so the original poster can save a little face and delete this sham of a thread.

And then Jonas Hellborg/Mark King/Stuart Hamm et al come along and make Flea's slap game look like that of a chimp.

And who do more people want to listen to?

I think the answer is obvious.

What a g-d stupid thread. I can't believe that I tried to contribute to it intelligently. All of you who feel the need to s--- on Flea because his playing isn't up to par with Victor Wooten should try to play the bass line to "C'mon Girl" off Stadium Arcadium, and then tell me he's not that good. And besides, who gives a crap if there's someone else who can play better than him? I'm not even that big a Flea fan, but it's absolutely ridiculous to judge music on how hard it is to play. Wankers judge music on how hard it is to play. However, using my ears, I hear plenty that Flea does that's hard to play, and I'm not getting why people don't see it, unless they judge Flea's abilities on "Aeroplane" and "Under the Bridge." Which I think they do.

The "Delete thread" option should be returned to Talkbass so the original poster can save a little face and delete this sham of a thread.

+ 1 Kazillion - well said.:ninja: :ninja:

I can't be arsed with popular music nowadays. Where are the real bands? The heroes, the awe insipring musicians? In the current tepid state of popular music, he stands out for sure. And in my opinion, his best work was with BSSM, by a long shot, and that's more than 15 years ago!

I guess he is not a bad example to follow. Hell, he is the bass player I've been following the most. I worship BSSM. He seems like a great guy, and lives for his art. Yeah sure, tere are more creative players, funkier brothers, more technically gifted bassists, but in the popular/rock music genre, he stands pretty much alone at the moment.

He is the right guy to keep the fire burning, until we get another outstanding bass player that masses of aspiring kids can relate to. But we're strangely short of 'stadium' bands like we used to get. It's all disposable punk rock and teen sensations. RHCP is as big as they get nowadays.

The OP just asked if Flea is and will be an influentual player as jamerson was/is. not who's the best. read the first post with your eyes open:rollno:

If you ask an average non-musician (under age 40) who Jaco Pastorius, Geddy Lee or James Jamerson were, they would have no friggin idea...but they probably know who Flea is...and what instrument he plays. Flea has gotten far more people into playing bass than Jaco ever did. So, IMO, he's very important to the bass playing community.

And then Jonas Hellborg/Mark King/Stuart Hamm et al come along and make Flea's slap game look like that of a chimp.
Hmmm.... posts like this make the poster look like a chimp :D


Really man, they're all musicians and it's unlikely any of them would care much for the judgementalism shown in this thread.

To each his own, and nothing gained by knocking them down.

Not at all, you cretin :p . You seem to be woefully misinformed, I actually respect Flea and like his playing and his tone-but his slap game isn't the best, or even very good at all.

this entire post is in large print so that it MIGHT reach through your deaf ears and thick skulls.

ALL* BASSISTS ARE GOOD! these comparisons are pointless. take each player for what they are. if you dont like it, DONT GET INTO A FLAME WAR!*


*with the exception of Pete Wentz. with him, go for it.

How did I know Pete Wentz was going to appear in your post as the exception?

I might start a thread....

"Is Pete Wentz the Hoppus/Fieldy/JPJ of this generation?"

How did I know Pete Wentz was going to appear in your post as the exception?

I might start a thread....

"Is Pete Wentz the Hoppus/Fieldy/JPJ of this generation?"

he isnt the Fieldy/JPJ/Hoppus. those people play NOTES, they dont strum the bass noisily.

Fieldy clack, but yeah, i agree they are different :p

JPJ = John Paul Jones, no? I have lost something here apparently?

BUt i gotta agree, we gotta know that by all luck not every bassist sound like each other, i would hate to live in a world where all bassists sounded like wooten, becouse IMO, that is boring and not fun to listen to, in My Very Honest Opinion, i feel that musicians wich i can listen to and realy enjoy their music FOR ME is better than anyone whos simply super technical..

edit:
I'll Spell check later, im not arsed to do that now :p so dont comment any bad sentence buildings :p

John Paul Jones? one of the greatest rock bassists of all time? Surely there must be some mistake.

Oh not at all!

Wait, people dislike John Paul Jones?

i think that saying that flea is the whatever of this generation is a joke. i'm sure that flea has got alot of people into playing the bass that may not have done so. to compare a bassplayer who has such a public profile to some one like jamerson who most people didnt even know who he was until recently is stupid. i think that flea would be the first person to say that he has been influenced by people like jamerson and mc cartney.
any student is influenced by those who come before either directly or indirectly.

the thing that irritates me the most are the people who start playing bass because of flea or whoever and believe that slapping a whole heap of notes constitutes being funky.its all second hand information.
go to the source and take it from there i say.JMO.

jb

Some people aren't satisfied with "the Source" and would prefer something from the next level up. And to be fair, the original question was not whether Flea was as good as those people (which IMO he is anyway) but whether or not he would be viewed as an icon like them. Know that I think of it, I don't think this thread is all too nessessary, because I think Flea has already reached that status.

Some people aren't satisfied with "the Source" and would prefer something from the next level up. And to be fair, the original question was not whether Flea was as good as those people (which IMO he is anyway) but whether or not he would be viewed as an icon like them. Know that I think of it, I don't think this thread is all too nessessary, because I think Flea has already reached that status.

i wasnt saying that flea isnt as good as these guys. i really like fleas playing. i had the oportunity to hang out with him once and he is a really great guy .the man deserves respect for what he has done to bring the bass to the point it is at. i dont see the harm in having all the information about something though.

anyway. flea is flea. i dont know if he would really care if he is this generation such and such.
JMO

Nonsense. All you have to know is that you are moved by the music.

I think Flea won't be this generation's McCartney or Lee, but he'll be this generation's Flea.


Brilliant!! It's pointless to compare bassists from different generations but I think there is no doubt that Flea will go down as one of the most memorable bassists ever.

who is "flea"?

I really have to compare Flea best to Geddy (not technically or sound), because they are the only two bassists that I can think of ...who made bass a legit instrument ...

John Entwistle did that long before Geddy and Flea did. Then Chris Squire did the same thing. IMO, bass was a WAY more legit instrument in the days before RHCP (not Flea bashing, and not because of the Chilis, who I love, that's just the era).
The 60's and 70's had far better bass playing, in general, than the 90's, in general. Of course, this had to do with the style of popular music (compare My Generation or All Right Now to All The Small Things or In Da Club. Ridiculous.)
But yes, Flea is an icon, more so than any of the bassists you mentioned (outside of the bass-playing community anyway). And that's why he won't be remembered as this generation's McCartney, or Jamerson, or Geddy. He'll be remembered as Flea. And people probably will still be listening to the Chilis a long time from now. I just hope that by then they'll wise up and put some clothes on for crying out loud :rollno:

I admit Flea was a guy who made me want to play bass cuz he sounded good and made it look cool. But yea, once I started playing and learning some of his riffs I realized some of them aren't nearly as hard to play as they sound. Kind of like for a guitar player and say- Kirk Hammett maybe. He got a lot of ppl into guitar, but he's certainly not the best guitarist of all time... that said, they're both still good musicians.

Yeah. I'm not a big "Chili's" fan, but Flea is one of the greats. I have a DVD Improv. Very cool.

In years to come it'll be Flea. Totally UNDERATED!!!:ninja:

i think flea is the master of slapping
back on their early stuff is some real great stuff
he was one of the first people to bring slapping to rock music
he inspired me to start slaping...and now i can play almost
every single chili pepper song ever written
flea is the best

Short answer to the question - no.

Flea is a great bass player. And im sure he'll be remembered later on.
he is as prominent in RHCP's style of music as Lee and mcartney were in theirs.

it's just different. He'll be remembered as one of the most influential from this generation for sure.

(and im no flea-holic either...i just gotta give him his props)

i think flea is the master of slapping
he was one of the first people to bring slapping to rock music
Really?? Wow, I did not know this! :rollno:

Flea is Flea. He is more entertaining on stage to me than a great bass player. Can he slap? Yup. Can he help write catchy tunes? Absolutely. Is he one of the best bassists ever? Not a chance IMO and I am a huge RHCP fan.

When I think of great rock bassists, Geddy, Entwhistle and Chris Squire come to mind first.

i like flea, i think he is good, ive' known about him for a long time way before they were famous. but as far as him being this generations Geddy maybe, but Jamerson (oh hell to the f-ck naww!!) Jamerson is the bassist of every generation. flea has had no influence, in funk, jazz, soul,electronic dance and especially r&b and these are where the truly great players are and have always been even in this day and time....if you do your reading (and listening)flea himself has said that all the accolades and mainstream attetion his playing gets is undeserved..why?? cause it sends the wrong message and cast aside the truth.. it insults his and alot musicians intelligence.. i have read numerous interviews in Bass Guitar, Bass Player magazine and threads in TB where young players cite him as their main influence. and flea can hear and see all the mediocre chopless bassist that have dominated pop rock and he doesn't want anything to do with it..this is why he switched up to a more Jamerson-like style..flea's playing does not travel outside the rock idiom and to established players like Jamerson's playing did. what is disheartning is that no matter how many times flea tries to tell the world where all that stuff he does is 40 year old r&b techniqe and that there is a Marcus Miller, Anthony Jackson,a Gerald Veasley a Al Taylor, they still want to give all the credit to him.....its not your fault Flea..........

Not at all, you cretin :p . You seem to be woefully misinformed, I actually respect Flea and like his playing and his tone-but his slap game isn't the best, or even very good at all.
Hey, how'd you know I was a cretin? :cool:

Maybe I was misinformed and although I may have to admit there are others who can play faster or fancier, he's still damn good at what he does, his slapping included.

Geddy Lee is still alive and kicking, and Sir Paul, well, he's still alive.

Most LA session players have as much or more bass knowledge and facility than any of the players mentioned.

These guys are lauded because of the band in which they played and the unique voice or style they contributed.

Flea's got his own thing going anyway.

Geddy is a great bass player too. Too bad we generally have to hear him sing when we listen to his playing... :hiding:

What a g-d stupid thread. I can't believe that I tried to contribute to it intelligently. All of you who feel the need to s--- on Flea because his playing isn't up to par with Victor Wooten should try to play the bass line to "C'mon Girl" off Stadium Arcadium, and then tell me he's not that good. And besides, who gives a crap if there's someone else who can play better than him? I'm not even that big a Flea fan, but it's absolutely ridiculous to judge music on how hard it is to play. Wankers judge music on how hard it is to play. However, using my ears, I hear plenty that Flea does that's hard to play, and I'm not getting why people don't see it, unless they judge Flea's abilities on "Aeroplane" and "Under the Bridge." Which I think they do.

The "Delete thread" option should be returned to Talkbass so the original poster can save a little face and delete this sham of a thread.

Agreed, and I would add that Aeroplane and Under the Bridge are two of the basslines that really showcase why he shouldn't be viewed as a chops monster and instead be seen for everything he brings to the table. Groove, melody, you name it...

Flea is one of the best out there. That being said though, he is not Jamerson, McCartney or Lee.
+10000

Influential? Writes interesting stuff? Great team player? Absolutely.

Iconic in the sense of Jamerson or McCartney? No freaking way. Geddy Lee isn't either, but he's closer than Flea is for sure.

How old is the OP of this thread anyway?

Geddy is a great bass player too. Too bad we generally have to hear him sing when we listen to his playing... :hiding:

Finally! Someone besides me has said this..maybe its all the thunderous vibrations coming from neil's neighborhood that makes his voice sound...well, like his voice. (now, this is called a joke, which during a "discussion" is completely acceptable. If you're not laughing, you don't get it)
And I enjoy Rush's music(oh yeah, I have the VINYLS)...but since when did they become an "iconic" band? There's people in Canada who still don't know who they are(little help from the canadians with that statement please). But in the end, this is just my thoughts on the subject, which I'm entitled to...

When will people learn that there is nothing definet or definitive about any art? It is subjective an abstract. 10,000,000 people can comment on it and they will all be right and they will all be wrong.
When will the "know it all" high school kids finally realize they don't know it all? Its going to be a hard day fellas, but you'll get through it.
This website is called TalkBass, discussions are allowed and encouraged. Which is exactly what they are, discussions. Nobody has the power on this site to make anything an act of congress so there's no need to get upset about anything. And if you're not really upset and you're a "know it all" who has nothing better to do than be a pot-stirrer, go spend your time wanking at a guitar center or do something useful for the world besides annoying people.

cheers

i like flea, i think he is good, ive' known about him for a long time way before they were famous. but as far as him being this generations Geddy maybe,but Jamerson (oh hell to the f-ck naww!!) Jamerson is the bassist of every generation. flea has had no influence, in funk, jazz, soul,electronic dance and especially r&b and these are where the truly great players are and have always been even in this day and time....if you do your reading (and listening)flea himself has said that all the accolades and mainstream attetion his playing gets is undeserved..why?? cause it sends the wrong message and cast aside the truth.. it insults his and alot musicians intelligence.. i have read numerous interviews in Bass Guitar, Bass Player magazine and threads in TB where young players cite him as their main influence. and flea can hear and see all the mediocre chopless bassist that have dominated pop rock and he doesn't want anything to do with it..this is why he switched up to a more Jamerson-like style..flea's playing does not travel outside the rock idiom and to established players like Jamerson's playing did. what is disheartning is that no matter how many times flea tries to tell the world where all that stuff he does is 40 year old r&b techniqe and that there is a Marcus Miller, Anthony Jackson,a Gerald Veasley a Al Taylor, they still want to give all the credit to him.....its not your fault Flea..........

The side to his playing that's more Jameson influenced (you can also hear it in some of the older stuff, too) is the side that influenced me as a player.

+10000

Iconic in the sense of Jamerson or McCartney? No freaking way. Geddy Lee isn't either, but he's closer than Flea is for sure.



I gotta disagree here.
I'm trying to think of a player that the under-30 crowd knows better than Flea. Possibly Claypool, but even then the Chili's are more well known (and usually liked) than Primus or various Colonel side projects.
I don't practice or cop Jamerson or McCartney tunes usually. Hell I don't even listen to McCartney cause most times he's not playing bass nowadays! :p
Ask your average person "my age" (under 30) to play the first lick that comes to mind, or even better the first slap riff that comes to mind. It's gonna be something Flea's done more times than not.
He definitely is "this" generation's Jamerson or McCartney, and by a good means. Just b/c he's still alive or not 75 with an Ensure IV tapped in doesn't make him any less such... ;)

I don't think age by itself has anything to do with it, but it's really too soon to say with Flea. McCartney and Jamerson's stuff has had decades to influence people. Flea's influence is going into decade number two at best. That's all I'm saying.

And while you may not be copping McCartney or Jamerson, it's a fair bet that the way you're playing would be quite a bit different if not for those guys. They are an indirect influence even if you aren't learning their licks. I'm not convinced that the same could be said of Flea, even if you're slapping a lot (see also: Larry Graham).

For what it's worth, I've been an enormous fan of Flea ever since Mother's Milk came out and I haven't run into many bass players who haven't at least enjoyed his stuff. I'm not saying he won't be an icon eventually, just that it's a bit much to suggest that he's at that level already.

I don't think age by itself has anything to do with it, but it's really too soon to say with Flea. McCartney and Jamerson's stuff has had decades to influence people. Flea's influence is going into decade number two at best. That's all I'm saying.

And while you may not be copping McCartney or Jamerson, it's a fair bet that the way you're playing would be quite a bit different if not for those guys. They are an indirect influence even if you aren't learning their licks. I'm not convinced that the same could be said of Flea, even if you're slapping a lot (see also: Larry Graham).

For what it's worth, I've been an enormous fan of Flea ever since Mother's Milk came out and I haven't run into many bass players who haven't at least enjoyed his stuff. I'm not saying he won't be an icon eventually, just that it's a bit much to suggest that he's at that level already.

Understandable.
I just think in relation to the OP and in regards to "this" generation, the last 10-20 years, I say he could be at the top.

All-time, well, he's not done yet but he's still got some good years left in him, if Stadium Arcadium is any hint of where their writing is going.

The thing that sparked this was just the fact that Flea is an icon already, not only as a bassist, but as a pop icon.

I was in the dentist's the other day, and I told the guy I played bass, and his exact words were "Are you as good as that Flea guy from the Chili Peppers?". He was at least in his mid-forties.

I'm not trying to insult anybody's favorite bassist by starting this topic, or have a "____ is better than ____" match. I think a few people took my post out of context. We need to stop getting so defensive of our favorite bassists here. I'm not trying to knock JPJ, Lee, Enthwistle, McCartney, Squire, or Jamerson as anything less than what they are, and that's iconic.

I'm only 17, so I can't say what happened before my time. All I know is, at least everybody in my area, knows who Flea is, whether they're a musician or not. He didn't get that way because he's overly attractive ;).

Oh, and a note to the "500 slap notes a minute" comment. How can you say that is a bad thing when talking about Flea, but be a Victor Wooten fan? (I like Wooten too by the way)

i think flea is the master of slapping
back on their early stuff is some real great stuff
he was one of the first people to bring slapping to rock music
he inspired me to start slaping...and now i can play almost
every single chili pepper song ever written
flea is the best
Watch, young Padawan. This was 10 years before the first RHCP record. And yes, this isn't live, but check the Sly and the Family Stone clips--he could play live, while doing choreographed dance moves.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z1IuD6F3R5I&mode=related&search=

BTW, no hating on Flea from me. I saw RHCP live in '86, one of the greatest performances by a band I've ever seen.

as i said before in a past thread, you have to look at how the instrument was played before Jamerson.. and you will realize, the whole dynamic of how a rhythm section functions had changed in the advent of what Jamerson was doing..by 67' you hear and feel his influence throughout the entire spectrum of what is to come, in recorded popular music..and not so popular music. JAMERSON MADE THE RHYTHM SECTION KING...we all know that Flea is a damn good player.. but he has not changed the face of music, or how the instrument is approached... do your research..as did Flea..and you'll see, what he does.. its all Jamerson, Grahm, Louis Johnson, and Bootsy Collins. which is not anything new or revolutionary to established players in the know......Flea's work (mostly)lies within the limited vocal scope of Anthony Kiedis and the RHCP, which is a miniscule fraction compared to all the legendary vocalist Jamerson's recorded output was responsible for.. not even Chalie Parker, Jimi Hendrix, nor Miles Davis, is in the same league with this guy.....

I think where Flea becomes revolutionary is in the style of the BAND (Red Hot Chili Peppers) No band sounded like them before, no band sounds like them now. Flea's playing has a lot to do with it. They made it ok to be different, and managed to keep doing it for over 20 years. I think that says something.

I think where Flea becomes revolutionary is in the style of the BAND (Red Hot Chili Peppers) No band sounded like them before, no band sounds like them now. Flea's playing has a lot to do with it. They made it ok to be different, and managed to keep doing it for over 20 years. I think that says something.
RHCP's style may be unique to an arguable degree, but Avant Guarde has been in existence since the dawn of music.

My personal opinion on Flea: He's got presence and he certainly has become an icon. Unfortunately, that's about all I can say about him. I find that his music is nothing more than pop. Of course, that's merely my opinion and I'm entitled to it.

I think where Flea becomes revolutionary is in the style of the BAND (Red Hot Chili Peppers) No band sounded like them before, no band sounds like them now. Flea's playing has a lot to do with it. They made it ok to be different, and managed to keep doing it for over 20 years. I think that says something.
Well, the rise of punk rock is what really led to "different" becoming more accepted in rock's more mainstream circles--not just shorter songs and political lyrics; a number of other styles filtered into rock'n'roll. And several bands connected to the punk rock scene were already incorporating funk into their music before RHCP, including the Gang of Four (whose guitarist produced the first RHCP album) and the Minutemen.

Where RHCP and Flea get some credit is in popularizing that style. Influential, yes. But innovative and revolutionary? No, IMO.

as i said before in a past thread, you have to look at how the instrument was played before Jamerson.. and you will realize, the whole dynamic of how a rhythm section functions had changed in the advent of what Jamerson was doing..by 67' you hear and feel his influence throughout the entire spectrum of what is to come, in recorded popular music..and not so popular music. JAMERSON MADE THE RHYTHM SECTION KING...we all know that Flea is a damn good player.. but he has not changed the face of music, or how the instrument is approached... do your research..as did Flea..and you'll see, what he does.. its all Jamerson, Grahm, Louis Johnson, and Bootsy Collins. which is not anything new or revolutionary to established players in the know......Flea's work (mostly)lies within the limited vocal scope of Anthony Kiedis and the RHCP, which is a miniscule fraction compared to all the legendary vocalist Jamerson's recorded output was responsible for.. not even Chalie Parker, Jimi Hendrix, nor Miles Davis, is in the same league with this guy.....

I'm 18 and picked up the bass 4 years ago. I'm not as far along as I could be, but I've got a grasp of theory and I can play a variety of styles and songs.

This is probably blasphemy, but I dont know anybody you just listed (aside from hendrix and miles davis, and I dont like davis that much). I can't stand the beatles or Jaco. What I have heard of Geddy hasnt really been my choice of music to listen to.

I really like flea. His basslines are fun and ejoyable to play and listen to.
He will be remembered. Probably more so that anybody else to people my age.

just my 2 cents.

I'm 18 and picked up the bass 4 years ago. I'm not as far along as I could be, but I've got a grasp of theory and I can play a variety of styles and songs.

This is probably blasphemy, but I dont know anybody you just listed (aside from hendrix and miles davis, and I dont like davis that much). I can't stand the beatles or Jaco. What I have heard of Geddy hasnt really been my choice of music to listen to.

I really like flea. His basslines are fun and ejoyable to play and listen to.
He will be remembered. Probably more so that anybody else to people my age.

just my 2 cents.
I was 18 in the early '80s, and frankly I didn't know who Jamerson, Graham or Johnson were at the time. (I had vaguely heard of Bootsy.) You'll learn more about these guys as you get older, I'm confident of that.:cool:

I'm 18 and picked up the bass 4 years ago. I'm not as far along as I could be, but I've got a grasp of theory and I can play a variety of styles and songs.

This is probably blasphemy, but I dont know anybody you just listed (aside from hendrix and miles davis, and I dont like davis that much). I can't stand the beatles or Jaco. What I have heard of Geddy hasnt really been my choice of music to listen to.

I really like flea. His basslines are fun and ejoyable to play and listen to.
He will be remembered. Probably more so that anybody else to people my age.

just my 2 cents.

You have some homework to do, my friend. You'll learn...

After Stadium arcadium there was a majjority of bass players in my music class at school. Everyone sucked while trying to slap like flea..
It's rely fun watching someone that dont know any bases of playing.
They only know slap. Realy lame.. Narowminded maybe?..

I think where Flea becomes revolutionary is in the style of the BAND (Red Hot Chili Peppers) No band sounded like them before, no band sounds like them now. Flea's playing has a lot to do with it. They made it ok to be different, and managed to keep doing it for over 20 years. I think that says something.

everybody is different!!!..and Parliament/Funkadelic pre-dates punk and some of the RHCP's band concepts by at least 12 or more years....and P Funk is still doing it..after 40 years...

My personal opinion on Flea: He's got presence and he certainly has become an icon. Unfortunately, that's about all I can say about him. I find that his music is nothing more than pop. Of course, that's merely my opinion and I'm entitled to it.


Wasn't Jamerson playing pop in the 60s? ;)

to the whole rock/pop oriented indeviduals, I would have to agree. Like McCartny, he is known to the masses. Like he's on MTV, pop radio aso. He's also got a good groove going on. But IMO I wouldn't call him a pioneer who contributed alot to the evolution of the relativly new instument, the E-Bass, in comparison to others. (like Victor Wooten or Steve Baily have, just to name some, I'm not comparing or anything of such)

JMO
lexx

Personally, I'd take the bass player from the Doobie Brothers over Flea. "But why the hell would you say that?" you ask?

Simple. He isn't the best. Better than me? Damn straight. Better than Wooten? Eh. Better than Geddy? I dunno.

But the best? Nah

I'll admit he's damn good, but not the best. Comparing him is kinda dumb, because of the obvious reason that no two bass players, let alone normal people, are the same.

And that aside, there's only one bass player I hate, and that's mostly because I don't consider people doing a Parthian volley of crap that are root notes a musician...

I think where Flea becomes revolutionary is in the style of the BAND (Red Hot Chili Peppers) No band sounded like them before, no band sounds like them now. Flea's playing has a lot to do with it. They made it ok to be different, and managed to keep doing it for over 20 years. I think that says something.

Wow. You might want to go buy Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain", The Minutemen's "Double Nickels on the Dime", and Defunkt's "Thermonuclear Sweat."

I like Flea's bass playing and I like some of the RHCP's tunes but he is not a revolutionary bass player like Jamerson, Jaco, Geddy, Louis Johnson, Bootsy, Marcus, Larry Graham etc. The most important aspect of Flea and the RHCP is that they are bringing funk to a wider rock audience.

I would also argue that Claypool, Sheehan and Wooten are not very revolutionary either although they play very fast and are great technical musicians.

The electric bass guitar triumvirate in terms of revolutionizing the way the instrument is played would be in my opinion: James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius & Larry Graham. However my favorite bass player is Marcus Miller.

He's influential in that he has inspired a lot of people to play bass. I don't consider him a musical pioneer of any sort though.

You have some homework to do, my friend. You'll learn...That is a touch condescending isn't it? There seems to be a highbrow snobbery type of attitude amongst the general Flea detractors(apologies to those that do not fit the generalization). Jaco seems to be a sacred taboo and name to drop when one wishes to appear to be in the know within the bass community and flea seems to be the name to bash lately. We all have the right to like what our ears tell us to like and we can't force ourselves to enjoy something just because it's the done thing(even if it is Jaco, Geddy, etc). We are all individuals and will be drawn to different things based on our own tastes and how the music makes us feel. My personal enjoyment of Jaco(I'm not Jaco bashing, just using him as an example to express my point) is limited to very narrow spectrum of his work because I don't identify with a lot of what he was doing. I guilted myself for ages because of Jaco sacrilege but honestly, his music just doesn't move me.

Flea might not be a schooled player or half the virtuoso that countless other players may be but, love him or hate him, the man has a sound and style that is truly his own. As far as anti-pop snobbery goes... It takes a hell of a lot of work to become a virtuoso but it takes a gift to write something(usually simplistic) that will grab the attention of and speak to the emotions of millions of people.