I just got the current issue of BassPlayer, the one with Peter Cetera on the cover today. In the letters section, there is a guy ripping BP for an interview with Bootsy on the Superbad soundtrack. He says Bootsy is just a clown, and that his lines are so simple that there is value no in learning them. Here is the link to that interview:

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/bootsy-collins-superbad/sep-07/31268

I know Bootsy basslines are not difficult compared to many contemporary players, but this man played bass on historic recordings that changed the course of music history. If he is not worth talking to, no pop bassist deserves coverage.

But that is very, very true! No pop bassist realy deserve coverage, they/you all sound the same! exept for that guy from killers, he sounds like hes doing his own thing at times.

However, i have never heard much of bootsy's playing, but what i have heard of him implies that this is a man with a unique sound.

The very majority of bassing out there is VERY boring, no suprises or attempts to sound individual.

just because a line isn't difficult does not mean it's not interesting or that it doesn't have an impact.

It wasn't Jeff Berlin writing the letter, was it?:hiding:

I have been enjoying the Superbad sountrack and Bootsy's use of effects, plus he knows when to blow and when to groove.
To give Bootsy his props is only fair, few can match his playing resume and he has his own sound and style and has sold a heck of a lot more records than most of us ever will.

It wasn't Jeff Berlin writing the letter, was it?:hiding:

No.:D

That guy that wrote that is a fu$K!n loser bro. Bootsy is the man. THe simpler bass lines always sound better to me than those billy sheehan wannabes anyway

That guy that wrote that is a fu$K!n loser bro. Bootsy is the man. THe simpler bass lines always sound better to me than those billy sheehan wannabes anyway

yeah, and look at the kind of players that actually get HIRED. Not to diss super flashy virtuoso-type bassists, but the guys you see in most album credits are players who know how to lay it down solid and often VERY simple and tasty. The flash guys can usually just be heard on . .. well, bass solo albums!

But that is very, very true! No pop bassist realy deserve coverage, they/you all sound the same! exept for that guy from killers, he sounds like hes doing his own thing at times.

:scowl: What is this all about?

Besides, since when are Bootsy's lines too simple?

But he does sound like everyone else the majority of the time though. If a line is intresting or not, have nothing to do with how hard it is.

What i meant is that todays bass players is so afraid of overplaying, that they often barely play at all...

What i meant is that todays bass players is so afraid of overplaying, that they often barely play at all...

Usually overplaying can get you fired and not called back.

Usually overplaying can get you fired and not called back.

Yep - and besides - since when is something "simple and tasteful" easy? I can think of a ton of bassists that don't play particularly complicated lines, but what they play sounds so good you'd be hard pressed to think up something better for the song. These are the players I admire most.

Im not talking about not playing "Simple and tastefull", im simply talking about not doing what the guitars do. there is very few indidual voices on bass today, even the Solo bassists generally sounds the same.

he grooves better than ANYONE, who cares how many notes you fit into a groove

But he does sound like everyone else the majority of the time though. If a line is intresting or not, have nothing to do with how hard it is.

What i meant is that todays bass players is so afraid of overplaying, that they often barely play at all...
bootsy sounds like everyone else?

you've got the time line screwed up people try to sound like bootsy...

bootsy sounds like everyone else?

you've got the time line screwed up people try to sound like bootsy...

+1

How is this even a rational discussion? The man was the bass player for James Brown AND Parliament. Bootsy Collins is as large a figure in the world of funk as almost anyone I can name. His lines aren't worth learning? I hope somebody told Victor Wooten and Flea.

If the benchmark for bassplayers were note count and complexity, then yeah, I suppose Bootsy isn't going to be at the top of the list. But IMO the judgment of a bass player is how well he fits the music he's playing. Bootsy's job is to groove. And he does it as well as anybody that's ever played the instrument.

What's the quote that Wooten likes to bust out? "There's a reason Nathan East owns an island and I'm touring small clubs in a bus" or something?

I have to imagine that the letter to BP was only put in for its humor value. Playing slap lines that sound like a helicopter is one thing. Actually writing good bass parts and locking them in with a drummer is another.

bootsy sounds like everyone else?

you've got the time line screwed up people try to sound like bootsy...

I werent talking about Bootsy, sorry, i meant the killers guy, i was just kinda replying to myself.

Bootsy, is one of the people who actually have a personality in his playing, and Bootsy also doesnt fit in in the "modern" player ;)

The Bass line on We want the Funk is easy?:confused:

I'll bet half the guys on this forum can't play that line in time.:hmm:

bootsy sounds like everyone else?

you've got the time line screwed up people try to sound like bootsy...

I think you're jumping to conclusions, unless there was an edit before I got here. Thunder Fingers never actually said that Bootsy sounds like anyone else.

But that is very, very true! No pop bassist realy deserve coverage, they/you all sound the same! exept for that guy from killers, he sounds like hes doing his own thing at times.

However, i have never heard much of bootsy's playing, but what i have heard of him implies that this is a man with a unique sound.

The very majority of bassing out there is VERY boring, no surprises or attempts to sound individual.'Boring' bass playing gets you gigs! When all these Wooten clones and solo bass players are out 'wanking' away, that means more well paid gigs for us boring types! ;)

Im not talking about not playing "Simple and tastefull", im simply talking about not doing what the guitars do. there is very few indidual voices on bass today, even the Solo bassists generally sounds the same.That's fine with me. I rather enjoy being a 'simple' groovin' bassist. I'd much rather have Nathan East's gigs over Victor Wooten's!

Bootsy, is one of the people who actually has a personality in his playing, and Bootsy also doesn't fit in in the "modern" player ;)What is a modern player? :confused:

'Boring' bass playing gets you gigs! When all these Wooten clones and solo bass players are out 'wanking' away, that means more well paid gigs for us boring types! ;)

I agree.

But that is very, very true! No pop bassist really deserves coverage, they/you all sound the same! Uhhh.........what?

It's funny how some folks want to sound so different than others and end up sounding just like the others. Innovators are so few and far apart! While Bootsy is a 'simple' player, he was an innovator. His lines will stand the test of time and will be copied long after this and future generations!!

But that is very, very true! No pop bassist really deserves coverage, they/you all sound the same! Uhhh.........what?

It's funny how some folks want to sound so different than others and end up sounding just like the others. Innovators are so few and far apart! While Bootsy is a 'simple' player, he was an innovator. His lines will stand the test of time and will be copied long after this and future generations!!

Uhhh.........what?

It's funny how some folks want to sound so different than others and end up sounding just like the others. Innovators are so few and far apart! While Bootsy is a 'simple' player, he was an innovator. His lines will stand the test of time and will be copied long after this and future generations!!

+1,0000! Chops and originality are simply not the same thing. Larry Graham changed the bass world with a very simple octave lick. McCartney played licks that 14 year olds figured out in their bedrooms, but he changed pop music.

'Boring' bass playing gets you gigs! When all these Wooten clones and solo bass players are out 'wanking' away, that means more well paid gigs for us boring types! ;)

Heh, im not sure if this was aimed at me (weird if it was, you have never heard me play) But i am no solo guy, if one thing, i think all these solo guy's sound the same, even more so than pop bassists (i think that come from the need everyone have to sound like Jaco..)

Im a band player, and im probaly more in the style of John Entwistle than anyone else. But to be honest, if i was played a gig as backing up for some artist, i am pretty shure i could tone it down.

And i never said anything against Bootsy, as i said, he is one of the few original players, and i also didnt say anything against playing easy, what i said is that people could start trying to do their own thing.

I just got the current issue of BassPlayer, the one with Peter Cetera on the cover today.

I know Bootsy basslines are not difficult compared to many contemporary players, but this man played bass on historic recordings that changed the course of music history. If he is not worth talking to, no pop bassist deserves coverage.

Cetera finally gets mentioned in Bass Player? ...and a cover?!? I guess my letters to the editor finally took its toll.

Anyway, Bootsy...I mean, c'mon, he helped write "the book".

Heh, im not sure if this was aimed at me (weird if it was, you have never heard me play) But i am no solo guy, if one thing, i think all these solo guy's sound the same, even more so than pop bassists (i think that come from the need everyone have to sound like Jaco..)

Im a band player, and im probaly more in the style of John Entwistle than anyone else. But to be honest, if i was played a gig as backing up for some artist, i am pretty shure i could tone it down.

And i never said anything against Bootsy, as i said, he is one of the few original players, and i also didnt say anything against playing easy, what i said is that people could start trying to do their own thing.It was aimed at you but not towards YOUR playing. I'm actually happy you are a 'band' player because I really don't get the gammut of solo players these days. It's cool but can you really earn a living that way?

When you say 'people could start trying to do their own thing', what are you implying? Please clarify this! My thinking is either you are an ensemble player or a soloist. There's no in between!

My thinking is either you are an ensemble player or a soloist. There's no in between!

There isn't?!

.........in addition, if you are an ensemble player who just wants to play a few more notes than is nessessary............start your own band cause you won't be in mine!

My thinking is either you are an ensemble player or a soloist. There's no in between!

It's very much possible. Rare but possible.


.........in addition, if you are an ensemble player who just wants to play a few more notes than is nessessary............start your own band cause you won't be in mine!

I agree.

The Bass line on We want the Funk is easy?:confused:

I'll bet half the guys on this forum can't play that line in time.:hmm:



The real challenge would be writing your own bass line that had even an iota of the funk that Bootsy put in that line.

Well. to put it simple:

I play my way becouse i like to play that way, and as long as no one in my band/band's complain, im gonna continue to do so.

And no, there is not much money in being a band player, i am planing to get my education as a music teacher though, as i feel in any way with music, wether you are a pro now or will be later, or never will be, being a teacher is the safest way to get a steady income. Its generally the same education as a performer anyway. I have just moved town, so its hard to get in to the music "buisness" but im working on it... ;)

Im implying, and it is directed at most pop and rock bassists in bands (like bands, not backing up a solo artist or being in the band of some famous persons), that they play "straight" and relativley boring, and seems like many of them play the bass becose they could be in a band.. i just played an evening with a bunch of bands, and the average bassist played pretty straight. Another weird thing, you can see on the gear of the players, the 2 guys who had a Fender USA and a Rickenbacker played a little cooler :p

I dont play in an ensemble, and i am certainly no soloist (I actually became slightly offended by the soloist thing :lol: as very many of them do Jaco's thing)

Down to the basics:
No, i do not find Bootsy to be a boring player, he got infact rather cool and "personal" lines, though i couldnt pick him out with a touch of a note like i can with Geddy Lee and John Entwistle (might have something to do with who's "closer to my heart" and i have studied the most..).

First off, I just checked out some the Superbad tunes and I'm digging them a lot. Bootsy's playing is great.

Secondly, with regards to simple vs "complicated" bass lines, more notes does not equal more funky.

I would tell the person who said his lines are "boring" to go back and listen to Sex Machine. He plays like 2 notes throughout the WHOLE SONG!! If you can make 2 notes funky, you are doing something right in my book.

Bootsy is an amazing bassplayer...he's one of the origins of Groove.

writing lines that fit so great to the songs is not an elementary thing, but the true greatness (in my opinion) of Bootsy is that he can Rock as well.
check out his work with Stevie Salas (especially on Hardware - Third Eye Open) he grooves & rocks like no one else.

goddammit I just watched a program on the Origins of Soul music, and Fred Wasley said : "Bootsy is Funk...he was so dynamic...when Bootsy was on stage you had to watch him and listen to his playing..."

the guy that wrote about Bootsy to Bassplayer magazine is just Ignorant...I feel sorry for him.

I would tell the person who said his lines are "boring" to go back and listen to Sex Machine. He plays like 2 notes throughout the WHOLE SONG!! If you can make 2 notes funky, you are doing something right in my book.

I always thought of that song as RHYTHMICALLY complex.

I always thought of that song as RHYTHMICALLY complex.

Fair enough. But you can be rhythmically complex and funky without being a busy player. Therein lies the key to the funk.