Mike Watt,

Why do think there are hardly any bands with two bass players? I know it would probably be unnecessary, but there are bands with 2 guitar players (sometimes 3 -- never seen 4), and there are even bands with two drummers (Greatful Dead). I just thought I'd bring it up because it's interesting issue. And, personally, I feel that it could work
and would be something different for a change.

Sean

P.S. Have you ever recorded a song with multiple bass tracks? (This is the first thread I ever started, BTW.)

Hey Sean,


Check out a band called "Dos", Watt is one of the two bassists in that band. ;)


For more info check out Watt's Hoot Page..

psssstt... http://hootpage.com/


In case you were wondering. :)

I think Coltrane used two bassists on "Ole Coltrane".

Broken Bones(NY hardcore-type band) had two bass players too, I think.

Thanks a lot Matt. Sorry that I didn't know about that. Now I can go tell my friend who's been wondering if there actually was a band with two bass players. (I only heard of one in some dude's review on www.bgra.net; he said he played the low end, while some other guy supplied the top end.)

Also, there was band in BP mag that consisted of 3 bassists and nothing else. Pretty bizarre. I don't remember their name though.

Miles has some recordings with two bassists. One actually is listed as 'lead bass' by Foley but it sounds somewhat like guitar.

Someone on TB said that bass in a band is like the 'heartbeat' and I agree with this view. Two bassists is certainly possible and it has obviously been done (albeit not too frequently). IMO it's not common because it is hard to do well. I mean two heartbeats for one band?? I don't know...

There is Spinal Tap, but that's just poking fun at the concept.

Oh yeah, there's also a band from the Boston area called "Krank Squad". Two electric basses, one double bass, and a drummer. Very interesting stuff.

Originally posted by Blueszilla
Miles has some recordings with two bassists. One actually is listed as 'lead bass' by Foley but it sounds somewhat like guitar.

Someone on TB said that bass in a band is like the 'heartbeat' and I agree with this view. Two bassists is certainly possible and it has obviously been done (albeit not too frequently). IMO it's not common because it is hard to do well. I mean two heartbeats for one band?? I don't know...

There is Spinal Tap, but that's just poking fun at the concept.

Yeah, what you said makes sense. Actually I think there might be two bassists on the Ballhog CD I have. I'll have to check. (Maybe the song with Flea?) I was going to mention Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom" with it's 3 bassists (and bass synthesizer:D), but yeah, that was just a joke. It's still pretty funny though (especially the lyrics: "My baby fits me like a flesh tuxedo/ I'd like to sink her with my pink turpedo!).

Hugo Largo!

BTW, saw Boston two nights ago, for much of the show it was 5 guitarists and bass (the guitarists played keys a lot too). And the Funk Brothers did all those songs with 3 guitarists. It takes some discipline to know what NOT to play, how to leave room, and coordination between the players. I suppose the same would be true with two bassists (that is, not just one guy playing higher notes and one lower, but charting your territory with respect to time as well).

I've jammed with two bass players (me being one) at a party or two, sounds awesome through the beer fog :smug:! everyone else probably heard it as mud ;).

Originally posted by permagrin
I've jammed with two bass players (me being one) at a party or two, sounds awesome through the beer fog :smug:! everyone else probably heard it as mud ;).

LOL.:D

:bassist:


----------------------------------------------
"Your eyes are like curtains: If you keep them shut, you'll never see the light of day."

--Me

hey-
there was also a band called damage from nyc that had 2 bass players. also a nyc band crawlpappy used 2 basses occasionally.

j

Originally posted by bassguild
hey-
there was also a band called damage from nyc that had 2 bass players. also a nyc band crawlpappy used 2 basses occasionally.

j

Ahhhh Damage was the band I was thinking of. Thanks. Saw them open up for Prong a loooooong time ago in a galaxy far away.

I recorded some multiple Bass songs: http://www.mp3.com/MATMM


[/shameless plug]


;) I recommend Scholle.

There is a band gonna set a record on August 17th.
It's called the TBNEGTG band, and since we're in a studio, you know we are gonna plug everybody in for at least one song. I'm gonna start a thread looking for ideas on which song?

Keylock? You in? You lurker you!

I believe Santana has used 2 bass players before.

2 bassists CAN sound good. I saw an old double bass player playing some low bass line while a 6 string fretless guy played chords and various higher pitched stuff. Sounded great.

Originally posted by Thor
There is a band gonna set a record on August 17th.
It's called the TBNEGTG band, and since we're in a studio, you know we are gonna plug everybody in for at least one song. I'm gonna start a thread looking for ideas on which song?

Keylock? You in? You lurker you!

Hey! I've been trying to break out of the Lurker mentality, but it's tough. I really like to apply the old addage ,"keep your mouth shut and your eyes open", to most situations.:D

Unfortunately no, I won't be attending the get together as I'll be in Key West for a much needed R and R. My girlfriend won two free nights at some hotel chain she works for and we're going to take advantage of it that weekend. Though I'd like to suggest "The Red and the Black" by BOC as a song you could do (in honor of Mr. Watt and just because it's a badass song). I'd love to hear a bunch of basses jamming on that main riff. Enjoy the get together, I'll be there in spirit!

ned's atomic dustbin = two bassists

Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side has double bass and electric fretless bass.

Cop Shoot Cop- Semi -industrial band from NYC who
I haven't heard from in 5-6 years

John Steven's "Away" was a jazz group in the 70s. They recorded with upright and electric. A bit odd.

Here's a question. Can anyone come up with the origin of the phrase "Ned's Atomic Dustbin"?

Well?

another great band that had 2 basses was the scottish band, ganger. tey unfortunately broke up a few years ago but had a great cd on merge records called 'hammock style'. check it out.

ConFunkShun used two bassists.

There are a few tracks on Ballhog if I recall correctly, Flea playing Lead bass one one.

Bands with 2 bassists that come to my mind:
One of my total favs for sure:
"Girls Against Boys"... A keyboardist who often picks up a bass for some tracks, amazing band, can't say enough about them, go see them live, they'll blow you away
"Ned's Atomic Dustbin" did it from time to time too if I am not mistaken
"Cop Shoot Cop" employed it in the early days at least.
"Dos" of course.

Originally posted by japhy4529
ned's atomic dustbin = two bassists

Exactly!!! I was just trying to think of that band's name.


:bassist:

Dos: Live (http://www.corndogs.org)

There's a Dos show there as well as some other Watt-related live and rarity stuff.

Great site!!

lord only has 2 bass players, well not really but dosent john count for 2 i mean cmon hews got frikkin 14 strings at once on that doublenck of his

hi,

there's some live coltrane ("live in seattle" maybe?) that has two bass players along w/everyone else, right?

by the way, happy birtday to john coltrane (it was september 23, 1926). much respect to the man! here's a quote:

"there is never any end," coltrane told music writer nat hentoff... "there are always new sounds to imagine, new feelings to get at. and always, there is the need to keep purifying these feelings and sounds so that we can really see what we've discovered in its pure state. so that we can see more and more clearly what we are. in that way, we can give to those who listen to the essence, the best of what we are."






on bass, watt





Originally posted by floydbass
lord only has 2 bass players, well not really but dosent john count for 2 i mean cmon hews got frikkin 14 strings at once on that doublenck of his

well i thought i should contribute with some swedish bands with 2 bassplayers.
switchblade= hc with 2 basses and 1 git.+drums
borås energi= drums+2 basses
teddybears , have used it on some songs
soviac , have done it live instead of the git. parts
supergods= groovy jazzband with double+electricbass

The Beach boys "Pet Sounds" was recorded with Carol Kaye on electris bass and Lyle Ritz on Upright. Some of the takes even have a Dano 6 string, making those lines three part!

;) Treena

I have worked with another bass player on and off since the vey early 80's.Ornette Coleman has used two bass plaers in his acoustic groups as well as his electric band prime time.he is currently on tour with his acoustic quartet with two Basses one arco and the other pizzicato.The drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson with his band the decoding society use two bass players(on most of the RSJ DS Recordings)

...was Rothko. They did some really nice interesting and atmospheric stuff - fans of post-rock/ambient instrumental stuff like Labradford should check it out. They no longer operate as a 3-bass band, but the main guy has done a fair bit of good stuff since.

Website: http://www.rothkomusic.co.uk/

[um, and hi everyone, I'm a random lurker]

Hey there,
Just wanted to throw in my knowledge of cool bands. Milkmine, Dianogah and Enemymine each consist of two bass players and a drummer. Dianogah is more melodic and the other two are more noise, rock oriented.
The best band without guitar is the Ruins. Bass and drums and nonsensical lyrics. Very technical and difficult stuff. Intense, explosive and just plain amazing. Anyone interested in exploring the possibilities of bass needs to hear this band. Seriously. If you haven't listend to the Ruins and you play bass, please go get any one of their albums right now and witness the intensity and craziness. Unbelievable. Also Lightning Bolt and Godheadsilo are two great noise oriented bands that consist of a single bass player and drummer. Ruins are the best!!!

I was listening to a couple of Cd's today and remembered I had recorded a band called "NOOTHGRUSH" out of San Jose. These guys/gal had two bassist and a moog.

Great sound though!

Their schedule is here

http://www.lares.dti.ne.jp/~river/index/info-past/info-past97.html

http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung0903/spezial/Fool/ende.gif
Treena

i went to see ruins a week ago but the bassplayer was sick but it didnt mather so much as he had recorded his basslines and the drummer played along to it. ultra tight!

Originally posted by Andy Daventry
Here's a question. Can anyone come up with the origin of the phrase "Ned's Atomic Dustbin"?

Well?

That's easy, it's from a Goons show of that same name. About an atomic dustbin that someone had invented - I forget who - but anyway, the blueprints had ended up in a Goon's hands.... was it Bluebottle and Eccles, or Moriarty (sp?) ?

:bassist:

Also, if you are so inclined to find a couple more bands/records with 2 bass players:

UI (pronounced "ooo-eee") - two bass and drums from NYC. They were around in the early 80's. I think they did a couple of 12" singles. Kinda dance-y and ahead of its time.

Man Is The Bastard (a.k.a. Charred Remains) - this crazy crusty California band had two bass players. Interesting low-fi progressive political punk/hardcore with two bizarre vocalists.

Ronald Shannon Jackson - I can't recall which record, but I know he used both a fretted and a fretless bass player on his stuff. Intense improv jazz.

I'm sure there's more...I will post more if I can find/remember.

Originally posted by parrott


That's easy, it's from a Goons show of that same name. About an atomic dustbin that someone had invented - I forget who - but anyway, the blueprints had ended up in a Goon's hands.... was it Bluebottle and Eccles, or Moriarty (sp?) ?

:bassist:

We have a winner..

"i went to see ruins a week ago but the bassplayer was sick but it didnt mather so much as he had recorded his basslines and the drummer played along to it. ultra tight!"

They are one helluva band. Unfortunately, that don't come to America's midwest too often. Got to see them on a bill with Ultra Bide. Amazing.

I heard a record of Dianogah's once, and in fact I remember thinking they sounded watt-influenced. Then when I was told they had two bassists (I guess I wasn't listening real closely) they became like my favorite band. But I've not gone so far as to purchase an actual album or something so I can't be sure. I definitely vouch that they are way cool though.

Years ago I was in a band with Roger Capps (Pat Benetar). He played a Hamer 8 string bass and I played a regular 4 de tuned. He played more melodic parts on the 8 string and I thumped out the low end. It was pretty different and interesting stuff.
Roger Capps is a very underated bassist and never gets mention anywhere yet he contributed the low end on the first 6 Benetar LP's, He was a pleasure to play with.
Peace

Originally posted by DeanRispler
UI (pronounced "ooo-eee") - two bass and drums from NYC. They were around in the early 80's. I think they did a couple of 12" singles. Kinda dance-y and ahead of its time.

Actually Ui have been around since the mid 90s and have released 3 or 4 albums.

I reckon you're thinking of Liquid Liquid (who actually only had one bass player!)

Marcus Millers version of Come Together features 2 basses. Him on lead bass and another holding down a groove.

Here in Australia there is a band called Preshrunk. They have two basses and drums.

Their website is www.preshrunk.com. There's a few song samples in the 'music' section.

Also I have heard The Cure used two basses sometimes, but I'm not sure which songs (A Forest???).

Magma had two bassists on the "Attahk" album (recorded 1977), namely Wurd GORGO on "earth bass" (bass Terre) and Klotsz ZASPIAAHK on "air bass" (bass Air). But actually I remember reading somewhere that one bassist recorded both parts for the album, though for the tour they did use two. The playing sounds great, some of it fretless, a lot of it with distortion... If you can handle Ruins, you should definitely check out MAGMA

MY band at the moment has two bass players and a drummer. We're called Toupé and it's the best fun I've ever had in a band situation. I think everybody should do it.

some samples:

www.hackpenrecords.com/track7.asp
www.hackpenrecords.com/track8.asp

I play a six and the other guy Karl, plays four. We love it. Bass is the way. :)

well i don't know if you guys remember but there some buzz around here on TB for a band from NY called Burn Guitars. i got the demo, it was alright kind of punk-esque stuff. they had 3 bassists and a drummer

Marcus Millers version of Come Together features 2 basses. Him on lead bass and another holding down a groove.

yeah, if you check out his solo album, M2, there's a bunch of tracks where he holds down the groove on one bass and plays the melodies/solos with another bass.

one more thing :p
i saw the victor wooten band about a month ago (awesome show!) and since it was here in philly, gerald veasley came on stage for a couple tunes. and there were times when victor, gerald and vic's tech flex wellington were all playing together. it sounded awesome! flex was laying down the groove, vic playing a melody and gerald chiming in with some rhythmic stuff. then they would go round the circle and solo. HOT!

-jimbo

(wow, long post, my apologies are a thousand fold :) )

i am going to play with a band named BRAINVILLE
next wednesday here in gothenburg.
i´m replacing one of the bassplayers who couldn´t be there.
2 bassplayers with way too much effects
1 tenor saxophone
1 upright with strings
it might be cool

info:http://listen.to/brax-tone

A great band had 2 sometimes 3 bassists. They were called Carnage Asada with Dave Travis, George Murillo, Dave Jones, Dave Green and a few others. Sadly, they are no more but now George Murillo plays with Dave Jones on bass in the new Axis of Evil. I don't think they do the multiple bassist thing anymore but they still are nuts!



----------
Freddy's Four Fingers
http://www.freddysfourfingers.tk

I've never seen two bassists in a band...but then again, I'm kinda in the dark about all the bands... :confused: But that's okay with me! :D I'm so crazy...I don't even care!! :bassist:

MOLOTOV---- 2 basses

sean,

why no two bass bands? hmm... there's been some like cop shoot cop, ned's atomic dustbin - lots of jazz stuff, john coltrane has two bass players on "live in seattle" (check the tune "afro-blue") and "om," for example. of course, there's my oldest current band, dos (eighteen years going now) but that's just two basses by themselves (singing sometimes though)! maybe it's cuz some folks think it'll make the sound too muddy, I don't know. if you do use two basses, I think composition is very important so as to make the basses work together. the frequencies where the bass live are kind of narrow and put that w/the kick drum, there's not a lot of room but "a poor carpenter blames his tools," right? if you feel the hankering for a band w/two basses, let your freak flag fly!

to answer your other question: yes, I have recorded bass on multiple tracks! it's a trip but again, you gotta write the parts right so they mesh good.

want to know more about dos? go here:

http://hootpage.com/hoot_dos.html





on bass, watt




Mike Watt,

Why do think there are hardly any bands with two bass players? I know it would probably be unnecessary, but there are bands with 2 guitar players (sometimes 3 -- never seen 4), and there are even bands with two drummers (Greatful Dead). I just thought I'd bring it up because it's interesting issue. And, personally, I feel that it could work
and would be something different for a change.

Sean

P.S. Have you ever recorded a song with multiple bass tracks? (This is the first thread I ever started, BTW.)

I am in a Two-Bass band from Arizona called The Letterpress.
We have been playing together for about 2 years.

There are some MP3's available on our website:

www.theletterpress.com (http://www.theletterpress.com)

Thanks,
Jeremy

p.s. it's nice to see so much support out there for the bass

jeremy,

sounds good but I think I hear drums in there too - you're not JUST two basses like me and kira's band dos. no disrespect to you though, good luck w/the sounds!



on bass, watt




I am in a Two-Bass band from Arizona called The Letterpress.
We have been playing together for about 2 years.

There are some MP3's available on our website:

www.theletterpress.com (http://www.theletterpress.com)

Thanks,
Jeremy

p.s. it's nice to see so much support out there for the bass

another amazing with two basses is (was) Enemymine. Mike Kunka from godheadSilo(the loudest band on earth) plays an 8 string Kramer and they RIP. its an indie rocker take on metal. necessary listening. 2 basses and drums.

http://www.uprecords.com/artists/enemymine/

Neds Atomic Dustbin is awesome. Just listened to them after they were mentioned above.

I'll tell you who is profiting from people being able to download songs off the internet, its the bands who only have 2 songs on there and force you to buy their CDs!

Note: That's just my imitation of some bad dude. Bad in a bad way.

Neds Atomic Dustbin is awesome. Just listened to them after they were mentioned above.
.
Neds Atomic Dustbin is awesome.

Note: That's just my imitation of some bad dude. Bad in a bad way.

Absolutely. At the age of 14 when bouncing around too some indy mosh, after several pints of cider and black was the basis for any good Friday night- they ruled supreme. Basic stuff but still a fine example of when a pick is necessary- Just shame more guitarists can come up with such interesting parts as the higher chordal stuff.
Check out -Capsize (... just an average random b-side ... but..wait for the guitar lead and listen to where the basses take the song on the key change for all of 10 seconds.... indy,poppunk,melancholic,melodic heaven).
Throwing things, Kill your television, until you find out,Intact,2 and 2 made five, were pretty much first songs I learnt to play. I like to pretend that I've grown out of it, but [whispers]... :hiding: it's still close to the heart.

Wow I can't believe with all the bands described that one major one was left out, or perhaps I'm showing my age. :)
What about the Godfather of Soul?
Yes James Brown always has 2 bass players with him.
How can you go wrong with 2 bass players anyway?
Dirk

Another song that you should check out is 'swordfishtrombones' from the album of the same name by Tom waits. I think it's an upright and an electric.

Awesome song all the same.

Little known fact: I actually am two bassists.

Little known fact: I actually am two bassists.

:confused:

:scowl:

I was two bassists until one bassist left. :bawl:

Godspeed You Black Emperor has 2 bassists and a cellist (and a whole bunch of other folks).