Adam Clayton Does Not Suck.

[spasepeepole026]

Clayton gets laughed at often by the bass playing community and is seen by many as a lousy bass player. He has been called overrated, boring, and just plain terrible. For some reason, he has the reputation of being someone who cannot play well enough for his band to be successful, but I would like to challenge this community to tell me why he has the reputation he does. Clayton may not be John Entwistle reincarnated but he is a solid player who keeps great rhythms and plays very well live. The music he plays sounds very good so I don't see the problem everyone else has in his ability as a bass player and as an asset to his group.

[RootNoteRadical]

The guy plays in U2! I think that says it all. And yes I like U2.....

[Clef_de_fa]

I know U2 is big but I don't think it has something to do with the music, it has more to do with their message and Bono. Sometimes it looks like Bono take so much space ans his lyrics are so important that the music have just enough spaceto play 8th note power chords and 8th note on the root on a simple beat.

I may be wrong on this, just how I felt about them.

[bassteban]

I love me some U2, but I think AC is proof that a good band does not necessarily need much in the way of a bass player.
That said, who cares what others say about others?

[meursault42]

Who says Adam Clayton sucks? Some of those U2 bass parts are classic post-punk, new wave. Take Sunday Bloody Sunday for instance...great stuff. It's all about what's right for the music. He'd never be the right player for a multitude of bands covering a multitude of genres. But for U2, he's perfect. And I bet anyone who sits down and talks to him about music would be shocked and even astounded at how deep his knowledge of music and recorded music history is.

[adamov]

I don't know why more " stay at home " bassists get scoffed at so much. They play what works for their band. I like Cliff Williams as well, holds it down perfectly. Just doing their job.

[BigOkie]

At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary concert, Bono referred to U2 as a "garage band" with great humility. It's rock and roll and Adam Clayton does fine.

[Octavio]

I haven't really listened to anything U2 has done since the '80s. But the old stuff is good and Adam did a fine job. Gloria, Surrender, Where the Streets Have No Name. All good songs with good bass parts. Anyone disagree?

[Waterpilot]

Man it would be golden if you created a new account to post this...

[K2000]

If he was playing a lot of complicated stuff along with what the Edge was doing, it would sound like a mess. He's playing the right part to fit the song. People shouldn't criticize him, and also talk about how bass players are there to serve the song. That's exactly what he's doing.

[N.F.A.]

I must have missed the thread where they said he sucks. Haters gonna hate you know. He is better than people think. IIRC, U2 plays live to a click track because of the Edge's complex echoes and other effects. Can't be easy, even with simpler parts, to stay in timing w/o dragging, rushing, etc. He sounds fine to me anyway.

[Ric5]

Great song great bass line ... he carries the band here --->>> U2 - New Year's Day LIVE - YouTube

[Duckwater]

I don't think he sucks, he serves the music well. But I do think it's a bit ridiculous that a root-5th player in a radio-rock band has so many expensive signature models.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by Waterpilot

Man it would be golden if you created a new account to post this...

Hmmm: TalkBass Forums - View Profile: spasepeepole026


Edit: Welcome to TB.

[Audiophage]

He's known for some pretty simple, recognizable bass parts. He's not putting on a fireworks show, and nor is he trying to. Well, he'd better not with a leader like Bono.

[basspraiser]

....another thread about this???

...and I like AC (well his playing anyways...his attitude? not so much!)!

[afzoomie67]

Check out the "Get On Your Boots" bassline. You call that boring?

[spasepeepole026]

Originally Posted by Waterpilot

Man it would be golden if you created a new account to post this...

Haha I thought someone might say that, but it's actually my first post here. I just registered yesterday and I was just wondering what people thought.

[spasepeepole026]

Originally Posted by bassteban

Hmmm: TalkBass Forums - View Profile: spasepeepole026


Edit: Welcome to TB.

Ha thanks First post ever.

[Disco Batman]

The thing is just because he plays simple lines in U2 people say he sucks. The dude probably has some serious chops, but it's not the right fit for music. Just because U2 features simple bass lines, doesn't mean he doesn't have talent.