Adam Clayton Does Not Suck.

[ronaldpdbrandt]

Originally Posted by 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.

He has signature models because his band has millions of fans who will buy them. Supply and demand, yo.

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

I must have missed the thread where they said he sucks.

You didn't miss the thread. You missed a bunch of threads of people bashing on AC. And eventually this thread will be one of them, as soon as some troll jumps in and goes, "CLAYTON SUX HE IS DUM AND A NOT GOOD BASE PLAYR 4 THE WORST BAND EVAR U2!!!!!DURRRRRRR"

Please note for the record that I like U2, and I think that Mr. Clayton plays exactly what he needs to play, which is way better than flubbing around like a wanker.

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by Ric5

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

Thanks for posting that song. To me, it's one of the classic bass lines. Really good.

Listen to some of their early stuff, particularly War. He's solid and keeps it interesting where it's needed.

[SteveHeissner]

I'd give my left nut to have a music career half as successful as Adam Clayton's. I have no doubt he could teach most of us TB suckahs a thing or two about performing.

[Kawai-chang]

Well, if he wasn't any good, I don't think U2 would have any problems finding a replacement. So, I think he's probably pretty good.

[N.F.A.]

Their story IIRC is very interesting. They decided that they wanted to be rock stars and taught themselves. But Kawai-chang is right. If they thought he sucked they could get almost any bass player they wanted to step in and take over.

[Jamie_Funk]

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

Their story IIRC is very interesting. They decided that they wanted to be rock stars and taught themselves. But Kawai-chang is right. If they thought he sucked they could get almost any bass player they wanted to step in and take over.

I read a book about them recently (can't recall the title) and they (U2) all speak of Adam coming up with basslines that just WORK perfectly - THEY seem to think he is perfect for the band so really to me that says it all.

J

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thanks for joining TB ... ADAM

[spasepeepole026]

Originally Posted by lfmn16

Thanks for joining TB ... ADAM

I'm glad to be here ...

[Relayer71]

Clayton does not suck. He isn't great and I could make a list of best bassists and he wouldn't even break the top 20, but he does not suck.

He gets major props from me for coming up with some very simple yet memorable bass lines that always fit the songs. Even though The Edge's echoey, reverb drenched guitars are all over the place on those U2 albums, especially the early ones, it's those bass lines that you easily recognize and remember.

Though I was always a much bigger fan of Simple Minds's Derek Forbes (hey, U2 & Simple Minds were always compared and lumped together in the early years even though they're very different beasts).

Forbes also stuck to simplicity in that he wasn't playing a million notes or changing it up each verse, BUT his bass lines were far more interesting and inventive.

[Relayer71]

Oh, and watch the Live In Red Rocks DVD, Clayton also had a great live tone.

[etechstan]

AC is flamed by the snobs who also flame entry level basses and Gene Simmons. Don't take them serious, they just suffer from poor self esteem.

[Alrod]

Adam Clayton is awesome. He certainly is not the best technical player, but his tone, feel, showmanship, and playing in the pocket, make him outstanding. He plays for the band and not for himself. He is one of the best out there.

[DiabolusInMusic]

Adam Clayton is NOT now and certainly NEVER has been accused of being overrated. I don't think anybody has even considered him good, he couldn't hold a candle to Nikki Sixx.

I don't think he is bad enough to be publicly bashed though, I remember when he got the cover of bass player, they got a ton of letters about how the magazine should be called eight-note player and a bunch of other mean things.

I think U2 would be terrible if he stepped out all the time. I think he is pretty adequate, that is about it. I think they are fine as a band though Bono is another story...

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by 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.

Stop this "solid player" and "keeps great rhythms" nonsense. He doesn't slap or play 32nd notes at 200 bpm, so he sucks. You're obviously new around here.

[mellowinman]

In related news, Gene Simmons doesn't actually suck; Roger Waters MOST DEFINITELY doesn't suck; and Michael Anthony also DOESN'T SUCK.

In fact, you may be surprised that there has only been one bass player who actually MADE IT in the recording industry who did, in fact, SUCK.

And his first name was Sid.

[Clef_de_fa]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

In related news, Gene Simmons doesn't actually suck; Roger Waters MOST DEFINITELY doesn't suck; and Michael Anthony also DOESN'T SUCK.

In fact, you may be surprised that there has only been one bass player who actually MADE IT in the recording industry who did, in fact, SUCK.

And his first name was Sid.

Gene Simmons is way better at selling merchandise, investing money and create an image than being a bass player.

Roger Waters is the creative mind behind Pink Floyd, he is behind their concept how it will work, so bass playing seems to be an afterthought for him and the band.

Micheal Anthony, I don't know enough about him, but what I saw wasn't pretty, a drunk dude on a scene who seems to struggle playing is part OK and then a drunk solo.

Sid, yeah he was there only for his image.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by 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.

and...?

[bass4u]

For all you TB'ers who think AC is a mediocre player- have YOU ever written a bass line like 'New Years Day' that MILLIONS of people would recognize after hearing the first few bars? You can have amazing chops, but if you can't be creative enough to compose a memorable bass line............

[BulbousMoses]

Adam Clayton no good? I'd trade places with him in a heartbeat. And I bet most of the people on TB would too.

[Laurent]

Their last tour yielded $330M in sales, he must be doing something right!
In many ways he is far more sucessful than Jaco ever was.