Cliff Burton or Rex Brown? - Page 3

xgator4u · #41 06-17-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Rex's style and tone is far, far more interesting to me. Then again, I also think Jason was the better fit for Metallica than Cliff.

^ My feelings exactly!

Mr. Soul · #42 06-18-2010, 09:05 PM

I have a dog named Cliff and I rallied hard to name my son Rex, so that lets you know where I am coming from.

Anyhow, I really think Cliff was what was driving Metallica forward from Kill 'em All towards Master of Puppets and beyond, so that can't be understated, and as its been said he died at 24. Who knows what he would have done, but for 'Orion' alone he is a legend.

Rex is something else entirely, I always thought of him as a bass player's bass player. He held the song together, and made every solo section better, but its hard to notice because Dime was such a phenomanal player that it sometimes over shadowed what I always thought was the greatest rythm section in metal.

I am a little suprised no has mentioned Rex's work in Down or Crowbar.

Pills Are Yummy · #43 12-06-2012, 12:22 AM

Rex. any day, any time

Sartori · #44 12-06-2012, 12:33 AM

As a bassist? Brown.

As a songwriter? Burton.

Josh Thatguy · #45 12-06-2012, 12:34 AM

Yet another thread resurrected form the grave, this time on two years and six months in between responses.

BUt this time, since it's up, REX BROWN. Why has no one mentioned KILL DEVIL HILL yet with he and Vinnie Appice for god's sake? www.killdevilhillmusic.com Hell, they ARE gods in their own sake.

Sartori · #46 12-06-2012, 12:39 AM

Perhaps because the thread is 2 years old. Also because Rex Brown is 48, and Burton died at 24.

hachi kid · #47 12-06-2012, 12:51 AM

c) Billy Sheehan

Tupac · #48 12-06-2012, 01:30 PM

Rex is a mediocre player root plugger, not even in the same level of atmosphere as someone who singlehandedly composed Orion and Anesthesia, and is likely listed as an influence for 80% of bass players in his genre. All before the age of 24.

Mr. Black · #49 12-06-2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupac

Rex is a mediocre player root plugger, not even in the same level of atmosphere as someone who singlehandedly composed Orion and Anesthesia, and is likely listed as an influence for 80% of bass players in his genre. All before the age of 24.

Mediocre root plugger?!?!....

You haven't got a clue.

MCS4 · #50 12-06-2012, 03:33 PM

Cliff's hard to beat as an innovative and melodic player in the metal genre, but Rex has killer groove and tone.

P.S. I interviewed Rex for Bass Player magazine a few years ago. He's as much a southern straight-shooter, whiskey and cussin' type guy as you might imagine... but he also turned down a jazz scholarship out of high school to play rock full time. Listen to his walking lines under Dimebag's solos and tell me he's a boring roots-only player.

**faviobarrio** · #51 12-06-2012, 03:49 PM

I love absolutely love the master of puppets and vulgar display of power.

Master makes me want to ask was there anyone playing bass on the album? Though no question IMHO solid bottom met...when you can make it out!

Now vulgar great tone, solid, solid playing...definitely holding it all together.

No questioning Cliff's legacy, a crying shame we'll never know what could've been.

Rex however was ever the consummate bassist for Pantera...not flashy but switch the two players into the two albums I reference and I think Rex would come out on top because he would do what is required.

VintageBoutique · #52 12-06-2012, 05:28 PM

Rex was obviously recorded better.

Cliff brought sophistication to Metallica. They're a bluesrock band without him.

**faviobarrio** · #53 12-06-2012, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VintageBoutique

Rex was obviously recorded better.

Cliff brought sophistication to Metallica. They're a bluesrock band without him.

No question Rex's sound is phenomenal. Cliff's style was groundbreaking and inspirational.

Two very different musicians each incredibly important to their respective bands.

bassgod0dmw · #54 12-07-2012, 08:12 AM

I prefer Rex.

I gotta admit, I don't understand why Cliff is held is such high regard. I enjoy some of his playing, but I don't see what is so amazing about it.

**faviobarrio** · #55 12-07-2012, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

I prefer Rex.

I gotta admit, I don't understand why Cliff is held is such high regard. I enjoy some of his playing, but I don't see what is so amazing about it.

I see where you're coming from but I was a teenager into metal when Metallica was doing their thing early on. No other bassist was doing anything like Cliff. I'm not into metal as much now but I know there are plenty of very talented bass players playing a more lead role...that comes directly from Cliff IMO.

Kazz3lrath · #56 12-07-2012, 09:34 AM

I feel like you gotta give it to Rex on this one. As much as he doesn't have the technicality or song-writing ability that Cliff had, his ability to hold a song together is almost un-paralleled. Dimebag's playing is so erratic that with a lesser bassist albums like Vulgar and Cowboys would have been awful. The quality of the music on those albums is a testament to Rex's playing.

DeliriumTremens · #57 12-07-2012, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupac

Rex is a mediocre player root plugger, not even in the same level of atmosphere as someone who singlehandedly composed Orion and Anesthesia, and is likely listed as an influence for 80% of bass players in his genre. All before the age of 24.

Have you ever listened to a Pantera track?

Gearhead17 · #58 12-07-2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliriumTremens

Have you ever listened to a Pantera track?

Agreed. Listen to Rex's playing on "Floods". I got to see Rex live and was blown away. Heavily distorted tone on many songs, and he played beautifully. He was huge part of Pantera.

Cliff was also a huge part of Metallica.

These two guys made me want to play bass. Neither is better and we are blessed to have their work out in the masses for us listen to.

Herrick · #59 12-07-2012, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VintageBoutique

Rex was obviously recorded better.

Cliff brought sophistication to Metallica. They're a bluesrock band without him.

Burton definitely had a big impact on Hetfield's writing style but I think the "bluesrock" stuff was mostly brought in from Mustaine with all that pentatonic riffing.

I don't listen to much Pantera but the thing I like about Brown is that he is more of a traditional bass player. There's not much groove in Metallica's 1980s output.

An interesting thing to take into account is that we don't know the full extent of Brown & Burton's Bass Playing Powers if we only go by their recordings. I knew Brown had some music education but I didn't know he turned down a jazz scholarship! That's quite impressive.

Marial · #60 12-07-2012, 10:43 AM

I'm not the same listener I was at sixteen and I have to admit I can barely listen to Metallica at 40. Pantera, on the other hand, despite the fact that I'm not an angry sophomoric little poser anymore, I can still find enjoyable. I agree that they're apples and oranges, but at this point I far prefer Rex's grooving, moving, bass lines to just about anything Metallic put out, even back in the day. There's a boogie feel to Pantera that Metallica just doesn't have.