Mike Rutherford...Great bassist?

[TRichardsbass]

I just finished listening to Mike Rutherford's solo album and the song "He's Acting Very Strange" and I'm still liking how he works the bass on his solo stuff.

However, I'm gonna as TB world, what do you think of him as a bassist?

[hrodbert696]

What comes to mind for me is the early stuff on 70s Genesis, particularly the Trick of the Tail album -- I think there's some great bass lines on that album. He's one that slips through the cracks when we're thinking of great bassists, maybe because of Genesis' later direction.

[ducknturtle]

Great? Yes indeed. He really shines on the early to mid period Genesis. A very distinct style.

[nysbob]

I saw him mostly on the early tours. He's a very competent player who comes up with some nice lines...and has pretty large hands so he can do some interval stretches that are impressive.

The fact of the matter is that Genesis' music is so programmed out there is very little room for much deviation or fire in the performance...that's kind of why they haven't aged that well... in my opinion, of course. They were and are fine musicians.

[Bruce Lindfield]

I saw them live in 1973 and the bass lines didn't really stand out that much and he played guitar as much as bass - using a double neck..?

Whereas at about the same time, Chris Squire's bass lines leapt out and hit you - demanded attention!!

[Randall]

Yes I love his early Genesis work. Underrated in my book.

[elros]

Definetly a great bassist. Not very flashy and attention-drawing style though, which may somewhat explain why he hasn't built that big of a name for himself in the bass community. Also, much of the Genesis stuff has bass pedals instead of bass guitar, and Rutherford playing guitar a lot.

[PhR]

Mike is definitely a good bassist and his style and confidence grew from the very early Genesis albums. "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" album has some great gnarly distortion and very unusual lines played on a Micro-Frets 6-string bass. "Back In NYC" especially, he plays the bottom with pedals and plays the arpeggios high on the neck. "Duke" has also very good stuff like on "Duke's Travels" and "Behind The Lines".

[gregoryisrael]

I appreciate Rutherford's bass playing more now than ever (As I do the music of Genesis). His bass playing was always very tasteful and musical, and the fact that he did so much guitar and pedal-bass strengthens his appeal as a musician and not just a bass player. The chorus line of "I Know What I Like..." is so damn good!
His tone on "Selling England by the Pound" and "Genesis Live" is killer; Old-school picked Rickenbacker sound.

[Swift713]

I'm only familiar with a couple earlier Genesis albums, Selling England by the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I think of his playing on those as very inspired by classical music where the bass tends to take a back seat and then it drops out a lot and there's all that guitar strumming. But his work is tasty.

[dave64o]

I think he's a fantastic bassist and certainly deserves more recognition than he gets for his work, especially in the early days of Genesis. In addition to bass, he often played guitar, bass pedals and sang. He was a HUGE part of their live sound back then.

[Meddle]

With the early Genesis stuff he seems like a McCartney clone. He played neat basslines and was good also with 12string guitar and bass pedals.

[Basshappi]

I always liked his playing and overall musicianship. He deserves more attention than he has recieved.

[wateroftyne]

One of my favourites. In The Cage is one of the reasons I play bass.

Great player, with great lines up to and including Invisible Touch.

Then he lost interest in bass - his parts on the last two albums were lazy and dull.

[tangentmusic]

I agree with most here. Love his Gabriel era stuff more than the Phil Collins backing band stuff

[Jedd]

Love his sound on "No reply"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIC9muS2Yuo

[jeffwo]

Great bass player! So many tasty lines on The Lamb. I hate older Genesis, but No Reply has superb bass work on it!

[Chrisk-K]

He's way too underrated. His bass is on fire on Gabriel-era Genesis album. His bass pedal tone on "Afterglow" is perhaps the deepest and thickest bass tone ever recorded.

[BillyIVbass]

Yes glad to see No Reply appreciated. I just learned that song. Great parts. He just has such a grasp of the feel of the song and finds time to mock the horn lines without over playing.

[dave64o]

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

He's way too underrated. His bass is on fire on Gabriel-era Genesis album. His bass pedal tone on "Afterglow" is perhaps the deepest and thickest bass tone ever recorded.

It's even better live! That's always been one of my favorite parts of a Genesis concert.