Obvious Screw-ups

LowNotes1 · #1 03-16-2011, 03:51 PM

It always makes me feel a little less inadequate as a player when I hear a pro miss a note. Name some bassists who you've heard make a mistake, either in concert or on a studio or live recording, and what was the mistake? I can think of a couple off the top of my head that sounded like one - the end of Carole King's "So Far Away" (studio), and Bill Wyman on "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (Get Yer Ya-Yas Out live album).

JoZac21 · #2 03-16-2011, 03:59 PM

I once saw the Ringo Starr All Starr band, and Ringo forgot the words in the middle of "A Little Help from my Friends". To quote him, "I'm sorry, I've only been singing this song for 40 years." lol.

jaywa · #3 03-16-2011, 04:07 PM

The late great Berry Oakley had a famous one on "One Way Out" as recorded on Live at Fillmore East. There's a spot where it breaks down to just the drums with the guitars trading off... Berry comes in a bar or so too soon.

walterw · #4 03-16-2011, 09:47 PM

lenny kravitz did "are you gonna go my way?" on some MTV awards show with john paul jones playing bass (wearin' a suit, sportin' a jazz bass, lookin' cool); he nails the whole song, up until the part changes for the solo section, where he goes into the first note for the verse part instead.

it's like he plays one wrong note then instantly and seamlessly flows into into the right part! i didn't feel bad for him as much as i felt proud that i caught the slip-up at all.

(i'm guessing he had learned the song that week or something.)

type C basses · #5 03-16-2011, 11:19 PM

Hmm...not quite what you asked, but I saw Widespread Panic a few years ago and Dave Schools what the only one NOT making terrible mistakes the entire show. My friend saw Blink 182 in high school and said it may have been a better show if Mark Hoppus hadn't even shown up.

I saw Vic RUIN a note once, live; I mean it was just awful! I forgave him; there's a first time for everything lol. We're talking ONE note the whole show.

JimmyM · #6 03-17-2011, 12:02 AM

i don't think i've ever seen a performance by anyone where there wasn't at least one good clam.

emor · #7 03-17-2011, 05:07 AM

YouTube - Bobby Hebb "Sunny" (1966).
(2:09)

jaywa · #8 03-17-2011, 07:06 AM

The difference between the pros and the semipros isn't who makes mistakes... it's who ELSE notices they made 'em.

bassbully · #9 03-17-2011, 07:37 AM

Nobody's perfect and if they were would we like it?

klejst · #10 03-17-2011, 08:28 AM

To be honest I think it is great when artists laugh off or joke about mistakes they make...especially if they are that noticeable. It shows they are human and also have fun. When I go to shows at least I don't go to count mistakes. As long as they don't totally screw up and make it very obvious a lot of the time I just blow over hearing them.

JimK · #11 03-17-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoZac21

I once saw the Ringo Starr All Starr band, and Ringo forgot the words in the middle of "A Little Help from my Friends". To quote him, "I'm sorry, I've only been singing this song for 40 years." lol.

Ringo appears that he forgot the words to "It Don't Come Easy" from The Concert for Bangla Desh video.

JimK · #12 03-17-2011, 02:23 PM

Bass Player's transcription of "Benny & The Jets" had Dee Murray's clam notated...IIRC, it was a "D" on the 1st beat of a bar where it shoulda been a "C" (the root of whatever chord was being played).

tangentmusic · #13 03-17-2011, 02:27 PM

Not a bass player, but on Deep Purple's "Made In Japan" live album, Ritchie Blackmore hits a terrible clunker during the classic "Smoke On The Water" half way through the song. Saved for posterity for nearly 40 years...

Skokiaan · #14 03-17-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Bass Player's transcription of "Benny & The Jets" had Dee Murray's clam notated...IIRC, it was a "D" on the 1st beat of a bar where it shoulda been a "C" (the root of whatever chord was being played).

Bass Player also noted mistakes in Klaus Voorman's playing on John Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." Voorman said he wasn't given the option to fix it.

Check out Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues." The bassist forgets the changes multiple times.

In person, I have seen major lyrical flubs by:
- Paul McCartney (made a "what the **** was that?" face)
- Roger Daltrey (total brain fart - Townshend stepped up and finished singing the song for him)
- Rod Stewert (started the song over)

I saw Ginger Baker start the wrong song at a Cream show (he skipped over one on the setlist).

**nutdog** · #15 03-17-2011, 02:51 PM

On "I can't quit you baby" Led Zeppelin 1, seems like Page comes out of the guitar solo onto the A-Bb about 3 beats early and everyone is briefly confused, except Bonham, but the recovery is rapid. Or I may be the one that's confused.

loinmute · #16 03-17-2011, 04:06 PM

As seen on 'The song remains the same' the entire band had to follow Page on many songs.

Mastermold · #17 03-17-2011, 04:54 PM

Last summer's time machine tour, Geddy Lee had a few clams on bass when I saw them play here at Irvine. Funny thing was he let his face show it rather than pretend it didn't happen.