Whatdya think of this Sheehan video?

[unatratnag]

Originally Posted by mariner

Now see, not only do I love Billy Sheehan, I really dig that Dominique di Piazza/Bireli Lagrene video. Does that bassist just use the finger pick on his thumb or is he using his other fingers, hard to tell in that video.

Pick plus middle finger is his main style

[jeff schmidt]

Imagine yourself - hopping onto a thread - thirsty with anticipation to tear into some "lame" bass video only to find out its YOU - 20 years ago.

Or 20 years from now - video of your gig last weekend gets posted in a board like this.

Just thought I'd toss that out there.

As for my own .02 - that video is entirely OF THAT TIME.

If you weren't alive yet - you might consider yourself lucky - but don't get too cocky - you're not exactly redeeming your generation with the whole emo/screamo thing either.

[Chris Breese]

Jeff,
Congrats on winning the solo bass competition! Great tunes, awesome tone, and way to kill a thread! Masterfully done! Thank you!! Seriously!!!

I think Billy is great.

[Tedintheshed]

Originally Posted by CaracasBass

It´s just show up solo for God sakes!!!

Anyone who has seen B.S. live with a band knows that the guy can be very musical an play for the team.

My 2 cents.

Yeah- I've seen him three times, and this is true.

Sheehan once said one of his influences was Cliff Williams of AC/DC, simply because Williams lines were simple, but always fit and was "there" when they needed to be.

IMHO, Sheehan can shread and play in the groove- a complete bassist for what he does. He's a god among men when playing bass.

[jeff schmidt]

Originally Posted by Chris Breese

Jeff,
Congrats on winning the solo bass competition! Great tunes, awesome tone, ....

Thanks much Chris. I appreciate it!

[Mike Flynn]

Originally Posted by jeff schmidt

Imagine yourself - hopping onto a thread - thirsty with anticipation to tear into some "lame" bass video only to find out its YOU - 20 years ago.

Or 20 years from now - video of your gig last weekend gets posted in a board like this.

Just thought I'd toss that out there.

As for my own .02 - that video is entirely OF THAT TIME.

If you weren't alive yet - you might consider yourself lucky - but don't get too cocky - you're not exactly redeeming your generation with the whole emo/screamo thing either.

+1 to all of that - I was about 15 when all the Sheehan stuff blew up first time around and it was damn cool at the time - I think Billy probably sees the total big-haired irony of the style and I guess even Paul Gilbert has mellowed since - this type of video really shouldn't be taken too seriously - it's great stuff for what it is but somewhat lacking taste - Bill's a dude and has been playing way longer than most of us put together - nuff said from me I think.

M

[dannoman]

Another thing to keep in mind is that is just the solo, yeah it is 8 minutes long, but there is a whole 1:52 left of a concert where he is playin in the pocket. He has said time and time again that it's all about playin the groove. Yeah he can shred, some like it and some dont. But the man has groove. Agian as i have posted many times before, check out Niacin, His solo stuff, hell even the MR.Big and DLR stuff. There is actually a rhythm section that lays down a groove for the song.

[Maverick Blues]

Originally Posted by butterblood

I wonder if he can play "smoke on the water"?

G3 Live In Tokyo -- Track 11.

"Yes."

'rick

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Originally Posted by steve4765630

Billy is amazing. The stuff he plays in group situations is very tasteful and fits the style. He tends to play with the Steve Vai type, but he always picks the right notes, plays in time with the drummer and keeps his flashy stuff for his solo spots. In the words of Anthony Jackson, "Those who say that chops aren't important tend not to have any themselves." I'm not saying that we all should strive to play like Billy Sheehan, but at least give the guy props for being different. I have a saying I use, "If you can't play it then you have no right to knock it." The last thing I was gonna say is that the crowd loved his solo. They went there to hear 80's rock, therefor expected to hear shredding. He gave them what they wanted, but on the bass. I bet several people went home and said, "Dude, that bass player was righteous! I had no idea you could do that on a bass." Now they know, the bass guitar just got a big prop and a few new fans. Thanks Billy, keep it up.

Amen.

What Billy does (well, did back then) fit the idiom of the 80s hair-metal thing like a glove. Super-shredfests were part of the show back then (and still are, if you go to Japan - Billy is bigger than freakin' Justin Timberlake out there). If you've listened to what Billy does in Niacin, you'll see his repertoire is far larger than 64th-notes at 100mph - this guy is musical. In the clip, he just turned his talents to a particular idiom.

[currentbuzz]

Nice thread...based on the reactions!!! everyone of us is indeed a fan of Billy!