Why hate Adam Clayton?

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by SteveHeissner

+1 "I don't think for one minute the mostly simple basslines of U2 pop songs are any representation of his true chops. ...Maybe in the early 80's, but not now."

YEP, I'D HAVE TO AGREE.

I don't listen to U2 so I have no idea what he sounds like, but I'm curious how you can judge his playing based on anything except what he plays.

[Duuuuuuuuuude]

I dig great rhythm sections and, for me, U2 isn't really a rhythm section band

[eyeballkid]

but he broke up the Beatles MAAAAAAAAN!!!!

[Marial]

He does exactly what's needed for the band, that makes him a great bass player in my opinion. Victor Wooten is a great bass player too, but for completely different reasons. Same for Tony Levin. Or Pino Palladino. Or.... You get the picture. Apples, oranges, cherries, they're all fruit and all delicious in their own ways.

[Mushroo]

Chops are no more than 10% of what it means to be a musician, IMHO.

[MDBass]

'At the most four frets' is surprisingly ignorant, even to someone with only a modest knowledge of those band's catalogues like myself...off the top of my head the simple 8th note lines on U2's 'Vertigo' cover a second octave, and you've obviously never listened to the bassline on 'Sweet Child of Mine'...

Keep hating from your desk though, it's cute

Originally Posted by Mike in Chicago

I've always said about the Adam Clayton, Duff McKagan and a whole bunch other's signature basses...they're not accurate. If they were, there would be two strings and at the most four frets.

Oh yeah, a little spring loaded pick holder...like the coin holder things for spare change.

[Yerf Dog]

I always enjoy playing 'Stand up Comedy' and 'Get on Your Boots'.

[Rocker949]

I don't hate Adam Clayton or U2 at all, although I do prefer music that's more hard rock. So, I don't much listen to U2, but I do think they're cool and I admire how resourceful they've been. They did something most people can't do.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by shrimpflea

Jealousy

+1 and /thread

[SteveC]

I don't hate him necessarily. I don't care for U2 - especially Bono. I suppose Adam's parts fit the music. Maybe it's all that "the Edge" and Bono would let him play. Who knows.

I think that band is highly over-rated.

[StrangerDanger]

I think its awesome that a guy that has my talent level has made that much money playing bass. Good for him. Really.

[Jason Sypher]

One of the great aspects of being a bass player is the amount of influence you can have over a song with very little effort or even skill. And if you are a positive influence on the music, fulfill the role and occasionally lead the song into a more creative place you are considered "a great bass player". It adds a bit of mystery to the role and the instrument. That's not going to happen on trumpet or violin. I started playing bass just as U2 was starting to bust it wide open, the LiveAid concert. Their life-altering performance of Bad is as good a place as any to understand what that band had that was so rare and what Adam Clayton did really well. http://youtu.be/2zIW8qDPhos
Number one: conviction. The band had something to say and they set their sites on the bigger picture of life and existence. Bono is MASTERFUL in this performance communicating something deeply felt and turning an enormous stadium into a near-private intimate event. Remember, these boys were 24-25 and they were already consummate professionals. Bad is basically a two chord vamp and Adam manages to keep it poignant and interesting for what seems like an eternity. His sound is ballsy but artful. And here's the rub. More and more we see musicians who can play anything they want on their instruments. It's intriguing, to a point, knowing what it takes to play at such a high level, but what it lacks is pathos and communication. You can play in any style, oh really, so what? History is made up of individuals. Art that is remembered is created by people who had an individual vision that tapped into the universal consciousness. In short, we admire what makes them different while we recognize ourselves in their expression. This, my friends, is all that matters. Chops are to impress your girlfriends and a handful of guys that often aren't worth impressing. Chops come into play, but chops are not art, not by a long shot. It's a waste of time trying to compare yourself to Adam Clayton, to justify your music or bass playing. Adam Clayton is the real deal, a kid who set out to be a professional player and influenced millions of people around the world for decades. You either got it or you don't, and I mean that at all levels. You either tap in or you just play low notes on a bass. Some people pick up a bass and play a note and it means nothing while another person picks up a bass and plays a note and it means the whole world. That is what we are looking for.

[Mushroo]

^ Jason that's one of the best posts I've read on this site, kudos!

[Timmah]

Well put. /thread

[Hobobob]

Why I like Adam Clayton:
I could play the bass line to a number of U2's hits, and anyone who's heard the song will know what I'm playing. If I play Edge's part, not so much. Adam's lines make the song.

[inthevelvet]

Originally Posted by SactoBass

My sentiment exactly! The singer's voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard........can't stand it! (IMO, of course). But I have nothing against the bassist. I just feel sorry for him having to constantly listen to that singer. Painful!!

Not to mention if you look up hypocritical d-bag in the dictionary, you'd likely see said singer's picture. That said, as others have mentioned Adam is a fine bass player and supports the music well.

[obimark]

These are some good thoughts, BASS is an important instrument but you don't have to play anything particularly "technical" to be playing the RIGHT thing for a given song. It jsut depends, all the folks who think BASS is a lead-type instrument, that isn't its main function, and that doesn't mean playing a supporting but IMPORTANT role is ANY less important.
Adam plays what he feels for the song, now whether he tries to play "busier" lines and the other 3 reign him in, I just don't know. but what he plays works well and he seems to play it with conviction. He doesn't need 6 strings, tapping and slap wanking to do it either. (if that's your thing feel free to keep doing it) Personal story I saw U2 when they played Georgia Dome in ATL and I couldn't even hear the bass because of the horrible acoustics where are seats were. Never again will I pay to see something at Georgia Dome musically.

[Ric5]

Why hate Adam Clayton?

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Basically he carries the band. He is a classic in the pocket bass player.

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by Hobobob

Why I like Adam Clayton:
I could play the bass line to a number of U2's hits, and anyone who's heard the song will know what I'm playing. If I play Edge's part, not so much. Adam's lines make the song.

+1

Originally Posted by inthevelvet

Not to mention if you look up hypocritical d-bag in the dictionary, you'd likely see said singer's picture.

Oh really? Based on what criteria?

[Warmuth]

Originally Posted by MDBass

'At the most four frets' is shockingly ignorant, even to someone with only a modest knowledge of those band's catalogues like myself...off the top of my head the simple 8th note lines on U2's 'Vertigo' cover a second octave, and you've obviously never listened to the bassline on 'Sweet Child of Mine'...

Keep hating from your desk though, it's cute

I love playing Vertigo in our set. The bass line moves the song and it's not hard to play so I can have fun on stage without having to concentrate too hard. I don't really see any need for the bass line to be any different, it works.

I'm a big Duff fan too. I always thought he had some really cool bass parts. His stuff goes beyond just pounding eighth notes