You v. Your Heroes and fave songs

[RBrownBass]

After checking the stickied thread about popular threads, I decided this one was different enough from "Do you consider yourself better than some famous bassists?" thead that I could go ahead and post it.

Here's what I'm interested in: Of the players/tunes that you consider a big influence on your listening and playing, how many of them are playing something beyond your instrumental ability, how many of them are playing something you can play but not as well, and how many are playing something you can play as well but would not have thought of playing?

Of course, since the level of player varies around here from beginner to virtuoso, there will be a wide variety of answers, but what I'm trying to find out here, really, is where most of you are as players in relation to the music that you love most. Could you (with proper rehearsal time) sub for your heroes, any of them, all of them, most, whatever- without the music losing quality? Could you play on your favorite recordings (not necessarily tunes that you love because of bass) without the music losing quality? Would it improve in either case?

Thanks for your input.

[Baryonyx]

I think some of my musical heros I could emulate decently enough with some practice (Geddy Lee, Mark King and Jonas Hellborg come to mind). Mind you, simply being able to play their stuff doesn't qualify me to say I'm better or even as good as them, imo. They came up with it in the first place, and to me, the skill and talent of a musician lies as much in their mind as it does in their hands.

Other guys like Michael Manring, I couldn't touch what he is doing!

[Loose Cannon]

Ross Valory was the reason I wanted to play bass in the first place. Jouney's "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Stone in Love" were some of the first songs I learned. (Cheated, had the tablature) I think I could play much of their material, but I would feel like Journey's new singer,just an imitation of the real thing.

Chris2121's comment sums it up nicely. What a trip it would be, though, if you got a call one day and your favorite band's agent was telling you the bass player was not able to play a couple of gigs, and would you like to fill in?!!

[Baryonyx]

I would certainly fill in for Hellborg, but Geddy and Mark King are another thing...if they were singing I could do the bass work, but my vocal talents aren't quite up to their standards!