The Bass Player = "The Other One"

[CYDbass]

Hi all, just interested in anyones opinions on something that's intriguing me.
In England at the minute there's a TV show running called "I'm in a Rock & Roll band," where they're moving around the different memebers in 6 hour long shows. Or so I thought.
We had the first three shows on the singer, the guitarist and the drummer. So I tune in tonight expecting an hour dedicated to the bassist, instead we have an episode entitled "The Other One."
This turned out to be an amalgamation of bass players, keyboardists and "one's you don't really know what they do." The latter turned out to be about horn sections, strings, dancers and, amusingly, Sid Vicious, but that's another thread.
Being a bass player this agrieved me somewhat. Yes there is the stereotype of the bassist being the quiet one going "thump, thump, thump" and there are also players who break this mould. The show acknowledges this, and yet still throws the bassist in with about seven other roles in one big out-of-the-spotlight lump.
Yes there are pros and cons, but being considered an other one really annoys me. What are your experiences of this? Are you ever, as the program suggests, the one who waits with the gear in the bus while the rest go off for a pint? Would you be happy to remain anonymous and still be in a band?

I'm not really sure of the point of this thread but I just wanted to share this info with people who might not have heard it! Or alternatively, any UK based readers who watched it and might agree. All opinions welcome, thanks for your time.

[bassteban]

Somewhere a horn/keys/whatever-else-was-mentioned player kvetching at being lumped in w/the lowly bass player.
I for one don't care too much others think, but if they're drinking, I'm drinking.

[jmorbita]

Originally Posted by CYDbass

Hi all, just interested in anyones opinions on something that's intriguing me.
In England at the minute there's a TV show running called "I'm in a Rock & Roll band," where they're moving around the different memebers in 6 hour long shows. Or so I thought.
We had the first three shows on the singer, the guitarist and the drummer. So I tune in tonight expecting an hour dedicated to the bassist, instead we have an episode entitled "The Other One."
This turned out to be an amalgamation of bass players, keyboardists and "one's you don't really know what they do." The latter turned out to be about horn sections, strings, dancers and, amusingly, Sid Vicious, but that's another thread.
Being a bass player this agrieved me somewhat. Yes there is the stereotype of the bassist being the quiet one going "thump, thump, thump" and there are also players who break this mould. The show acknowledges this, and yet still throws the bassist in with about seven other roles in one big out-of-the-spotlight lump.
Yes there are pros and cons, but being considered an other one really annoys me. What are your experiences of this? Are you ever, as the program suggests, the one who waits with the gear in the bus while the rest go off for a pint? Would you be happy to remain anonymous and still be in a band?

I'm not really sure of the point of this thread but I just wanted to share this info with people who might not have heard it! Or alternatively, any UK based readers who watched it and might agree. All opinions welcome, thanks for your time.

It's weird that being the show english, they didn't remember Sir Paul McCartney was the bass player...

[CYDbass]

They really seemed to gloss over that fact.
He wasn't interviewed as many others were and was only mentioned a couple of times. Under the heading as one who "broke the mould a bit." That's the annoying part, because it was a show of "other ones" the bassists who were anything but that were all but ignored and they only focused on the people who faded away. John Entwistle was talked about and they interviewed Daltrey, but they played a couple of short clips of the My Generation solo and that was it.
Racks you off doesn't it?

[jmorbita]

Originally Posted by CYDbass

They really seemed to gloss over that fact.
He wasn't interviewed as many others were and was only mentioned a couple of times. Under the heading as one who "broke the mould a bit." That's the annoying part, because it was a show of "other ones" the bassists who were anything but that were all but ignored and they only focused on the people who faded away. John Entwistle was talked about and they interviewed Daltrey, but they played a couple of short clips of the My Generation solo and that was it.
Racks you off doesn't it?

Well, yeah... I suppose the show producers might all be really ignorant in regards to rock history... Any rock fan knows the name of all the band's members, included the bass players of course.
And if we take in account so many rock bands are made up of three members...
It's true thought that often the singer and guitar player are more commonly recognized. But then I'd think bass players are better known than drummers... (paul mccartney, roger waters, geddy lee...)

[totallyfrozen]

Paul McCartney "broke the mould a bit"?! What planet are these TV producers from?! Did you write a letter, CYD? You should write a letter to those clowns and let them know that the bassist deserves a catagory all it's own! One of the main reasons that I took up the bass is that I have very eclectic music tastes. Some music I like is vocal heavy, some is guitar heavy, some is synth/keyboard heavy, etc. but ALL genres of popular music have a bassist! If there's one instrument that all the styles use (even those styles that don't use guitars--yes, there are some), it's a string bass (double bass or electric). IMO, for bass not to be recognized on it's own is like not recognizing the wheel when doing a documentary feature on automobiles!

[AaronD]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mobile/iplayer/episode/b00sl4mb

There's a link if anyone wants to watch.
Don't know if it will work because i'm on my iPod and I viewed the page in mobile mode.

[ausf]

Originally Posted by bassteban

I for one don't care too much others think, but if they're drinking, I'm drinking.

I'm on the stool right next to you, not caring.

Tell them to try listening to a band without a bass player. That's right, no one will.

[MikeBC]

Forget McCartney, he was nothing compared to Jack Bruce. Now that was breaking the mould. At the time though, Cream did not do as much for the British economy as did the Beatles.

[BenEd]

I saw it too, and was annoyed at how they showed only very brief clips of some brilliant bassists (Alex James, Flea etc) but instead chose to interview Bez of all people. Tut tut.

Having said that, the Chris Wolstenholme and Jack bruce sections were enjoyable, although short. The footage of Sid Vicious' solo project was a good laugh as well.

[jmorbita]

Originally Posted by ausf

I'm on the stool right next to you, not caring.

Tell them to try listening to a band without a bass player. That's right, no one will.

Of classic rock bands, I can only think of The Doors.
Did either Crosby, Still or Nash play bass? I don't know really.
then there are a few others, the white stripes... there are a few bands that don't have a bass player as a member of the band, but i really think they are the exception, not the rule.

It's also true that many people think the bass is a guitar... my dad still calls my bass a guitar...

[bassybill]

I think if anyone wants the limelight, then bass isn't perhaps the best instrument (with a few notable and obvious exceptions).

I enjoy bass for it's musical role, and couldn't care less about others perceptions of bassists.

By the way - unless it's an upright, your bass is a bass guitar. Relax.

[Muaguana]

This is why I wear my "I'm With The Band" t-shirt to every gig. And when two of my bands are playing at the same show, I wear one that says "I'm With The Other Band."

[jmorbita]

Originally Posted by bassybill

By the way - unless it's an upright, your bass is a bass guitar. Relax.

In spanish (my mother tongue) a bass guitar is called an "electric bass", a guitar is a guitar and and an electric guitar is an electric guitar.
It's a different word, and still not many people realize the difference. It's all cool, just like I wouldn't know the name of the different parts inside my car's engine. But if I were doing a tv show about it, I'd make some research and find out what are the important parts inside the engine.

[drunkenrobot]

That show seemed to be fairly accurate when talking about the 70's, at least for it's target audience, it was when the presenter started making hilariously sweeping statements about all bassists that I got pissed off.

And that woman who said that people play bass because it's an all round easier instrument than the guitar

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by bassybill

By the way - unless it's an upright, your bass is a bass guitar. Relax.

Debatable !!


According to Carol Kaye, there is no such thing. It's an electric bass.

[MikeBC]

Originally Posted by jmorbita

Of classic rock bands, I can only think of The Doors.
Did either Crosby, Still or Nash play bass? ...
.

Keyboardist Manzerak covered bass on his keyboard for some of the Door's early work. In later albums Angelo Barbara or Phil Chen played bass guitar.

In CSN and CSNY, Stills often played bass guitar (in recordings anyway) and sometimes it was Greg Reeves. There were probably others along the way.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by MikeBC

Forget McCartney, he was nothing compared to Jack Bruce. Now that was breaking the mould. At the time though, Cream did not do as much for the British economy as did the Beatles.

I'd have to disagree with that. Please site some examples of what Jack did that was unique. Beatles are already well documented.

[EdHunter]

Originally Posted by jmorbita

In spanish (my mother tongue) a bass guitar is called an "electric bass", a guitar is a guitar and and an electric guitar is an electric guitar.
It's a different word, and still not many people realize the difference. It's all cool, just like I wouldn't know the name of the different parts inside my car's engine. But if I were doing a tv show about it, I'd make some research and find out what are the important parts inside the engine.

I love Spanish. In any other language, I play a bass. En Español, yo toco un bajo. I play a low.

[Jeff K]

Originally Posted by jmorbita

Did either Crosby, Still or Nash play bass? I don't know really.

Stephen Stills is actually a very good bass player.