Favorite Zappa basissts

5intheface · #1 01-08-2006, 09:43 PM

I'm a fairly large Frank Zappa fan, thanks entirely to my drummer/best friend. He owns almost the complete library and whenever we hang out, we always are doing something with music, and it almost always leads around to how much we love Frank.

I highly enjoy Scott Thunes, despite any personality problems he may and despite using a p bass with a pick. I've never heard some work a Fender P like that, especially so well with a pick. I enjoy his note choices, humor through the music and his interaction with drummer Chad Wackerman. They felt connect at the hip sometimes.

Patrick O'Hearn is also very good, and reminds of Jaco. It makes me wonder what Jaco could've done with Frank....

Roy Estrada just kind of played vamps, but had a good sound like most bassists of the sixties. Arthur Barrow also played some cool parts.

After that, the only guy I can think of is Tom Fowler, and the only thing I've noticed about him is that in the Dub room special video, he's got a beautiful bass....

AxtoOx · #2 01-08-2006, 09:59 PM

Listening to Zappa will give you brain damage!
But ain't he great? I still can't get enough of Cosmic Debris.
You know the 80's band Missing Persons Came from Zappa.
He alway surrounded himself w/ great musicians.
I miss him.

5intheface · #3 01-08-2006, 10:15 PM

Missing Persons was AWFUL. They used to come on during work all the time and Dale Bozzio's voice drove me nuts! None of those guys even showed off thier great musicianship either.

JimmyM · #4 01-08-2006, 10:19 PM

Missing Persons does beat Patrick O'Hearn's new age albums or Warren Cuccurillo's stint in Duran Duran. I liked MP ok. Not my favorite band by any stretch but they were OK.

My favorite Zappa bassist is Patrick O'Hearn. The guy just had it going on. He was also a good showman and made the Zappa shows a lot more interesting with his and Adrian Belew's wacky humor. Zappa always called that lineup his funniest band and I'd have to agree.

Scott gets a big second place finish, though. Scott's out of his mind, so that always helps me appreciate him.

AxtoOx · #5 01-08-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5intheface

Missing Persons was AWFUL. They used to come on during work all the time and Dale Bozzio's voice drove me nuts! None of those guys even showed off thier great musicianship either.

I wonder if it was her see through top at the US festival that got me?

McHaven · #6 01-08-2006, 10:45 PM

Scott Thunes recorded "Valley Girl" right? If so, him. That song has a killer bassline

rekesbass · #7 01-09-2006, 11:01 AM

what about Frank himself ? listen to zoot allures,he played bass on most of the songs on that album..all except two..black napkins(recorded live in Osaka Japan w\Roy Entrada on bass) and the song zoot allures,which was played by Dave Parlato..not to mention he also played synth,keyboards and guitar and doing lead vocals...probably my favorite Zappa album..I liked all of his bassist over the years.He was a true genius....

Mojo-Man · #8 01-09-2006, 11:05 AM

Thunes hands down.
The man is nuts, but what a great player.

DblG · #9 01-09-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5intheface

After that, the only guy I can think of is Tom Fowler, and the only thing I've noticed about him is that in the Dub room special video, he's got a beautiful bass....

I've noticed what he does on "Roxy-n-Elsewhere". My favorite Zappa album with some great bass playing. (IMO)

gg

The Owl · #10 01-09-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

Thunes, followed closely by Fowler.

+1

5intheface · #11 01-09-2006, 02:56 PM

I have yet to hear Roxy and Elsewhere, hopefully that damn DVD will come out sometime in our lifetimes though.......

The 79 Baby Sankes band is very funny to watch, but on Does Humor belong in music? the '84 band was pretty hilarious too. Bobby Martin makes me laugh everytime I see him. And the like two times they show Allan Zavod he's pouncing onto his keyboard...

fretlessrock · #12 01-09-2006, 04:30 PM

My favorite is Roy Estrada. I don't care if he wasn't the technical wiz... his longevity and the demands made by Frank attest to the fact that he was no slouch. Tom Fowler is one of the guys that led me to think of fretless in a rock context. All said, I can't think of a bad Zappa bassist, so ranking them beyond my fondness for Roy and the MOI isn't my bag.

Planet Boulder · #13 01-09-2006, 04:38 PM

Scott Thunes all the way. Snag some Zappa bootlegs with him on it and prepare to have thine mind blown!

Planet Boulder · #14 01-09-2006, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Missing Persons does beat Patrick O'Hearn's new age albums or Warren Cuccurillo's stint in Duran Duran. I liked MP ok. Not my favorite band by any stretch but they were OK.

How 'bout Bozzio's work with UK? That was some good stuff back in the day ("Danger Money").

MAGUS® · #15 01-09-2006, 05:33 PM

Hmmm...

Fowler, because of his great work on my fave FZ album " Overnite Sensation"

Fowler again, on another favourite " Apostrophe " , but there were also another 2 bassists on Apostrophe. Jack Bruce and someone called ERRONEOUS. That could be a little FZ joke tho..

Did anyone see FZ live ? I had the almighty good fortune to go see this genius just once when he played the Hammersmith Odeon in London in the mid 70's. Bozzio was drumming, and there was a huge Afro-American on bass - great man too.
Eddie Jobson was messing about on leccy Violin.

One of my all time fave gigs. Great memories

fretlessrock · #16 01-09-2006, 06:22 PM

check out the United-Mutations musicians timeline
http://united-mutations.com/123/musicians_timeline.htm

You can also find out who erroneous was:
http://united-mutations.com/e/erroneous.htm

The "huge Afro-American" was probably Ralphe Armstrong. that would be a treat. I have never heard of him performing in London UK. He is listed as having perfomed in London, Ontario! That is quite a catch

Mark Latimour · #17 01-09-2006, 06:39 PM

Can someone explain why Scott Thunes was out of his mind?

Vox Populi · #18 01-09-2006, 06:43 PM

Don't forget Shuggie.

fretlessrock · #19 01-09-2006, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Can someone explain why Scott Thunes was out of his mind?

You can read the interview:
Scott Thunes: Requiem for A Heavyweight
Bass Player Magazine: March 1997
by Thomas Wictor

here:
http://www.united-mutations.com/t/scott_thunes.htm

There is a scan or a transcription somewhere else. You could copy the text from UniMuta site and make it more readable.

I have no opinion on Scott's sanity. Frank trusted him in the bass chair and as Clonemeister, and that is all I need to know about Scott. Ever.

MAGUS® · #20 01-10-2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessrock

You can also find out who erroneous was:
http://united-mutations.com/e/erroneous.htm

The "huge Afro-American" was probably Ralphe Armstrong. that would be a treat. I have never heard of him performing in London UK. He is listed as having perfomed in London, Ontario! That is quite a catch

Hey - so THATS who Erroneous is. He really exists. You can never tell with Zappa. Like that vocal by " Ricky Lancelotti" on Zombie Woof off Overnight Sensation. I was sure that was FZ actually singing, but maybe it really is someone else.

And the big Afro - American bass man - Ralphe Armstrong. Now you've given me his name i remember ! Cheers