Arrogant ( and downright rude ) Bass Players

whirlwind · #1 10-15-2009, 04:34 AM

Theres just no need for it.

Anyone else been watching local bands that have a bass player you would love to just slap in the face.

I Remember going watching a local band at one of my local pubs and was intrigued by the bass player, he wasn"t brilliant but the band sounded fine and they wrote some good stuff, after the gig i went over to him to have a chat about Basses/gear etc because i was thinking of learning the bass and wanted a few pointers, the guy looked at me then looked at his mates amd basically told me to f**k off and find someone else to bother.
I"m not a small bloke and i was so tempted to smack him right in the mouth but didn"t.
People like this give decent bass players a bad name.
On a good note though, i went watching the same band a few months later and lo and behold they had a different bass player, apparently the old one had such a "I"m a rock star leave me alone attitude" he was losing the band gigs and getting into brawls at nearly every gig he played at.
What goes around comes around.

-Kiedis- · #2 10-15-2009, 04:51 AM

Back in school band there was this other bass player who had that kinda attitude and always wanted to show off. We took turns playing songs and whenever it was my turn he'd annoy me or flip music folder or turn the knobs on my bass down. If that wasn 't the case, then he'd lean over to the amplifier and screw up the settings and once time even unplugged me. This all happened when I was actually playing. So when he was playing, I fought fire with fire and what's he do? tell the conductor. Got penalized for 2 weeks.

Did I mention the fact that whenever rehearsal was on when everyone is setting up their instruments, he'd plug in and slap Higher Ground eventually slowing down.

phatbass · #3 10-15-2009, 04:54 AM

I've generally found that a player's attitude is inversely proportional to his playing ability. It's an insecurity thing.

-Kiedis- · #4 10-15-2009, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatbass

I've generally found that a player's attitude is inversely proportional to his playing ability. It's an insecurity thing.

TRUE THAT

sevenyearsdown · #5 10-15-2009, 05:03 AM

If someone is an a@#hole within the context of a band, then there is a good chance they are the same way in most phases of life.

MNAirHead · #6 10-15-2009, 05:07 AM

At least he didn't want to waste your time...

The ones that I can't stand are the ones that come up and want to talk (one way).

Tim

-Kiedis- · #7 10-15-2009, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

At least he didn't want to waste your time...

The ones that I can't stand are the ones that come up and want to talk (one way).

Tim

What do you mean by that?

JCampbell72 · #8 10-15-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatbass

I've generally found that a player's attitude is inversely proportional to his playing ability. It's an insecurity thing.

That's not true. I'm actually a pretty nice guy!

But seriously, I've dealt with plenty of musicians whom I wanted to slap the taste outta their mouth. Can't let the jerks get to ya'.

millsbass5 · #9 10-15-2009, 05:16 AM

Yes,there's been many a time that I've ran into players like that.For some reason,it's always been at gigs we were playing,too.I guess they think it's some kind of competition.Sure,I want our band to blow everybody else off the stage.But,still.

I don't say a word.I just let my playing do the talking,and be damn sure to make eye contact with him while playing.
It really works.I've then had THEM come up to me after our set to "talk gear and playing."

Here's the way I look at it:Let's put it this way,I've learned something from players who's been at it for only a year,or so.
You can learn from ANY caliber of bassist.

rebelscum · #10 10-15-2009, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Kiedis-

What do you mean by that?

He's talking about the kind of person who talks "at you" or generally just jaws your ear off with no break in a conversation.

I've been playing for around 20 years and have never copped an attitude unless warranted.

lousybassplayer · #11 10-15-2009, 08:55 AM

I have met all kinds of musicians with this attitude. I sometimes remind them that thye just played to 50 people who paid next to nothing for the priviledge and could realy have cared less which band just played a song they have never heard before or yet another cover of "LA Woman". You can be the Derek Jeter off your league all you want, but its still slow pitch softball.

addylewis · #12 10-15-2009, 09:06 AM

I'm not arrogant at all, people have actually told me to be MORE arrogant than I am - I just don't let it get to me unless someone I don't know annoys me, if there was another bassist on the bill who had "attitude" and showed it when I tried to talk to him I'd just think "FINE! F OFF THEN KNOB HEAD!" and walk off...easier that than a smack in the chops innit?

Phalex · #13 10-15-2009, 09:18 AM

The bass player with the best chops around here is a real friendly guy. He makes me play his bass with his band whenever I get a chance to go out to see them. (Tough act to follow, but it's all in good fun.) One of the more novice gigging players around here is a real friendly guy that makes me play his bass with his band whenever I get a chance to go out and see them. Of course, I make them play my bass with my band when they come out to see us as well. Bass players IME are the nicest people in the world.

I know, and have played with a variety of guitar players that fit the arrogant prick definition, but bassist are super cool as a general rule.

RONQUITO · #14 10-15-2009, 09:24 AM

^ This

Bruce Lindfield · #15 10-15-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

The bass player with the best chops around here is a real friendly guy. He makes me play his bass with his band whenever I get a chance to go out to see them. (Tough act to follow, but it's all in good fun.) One of the more novice gigging players around here is a real friendly guy that makes me play his bass with his band whenever I get a chance to go out and see them. Of course, I make them play my bass with my band when they come out to see us as well. Bass players IME are the nicest people in the world.

I know, and have played with a variety of guitar players that fit the arrogant prick definition, but bassist are super cool as a general rule.

I tend to agree with that - I have met all sort of musicians on Jazz education events and the bass players are always OK to talk to and usually nice guys - but there are other types of musicians who get characterised as "difficult"...

PBass101 · #16 10-15-2009, 09:27 AM

I've never met a single bass player who wasn't a really cool guy to talk to. Of course, everybody has their limits and typically their own friends - you know, people they would rather talk to instead of strangers. So it's really whether or not somebody can be polite.

So if you're going to talk to somebody you've never met before about how they just played, what gear they use, etc. keep it short and sweet. They're not just there to bs with you.

And the guy in the OP's post wasn't a bass player who also happened to be an ***hole, he was an ***hole who also happened to be a bass player.

Michelob_64 · #17 10-15-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatbass

I've generally found that a player's attitude is inversely proportional to his playing ability. It's an insecurity thing.

Wow that is the truth!!! I consider myself a pretty descent player, not the best but I hold my own, but by no means am I an ignorant a-hole. I am a very humble person that realizes I could just as easily be the one in the crowd wanting to be on stage playing. People tell me all the time how good I am, but like I said, I just shrug & say I do my best.

On a side note, I’m in the process of replacing a “bad attitude/I’m a Rock Star” bass player that is constantly yelling F**K or F**k you into the microphone when he’s on stage. He’s so drunk by the 3rd set that he’s sitting down, and does a God awful 15 minute bass solo in the second set that clears the dance floor. But in his mind, he’s the greatest thing that ever grabbed 4 strings!! A real Nikki Sixx wanna be.

So yes playing ability & attitude have an inverse relationship from what I’ve seen as well. At least from what I’ve seen on my level of playing.

Crazyeelboy · #18 10-15-2009, 11:43 AM

I guess I've been kind of lucky - I haven't run into many arrogant bassists. Guitarists and drummers - that's a different story...

kraigo · #19 10-15-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Kiedis-

What do you mean by that?

I think he means that they don't want a conversation/dialog, they want to talk and not really listen.

KO

Dan Knowlton · #20 10-15-2009, 12:25 PM

So, why is a drummer better than a bass player that is a jerk?

You only have to punch the information in once!

Old joke reworked for the thread.

Dan K.