too fat or too old to play bass?(cynacism inside)

[COOL AND DEADLY]

What ails these people? Do you ask your drummer if your pants make you look fat too? Music is sound. It doesn't matter how fat, old, or ugly you think you are. I think MTV has ruined music forever. Image was always important for marketing, but I don't believe any band is hindered by a fat or old bassist. So stop looking in the mirror and play bass. Personally if I see a "buff" looking bassist I wonder how much better he would be if he didn't waste his time "Pumping up", and used that time to practice. How big do your arms need to be to hold a 10 pound instrument? Okay, I'm done.

[fenderhutz]

As long as you don't play bass in open back chaps all is good.

[joegeezer]

Too fat, too old, and too dumb to quit, is why I quit racing Harleys. Right after I got smashed to pieces in a car accident, and all my old freinds and band mates, brought me a new bass in to the convalesant home , and told me to start playing again. 8 years later, I have almost all my old licks back again, and I will just keep getting better. Looking to get a copy of the new Return to Forever, to start learning from. Seem's the little bit I heard on-line, that Stanleys lines seemed easier to follow. I figure maybe he's getting slower, and I'm just getting better. Doesn't much matter, cause I'm having the fun of my life at 54 years old, flat broke and lovin' every minute of it. You're never too fatt or too old, to keep the licks flowin' YEAH!!

[jeromebass]

LOL

It's not me btw, lol

[eotpr]

Originally Posted by COOL AND DEADLY

What ails these people? Do you ask your drummer if your pants make you look fat too? Music is sound. It doesn't matter how fat, old, or ugly you think you are. I think MTV has ruined music forever. Image was always important for marketing, but I don't believe any band is hindered by a fat or old bassist. So stop looking in the mirror and play bass. Personally if I see a "buff" looking bassist I wonder how much better he would be if he didn't waste his time "Pumping up", and used that time to practice. How big do your arms need to be to hold a 10 pound instrument? Okay, I'm done.

My wife and I constantly comment on that immage BS and music. There is a show on VH1 and the kids of rock stare are competing to see who is the best to follow in their parent's footsteps. There is a lady on there that it seems never to matter whether they do a good or bad job, all she is interested in is how they look. It disgusts me.

I have not made some bands I have suditioned for because I am 51 and look like Dusty Hill. (That look changes to Charlie Daniels when it is country.) The ones that concertrate on music always take me in. The others never seem to get off the ground. Those of us that are old would not have the experience, the chops, or the knowledge if we were younger. I hope that the music becoms important again rather than the look. I remember some ugly dudes in the 70's that made great music. I wonder how many of them would have made it in today's mind mis-set? Think about MAMA Cass. She would have never made it today. What about Janis Joplin. Good singer but she was a bit ugly. What about BTO? We didn't care back thenabout how they looked it was the music that was important. It is a shame.

Well I guess I should stop ranting. You hit the nail right on the head.

[mward69]

We're bass players....we get no limelight...lol. We
are off in the corner of the stage and no-one other than our wife/GF or stalker is looking at us....
Let the singer have there diva moments, they are the only ones in the band that should worry if they look good.

[Stumpy]

I have a shape, it just isn't currently popular. I think that it was popular in the 1500's in Scotland.

I am a few pounds overweight and old enough to know what to do when and why





But the only reason that I am concerned is because of possible health issues, not what someone else thinks. I play and write in several genres and love to work music. That is what is important-my opinion.

[baalroo]

some photos to illustrate that it's still ok to be ugly or fat these days:

Bowling for soup has a fatty:

and so does fear factory:

do I even have to mention biggie:

in regards to ugly...

ugly people think lil jon is ugly:

and how about the lead singer of the most popular band amongst the kids these days...fall out boy:

and then for prog-rock fanboys how bout some claudio:

[Low_End_IIA_Vic]

if you like playing. no matter how old you are or how you look it's just music. don't judge people on their appearance <3

[DWBass]

It hasn't hurt Lee Sklar's career! (The old part)

[Yngwie 4String]

In his 60's I think?

[thesteve]

I definitely think fat is more accepted among bass players than anyone else in the band...at least I feel like I've seen more fat bassists than any other instrument.

in regards to Bowling for Soup...depending on the time period, they've had as many as three fatties.

[low-endz]

Even though I dont qualify, I think the Big fat & ugly bassist are Kick Ass!

Really its all in the Groove with Us.

[Croox]

well since the stones are all in their late 60s and they are still jamming out and playing sold out arenas

same with bob seager hes 62 and still playin out.

its all in your head. If you think "can't" you won't. always do.

I'm the bipolar opposite of these bass players, I'm 5'6 and 140. I could stand to loose about 5lbs though......

[Yngwie 4String]

19yrs old, 6ft 2 and maybe 170lbs. Not great looking but not bad here.

[VisualShock]

Originally Posted by COOL AND DEADLY

Too fat or too old to play bass

NO SUCH THING!

[M@ddest_H@tter!]

My philosophy is...."Why would a chick want a six pack when she can have the whole keg?!" This works especially well at shows. Even though I'm married to a total hottie, and have an awesome son.

[BrandonBass]

LoL the only way for a bassist to be more popular than the singer is to get a fat singer. think falloutboy

[nutterisgo]

John Campbells 35

[Throckmorten]

Big guys look better with basses.
Big guy, big sound.

I'm short and skinney. Very.
I look funny with a big Fender P
Even if I play well, I still don't look very convincing.
I'm switching to bass piccolo.