The Top 5 Faux Bass Players

[Ric5]

Pink Floyd ... some of the bass lines by David Gilmour
Rolling Stones ... some of the bass lines Keith Richards and some by uncredited studio players
The Beatles ... Paul John and George were all guitar players who did basslines in the studio

[KCLRbass]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Trust me, Jermaine COULD play them. Berry Gordy just didn't want him to record. Live, Jermaine played them all to a T. He's a real bassist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUY1BT3zSlI He's playing live here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=rGkYkifyFIA And here.

So glad someone spoke up for Jermaine. Here's my favourite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slGUI7PwnD4

[Stick_Player]

Donny Osmond - Crazy Horses. Shared lead vocal, P-bass, wall of Kustom Tuck-n-Roll amps, Casper on drums.

Does it get any better than this?

[DrSpunkwater]

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

More Elvis. Circa '57.

I read someplace that Bill Black was having such a hard time playing the electric bass that he threw it down and said he couldn't play the thing. Then Elvis picked it up and started playing the lines more competently than Bill was. At that point, he shouted at Elvis, "Gimme that damn thing" and played the songs.

[pklima]

So, bassists are like IDs or boobs - fake ones can be a lot of fun!

[Handyman]

Originally Posted by dtripoli

*Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap
Harry Sheer, Actual bassist playing a faux character playing a bass

I vote that Harry Sheer wins, hands down. He's like lukewarm water, you know?

[jamestown94west]

Originally Posted by DrSpunkwater

I read someplace that Bill Black was having such a hard time playing the electric bass that he threw it down and said he couldn't play the thing. Then Elvis picked it up and started playing the lines more competently than Bill was. At that point, he shouted at Elvis, "Gimme that damn thing" and played the songs.

Those are some great pictures, and great stories! I love Elvis. If I'm not mistaken, didn't Elvis enjoy the bass enough that he wished to play bass on stage and wasn't his management or someone in charge who told him no?

[NWB]

Originally Posted by jamestown94west

Those are some great pictures, and great stories! I love Elvis. If I'm not mistaken, didn't Elvis enjoy the bass enough that he wished to play bass on stage and wasn't his management or someone in charge who told him no?

Wouldn't be a big surprise. Elvis loved him some bass.

Listen to Live at Madison Square Garden. Jerry Scheff on bass completely drives the music. Plus a bass solo on Polk Salad Annie!

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by Handyman

I vote that Harry Sheer wins, hands down. He's like lukewarm water, you know?

That would be Shearer. Shearer. You can bet yer cucumber on it.

[spindoc]

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

Donny Osmond - Crazy Horses. Shared lead vocal, P-bass, wall of Kustom Tuck-n-Roll amps, Casper on drums.

Does it get any better than this?

Wow. Just wow. While every decade has its share of ridiculous/wonderful tastelessness, the 70's really seems to take the cake. Thanks for posting.

[CaballoViejo]

Have always thought this to be one of the stupidest music videos ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcATvu5f9vE

Give me Shirley Jones any day!

Edit: Oops, just noticed this has already been mentioned. But anyway, its stupidity pales into insignificance next to that of the Osmonds one!

[MouseRat]

Originally Posted by bassinplace

That would be Shearer. Shearer.

YES! Thank you. Rocks a Lakland live - very talented. Apart from the Spinal Tap stuff, he's great in A Mighty Wind and on many of the voices in The Simpsons.

[avvie]

Originally Posted by spindoc

Emma Stone in The Rocker.

excuse me folks...I'm gonna need some time alone now....

[Stick_Player]

Even this guy faked it.

[avvie]

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

More Elvis. Circa '57.

How much do you suppose that particular '51 Precision is worth?

[ugly_bassplayer]

Jermaine can play bass my friend.

[funkyebk]

Originally Posted by ronaldpdbrandt

Mark Kozelek, who fronted Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon in real life, was the bassist in the fictional band Stillwater in Almost Famous, although I think he might have actually been brought in as the real musician of the band, being that he is an amazingly talented guitarist.

Here he is in the movie, on the far right:

William: "Larry Fellows, how would you describe your role in Stillwater? What is the chemical you add to the chemistry?"
Larry Fellows: "I'm the bass player."
William: "Right. And when you take that away what would be missing stylistically? What chemical?"
Larry Fellows: "A bass?"

[SR505bassman]

And he can sing at the same time....

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by qervo

Something told me Jermaine Jackson couldn't pull off those lines ... I always thought the Jackson 5 songs had wonderful bass lines , now I know why.

Watch this video. If Jermaine can't play the line, he's doing a good job of having his fretting hand in the right place at the right time. (I know they're playing along with a recording.)

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by two fingers

I have it on very good authority that the vast VAST majority of 80s rock hits were not recorded by the bands' bass players (or guitar players, or drummers). They were ghost tracked. What that means is, the band would spend all day in the studio (usually getting drunk and making horrible recordings) and when they left, very late at night, real pro players would come in and re-record the album in a couple of takes. According to my source, the original bands still have no idea to this day that they really aren't all that awesome. He said that he himself recorded a ton of stuff you hear on the radio.

So, odds are, if you were in a famous band in the 80s, it's not you on the original recording. Before you start throwing flames, I'm sure there were some famous guys who did their own work. And certainly whatever hero you have did their own. Right?

Nobody in the 80's faked anything. No. Not true.

It was ALL REAL! Someone make him stop!!!