Geddy Lee overrated?? - Page 8

**60bass** · #**141** 09-30-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjbassist

I can understand why you would think he overplays. Entwistle's bass lines tended to be a little busy, but they needed to be. Pete Townsend is a very average guitar player and really more of a rhythm player than lead. Entwistle's bass lines were necessary to fill in the gaps and to some extent carry the melody of a song.

+1 IMO bassist's tend to mirror their drummers style in Entwhstle's case it was Moonie. Hmm was Moonie busy? I would say the answer was yes

twdavis13 · #**142** 09-30-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gin

Has the OP ever sat down with Ged and jammed? Didn't think so, maybe OP should do that first then come back and post his or her thoughts... Seriously though, Ged overrated, that's just retarded? FLEA was overrated. There's a reason why Geddy's name is all over the place and since RUSH is getting very popular again, I'm not surprised either. You gotta give credit where it's due.

I'd watch how I use that term, I got a warning for using it offhand.

Anywho, no, I'v never sat down with him an played, and I never claimed to be as good as he is. If you would have read my earlier post you would have seen that. I never said Geddy was a bad bassist, he's a great bassist, and while I maybe was a bit wrong to pit him against Entwistle, I just don't think he's the bass god that everybody thinks he is....nobody is.

nysbob · #**143** 10-01-2009, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twdavis13

I just don't think he's the bass god that everybody thinks he is....nobody is.

Amen.

MHensleyJr · #**144** 10-01-2009, 12:56 AM

Wow, this thread has been...fun...

Hamrhed · #**145** 10-01-2009, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twdavis13

I'd watch how I use that term, I got a warning for using it offhand

Right... make sure you put that in big bold letters so he gets a warning too

Quote:

I just don't think he's the bass god that everybody thinks he is....nobody is

Now that makes sense- although I think he gets the hero worship for his playing and the other things he does well w/ Rush- especially over 35 year career. I think most of the attention is warranted... at least as much as Gene Simmons

RAM · #**146** 10-01-2009, 07:58 AM

I'm a huge fan of Rush and of Geddy and find his lines very challenging and interesting.

That said, I'm not a huge fan of his style or his Fender tone. IMO his style is that more of a guitarist who picked up the bass and never learned proper technique. OTOH he does it so well and has such a unique style I don't really "ding" him for that.

I do find his "flamenco" style utterly annoying and overdone. There's really only one song he plays flamenco style on that I like - Animate on the Counterparts CD. I also hate how much fret clank he produces, and it's really apparent on some of the most recent live DVDs.

rayzak · #**147** 10-01-2009, 08:46 AM

I won't even read through this thread. It will anger me too much.
But Geddy is most certainly NOT overrated.
He has been almost as big of an influence on bass players as Neil Peart has had on drummers. Which is to say........ HUGE!!!!!

Kevinmach · #**148** 10-01-2009, 10:30 PM

I said what I had to say about him being overrated earlier. I find someone thinking he overrated to be pretty ludicrous, I don't even find that to be much of an opinion as much as fact... there are plenty of great players out there who's music and style that I *don't* like, but would never call them overrated. The man has skills. Period.

I did want to address the comments about not liking his tone, which are obviously more subjective.

In and at of itself, his tone is extremely mid-rangy, and to hear his bass playing a single note, I could see how someone could not like it.

But it is one of the big elements that made him famous, and they way he used it with his playing style and in the context of their music, I think it's absolutely phenomenal. No one would be laughing Geddy Lee out of any bar, ever.. that's the dumbest thing I ever heard.

As a former guitarist, I really loved how Eddie Van Halen could do the same thing- take a dirty, strange, or less than ideal tone he came up with (that most people would wince at and say "that's awful!"), and make it work within the context of a song with the way he played it... to the point where it was like candy to your ears. Obviously EVH had maybe a little more freedom in playing with sounds and textures than does an instrument from the rhythm section, but to me that's the hallmark of true musician. A combination of vision and skill.

So a Chef just made you a pretty good steak from beef that costs 14.99 a pound? Big deal! Where's the art in that? Show me a guy who can make a phenomenal steak out of something that costs 3.99 a pound, and now you've got my attention.

Geddy could have been like a lot of players of the day and played it safe with a tone in that was bland and blended in... and if he did, you probably would have never heard of him today.

Lincoln · #**149** 10-01-2009, 10:43 PM

........

was this really necessary?

twdavis13 · #**150** 10-03-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lincoln

........

was this really necessary?

Step 1: I express my opinion....what forums are made for.
Step 2: Gigantic FlameWar/Hero Worship Festival Ensues
Step 3: We now know who you are and aren't allowed to speak against

5StringBlues · #**151** 10-03-2009, 01:05 PM

GregC · #**152** 10-03-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twdavis13

Step 1: I express my opinion....what forums are made for.
Step 2: Gigantic FlameWar/Hero Worship Festival Ensues
Step 3: We now know who you are and aren't allowed to speak against

jhan · #**153** 10-03-2009, 02:55 PM

IMO, Geddy is probably one the best melodic players in rock. Always has been, always will be. How do I know this, at least for myself? 1) 20-30 years later, I still hear his fills in my head when I walk down the street. 2) Learning Geddy's fills and bass lines as a kid - note by note - taught me the neck.

This is kind of like a comment I heard from a guitarist, who said that bass players who play with picks suck. Yeah, Chris Squire . . . he was a real bum.

5StringBlues · #**154** 10-03-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twdavis13

Step 1: I express my opinion....what forums are made for.
Step 2: Gigantic FlameWar/Hero Worship Festival Ensues
Step 3: We now know who you are and aren't allowed to speak against

JaydeePlayer · #**155** 10-13-2009, 10:08 AM

I have grown up with Entwhistle and can play my way through most Who albums having spent hours trying to emulate him. I even sit and watch the isolated tracks on 'The Kids Are Alright'.

I must admit I'll have to go and find some tracks by Rush to hear what Geddy sounds like. Never been an influence here but I'm looking forward to hearing him.

Greg

**pringlw** · #**156** 11-07-2009, 07:33 AM

tekkentool · #**157** 11-07-2009, 07:44 AM

I've never gotten all the aggravation over geddy's singing. He has an impressive range, and i think it has a character and charm that fit in with rush

Stinsok · #**158** 11-07-2009, 07:55 AM

Maybe without an Entwhistle there would not have been a Geddy. Enwhistle laid the foundation for a ton of bassist who have taken his stuff and ran with it, It's a serious stretch to try and compare the two. I was listening to my Rush Chronicles CD's the other day. You can clearly hear the evolution of Geddy Lee's playing from the eagerly stuff to today. I early await future Rush releases.

the general · #**159** 11-07-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimiLL

And no, I dont think he is god at all. A good player, yes. An icon and inspiration to thousands, yep. A multi platnum selling lead artist? Yes again.

On the same level of other popular bassists like Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Billy Sheehan, Les Claypool and even Flea or Ryan Martine??? Not so much.

agreed. i do enjoy rush's tunes and hes a good bass player but hes not overrated nor underrated. he is geddy lee, no more, no less if that makes any sense. depends on personal preference i suppose. i'm an entwhistle fan myself more than lee

Leftybass12 · #**160** 11-09-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twdavis13

Is it blasphemy, or is it a plausible possibility?? I've been listening to both The Who and Geddy Lee extensively, and I honestly feel that Entwistle was way more inventive and interesting. I also think Geddy Lee was rather boring, and it just seemed, dull... plus, alot of his were rather repetitive 5th interval garb...

Cheerio???

Enwistle is/was more inventive than Geddy, but Geddys basslines are really fun and cool to play. He doesn't have too much of a repetitive 5th interval, if he did the basslines in the songs would sound extremely different. There is a bass book called Bass Anthology: Rush. It has twenty or so songs in it with Geddys basslines in musical notation and TAB. If you can locate the book look at the basslines he's playing. Also, Geddy is still making basslines to songs....I'm sure John would too if he didn't pass away.