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Adam Clayton Does Not Suck.

#201
Maybe I missed the part of the thread where someone said that Adam Clayton plays perfectly in time. He plays the bass the way it needs to be played for his gig. He covers the rhythm guitar part and the bass due to the edge's style of single note playing or arpeggiation as opposed to big chords the majority of the time.

However, when it comes down to it, it's all subjective anyway.
 
#205
Clef De Fa: Some may say Junk, some may say extreme talent because they are fans, either way they played music because they wanted to and they became the biggest band in the world appealing to the lowest common denominator. As time went on they became legends. They didn't even survive the original lineup for more than a few years. Bill Wyman is fine, but no virtuoso either. But is he missed after leaving an being replaced by the hired gun? the hired gun doesn't play the lines like Bill, rather more like a guy in a cover band from what I've seen.

U2 on the other hand is approaching this status WITH the original lineup and no signs of quitting yet.

Not sure what my point is, just that a few pages back someone mentioned that the U2 formula (I don't believe one exists, they just sound like U2 ALL THE TIME.) is catering to the "lowest common..." which your comments reminded me of and that's just hooey. No more than the Stones did/do the same. It's just Rock and roll, it ain't Mozart.

Oh and I quoted you only because you reminded me of that other comment, not flaming :D

Edit: I don't cut down any bass player I hear. I may not like his music but if I'm hearing him, he's doing it and I ain't. Therefore he's good.
 
#206
I've always liked U2, and AC's more pronounced bass lines in some of his songs (New Year's Day etc.) had a definite effect on me when I was a kid. Those lines introduced the sound of the bass to me and contrasted that sound with the instruments higher in the freq. spectrum that usually controlled the melody. Without his work it would have taken me longer to get bitten by the bass bug. I totally respect the guy.

In some ways this thread sounds like a bit of a vicarious pissing contest. :hiding: By that I mean it appears we're trying to figure out how to assess the quality of a bassist (maybe ourselves). Is it the sophistication of the technique? Versatility? Wealth? Complexity in their songwriting contributions? I don't know what the "correct" answer is. I just think AC is a he** of a guy that has a great job. :D
 
#210
I didn't know music was such a competition?? The ones that suck are the ones that can't get a gig. I believe Adam Clayton has had a gig for almost 30 years now. Can anyone commenting say they have had the same gig for 30 years???? or toured the world for 30 years now??? probably not. It doesn't matter what you play as long as you can play, Adam has a role in U2 and I believe he has done his job

My teacher, told me 30 years ago, "the best bass player is the one working the most".
 
#211
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

It's back! Only kidding, It sucks somebody ripped him off, even if he could afford it. He's a bassist, and makes a great living from it. He has the law to defend his rights, and his success and music to defend his reputation as a bassist.

Like anyone, he's not everyone's cup of tea. I've been listening to Jaco so I'm feeling friendly towards music :D

:bassist:
 
#212
I don't know but I see a lot of praise given to certain bassists who play a thousand notes a second that I personally find boring and not really what bass playing is about. But that's just my personal taste and opinion, nothing more.
I certainly wouldn't criticize someone like AC for not overplaying. If someone says he sucks because he's not playing uber-complicated bass lines at a million miles a second, then they are idiots.
 
#213
C.Linton said:
I don't know but I see a lot of praise given to certain bassists who play a thousand notes a second that I personally find boring and not really what bass playing is about. But that's just my personal taste and opinion, nothing more.
I certainly wouldn't criticize someone like AC for not overplaying. If someone says he sucks because he's not playing uber-complicated bass lines at a million miles a second, then they are idiots.
Click to expand...

I agree!

A lot of it sounds like bland noodling to me. I hear those guys and go "I should go practice a scale or two"

I listen to what AC does in U2's old songs, and I'm very inspired to create music.:)

Where the Streets Have No Name? New Years Day?

Beautiful Day.

With or Without You.

I want to hear someone load up a different bass track and "improve" these songs.
 
#216
Bass player of the alt rock boy band of the 90's

And yes...he does suck

I hate U2. I can't stand anyone who talks miles and miles of s--t about this country, but has no problem raking in our dollars.

Before anyone brands me a redneck flag waver...I hate the whole mix of politics and music crapola.

Songs should be written about...girls, cars, beautiful places or the beach, space or abstract themes.

Not crap like (and I'm going to hold my nose whine and sing at the same time) "four dead in Oh high oh" or " we'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way" ...but then again, one of my all time favorite bands, Chicago...early on had a lot of political theme...but the music outshined that stuff
 
#217
Mike in Chicago said:
Bass player of the alt rock boy band of the 90's

And yes...he does suck

I hate U2. I can't stand anyone who talks miles and miles of s--t about this country, but has no problem raking in our dollars.

Before anyone brands me a redneck flag waver...I hate the whole mix of politics and music crapola.

Songs should be written about...girls, cars, beautiful places or the beach, space or abstract themes.

Not crap like (and I'm going to hold my nose whine and sing at the same time) "four dead in Oh high oh" or " we'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way" ...but then again, one of my all time favorite bands, Chicago...early on had a lot of political theme...but the music outshined that stuff
Click to expand...
Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion.
 
#220
96tbird said:
Like say, the Rolling Stones?
Click to expand...

I'm not even going to dignify this one here with a response.

Back to the topic at hand- I notice Patrick Pfeiffer, (bassist for George Clinton), author of Bass Guitar for Dummies, Bass Exercises for Dummies, & other awesome related publications, gives high praise & thanks to AC in the acknowledgements section: "You never cease to amaze and inspire me"
 

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