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During the 80's when we were a prime band I was business leader, the guitarist was the music leader. We co-led the band. It worked out well.
In 2003 my childhood friend from Wrangell moved back to Sitka from Seattle and we got in touch and formed a band. For many years here we were one of the highliner bands in town. We made real good money and travel to gigs was five minutes, and we only played Thursday through Saturday. Many Sundays we had free jam sessions which were very fun.
When we first started the band, I told him I was content to be just the bass player. But he insisted we each sing every other song. We put together a list of each of our favorite songs and had almost a couple hundred between the two of us.
We got to even start doing a "Rat Pack" tribute when we did dinner sets in the animal clubs. We both got very good at Sinatra, Dean Martin, even Louis Armstrong. A whole Vegas style set and the silver hairs loved it.
My childhold friend died in a fire in 2010. I was devastated an quit playing for a year. But I got up, brushed myself off, and started jamming with friends around town. Then I started performing as a single. I love the absolute control and my song list, but boy when you die at the palace, you really DIE at the palace! LOL. There's no where to hide on stage.
My favorite time was when I played bass and did the business in the 80's. Now I love playing as a single but it's not the same.
I recommend if you are a back seat rider, try the driving front seat once in a while--you might be pleasantly surprised at your own abilities!
In 2003 my childhood friend from Wrangell moved back to Sitka from Seattle and we got in touch and formed a band. For many years here we were one of the highliner bands in town. We made real good money and travel to gigs was five minutes, and we only played Thursday through Saturday. Many Sundays we had free jam sessions which were very fun.
When we first started the band, I told him I was content to be just the bass player. But he insisted we each sing every other song. We put together a list of each of our favorite songs and had almost a couple hundred between the two of us.
We got to even start doing a "Rat Pack" tribute when we did dinner sets in the animal clubs. We both got very good at Sinatra, Dean Martin, even Louis Armstrong. A whole Vegas style set and the silver hairs loved it.
My childhold friend died in a fire in 2010. I was devastated an quit playing for a year. But I got up, brushed myself off, and started jamming with friends around town. Then I started performing as a single. I love the absolute control and my song list, but boy when you die at the palace, you really DIE at the palace! LOL. There's no where to hide on stage.
My favorite time was when I played bass and did the business in the 80's. Now I love playing as a single but it's not the same.
I recommend if you are a back seat rider, try the driving front seat once in a while--you might be pleasantly surprised at your own abilities!
That's pretty much how I feel. It would be boring just to be the guy they want to come in and hold down the roots. I want to have more involvement. I don't mind keeping it simple if required...
Currently having jam sessions with a guitarist and we had a great one the other day, messing around a bit, playing some 12 bar blues, then he says 'hey I got a jazzy one I've been working on'.
So I listened and really dug it. It started out with a really solid riff so we both played that together, then it went into pretty complex (for me anyway) chord changes. At that part I just started holding down a nice groove in the roots while he soloed and it sounded great and was a lot of fun. It was his song and he just stated he liked more notes from me (at first I was just playing a single root per chord to get the changes down), but the rhythm of my playing was up to me.
So I don't mind doing someone else's song and following it closely but the fact that he let me do my thing really made it much more fun.
But he also likes having me start with a line and playing along or on top. It's much more fun and personal than just having someone bark orders.
I may be in the back seat but they can't drive without me.
Because I am the one who knows the directions.
Because I am the one who knows the directions.
I have been elected as a band leader before, and even though I feel I'm reasonably competent in that capacity, I have little use for the role.
As John McVie famously said once when asked what behind-the-scenes role he played in Fleetwood Mac, "F--k all that. I play bass." That's my all-time favorite quote on the subject. My job is to create a foundation that anchors, energizes, guides, and inspires the rest of the group. That's the role I enjoy and it's the one I'm comfortable fulfilling, regardless of whether I'm doing it from center stage or as some no-name from the shadows of a backline.
I'm perfectly content just being the bass player.
As John McVie famously said once when asked what behind-the-scenes role he played in Fleetwood Mac, "F--k all that. I play bass." That's my all-time favorite quote on the subject. My job is to create a foundation that anchors, energizes, guides, and inspires the rest of the group. That's the role I enjoy and it's the one I'm comfortable fulfilling, regardless of whether I'm doing it from center stage or as some no-name from the shadows of a backline.
I'm perfectly content just being the bass player.
I have no problem being a passenger but then it's gotta pay $. Otherwise I need some sort of ownership and input.
Too many unproven songwriters want uncompensated backing musicians.
Too many unproven songwriters want uncompensated backing musicians.
Yes. If I lived in a different place, maybe I'd be more interested in being the creative force, but there are so many talented singer-songwriters in my town. I'm perfectly happy backing them up and letting them take the driver's seat, as long as they're respectful. My current band's frontman is great, he's an excellent singer and musician, he welcomes input from everyone in the band, he lets me write our setlist for every show (with suggestions and feedback), and he's a longtime resident (which means he has lots of middle-aged fans who come to our shows and actually use the tip jar).
Honestly I kind of like just being able to show up and do my job as a bass player, lock in with the drummer, and have fun. When I want to express myself, I can go to an open mic. I'd rather not have to worry about all the obligations of being a BL. But you know, different strokes for different folks, and anyone who can lead a band while playing bass has nothing but my utmost respect!
Honestly I kind of like just being able to show up and do my job as a bass player, lock in with the drummer, and have fun. When I want to express myself, I can go to an open mic. I'd rather not have to worry about all the obligations of being a BL. But you know, different strokes for different folks, and anyone who can lead a band while playing bass has nothing but my utmost respect!
Well to me I like to help out.....back seat as far as direction goes, but I have some fun designing posters and putting that stuff out there for advertisement. That said, I had very little input into new song selection and I struggled with that. I knew the genre of music and picked songs from that genre but they weren't picked to do. So Yeah, there is good and bad. But, as my band begins to crumble, as it is doing now, this is when I enjoy the back seat the most. I suppose I feel I don't have as much "invested", and not monetarily either, as the rest of the guys.
I keep myself relatively busy in multiple bands, one original metal/punk stuff, one 70s rock covers, and one Top 40 country with some originals by the "named" artist sprinkled in. I take on different levels of responsibility in each band.
In the country band, I offer very little input unless directly asked for it, in which case I give my honest opinions. At the end of the day, the decisions are all made by the band leader / artist, and I am there to support that. It's completely worry free on my end, and I love it for that. All I have to do is know my parts and show up to the gig on time, and I get paid at the end of the night. Who wouldn't want that?
The punk/metal stuff is primarily written by the guitarist and singer, but my input is valued and (usually) accepted. I'm usually too busy with the other two projects to have much input, so there aren't really many disagreements.
In the 70s rock band I'm trying to take on a bit more of a decision-making role, but usually get a lot of push-back on set list choices. Compared to the established boundaries of the country act, running things "democratically" (ie. where everyone's opinion must be coddled and stroked and accepted and told how pretty it is every day) can be exhausting and extremely frustrating when you aren't all on the same page.
Well everybody, I do believe the drummer takes the back seat the most, he or she sits back there, can't go anywhere and is behind everybody on stage. Every time I think of a band I think of the drummer 1st keeping that awesome beat, then 2nd the guitarists doing there badass solo's 3rd the singer with a voice that everybody wants to hear and then 4th, me, the Bassist holding down the rhythm section with a Bass that's fat, warm, punchy and clangy at times when needed. I LOVE IT! its my favorite instrument, the way it sounds all deep, low and mean sounding. You can clang it, pop it, pluck it, slap it strum it, finger tap it, play it clear or muffled, smooth or in your face punch, its awesome. And I have never stood back there next to the drummer and looked all boring, i move around just like the guitarists and singer when there's room enough and when there isn't I'm right up front with everybody else, plus I go wireless with Line 6 Relay its the best wireless for bass, its like having your 1/4" cable hooked up, you don't lose any tone at all. I don't need or want attention like a lead guitarist, but I'm not going to hide in the back ether. With all the hard rock and metal songs we did its cool to move around a little or stand up front when doing Bass solo's. Still after 32 years of being a Bassist I go out and jam sometimes, its fun, I love music, and its a life time hobby for me. My brother and I got our own business and I got wife and kid so I do a lot of stuff after work, my music, having fun, Dirt Bike riding and racing my badass Kawasaki KX 450 four strokes and 250 two stroke Motocross Dirt Bikes. So all and all I never looked at being a bassist as being in the back seat, hell sometimes when its my Bass solo I'll go up right next to my lead guitarist, start clangin my Bass right up front just like Steve Harris of Iron Maiden. Bassist are just like guitarist, you have a guitar in your hands and you got the whole stage to move around on. That's one of the reasons I can't be a drummer, you have to sit there and you can't get up and move or run around like the guitarists or singer. Plus Bass guitar is my favorite instrument, sounding too.
In the 3 piece I play around with, we all take turns at the wheel.
Treble guitar will chunka chunka while I twang away a riff or three.
I'll 1-2-3, 1-2-3 over and over while the treble guitar screams away a riff or three.
Bass and treble guitars will do separate but mutually supportive things while the electric cello rips through the soundscape.
Nobody has a 'place' and nobody has a 'role' (at least not permanently).
Back seat?
Naw, it's our rocket ship, and we all fly it baby!
Treble guitar will chunka chunka while I twang away a riff or three.
I'll 1-2-3, 1-2-3 over and over while the treble guitar screams away a riff or three.
Bass and treble guitars will do separate but mutually supportive things while the electric cello rips through the soundscape.
Nobody has a 'place' and nobody has a 'role' (at least not permanently).
Back seat?
Naw, it's our rocket ship, and we all fly it baby!
I don't have the time or energy for doing all the work that the band leader often does. I don't want to make a million phone calls to venues, or try to dicker over merch prices, try to find other bands to fill slots in a show, etc. If my guitarist wants to do that, fine.
He also does the majority of the song writing, and since I like his music, I'm willing to let him be "the guy." In the band I was in before I quit music for a while I was doing most of the writing, most of the logistics, and a lot of the show stuff. I didn't like the feeling that I was pulling everyone along with me. In the end, I also wasn't happy with the music I was writing either. My current project creates a great framework for me to work in. The guitarists layout the song and I write my parts. They don't tell me what to do, but if I ask for input I listen to what they have to say. What sucks is they rarely notice what I'm doing until we are in a studio. We will do a take and they will say "wow, that's I nice fill you put in there" and its the same fill I've had there since the song was written.
I've started being a little more assertive about getting my material into the band. I remain conscious of the fact that I don't want to change our "sound," and that I simply don't have the creative juices I used to for writing.
If there is one place I'd like to be a little more up front, its in the press\interviews we do. I'm not a limelight hog or anything, but my band mates aren't particularly eloquent. They are friendly guys but don't often convey ideas in a precise way.
He also does the majority of the song writing, and since I like his music, I'm willing to let him be "the guy." In the band I was in before I quit music for a while I was doing most of the writing, most of the logistics, and a lot of the show stuff. I didn't like the feeling that I was pulling everyone along with me. In the end, I also wasn't happy with the music I was writing either. My current project creates a great framework for me to work in. The guitarists layout the song and I write my parts. They don't tell me what to do, but if I ask for input I listen to what they have to say. What sucks is they rarely notice what I'm doing until we are in a studio. We will do a take and they will say "wow, that's I nice fill you put in there" and its the same fill I've had there since the song was written.
I've started being a little more assertive about getting my material into the band. I remain conscious of the fact that I don't want to change our "sound," and that I simply don't have the creative juices I used to for writing.
If there is one place I'd like to be a little more up front, its in the press\interviews we do. I'm not a limelight hog or anything, but my band mates aren't particularly eloquent. They are friendly guys but don't often convey ideas in a precise way.
Say Backseat To:
Geddy Lee
Flea
Lemmy
Paul McCartney
Les Claypool
Steve Harris
Ryan Martini
Duff Makagen
Michael Anthony
DD Verni
Fieldy
Marcus Miller
Billy Sheehan
Victor Wooten
Cliff Burton
Backseat Bassist that stand way back there all boring IMO give Bassist a bad reputation. To this day there are so many people that think, THINK! Bass guitar is just an instrument for someone that can't play guitar and you just stand back there like a statue and just barely do your part, nothing special. I hate that, if a guitarist did that everyone would be like that guitarist was boring as hell. Your up on stage, WAKE UP! JAM THAT BASS, ENTERTAIN THE CROWD, HAVE FUN, LOOK ALIVE. Hee Hee, that's all, my opinion. Some backseat Bass players need someone to sneak up on stage behind them and light a match under their ass, that'd wake em up.
Geddy Lee
Flea
Lemmy
Paul McCartney
Les Claypool
Steve Harris
Ryan Martini
Duff Makagen
Michael Anthony
DD Verni
Fieldy
Marcus Miller
Billy Sheehan
Victor Wooten
Cliff Burton
Backseat Bassist that stand way back there all boring IMO give Bassist a bad reputation. To this day there are so many people that think, THINK! Bass guitar is just an instrument for someone that can't play guitar and you just stand back there like a statue and just barely do your part, nothing special. I hate that, if a guitarist did that everyone would be like that guitarist was boring as hell. Your up on stage, WAKE UP! JAM THAT BASS, ENTERTAIN THE CROWD, HAVE FUN, LOOK ALIVE. Hee Hee, that's all, my opinion. Some backseat Bass players need someone to sneak up on stage behind them and light a match under their ass, that'd wake em up.
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