Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Bands led by the Bassist
- Thread starter Buster666
- Start date
Well I could say the Funk Brothers - and indicate the contribution that Jamerson made. But again, in this context we are looking through a Bass Players Lens. The Funk Brothers were a group to some degree - and Jamerson was a significant force there. But if you are looking at the Catalog of Music they contributed to - the Talent there is endless - on all fronts.
So in spite of the great presence and contribution of many of the these Bass Players - I think it hard to discount - in many of the examples listed here - the rest of the Band. <Period : )
Having said that, we tend to view things from a Bass Centric perspective (at least I know I do). All of these great players are great Musicians that played Bass and are also great Bass Players that made great music unto themselves and part of a group of other great Musicians. I think you get my point - or at least catch my drift.
So in spite of the great presence and contribution of many of the these Bass Players - I think it hard to discount - in many of the examples listed here - the rest of the Band. <Period : )
Having said that, we tend to view things from a Bass Centric perspective (at least I know I do). All of these great players are great Musicians that played Bass and are also great Bass Players that made great music unto themselves and part of a group of other great Musicians. I think you get my point - or at least catch my drift.
No way. Look at the songwriting credits and the thing that they made to him. Hetfield leads, and Ulrich thinks he leads.
Some of your examples aren't so good:
Buffalo Springfield - Steve Stills, Neil Young and Richie Furay were the writers and singers. Jim Messina came in on bass for the last album and I think wrote one song. No bass player led that band.
The Who - Townshend was the overwhelming writer and clear, undisputed leader - that's a no-brainer.
Yes - That's hard ... Anderson and Howe were the main writers with Squire chipping in but not as much. I'd argue that Squire wasn't even the best musician in that band (I'd rate Bruford and Howe higher) though all that boils down to opinion.
Weather Report - Zawinul was the undisputed leader, though Jaco made a huge splash and became their most popular member. Zawinul ran that band and often overruled Jaco. Though they often disagreed, Jaco himself would never have argued that Zawinul wasn't the leader of Weather Report.
Buffalo Springfield - Steve Stills, Neil Young and Richie Furay were the writers and singers. Jim Messina came in on bass for the last album and I think wrote one song. No bass player led that band.
The Who - Townshend was the overwhelming writer and clear, undisputed leader - that's a no-brainer.
Yes - That's hard ... Anderson and Howe were the main writers with Squire chipping in but not as much. I'd argue that Squire wasn't even the best musician in that band (I'd rate Bruford and Howe higher) though all that boils down to opinion.
Weather Report - Zawinul was the undisputed leader, though Jaco made a huge splash and became their most popular member. Zawinul ran that band and often overruled Jaco. Though they often disagreed, Jaco himself would never have argued that Zawinul wasn't the leader of Weather Report.
+44 - not only was mark hoppus lead vocalist, but he wrote pretty much the whole album (guitars and bass) and recorded the guitars. THe other members were added in shortly before the album's release. I'm not tryin to start another Hoppus thread though, haha.
The leader is the guy who writes the songs, makes the big decisions and sets the agenda.
Some bands have clear leaders like The Who. Townshend wrote the overwhelming number of songs, came up with the concepts for albums, wrote lyrics, was the spokesman and dominant personality. Calling Entwistle the leader of The Who is ridiculous.
Other bands have two leaders, like The Beatles.
Other bands have no clear leader like maybe Yes. Though now in their old age retro circuit days, Squire may be the leader by attrition and default.
Some bands have clear leaders like The Who. Townshend wrote the overwhelming number of songs, came up with the concepts for albums, wrote lyrics, was the spokesman and dominant personality. Calling Entwistle the leader of The Who is ridiculous.
Other bands have two leaders, like The Beatles.
Other bands have no clear leader like maybe Yes. Though now in their old age retro circuit days, Squire may be the leader by attrition and default.
I think some people have different definitions of what a "leader" is. Who? Yes? Uh uh.
Yeah, I'm having a real hard time grasping how the original post is defining "best".
Rob Deleo is technically the leader of STP, as he's their prime songwriter, but he's certainly not the main focus of the band, Weiland is.
Geddy Lee's the singer and bassist of Rush, but Peart's the principal lyricist. And is Geddy technically the "best" musician? I dunno.
McCartney was a co-singer/songwriter in the Beatles, but everyone knows that Lennon was technically the leader.
So how do you define "best" and/or leader? Is it the guy who principally writes the songs (Sting)? Sings leads and acts as frontman or main focal point (Geddy Lee)? Or is it the founding member or someone with the genius to assemble great musicians (Squire). The answer could be all of the above.
Rob Deleo is technically the leader of STP, as he's their prime songwriter, but he's certainly not the main focus of the band, Weiland is.
Geddy Lee's the singer and bassist of Rush, but Peart's the principal lyricist. And is Geddy technically the "best" musician? I dunno.
McCartney was a co-singer/songwriter in the Beatles, but everyone knows that Lennon was technically the leader.
So how do you define "best" and/or leader? Is it the guy who principally writes the songs (Sting)? Sings leads and acts as frontman or main focal point (Geddy Lee)? Or is it the founding member or someone with the genius to assemble great musicians (Squire). The answer could be all of the above.
I don't think there's much denying that they found their greatest success and made some of their best music with Jaco in the band. Heavy Weather - sublime. I Sing the Body Electric? Sweetnighter? Not bad, but nowhere near the same level as Heavy Weather. Not even on the same playing field.
While I wouldn't go as far as saying that Zawinul and Shorter are second to Jaco, I think that it's pretty obvious that Jaco made Weather Report into the band that most of its fans recognize. Dude.
hahaha, man, I was joking. Jason was so abused by his bandmantes!!! the total oposite of a leader! xD
anyway, Plastic Tree.
