Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston on playing bass...

[Hofnerbacker]

I just got through reading an interesting interview with The Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston. He said some odd things about his bass playing:

"In later years when I joined The Beach Boys, I learned…not how to play the bass, but how to play the songs on the bass. I still can’t play the bass, but I can play the songs. Weird, huh? Like a kid learning violin via the Suzuki method."

"To this day, honestly, I don’t play bass. I couldn’t sit in with a band playing bass, but I could play The Beach Boys songs. Pretty weird!"

This is a guy who has been touring with the band since 1965. Anyway, it's a great interview. Here's the link: ENDLESS HARMONY: AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE JOHNSTON – VALERIE SIMADIS (wordpress.com)

 

[bholder]

He apparently gets the job done in a way that meets his employer's needs. Meets requirements.

 

[Michedelic]

He’s no Carol Kaye, but he gets the job done. I don’t think the audiences care, they just want to hear the songs with close enough vocals. Brian Wilson’s band is another story…a virtual Wrecking Crew tribute band.

 

[corinpills]

I opened up for the non- Brian Beach Boys a few years back and Bruce was the nicest guy. He was like a funny uncle at a wedding, super gregarious. Gotta say it: Mike Love was really nice, too.

 

[nixdad]

I just got through reading an interesting interview with The Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston. He said some odd things about his bass playing:

"In later years when I joined The Beach Boys, I learned…not how to play the bass, but how to play the songs on the bass. I still can’t play the bass, but I can play the songs. Weird, huh? Like a kid learning violin via the Suzuki method."

"To this day, honestly, I don’t play bass. I couldn’t sit in with a band playing bass, but I could play The Beach Boys songs. Pretty weird!"

This is a guy who has been touring with the band since 1965. Anyway, it's a great interview. Here's the link: ENDLESS HARMONY: AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE JOHNSTON – VALERIE SIMADIS (wordpress.com)

Yep, Bruce is by no means a bassist, he's primarily a talented composer and vocalist who learned how to play the bass for live gigs, while (primarily) singing harmony parts which we all know is a huge part of The Beach Boys sound - I'm not sure if Bruce even has any credits for recording bass on any albums (live recordings not included.) He's not even credited with playing bass on his own BB compositions (Disney Girls, Deirdre, etc.) Heck, it was no different for Brian, who simply filled the need as the band's bassist in the early years. Besides Carol Kaye and other members of the Wrecking Crew (there were as many as 3 bassists on the same track, especially around the Pet Sounds era - electric bass, upright and tic tac (bass 6.) Brian, Al & Carl all have bass recording credits (later bassist recording credits included Joe Osborn, Ed Carter, etc.)
Thanks for posting!

I opened up for the non- Brian Beach Boys a few years back and Bruce was the nicest guy. He was like a funny uncle at a wedding, super gregarious. Gotta say it: Mike Love was really nice, too.

Good to hear!

 

[J Wilson]

He replaced Glen Campbell on bass in the live shows, and nobody on the other side of the footlights noticed.

No questions? Didn't think so.

 

[Dynacord]

Mid 90's I played on two Beach Boys tracks. No idea if they were ever used but cool experience and incredible hearing THOSE voices in the headphones - which DID include Brian Wilson. It was at Al Jardine's studio in Big Sur. Played a '65 Jazz Bass I had on Don't Fight the Sea and Al's Hofner Beatle bass on another (don't remember the title). I know Don't Fight was released about 15 years later. Someone else has the bass credit so it easily could have been replaced. Sounds pretty similar to what I remember. Also did a couple live shows with Al - and Johnny Rivers.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

Mid 90's I played on two Beach Boys tracks. No idea if they were ever used but cool experience and incredible hearing THOSE voices in the headphones - which DID include Brian Wilson. It was at Al Jardine's studio in Big Sur. Played a '65 Jazz Bass I had on Don't Fight the Sea and Al's Hofner Beatle bass on another (don't remember the title). I know Don't Fight was released about 15 years later. Someone else has the bass credit so it easily could have been replaced. Sounds pretty similar to what I remember. Also did a couple live shows with Al - and Johnny Rivers.

Great story. Lots of weird and unknown anecdotes in the musical community. Good for you.

 

[StayLow]

I just got through reading an interesting interview with The Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston. He said some odd things about his bass playing:

"In later years when I joined The Beach Boys, I learned…not how to play the bass, but how to play the songs on the bass. I still can’t play the bass, but I can play the songs. Weird, huh? Like a kid learning violin via the Suzuki method."

"To this day, honestly, I don’t play bass. I couldn’t sit in with a band playing bass, but I could play The Beach Boys songs. Pretty weird!"

This is a guy who has been touring with the band since 1965. Anyway, it's a great interview. Here's the link: ENDLESS HARMONY: AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE JOHNSTON – VALERIE SIMADIS (wordpress.com)

Same is true of a typical original pop or rock band, very much including those that sell-out arenas, excepting those with hired guns in the group.

Nothing new, though the humility os refreshing.

 

[basspraiser]

Bruce was hired more for his vocals than his bass playing..... Which he fills impeccably!

The BB are one of my 3 favorite bands....

Brian is an artist.... More than an artist!

I love his compositions!

It's amazing to find out his ( and their) influence on musicians today.

I'm torn between the 2 touring bands... Leaning towards the Brian/ Al Jardin Band...

Mike has a ' tude at times.... He's great but it's not all about him... At much as he thinks so..

To those who have actually played with them... I'm jealous! Like they said...." Hearing those vocals in the headphones..."

Saw them several times.... Most memorable was 1983 at the Wisconsin State Fair.... At the race track......awesome!

Loved Carl....miss him dearly...

 

[Leigh Semmens]

The first record I ever purchased was Pet Sounds.

 

[ToddB1963]

Having written and performed 'Disney Girls', not only one of the greatest Beach Boys songs, but IMO one of the most beautiful ballads I've ever heard, I think I'll cut him some slack.

 

[Dynacord]

Leaning towards the Brian/ Al Jardin Band...

I would have loved to have seen them when they were touring with Jeff Beck playing with them. Now I'm wondering who was the bass player on those gigs...

 

[basspraiser]

The first record I ever purchased was Pet Sounds.

Still one of the best albums ever made

 

[dougjwray]

I worked with someone who engineering one of their recordings. He said that individually, their singing could be a bit "off." But together, the blend was magical.

 

[nixdad]

Bruce was hired more for his vocals than his bass playing..... Which he fills impeccably!

The BB are one of my 3 favorite bands....

Brian is an artist.... More than an artist!

I love his compositions!

It's amazing to find out his ( and their) influence on musicians today.

I'm torn between the 2 touring bands... Leaning towards the Brian/ Al Jardin Band...

Mike has a ' tude at times.... He's great but it's not all about him... At much as he thinks so..

To those who have actually played with them... I'm jealous! Like they said...." Hearing those vocals in the headphones..."

Saw them several times.... Most memorable was 1983 at the Wisconsin State Fair.... At the race track......awesome!

Loved Carl....miss him dearly...

I couldn't agree more with everything you said. The BB's are one of my top 3 favorite bands as well. A buddy of mine in the 80's/90's named Rod Clark recorded the bass on Kokomo.

If you have not already done so, I recommend listening to the "Feel Flows" (Sunflower & Surf's Up) box set, as well as the "Sail On Sailor 1972" (Carl and the Passions & Holland) box set. I've always been a fan of Brian & Carl, but listening to these sets has really given me a newfound appreciation for Dennis who had his own amazing compositions at the time. I've always loved "Forever," but jeez, there is so much more.

BTW, I was fortunate enough to meet Carl in 1985.

I would have loved to have seen them when they were touring with Jeff Beck playing with them. Now I'm wondering who was the bass player on those gigs...

I believe it was Bob Lizik, who was Brian's touring bassist for many years. I was fortunate to see him perform in 2000 when Brian performed Pet Sounds at the Hollywood Bowl. What a band!

 

[basspraiser]

I couldn't agree more with everything you said. The BB's are one of my top 3 favorite bands as well. A buddy of mine in the 80's/90's named Rod Clark recorded the bass on Kokomo.

If you have not already done so, I recommend listening to the "Feel Flows" (Sunflower & Surf's Up) box set, as well as the "Sail On Sailor 1972" (Carl and the Passions & Holland) box set. I've always been a fan of Brian & Carl, but listening to these sets has really given me a newfound appreciation for Dennis who had his own amazing compositions at the time. I've always loved "Forever," but jeez, there is so much more.

BTW, I was fortunate enough to meet Carl in 1985.
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I believe it was Bob Lizik, who was Brian's touring bassist for many years. I was fortunate to see him perform in 2000 when Brian performed Pet Sounds at the Hollywood Bowl. What a band!
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I've got both of those sets and agree.

I was going to see Brian a couple of years ago but he cancelled COVID I guess ...

Been years since I've seen the BBs live.

But I have several live albums.... So..."almost".

PS...love the picture! I'm jealous

PPS.... Love the Lakland !

 

[basspraiser]

I worked with someone who engineering one of their recordings. He said that individually, their singing could be a bit "off." But together, the blend was magical.

Kind of like the way the Beatles all tuned to the " off" piano in the studio... It worked in unison

 

[Prof.Dr.Metz]

Yep, Bruce is by no means a bassist, he's primarily a talented composer and vocalist who learned how to play the bass for live gigs, while (primarily) singing harmony parts which we all know is a huge part of The Beach Boys sound - I'm not sure if Bruce even has any credits for recording bass on any albums (live recordings not included.) He's not even credited with playing bass on his own BB compositions (Disney Girls, Deirdre, etc.) Heck, it was no different for Brian, who simply filled the need as the band's bassist in the early years. Besides Carol Kaye and other members of the Wrecking Crew (there were as many as 3 bassists on the same track, especially around the Pet Sounds era - electric bass, upright and tic tac (bass 6.) Brian, Al & Carl all have bass recording credits (later bassist recording credits included Joe Osborn, Ed Carter, etc.)
Thanks for posting!


Good to hear!

Ed Carter! His playing on "In Concert" is super tight. Listen to Sloop John B and Sail On Sailor.

 

[nixdad]

Ed Carter! His playing on "In Concert" is super tight. Listen to Sloop John B and Sail On Sailor.

You're preaching to the choir, baby!
I LOVE Ed's playing on the In Concert album, and how high the bass is in the mix throughout. BTW, go back and have a listen to the bass on Help Me Rhonda and Fun, Fun, Fun as well.