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Bill the Buddha Dickens
- Thread starter Bass for Beef
- Start date
j-raj said:umm... the food and snack vendors?
Speaking of that...the prices are rediculous. The lemonaide was doused in sugar YUCK!
I've actually MET the man, and he took his time not only to talk to us, but show us some pointers as well, who cares if he cant sing? This is talkBASS, not talkSING. abark000,When as a performer, is drawing a big crowd not a good thing unless you're dead or goin' to jail? Your opinion is yours to have, but until YOU have made the accomplishments he has, dont rag his artistry, thats childish, plus I'm sure that YOU are a MUCH better player 
I make it a point to never criticize any other bassist, especially when that other bassist is making a living at his craft while I'm sitting here at my computer wishing I was making a living as a bassist :scowl:
You do not get to the point where Mr. Dickens is by being a stink-*ss player. If anyone thinks he stinks, then you're not listening to him play. You may not like his style, but he definitely doesn't stink
You do not get to the point where Mr. Dickens is by being a stink-*ss player. If anyone thinks he stinks, then you're not listening to him play. You may not like his style, but he definitely doesn't stink
Lo end PUNCH said:I've actually MET the man, and he took his time not only to talk to us, but show us some pointers as well, who cares if he cant sing? This is talkBASS, not talkSING. abark000,When as a performer, is drawing a big crowd not a good thing unless you're dead or goin' to jail? Your opinion is yours to have, but until YOU have made the accomplishments he has, dont rag his artistry, thats childish, plus I'm sure that YOU are a MUCH better player
I will stop responding if you don't show me some respect. That is one of the cardinal rules of the forum, Show Respect to All Members. Last time I checked I was one.
You said it perfectly, my opinion is mine to have. Mine. I don't feel the need to explain my opinions. I don't like his music. I don't have to be "better" than him decide in my own mind that I don't like his music. Am I a more technical player than him? Nope, not even close and I never will be. Nor am I trying to be. I make music for personal enjoyment, not to showcase my technique.
I also don't like the music of Jaco, Steve Vai, The Black Crows, and countless other bands and performers. Again I am not "better" than any of these musicians. If you like them that is your perogative. If you are insulted when someone dislikes something that you happen to like, well then I'm sorry for you.
My point about drawing crowds was this: Car crashes draw crowds. I'll leave it at that.
Now if you want to debate this further, which I am fine with, do so in a respectful manner. Any more accusatory posts will be ignored.
Peace,
Adam
Internet arrogance? wow. First off, No one really cares if you stop responding, so get over yourself. The only disrespectful thing that's been said or done is you comparing an artist's expression to an accident. Comparing someone's playing (ANYONE's playing) to a car crash is not only mean spirited, but it's inappropriate.
come on, chill out folks...
How about some one change the direction of this thread?
...I don't know, maybe someone could bring up the part about how Victor helped to pull Bill out of retirement. OR What great accomplishments he has done, anything other than this stupid internet argument crap that always goes no where.
How about some one change the direction of this thread?
...I don't know, maybe someone could bring up the part about how Victor helped to pull Bill out of retirement. OR What great accomplishments he has done, anything other than this stupid internet argument crap that always goes no where.
Where did I disrespect you anyway??? I didnt. But its ok for you to disrespect a fellow musician and bassist? One who has done his part in contributing to the wonderfu, WONDERFUL world of bass? Respect is EARNED. Not demanded, and MUST be given in order to be recieved. PLEASE, get over yourself. Nobody here dissed you because they stood up for an artist AND nobody owes you respect unless you have respect. Peace!!
You callin me stupid J!? You must want to fight!? Come on! 
(i put two just to be safe hehe)
I didn't know that victor pulled him out of retirement. How old is he? I didn't peg him for being "retirement" age.
(i put two just to be safe hehe) I didn't know that victor pulled him out of retirement. How old is he? I didn't peg him for being "retirement" age.
Fretless5verfan said:
Arrogance goes both ways. I showed him respect in my posts. "Get over myself"? I'll leave that one alone.
First, how do you define better? Is better, "chops for days/playing circles around someone/soloing"? Or is better, playing the perfect line for the song? In my opinion, Sting/Mark Sandman/Nick Oliveri/Micheal Henderson/etc (supporting bassists; rarely ,if ever, soloists) are all "better" to me because they play parts that fit the song for the entire song. They support the song, keep the song interesting, and do their job. Flash is secondary to the music.
Maybe I read his post wrong, but the bit about "I'm sure you are a better player" was aimed directly at me and seemed accusatory. If that is not how it was intended then I apologize for my response.
The analogy was to show the nature of the crowd that he draws. They come for the wow factor. He is playing an ERB (something most haven't even heard of much less seen) and he is playing it fast. Wow factor has never moved me, sorry. I find his soloing about as interesting as a car crash, which something I am not even slightly interested in. Again that is my opinion, if you love it great. Not to say he isn't talented, but I don't like what he creates with his talent.
Not that I dislike technical playing, I love it when it fits the song and has space. Not just a bursts of speed. Paul Chambers could solo all day and I would listen to him till he stopped. Because he uses space, I dig his tone, and I love his playing simple as that.
I will say again, that my opinion is my opinion. No one has to share it, agree with it, or take it a fact. I just don't like that kind of playing; on any instrument. Everything I've heard by him has been alright until he starts the super fast slapping bit. Out of four or five clips of him that I have heard, he has done that stuff in every one. It bores me, sorry.
If you love it to death then I think that is great. Music should move you and his evidently does. But I prefer space over technique.
For instance which would you rather listen to, David Gilmour play a solo or Steve Vai play a solo. Vai buries Gilmour in ability, but Gilmour plays the perfect solo everytime. Perfect as in it couldn't possibly be better and if he added anything else it would detract from the song.
Again this is my opinion.
Everything you said makes sense...
EXCEPT the car crash anology still. How do you know the crowd comes for the wow factor? You COULD say that about a lot of people, you mentioned Vai, he's one of them, Sheehan, Wooten, Otiel, Jaco...all those guys use(d) butt loads of really technical playing, but i enjoy listening to them for the music, not the wow factor. If i went to go see bill dickens play, it'd be because of his melodic taste and his music, not his chops.
EXCEPT the car crash anology still. How do you know the crowd comes for the wow factor? You COULD say that about a lot of people, you mentioned Vai, he's one of them, Sheehan, Wooten, Otiel, Jaco...all those guys use(d) butt loads of really technical playing, but i enjoy listening to them for the music, not the wow factor. If i went to go see bill dickens play, it'd be because of his melodic taste and his music, not his chops.
Fretless5verfan said:You callin me stupid J!? You must want to fight!? Come on!
*no comment*
...nice touch with the 2 smiley's, not sure I would beleive you if there was only one... (j/k).
Fretless5verfan said:
Lo end PUNCH said:OK, Victor helped pull Bill out of retirement
He retired from playing for most all of the 90's. He spoke during and after a clinic he did at the GC-ATL (Rhythm City) back in April 2001, and talked about how dear Victor's interest in Billy's work was and how that really made him pick the bass back up after many years. There has to be someone here that knows more about this than I, maybe they will chime in.
He is a real personable and mellow guy, he really wanted to show everybody exactly what he was doing on bass. He did a smooth-jazz/hip-hop version of Giant Steps that really blew me away. Granted there was an accompanying' track that he played against.
Each time I see him at NAMM, I remember how cool and approachable he is...
Fretless5verfan said:
That is just how I perceive it. Again opinion. I'll just bow out and say agree to disagree. I've said my piece, anything else would be just restating my posts.
Peace,
Adam
- Aug 16, 2003
- 1,130
- 24
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist;Essential sound products,Dunlop, Ergo Instruments
bill played with ramsey lewis through most of the 80's,toward the end of that time he started to do more writing and production work.i saw him for the first time in '88 or '89 in a small chicago club called the bull's with saxaphonist james perkins.a few week's before i had heard richard patterson(miles davis,david sanborn)at the same club and had been blown away.i walked in not knowing what or who i was going to hear but when i saw bill's ken smith six string i was like"what the....?" at that time i had barely seen a 5 string much less a six.when the band started bill laid back playing great supportive bass behind everybody in fact i don't think he soloed for the first 2-3 songs but when he did.....WOW!!! my friend who was with me went"is he playing a bass because i never heard anything like that"i just said me neither.a few years later he was not playing much in public and real deep into his production thing but he started playing a few gig's around town and when he did it was like a chicago bass player convention,he was killing it and talking about 'man i need to shed" one of the things that struck me about him was that he was sooo open to share,many nights i know he wanted to go home but talked to me for hours after his gig showing me what ever i asked.bill is one of the coolist guy's i know and i hope that the world get's to hear him in a way that shows ALL of what he can do so well.Lo end PUNCH said:OK, Victor helped pull Bill out of retirement
Isn't that the definition of wanker?Lo end PUNCH said:
If NAMM crowds are a measure of musical ability then Nikki Six and Gene Simmons are the best bass players in the world.I don't think he's either a wanker or a great player, I think he's both. I've heard him groove and he's one of the best, I've heard him wank and he's the king of that.
Oddly if it wasn't for his wanking most of us wouldn't have any idea who he is. I'd guess he is aware of that and using it to his advantage.
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