Billy Talbot, Cliff Williams, Dusty Hill...New player question.

Billy "Roar in the right key" Talbot and Dusy Hill are big icons for me. Can't say anything about Williams as I don't like AC/DC's music at all (can't get past the gargling vocals). The common element is that they play what the songs need, and those songs don't need a lot. It's a great thing to learn. Now if the songs needed more would they be able to play more? I don't know. But the lesson is that a lot of players don't have the will to sublimate thier egos to the song and these guys do.

I'd add Tim Drummond (especially his work on Neil Young's "Harvest") to your list- sometimes all you need is the root on the one, and he's not afraid to do that. But they're (Talbot and Drummond) no better than Leland Skalr for example who has also recorded wtih a lot of the same people.

The key is whether people play in a simple manner because that how the music they play sounds best or do they play in a simple manner because that's all they ever cared to learn? One is musical integritcy, the other a poor example for learning from. Having read interviews with all three of your guideposts, I think they all choose a path where they focus on what the BAND and the SONG needs. And that's a good lesson for any musician.

jte

 

I'm pretty sure williams just plays along with the rhythm guitar and not much else. Hill has that awesome blues groove going and Talbot plays with one of the greatest writers/players ever.

 

Their good. They all can play more if they needed to.

You actually think Billy Gibbons would be in a band with ****** musicians??

 

You owned/sold/traded 35 different basses? I just had to ask...

Good choices on bass players. Laying it down, being the foundation for the band, solid playing; what more can you ask for?

 

Tele-
Welcome to the brotherhood!
Check out Tommy Shannon's work when you get some time.

 

You're free to like who you want. You don't need to ask anybody's permission.

I think JTE had some very good points. Especially "what a song needs VS. that's all they can do". Personally, I like to hear some groove coming from a player. Now ZZ Top are a great band and Dusty and Frank are an incredible rhythm section. AC/DC are from that period when rock bands still grooved and the whole band is good at that.

As for Talbot, I had to look him up to know who you were talking about. Personally I always thought Crazy Horse was a detriment to Neil Young. Young is a talented songwriter, but I always thought Crazy Horse was one of the most plodding, top-of-the-beat, grooveless bands I ever heard. This is all my opinion of course and I repeat: You can like and not like whatever you want.

More important than chops (and to SOME extent, groove) does a player have a voice on the instrument? I think its very possible to be a "meat and potatoes" "playing for the song" type of player and still say something on the instrument. I'm not sure Talbot has that.

Once again, IMHO, your results may vary...

 

I second this as well... I would also check out Geezer Butler- everything he does is great, but the first 4 sabbath albums are classic

 

+1

Geezer, fantastic groove and blues sound.