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Do Only Prog-Fans Like Chris Squire?

#41
As a HUGE prog fan, prog WRITER, prog PLAYER in two PROG bands with all PROG loving/playing/devoted friends, I am eminently UNqualified to discuss Squire's appeal or lack thereof to non-prog folk. However, the discussion about what is an isn't prog compels me to reference a great quote about prog in general that has been perfectly borne out in the above thread:

"I can't describe what prog is, I just know it when I hear it." (OK, the quote is mine, and it's been stolen from a US legislator who said they couldn't describe what porn actually is compared to nudity but knew it when he saw it)

And yes, prog lover or not, Hendrix is the Squire of guitar, and YES, prog rules. Deal with it and carry on. :) :) :)
 
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#44
As long as we're on the subject, you know what always just floored me? When rock journalists/critics referred to Him as a "frustrated guitarist". ?! Ok! Sure! Coming from a frustrated writer! Groundbreaking electric bass guitarist who is a dynamite vocalist and showman. Yeah, he's frustrated. All the way to the bank. Bravo, Chris!
 
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#45
I played in many three piece bands where filling in was necessity. I'm not sure sure, but I think this is where the "Frustrated guitarist" would originate, Try carrying the melody and the rhythm at the same time.
 
#46
GotRock? said:
I played in many three piece bands where filling in was necessity. I'm not sure sure, but I think this is where the "Frustrated guitarist" would originate, Try carrying the melody and the rhythm at the same time.
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I think he was playing unlike other bassists. Higher up the neck and with more treble. Less root and fifth. McCartney/Jamerson/Entwhistle, maybe Monk, hybrid. What could you call it? He must be trying to play lead guitar, but he's not good enough for six strings. Ha!
 
#49
Jaco Taco said:
How would you say he's one dimensional?
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He plays one kind of music - period. He's one kind of player. He is (or certainly was) very good at it - but he's one kind of player.

I actually owned an instructional video he did years ago. What a letdown. He would show parts of songs and then explain he had no idea *what* he was doing harmonically, only that it sounded good. Very disappointing.
 
#50
SanDiegoHarry said:
He plays one kind of music - period. He's one kind of player. He is (or certainly was) very good at it - but he's one kind of player.
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Frankly, I think it takes a lot more creativity to develop your own style and make it unique and influential rather than be some session guy who is like "I can play jazz, country, rock, reggae, etc.". So what? So you are good at imitating all sorts of styles. That's not creativity, that's not originality.

My highest respect goes to innovators and creators, not imitators.
 
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#51
Chris Squire is Yes, and he drives it hard. Most G-Wankers hate Chris Squire because he so easily outplays them, and sounds great doing it. The Ox's body of work and Geddy's most certainly fall under that same category of bass over achievers. Marcus Miller takes a different approach with his unique style. Do you hear anyone complain that he's too loud or too busy or that he dominates his band?
 
#52
Chri
MVE said:
So, yes I love Chris Squire.
And no, I don't really like most other Prog.

I think the reason is that the songs lack a certain emotional content.

(Obviously, that is only my opinion. I really don't want to insult anyone who feels a deep connection to Tom Sawyer or Red Barchetta.)
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Chris Squire rules....Rush are not prog rock!!!!! Genesis jumped the prog rock shark after Trick of the Tail! Yes was the definition of progressive rock until the 90's reboot. Nothing progressive about "Owner of a lonely Heart" !
 
#53
I think that anyone that appreciates skill and talent will appreciate Chris. That doesn't necessarily mean that they'll like his stuff, but they'll respect his ability. I think the same holds true for appreciation of any other musician's skills. For instance, I'm one of the dozen or so people in the world that never really liked The Beatles' music, but as a musician myself I can't argue with their talents and their rightfully earned place in music history.
 
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#55
To be honest, I don't think the question really makes sense. If I say I'm a "prog fan," does that mean I'm now committed to liking ALL music that gets labeled "prog?" That would be ridiculous, like saying I like blues means I admire every hack who strums a 12-bar I-IV-V at an open mic. There are some blues artists I like and others I don't. I don't think there's really any such thing as being a fan of a genre, only of artists within a genre, case by case. I like a number of "prog" bands. There are a lot of them that leave me cold, too. So am I a "prog fan" or not?

If you are a Chris Squire fan, you ARE a fan of a prog artist. You can't lift his playing out of everything else going on in the band, he plays in interaction with it. That doesn't mean you have to like everything else with the same label.
 
#56
I grew up listening to Yes from the bands start and Chris Squier is a bass players - bass player. All of their music is great, imo and I have seen them play live many times, starting in the seventies. As far as the definition "prog" goes, that is a more recent label.
 
#57
I guess I kinda agree hrodbert696...I do like Squire and I do like some prog but, I don't really consider myself to be a prog fan..and this is coming from a guy that plays in what would be considered a prog band..Squire,Geddy,Wetton,Lake etc. were influential in the way I approach how I play with this "prog" band..I also was thinking "what is prog" and who would be considered prog ? One could argue that Primus is prog..Les is certainly a progressive player IMO and all of his projects seem to fit the definition..What about Zappa ?..I most certainly think he was progressive..hell,he may have invented it but, neither of these two guys are the first thing you think of when someone mentions prog..so I guess I really don't understand the question but, I do like Squire and Yes..and I do like some other bands that fit under the prog label..
 
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#58
SanDiegoHarry said:
Yes. He is a one dimensional player, to be sure. And I credit him as a HUGE early influence on my playing... but when I discovered broader players, like Jameson I understood. Chris belongs with Yes. That's perfect for him.
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Jamerson is broader, how? Squire does prog, does straight rock ala the Rabin version of Yes, even heard him doing nicely on smooth jazz with Eddie Harris (EH in the UK album). But his most interesting work has been in the context that prog provided him.

Jamerson belongs with Motown. That's perfect for him. Jamerson in Yes....it would be interesting, but not the same. Squire backing Smoky Robinson--it would be interesting, but not the same. Either guy could have been really interesting in Led Zeppelin, but the results would have been quite different. Not sure either guy would have been all that well suited for Weather Report.
 
#60
On a side-note, Chris cites James Jamerson as a big influence on his playing (Source: Invalid Link Removed). I remember Chris playing a bit of Motown on his instructional video, too.

"It would be remiss of me at this point not to mention the contribution of Funk Brother James Jamerson who played on more Number 1 Hits (mainly for Motown records) than anyone else who ever lived."
 

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