flea is a pretty damn good bassist, he can stay with a song but still demonstrate his innovative approach to any kind of music, whether it is somehting slow otherside or fast and funcky get on top, he can stay with a song and provide a solid point to go back to. he is a good basist without having to become the bass verison of steve vai, flea dosent masturbate with his bass, he plays for the chilli peppers
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Flea is not really that great is he??
- Thread starter arvidgunardi
- Start date
I think Flea has been important in the respect that he's shown the (music-ignorant) kids of the MTV generation that bass is a serious instrument, and not just some excuse for being in a band. Many people who're not as familiar with music as we players are, sometimes just don't hear the bass. They couldn't distinguish the bass line in a song if their lives depended on it - but with Flea and RHCP, the bass is often more up-front and easier to recognize. I just feel that he has to be given some credit for giving the bass an identity for the mainstream pop audience.
Hey Oysterman, that's spot on...
He's changed the image of a bass player from the guy who stands at the back and nods his head into something cool and accessable.
...and as you said Fleas (often ott) bass lines have meant that people want to hear the bass in a song, rather than bass just being the low end to support a guitar part.
He's also written a number of bass lines that have become world-famous hooks.
He's changed the image of a bass player from the guy who stands at the back and nods his head into something cool and accessable.
...and as you said Fleas (often ott) bass lines have meant that people want to hear the bass in a song, rather than bass just being the low end to support a guitar part.
He's also written a number of bass lines that have become world-famous hooks.
I've heard some of Wootens live stuff... and yes it was an impressive display of technical & musical prowess.
...but in my opinion it still didnt have the same level of energy and the vibe of Fleas playing.
Sometimes I feel that when music is played perfectly it sounds too controlled and the vibe is lost. Rawness is nice.
It's just personal perference, but my favourite bassists have never been the 'super slick bassist' types.
Some day soon I'll invest in some thing with Wooten playing on it...
...but in my opinion it still didnt have the same level of energy and the vibe of Fleas playing.
Sometimes I feel that when music is played perfectly it sounds too controlled and the vibe is lost. Rawness is nice.
It's just personal perference, but my favourite bassists have never been the 'super slick bassist' types.
Some day soon I'll invest in some thing with Wooten playing on it...
I remember in an article in BP around the time "One Not Minute" came out that Flea said that he no longer felt the need to prove he's the world/s most badass bass player any longer. I appreciated the fact that he realized he could be too showy and that he should concentrate more on the songs.
While I enjoy his funk slapping, I prefer his lines on the slower and more balad style songs...
...his lines on "Soul to Squeeze" and "Otherside" slay me...
While I enjoy his funk slapping, I prefer his lines on the slower and more balad style songs...
...his lines on "Soul to Squeeze" and "Otherside" slay me...
Same here man...the slower, melodic lines really grab me, like "walkabout" and such...still he is more versatile than most think...just awesome...true, he's not a virtuoso, but he sure can play!
i forgot about that line...such a beautiful tune...lyrcis are kinda odd though..."i liked your whiskers"
I agree with the last couple of posts (and until now thought I was the only one!)... it's not the slapping, it's the slow stuff that shows how great he is. He's playing from the heart, and it shows in the energy that so many people have mentioned.
I would guess that the reason he doesn't "branch out" is because he plays music to celebrate life and share his love with his friends and the world. He doesn't do it to challenge himself or improve technique. He's playing with people he loves... the emotional satisfaction that comes with that completely eliminates any intellectual need to try something else. If I was lucky enough to play with people that I had that kind of emotional connection to, I would never play anything else either!
yes I watched RHCP Behind the Music 37 times!
I would guess that the reason he doesn't "branch out" is because he plays music to celebrate life and share his love with his friends and the world. He doesn't do it to challenge himself or improve technique. He's playing with people he loves... the emotional satisfaction that comes with that completely eliminates any intellectual need to try something else. If I was lucky enough to play with people that I had that kind of emotional connection to, I would never play anything else either!
yes I watched RHCP Behind the Music 37 times!
One thing,
Alot of the time on here when somebody mentions how good flea is, someone is sure to post how much better the likes of Jaco etc. are. I dont think that is a fair comparison. Jaco and co. are viruoso bassists, flea is a rock bassist in a band, that is a huge difference, of course the virtuoso's are going to be better. Comparing Flea to Jaco is kind of like comparing Ray Manzarek of the Doors, widely regarded as the best ever rock keyboardist, to Mozart.
Jim
Alot of the time on here when somebody mentions how good flea is, someone is sure to post how much better the likes of Jaco etc. are. I dont think that is a fair comparison. Jaco and co. are viruoso bassists, flea is a rock bassist in a band, that is a huge difference, of course the virtuoso's are going to be better. Comparing Flea to Jaco is kind of like comparing Ray Manzarek of the Doors, widely regarded as the best ever rock keyboardist, to Mozart.
Jim
...and not very fair to Mozart!
Hey, Lizard King, "What are they doing in the hyacinth house to please the lions today?"
I always enjoy asking that!
When I first got into Mother's Milk as a 14-year-old, I thought the slapped 'solo' on "Stone Cold Bush" was the coolest thing ever. But as people have said in their posts, I appreciate Flea for his melodic basslines in tunes like "Soul to Squeeze" and his super-groovy lines in "Apache Rose Peacock" to name a few.
...hmmm, maybe, I really don't know(maybe someday an interview will shed some light).
I would say, MOST musicians are 'seekers'...some for artists, writers, sculptors, poets, etc. This applies to those in everyday life; that is, if one is a soda man, be the *best* soda man in the biz!
Maybe it's me 'cause I tend to get bored pretty easy...as a listener, I wanna hear a player that is stretching, reaching, blahblah for something.
As far as sticking with yer friends-
I dunno, there's so much to learn & there's so much to learn that comes with playing with others...others that happen to be diverse &/or in a different league can really stretch one's learning curve. So, as far as Flea goes & what HE wants, it's cool, though(personally)I'd like to hear him do something a little more "outside".
BTW-
Earlier in the thread, someone mentioned Flea being their favorite bassist with regards to mainstream &/or "Popular" music. WOW...The RHCP are supposed to be anything BUT "Mainstream"...or so I thought.
I used to get the piss taken out of me for liking the peppers when I was in school... in 1988 - they certainly werent popular in the UK then!
Well, it's true but the reason people were comparing Flea with bassist like Jaco or Victor Wooten was simply because many also consider Flea as a bassist and Jaco as a bassist and Wooten as a bassist. Now I remember Flea was nominated as BP bassist of the year head to head with Wooten. That also lead people to compare.
And also many people would argue the fact that a musician is not suppose to call themselves a Rock drummer, or a Jazz drummer/bassist etc. We should all be all round; at least that's what we want to be. That was just quoting some people, not saying that everybody should be like that.
