Geddy Lee overrated??

[john_g]

4 pages of posts in ... it's obvious no one's really interested isn't it!!

No, its more about this:

Now I know this will P a lot a people off, because I would be if I read that about any of my heroes...

If you attack thousands of people's "inspiration/hero/person that's kinda cool", then you are going to get lots of attention. Has nothing to do with if we find this noob's opinion fascinating.

 

[derJackal]

While I love players like Entwhistle and John Paul Jones, who were a huge influence on my playing, Rush kind of passed me by and I'd never really heard any of their stuff. When I started reading TALKBASS however, I heard a lot about Geddy Lee and figured I'd better check him out! I bought a Best Of CD and played it in my car for a few weeks, and, while I accept that's not a huge amount to judge him on, I didn't really feel like I wanted to go any further with him. Yes, he's pretty good, a hell of a lot better than I'll ever be, but to me he sounded a lot like Chris Squire, but not as good.

I would hope he had some Chris Squire, that's another one of his major influences.

It sounded VERY 80s I and I found it hard to appreciate in the context of where my ears and head are at today.

Most of the "Best of CDs" are bound to what label they were on. Polygram / Mercury doesn't own any usage rights to any of the Atlantic recordings so anything post '88 wouldn't be on those compilations. Atlantic does get usage rights so depending on what "best of" you bought, it could be entirely 80's material. With a 30+ year career and two major labels it's hard to find an all inclusive "best of". If you were listening to the 80's Rush compiliation, I can't imagine why it sounded very 80's.

Honest to goodness, I'm hard pressed to find a bass player that his morphed his sound and his style as much as Geddy has over their entire career. That alone is more fascinating me to than the latest pop and slap junkie.

Now I know this will P a lot a people off, because I would be if I read that about any of my heroes, but we all have a right to say what we think on here, and we can all learn from each other. What it made me wonder was, if I had listened to Rush 10 or 20 years ago, I would probably feel very different about it now, and if I was listening to the Who now, would I be able to get into it in the way I did then?

Not pissing me off, you expressed a hell of a lot better than the OP did.

To cut a long story short, is he worth all the hype that he seems to get on here? no (but that's just in my opinion and if everyone agreed it would be a rather boring (although better in many ways!) world)

And in my opinion he's worth every bit of hype for one reason alone, the sheer number of people on this forum who play bass because of him.

And at the end of the day anybody who drives people to pick up and learn and instrument deserves a lot of respect.

 

[GregC]

The real question is, who is better... Geddy or Gene Simmons?

Yeah, the irony meter is waaay into the red zone.

Heck, I'm pretty much neutral when it comes to Rush's music, but I fully understand the love he gets here. He may not have the chops of Wooten (that's a short list), but he's highly skilled and comes up with really good lines from what I've heard. And to pull that off live, with all the other things he does, is truly impressive.

And yes, there is also this...

Ever listen to an interview with him? On top of all that talent he's also as humble and down to earth a guy as you'll ever find yet

As far as I'm concerned he deserves all the accolades he gets. His talent, work ethic, and humility set a far better example than any of the pathetic prima donna athletes...

or a certain bassist who's also a reality TV star and egomaniac. Sorry, but how someone conducts themselves can play a factor in how much respect they get (though not always). Geddy's also shown he has a pretty good sense of humor--he's worked with both "Bob and Doug Mackenzie" and the South Park guys, and used a rotisserie and a washer and dryer on stage. It's pretty hard not to like the guy.

I won't do a Geddy/Entwistle playing comparison, because I think that's an apples/oranges situation.

 

[ProfGumby]

+1.

This is thread is one colossal circle-jerk. I'm going over to "Chicks at Shows."

Now you're talkin!

Yeah, the irony meter is waaay into the red zone.

I thought the Red Zone was for loading and unloading only?

 

[derJackal]

That's the white zone...

 

[rappa29]

If people would just accept that Wentz and Fieldy are the alpha and omega of bassdom then we wouldn't have stupid threads about those hacks like The Ox, Geddy, Wooten, Miller, Claypool, Flea, Jamerson, Clarke, Graham, et al......

Just kidding...for all of the winky face impaired.

 

[Lefty Geek]

I think Entwistle is over-rating. He overplays a lot. I love Geddy Lee as a bassist, but I can't stand his singing. Instrumental Rush is great, but things go to **** when Geddy starts singing. I just can't listen to it.

 

[PBass101]

I think Entwistle is over-rating [sic]. He overplays a lot.

Please, elaborate.

 

[robgo]

Please, elaborate.

No, no. Please Don't!!


DerJackal - Fair comments, mate.

 

[dalkowski]

[Entwistle] overplays a lot.

Impossible. He's dead, y'see.

RIP, Ox.

 

[TSBASSIST]

How dare you!!

 

[Lesfunk]

Dumb thread

 

[gjbassist]

I think Entwistle is over-rating. He overplays a lot.

I can understand why you would think he overplays. Entwistle's bass lines tended to be a little busy, but they needed to be. Pete Townsend is a very average guitar player and really more of a rhythm player than lead. Entwistle's bass lines were necessary to fill in the gaps and to some extent carry the melody of a song.

 

[nysbob]

I have never been able to fully understand the guy's popularity with bassists, so in that regard I would have agree with the OP. It wasn't until I started hanging out on various bass forums eight or nine years ago that I even realized exactly how a sacred a cow he is.

No disrespect intended, he's obviously a talented pro player...but I've seen him live and heard plenty of recordings and frankly I don't get it either. Music is communication, and he's obviously managed to speak to a lot of people, so he must be doing something right.

Horses for courses, I guess.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Look, I'm not saying that he isnt great, and I'm NOWHERE near as good as he is, or even Entwistle, I'm just saying that I don't think he's the be all and end all of bass players that he's mad eout to be....

Geddy definitely gets a lot of hero worship around here, that much is for sure...

MM

 

[lordnyra]

My god.

This thread makes me want to die.

Geddy would list Entwistle as one of his biggest influences. Why compare?

I'd like to see someone who says Geddy is overrated play yyz. Some of the fastest finger playing i've ever been able to play.

I think this Geddy lee Overrated business stems from some negativity towards exclusive fingers players these days.

Ryan Martinie is better than him, Les Claypool. Flea. Wooten.

that makes me laugh. Again Les Claypool would list Geddy Lee as him prime influence.

And just cause you can slap doesn't mean your an amazing player. Ive heard all those major slap players stay on the 7ths and Octaves. Geddy lee stays on the 5ths. So what.

We need more Chris Squire though in our lives. He is most definetly underrated.

 

[Bassmickeyd]

Geddy's been a professional Bassist, singer, songwriter and band member for 40-years....... Not to mention family man, musicians supporter and general nice guy, (though don't tell him that).
What of have you done lately?

 

[geddeeee]

Geddy may not be 'that good' any more, but he was IT in the 70's and 80's. Exit... Stage Left. The bass tone is monstrous, the playing flawless. Listen to any of his live bass 'solos' from the 70's. On the fly and all over the place. I've got a few bootlegs of 70's Rush, and Bytor and the Snowdog is a bass playing highlight,. And you can tell these solos are 'real' solos. Never the same thing played twice, from show to show. That grungy Ricky tone is to die for!!!

As to the Ox? Well I think he WAS overrated. Sure he pioneered roundwound strings, but apart from that, what have the Who really done for music? The Who passed me by, I'm afraid, but I do acknowledge The Ox's contribution to bass playing.

Better than Geddy?? In your dreams!!!!

 

[dalkowski]

what have the Who really done for music?

Ask someone who was paying attention to rock in the sixties and early seventies. (I may not have survived my teen years without "Quadrophenia.") But since Keef snuffed it? Not much.

Two great bands.
Two great bassists.
Plenty of room on the playground for both. You don't have to love a player to appreciate (and maybe learn from) his/her talent. (Miller, Wooten, Flea and other slappers aren't my cup of tea, but damn, they can play rings around me and I respect that big.) Seems like most people here "get" that.

 

[PilbaraBass]

Is it blasphemy, or is it a plausible possibility?? I've been listening to both The Who and Geddy Lee extensively, and I honestly feel that Entwistle was way more inventive and interesting. I also think Geddy Lee was rather boring, and it just seemed, dull... plus, alot of his were rather repetitive 5th interval garb...


Cheerio???

comparing entwistle and lee is like comparing pineapples and grapes...

both were highly successful at what they did (do)...both were extremely influential in their own right...

similarities end there