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Good visual examples of lead vocalist/bassists

H

hrgiger

Jan 11, 2009
1,396
23
#1
I was wondering what youtube videos show bassists that are also lead vocalists where the basslines aren't dumbed down to let the bassist sing. A lot of bands in which the bassist is the lead vocalist play songs that have very rudimentary basslines. And I think that just going by the albums, you don't really get an idea what they are capable of because when they play the songs live, they don't always play the same basslines.

Anyway, a lot of people have already seen this video, but it shows remarkable ability to play/sing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ-wWKRUYuY

and another version years later:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmmRi8giFos&feature=related

Edit: I just found this version where Gene plays some sort of Les Paul style bass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80h5RQu55Z8&feature=related
 
#2
The obvious here would be Les Claypool (Primus), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Sting (The Police, etc.). I think that Slayer has a lead singer/bassist, too.

Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) doesn't sing into a mic, but *does* sing along live. Does that count?
 
#7
JACK BRUCE! He's the only lead singer/bassists that I'm aware of who flat out sings and plays improvisationally at the same time. It's uncanny how he seems to have two brains- one fully devoted to emotional and expressive singing while the other brain is controlling his exploratory bass work.

Sting is great, just a wonderful vocalist and inventive bassist. Peter Cetera of Chicago could be very good too, but the four times I saw them I thought his bass playing tended to be a bit more stiff while singing than while he wasn't. It was subtle though. I'm not a fan of Rush and/or Geddy, but what little I've paid attention to he has it together too. McCartney and his protegé Will Lee come to mind immediately.

It's been a while since I listened to the live Poco album "DeLIVErin'", but Timothy B. Schmit always appealed to me as both a vocalist and bassist. Can't tell from his current band, The Egos, how he's doing with that however. And Larry Graham ain't no slouch at doing both.

jte
 
#8
When i try to play and sing at the same time (i cant sing i just enjoy it) i find i cant do it except on certain songs. what makes it odd is that one song might have a really simple bassline and i cant sing along while another might have a fairly complex one and i can do both tasks without even thinking about it. It's rather confusing :(
 
#14
JACK BRUCE! He's the only lead singer/bassists that I'm aware of who flat out sings and plays improvisationally at the same time. It's uncanny how he seems to have two brains- one fully devoted to emotional and expressive singing while the other brain is controlling his exploratory bass work.
Click to expand...


JB all the way. The man who got me started playing bass.
 
#20
mlafrancis said:
You may not know him, or the band, but Peter Steele from Type O Negative. He's ana wesome bassist with a uniqe voice and bass sound. And Lemmy is the best haha
Click to expand...

I would hope people know Steele. Carnivore was wicked...

Here is one for everyone. Awesome bassist, awesome lead vocals, awesome song, awesome bass! Check out ZZ Top's Dusty Hill back in 1984:

Party on the Patio

2a7999f.jpg
 

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