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Hellfire! I wish I was Adam Clayton.

#41
"...29 years ago we all met and formed our band. 30 years ago I got my first bass guitar, or as I thought, a guitar with only four strings. I had no idea what bass was. I had not heard of James Jamerson, Doug Dunn, John Entwhistle, or Bootsy Collins. I just knew I had a weapon, and a shield to take on the world. When we all got together in Larry's kitchen, we didn't know about the great traditions of American music.... but we did know that together we had the chance to change the world by making a noise."

Youtube

:cool:
 
#45
Well this thread has been loads of fun.

Personally, I use to dislike the guy, but these days I really dig him for what he is (even if I'm not the biggest fan of U2). He does exactly what is needed for their music - no more, no less. The fact that he has the obedience to restrain himself from doing anything too crazy or bold speaks levels to his character and professionalism. He's not a 'me-man'. He's all about the band and the song. Personally, I'm happy for the guy and wish I could have even a quarter of the success he has had.
 
#46
For me they are lazy musician ... making music so simple it is like ... Bono has to be heard and music was the way to make is message heard but to do so ... the music has to be dumb.

Band like that don't help the very fast decreasing talent in music since 1950. It is like, who will play the most simple stuff and be treated like gods ?
 
#48
No personal disrespect intended to anyone, but I've been playing for 29 years now and it has been a long, long time since I judged anybody's music by how simple or complex their music is. Man, that is really some 9th grade thinking going on there. Seriously, you are really missing what's beautiful about music by a mile.
 
#49
emblymouse said:
U2 is a sonic puzzle. None of these guys are traditional in their space and the bass fits the slot very well. Not every bassist can survive in a 3 piece pop unit. There's nowhere to hide.
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Very well put.
Clef_de_fa said:
For me they are lazy musician ... making music so simple it is like ... Bono has to be heard and music was the way to make is message heard but to do so ... the music has to be dumb.

Band like that don't help the very fast decreasing talent in music since 1950. It is like, who will play the most simple stuff and be treated like gods ?
Click to expand...
Good songs are good songs. Wankery is not an essential component.
 
#50
winstonthecat said:
A while back Mike in Chicago was bashing Jason Newsted for playing solos, saying he was a frustrated guitarist. Now he's bashing Adam Clayton for playing driving 8th note lines, which fits perfectly with U2's music.

Sounds like he has a narrow idea of what is acceptable when playing the bass. Or he just doesn't like it when people that he deems less technically proficient make more money than he does.
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Owned.

In other news, today (over 30 years into a commercially and critically successful career) Adam Clayton sold more records than we and everyone we know combined will sell in our lifetimes.
 
#51
You are correct...
Michael Rhodes is one of the most recorded country players around... He is No slouch. That guy will run rings around just about anyone on this board..
In the words of Pepi Marchello.. " Speed ain't nothin' without class. He couldn't play tasty. ............



::::BASSIST:::: said:
What about the bassist from AC/DC? Or any number of country bassists who play simple lines? Do they suck too?:rolleyes:

There is beauty in simplicity.
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#54
svtb15 said:
You are correct...
Michael Rhodes is one of the most recorded country players around... He is No slouch. That guy will run rings around just about anyone on this board..
In the words of Pepi Marchello.. " Speed ain't nothin' without class. He couldn't play tasty. ............
Click to expand...

Well I personally cannot stand country music. But I know people who love it. Each to their own.

Notice how I restrained myself from outright mud flinging there?
 
#55
chuck norriss said:
Zoo Station--listen to the chorus
Heartland--subtle, hardly there & simple as pie but I love it
New Year's Day
Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World
Man & a Woman
Moment of Surrender
Seconds
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Click to expand...

I'd add Love Comes Tumbling. By a big margin the song with most bass 'work' in the U2 discography. I kinda wish U2 had more songs like that in their discography (unfortunately, this one isn't even in the discography, technically). Those who complain about his bass playing should listen to this song.
 
#57
I remember learning and playing 'Vertigo' a few years ago at a guitar convention with some friends. No rehearsal, just learned parts at home, turn up and play. As such, there was a small timing issue coming out of a certain section I was struggling with, made worse by the fact there was no run through. The chap playing guitar told me not to worry, as even Adam Clayton appears to struggle with that bit two, and cited a certain concert video, in which you can apparently see Larry gesture to Adam 'watch me, watch me', to get the timing right.

Which made me feel a lot happier about it.
 
#58
Honestly, I'd rather listen to Adam Clayton than Jaco, Wooten, and their like. I guess I'm a traditionalist in the sense that I like bass playing to be more background, supportive, not showy at all. Bands with awesome, showboat guitarists, surrounded by fundamentally solid players is what I'd rather listen to any time.
 

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