What players have had a big influence on your playing?
What new/current bands or players are you currently digging?
What new/current bands or players are you currently digging?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Influences and New Music
- Thread starter EricF
- Start date
Bass wise? Tina Weymouth, Peter Hook, McCartney, Family Man, Robbie Shakespeare, Jamerson, David J, Trevor Boulder, Graham Lewis, Chuck Rainey, Joe Osborne, Carol Kaye, JJ Burnell, Dave Allen, Bridget Cross, Prince, Klaus Flouride, Herbie Flowers, Daryl Jennifer, Holger Czukay, Tom Peterson, Michael Anthony, Paul Simonon, Sting, Adam Clayton, Gerald Casale, Bruce Thomas, John McVie, Jah Wobble, JPJ, John Dalton, Kim Deal, Andy Rourke, Kim Gordon, Arnaldo Baptista, Joe Lally, Tony Visconti, John Taylor, etc. etc.
I mostly dig all those players because they contribute to music that means a lot to me.
Bands? LCD, Stars, Bloc Party, Arcade Fire, TV on the Radio, Ruby Suns, Sea Wolf, M.I.A., Justice, Fischerspooner, Autechre, Sigur Ros, Dappled Cities, Oliver Future, Tegan & Sara, Amnion, Grizzly Bear, Robert Francis, Daniel Moore, Peaches, etc etc ad nauseum. I rock emusic.com and iTunes, as well as Amoeba, the raddest record store in the universe.
But I don't really seek out bass players to listen to, that bores me to tears, sorry. That's why the NAMM show has me screaming bloody murder after a couple of hours. I want to light some fretless nine-string basses on fire.
JMJ
Nice list. A lot of bass players I also like in there. Two that stick out to me are Tina Weymouth and Paul Simonon, primarily because neither could even play their instrument when they were asked to join their bands but wound up being (IMO) very solid players. Bruce Thomas is one of my favorite underrated players.
Love Amoeba. Love. I spent way too much of my time at the Berkeley store when I was in college.
But I don't really seek out bass players to listen to, that bores me to tears, sorry. That's why the NAMM show has me screaming bloody murder after a couple of hours. I want to light some fretless nine-string basses on fire.
I'm pretty much the same way. I can certainly appreciate virtuosity (on any instrument), but I'd much rather hear a great band/great songs than a great player. Even with a guy like Victor Wooten, I find I really only enjoy him with the Flecktones or when he sits in with other people. For the most part I can't get into fusion for the same reason - too much wankery for my tastes.
One exception (for me at least) is Jeff Schmidt who is a member here. I think his stuff is fantastic. Here's one of his songs from solo bass night a couple years ago: Apotheosis.
Dude, that video is sick. What a talent. Respect.
Even if I would never buy or go out of my way to listen to that kind of music, I can certainly respect the adventure and virtuosity. Fun to watch him do his thing.
Even if I wanted to learn how to play like that, most of my basses have heavy gauge strings and high action making it totally unrealistic. I did bust out my only fretless the other day for this movie though!
Re: Victor Wooten, I respect the s*$t out of him, 'cuz I saw him live at NAMM and once again: he had the fire, and he was playing an emotive piece. Good MUSIC always rises to the surface. Fingers moving across a fretboard does not. Hence wankery vs. communication.
JMJ
Even if I would never buy or go out of my way to listen to that kind of music, I can certainly respect the adventure and virtuosity. Fun to watch him do his thing.
Even if I wanted to learn how to play like that, most of my basses have heavy gauge strings and high action making it totally unrealistic. I did bust out my only fretless the other day for this movie though!
Re: Victor Wooten, I respect the s*$t out of him, 'cuz I saw him live at NAMM and once again: he had the fire, and he was playing an emotive piece. Good MUSIC always rises to the surface. Fingers moving across a fretboard does not. Hence wankery vs. communication.
JMJ
Big ups to Joe Lally. What a rock solid player. Fugazi would have turned into a noisy mess without him.
Brendan Canty had his back.
Brendan Canty had his back.
Nice to see punk bassists on that list. And Sigur Ros! Great band. I just bought the Heima-dvd. Still haven't seen the live portion of the packet.
Oh yeah, I'm glad you joined us. I saw the AIR eating sleeping playing dvd and your personality made that film. Those guys make great music but they are not very interesting to watch if they are not playing.
Oh yeah, I'm glad you joined us. I saw the AIR eating sleeping playing dvd and your personality made that film. Those guys make great music but they are not very interesting to watch if they are not playing.
But I don't really seek out bass players to listen to, that bores me to tears, sorry. That's why the NAMM show has me screaming bloody murder after a couple of hours. I want to light some fretless nine-string basses on fire.
JMJ
amen. and again i say, amen
i also have a long list of players i dig and want to learn - although, its seems a lot easier to have one or two players whos style your after, then just study em...
with that said:
-how did you come to know all the different styles of your influences? -did you take one at a time and study 'em til you felt like you knew their style?
-or did it just happen over time?
Thanks, jk
I didn't really study any styles, I just listen a lot. In other words, I don't take apart the styles of individual guys. I probably should actually play along to records more, haven't done that in a while.
JMJ
JMJ
+1
You have impeccable taste sir - Can did some amazing stuff.
You've reminded me that I've got this 1982 collaboration of Czukay,Wobble,Liebezeit & The Edge with Francois Kevorkian on vinyl ('Snakecharmer'). Will have to dig it out when I get home tonight, & have a revisit - thanks.
Was also wondering if or how you rate Derek Forbes' of early Simple Minds, Barry Adamson & (IMHO Bowie's best bassist) George Murray?
Thanks again for the inspiration
Nick
Thanks, Nick. And now I have to return the complement, because I forgot about that Snakecharmer stuff! I need to hear that!! Never owned it, always heard about it, but I must find.
Derek Forbes? VERY good. Tasty. Economical. Good tones.
Barry Adamson? I like, for sure.
George Murray? He's the SHiznit. I think he was Bowie's best bassist too! Most definitely!
Hats off to you, I'm down with your taste, man!
JMJ
Derek Forbes? VERY good. Tasty. Economical. Good tones.
Barry Adamson? I like, for sure.
George Murray? He's the SHiznit. I think he was Bowie's best bassist too! Most definitely!
Hats off to you, I'm down with your taste, man!
JMJ
Thankyou Justin - humbled
Just getting back to George Murray, recall an interview with Andy Rourke whereby he said he learnt to play bass by listening to & copping Murray's lines. So there you go...
Very underrated I think - not much on web about him, seemed to have disappeared after Bowie period. Would love to know what he's doing now or since.
Best
Nick
Dude I just saw Tegan and Sara on your list. Their new record is one of my favorite purchases this year.
Yeah, Tegan & Sara are doing great things.
Colin Greenwood? Gawd what a sound and feel. He's a buddy, and always wants to hide when I mention this to him after a gig. He's too modest. But great nonetheless. Live, he runs an SVT 8 x 10 rig with classic head, but also a powered PA subwoofer right next to it. Very rich.
JMJ
Colin Greenwood? Gawd what a sound and feel. He's a buddy, and always wants to hide when I mention this to him after a gig. He's too modest. But great nonetheless. Live, he runs an SVT 8 x 10 rig with classic head, but also a powered PA subwoofer right next to it. Very rich.
JMJ
