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John Taylor of Duran Duran
- Thread starter bearclaw
- Start date
Yeah, he is pretty good but over looked. I think It's just that everybody associates him with Duran Duran and they are so 80's synth pop sounding and glam like that nobody paid attention to his bass playing until recently.
I think Bass Player did an article on him last year.
I think Bass Player did an article on him last year.
srxplayer said:
Agree. I grew up with that music and was taught to 'not like it'. It was just recently that I began to listen closely to those bass lines and hear some pretty good stuff.
This guy is seriously the reason I began to play the bass. I didn't know diddly about music. I just asked a friend "What makes THAT sound?" He said the bass, so I knew that was what I wanted to play.
The whole Rio album is full of great sounding bass. Great lines, great tone. The bass really carries the whole band. The song Rio is the one that first inspired me. Of course I couldn't play it at first but I loved the tone and playing.
I once read a review of that album, which was mostly positive, but the reviewer said something like "The bass is mixed WAY too loud."
Yeah right. That bass tone inspired countless hordes to pick up the instrument and propelled that band to stardom (IMO.)
After 7 and the Ragged Tiger came out, I never listened much to them anymore - that was a very synth-laden record and the bass although still good did not capture my attention as much. Of course I had also just discovered a guy named Geddy Lee...
Any of the later albums contain bass playing that equalled what he did on the earlier ones?
The whole Rio album is full of great sounding bass. Great lines, great tone. The bass really carries the whole band. The song Rio is the one that first inspired me. Of course I couldn't play it at first but I loved the tone and playing.
I once read a review of that album, which was mostly positive, but the reviewer said something like "The bass is mixed WAY too loud."
Yeah right. That bass tone inspired countless hordes to pick up the instrument and propelled that band to stardom (IMO.)
After 7 and the Ragged Tiger came out, I never listened much to them anymore - that was a very synth-laden record and the bass although still good did not capture my attention as much. Of course I had also just discovered a guy named Geddy Lee...
Any of the later albums contain bass playing that equalled what he did on the earlier ones?
i'm been listening carefully to the rio tracks recently, listening to John's tone. When I was younger I just loved Duran Duran for their great songs though obviously it was lame to here people critsize you for listening to' some old 80s band that sounds gay':-( i still really enjoy listening to them, and had to priveledge of watching them a few years ago
I love the funk he adds to the lines. What kind of Rotosound strings does he use? what would be best to get a kind of 'Rio' tone?
I love the funk he adds to the lines. What kind of Rotosound strings does he use? what would be best to get a kind of 'Rio' tone?
Good questions. I don't know the answer but I find the bass tones on that album to be some of the best, to my ear.
The sound on New Religion is exactly what a bass should sound like, to me.
The sound on New Religion is exactly what a bass should sound like, to me.
It's been a while since I've listened to Duran Duran/Powerstation. I dug up my old CD's over the weekend. I'd almost forgotten how much I like John Taylor's playing.
I have a co-worker who is mainly a hard rock bass player, but loves pop music like Elton John (Dee Murray anyone?) and Duran Duran. I walked by his desk and he was playing "View to a Kill" which I loved the video for when I was a kid. But it reminded me how good John Taylor is. I spent the rest of the day playing Duran Duran videos on YouTube and listening to them while I worked. Even something like on "Hungry Like the Wolf", they have that little section after the chorus leading back into the verse and Taylor plays a real simple figure, but its got such a great feel to it that it adds so mush to the song.
Big thumbs up for John Taylor!!!
Big thumbs up for John Taylor!!!
Yes, I am on the list of bass players who were influenced by JT. I am proud to say I have an SB1000 which I use at very gig. It's not the main bass, but I use it for about 1/4 of the sets. Ever since I saw them on Saturday Night Live in 1983, I wanted an SB1000. They were just way out of my league in price.
I have to say a lot of my playing technique comes from listening to Duran Duran and JT.
He is really a great bassist.
I have to say a lot of my playing technique comes from listening to Duran Duran and JT.
He is really a great bassist.
yep, the current owner of the bass, Mark, has had it for some years now. John Taylor gave it to him when the band he was in supported the Neurotic Outsiders.
his brother Craig plays guitar in Ian De Sylva's band (that I'm in), as well as Kunte kinte.
Ian took a dislike to the looks of my Hohner B2A cricket bat bass, that I was using for rehearsals and recording (too modern), and suggested I use Mark's bass for a gig.
of course, he should have just asked me if I had any other basses
at a rehearsal just before the gig I asked Craig what bass it was- "it's some Aria"
me; "oh, like John Taylor used to play?"
"actually, it IS one of John Taylor's"
the excessive strap length (and the fact I couldn't figure out the controls in the dark venue where I got to see the bass for the first time) meant I used the Hohner in the end for the gig.
all a bit silly, but nice to encounter a bit of rock memorabilia.
my Warmoth P handles the gigs now.
here's the bass in action last friday with Kunta kinte-
looks like an SB 900.
the controls match the 2nd version at the bottom of this page;
Invalid Link Removed
Wow, I can't believe I missed this thread in my previous searches. I just found it in the "Bassists" section sticky.
Any way, I just read through all 8 pages and thought you guys might want to see my YouTube page for performances of some of the songs discussed in this thread:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=zumazmusic
I recognize some of your user names so I know some of you have seen them already but I did add a couple new ones this past weekend.
About the Power Station thing: If you had the cassette tape of the first album it clearly credited Bernard for playing the bass on Get it On. I don't remember if it said he played the bass solo or the whole track but I personally think Bernard played MOST of the song. As far as the other post that stated Bernard tracked everything then John replaced it later...I've never heard that but I suppose it's possible. I would really like to know!
Either way John Taylor rules!!!
Any way, I just read through all 8 pages and thought you guys might want to see my YouTube page for performances of some of the songs discussed in this thread:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=zumazmusic
I recognize some of your user names so I know some of you have seen them already but I did add a couple new ones this past weekend.
About the Power Station thing: If you had the cassette tape of the first album it clearly credited Bernard for playing the bass on Get it On. I don't remember if it said he played the bass solo or the whole track but I personally think Bernard played MOST of the song. As far as the other post that stated Bernard tracked everything then John replaced it later...I've never heard that but I suppose it's possible. I would really like to know!
Either way John Taylor rules!!!
I can't believe I found this thread on John Taylor.
When I was a young guitar player back in the early 80s, I got the Duran Duran Rio album and was blown away by the distinct driving and melodic bass lines of Rio and Girls on Film. I remember wanting to jam on those bass lines! It was the first time I heard the bass so high up and definitive in a pop song mix. His bass lines make those songs what they are.
Anyway...
I just bought a Fender P-bass and an amp and found this great forum. You bass players are great and I now realize how difficult it is to play bass. It's a whole different instrument and I can't wait to learn all its mysteries and glories - and, oh yeah, try my hand at doing "Rio" myself.
When I was a young guitar player back in the early 80s, I got the Duran Duran Rio album and was blown away by the distinct driving and melodic bass lines of Rio and Girls on Film. I remember wanting to jam on those bass lines! It was the first time I heard the bass so high up and definitive in a pop song mix. His bass lines make those songs what they are.
Anyway...
I just bought a Fender P-bass and an amp and found this great forum. You bass players are great and I now realize how difficult it is to play bass. It's a whole different instrument and I can't wait to learn all its mysteries and glories - and, oh yeah, try my hand at doing "Rio" myself.
I had never clicked as to how incredibly talented that John Taylor was until I saw someone on YouTube freaking tearin it up on his Wal bass playing Rio.
Needless to say I was very impressed by John Taylor's style...it's a shame he didn't get more exposure for his talent than he did =(
Needless to say I was very impressed by John Taylor's style...it's a shame he didn't get more exposure for his talent than he did =(
Truly ghastly. Duran Duran are one of the worst bands of all time. I'm amazed that anyone takes this clot seriously.
There's actually a video doc of some of the making of the album. It shows Bernard and John sitting down and recording the solo for Bang A Gong. Bernard is playing the lead part on a Jazz and John is doing the other part with a pick. One take. Bernard calmy puts his bass back down and says "That about does it." or something like that.
I too was inspired to pick up the bass by John Taylor. It was a real milestone for me to be able to play some of his lines. I still play them, they're just so cool.
Well under-rated bass player - away from TB that is!
Good technique - apart from the facial pout!
I was standing up for his playing back in the 80s and was ridiculed by my metal-head mates, but a lot of his bass lines are really good and fun to play. Also standing up for JT was a good way to get the girls back in the mid-80s!
Any drummer I've played with is only to happy to get on the high-hats and accompany me on Rio.....and 23 years on (or so) I'm still playing it in my garage band!
John Taylor rocks and was a big influence on me!
Good technique - apart from the facial pout!
I was standing up for his playing back in the 80s and was ridiculed by my metal-head mates, but a lot of his bass lines are really good and fun to play. Also standing up for JT was a good way to get the girls back in the mid-80s!
Any drummer I've played with is only to happy to get on the high-hats and accompany me on Rio.....and 23 years on (or so) I'm still playing it in my garage band!
John Taylor rocks and was a big influence on me!
Because I was in high school when Duran Duran and the Police were popular, John Taylor and Sting were probably the reason I started playing the bass in the first place. I grabbed and actual Sears and Roebuck bass a family member had in their garage (yes Sears and Roebuck), it only had three strings, and that's what I learned to play on. Playing to CDs like Rio, Seven and the Ragged Tiger, Sycronicity, eventually breaking into more R&B and jazz. Those were definitely my early influences though (and yes, the quality of my axes have improved dramatically as well).
A man who can throw an "octave jump" "frill" "octave run" whatever you want to call it, in every single song is truley an influence!
haha on a serious note, definatley love his work some of the first songs I leanred were by Duran Duran, Girls on Film is still on of my favourites ot play, along with Rio and Save a prayer. Saw these guys live a few time too, sounded great.
All Hail JT!!
haha on a serious note, definatley love his work some of the first songs I leanred were by Duran Duran, Girls on Film is still on of my favourites ot play, along with Rio and Save a prayer. Saw these guys live a few time too, sounded great.
All Hail JT!!
