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Loved by music peers or loved by the masses?

#21
I'm in a Rush Tribute band if that answers your question...

While I don't write anymore I always started with pleasing myself (a musician). I wrote and played what I felt, never thinking about who would like it other than me.

Same with my current band. If you like us great, come enjoy but I am playing Rush because it is challenging, not the mind numbing dance rock I used to play and I absolutely love it!

 
#22
for me, it has always been about trying to find a balance of both. I want my bass lines to keep me happy - which is where the technical pursuit comes into play - but also to keep the audience happy - which is where the taste thing comes into play.

I think experience is what helps find the right balance. Many times I will come up with what I think is a real cool technical part....that doesn't fit the song. At 21, I would "force the round peg into the square hole". At 44, I just find another round hole in another song.

I feel like I have not reached my goal from the musical/technical side yet, so that is what keeps me going, and gets me through the "Root E and A" gigs. It has also given me a greater appreciation for the "root E & A gigs" as I have learned more about musical styles, song construction, history of the basses role in the given style etc. You can't be flashy or technical - in a musically correct way - without understanding the foundation of what that stuff is built on. Since music is my religion, every involvement I have with it is an interesting and positive experience.

As far as the other part of the question. I do not like it when a bass player (or any instrument for that fact) gains popularity WITHOUT respecting the history, style or those before them. I generally tend to have less respect - at any level - for those who are just in pursuit of the material side of what we do. I know I am in a very small demographic with these beliefs, but that's how it is.

I have NEVER equated sales with ability. Unfortunately, we live in a society where people don't "do their homework" and just blindly accept what everyone else is saying as fact. Sheep. In this mindset, most of the people who are true artists go by unnoticed by the masses, and the flash in the pan jokers and charlatans gain notoriety. The karmic result? Many of the flash in the pan guys go away as quickly as they come...and the artists stay around for ever, I am willing to bet that in 100 years, NO ONE will remember Fieldy, or Pete Wentz. Jaco on the other hand? Geddy? Wooten? Those guys will still be remembered for what they did for the craft....
 
#23
I think a better focus here would be on yourself and what you really want to play, what you want to say, how you feel about it, rather than focus on the externalities of the audience. I think there are lots of musicians who like all kinds of music. I know the music that got me into playing bass was not the most technically demanding music. I enjoy all kinds of music. Another poster really hit the nail on the head when they mentioned "mood" - music is about mood and emotion primarily. Focus on your own moods and emotions and try to play music that amplifies them, whatever they may be, whatever kind of music it may be.

Or just play whatever the gigs you manage to land require. There is a practical side to all of this too. ;-)
 
#25
hotrodjohn said:
Wouldn't it be nice to be Paul McCartney?

Fame, fortune, screaming girls, knighthood, and the respect of musicians for being a gifted singer, songwriter and bassist. Music that is timeless.

Yes, you can have it both ways.
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Agreed. I was gonna make the same comment about Flea. Virtually every non-musician I introduce myself to as an electric bassist responds with something akin to, "Oh, so you must really like Flea!" He's recognized as a talented musician and an outrageous personality by everyone, not just other bassists.

Me, personally? I'll just be myself, say what I have to say, and never stop growing. As long as I feel like what I produce is genuine and honest, that's the best I can do. The ear it falls on is beyond my control.
 
#29
At 42, I'm thinking in terms of bar gigs and fairs and such. In that context, my first answer would be that I just want to draw people in and make the money. I'd rather play "Call Me Maybe" to a full house than Rush songs to 5 musician friends.

On the other hand, I need to feel that my band is actually good. I did play for a band that could draw, but musically stunk, and I was very unhappy.

So I guess first I need to feel I'm involved in something good enough to be proud of. Once I have that, let's go after the $$.
 
#34
I prefer guys like Jamerson or Duck Dunn. Sure they're very well respected amongst musicians but the music they made is loved by the masses. Even if most people have no idea who they are. I would hate to only be known to musicians and only be listened to by musicians.
 
#35
Joedog said:
If I was in a hugely popular band playing to packed stadiums, selling scads of CD's and merch, and making mega $, I doubt I'd be overly concerned what no name musicians write about me online.
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See, that's what gets me. I feel like the money would only keep you satisfied for so long. If you are a huge megastar, but every time you go on the forums you see nothing but people talking crap about you and how you are overrated, I think it would get to you.

I mean, your instrument is your passion, and people who share that passion are perpetually dismissing you. Could you really convince yourself that they were "just jealous" over and over and over again?

But neither of us (I'm assuming) have been in that situation so I guess we will never know for sure.

And another thing to keep in mind is that these megastars aren't typically timeless. How many times do you see John Taylor of Duran Duran mentioned... well... anywhere these days? Hell, they are still together and nobody talks about them. They used to be HUGE. Now compare that to Jaco. I have a feeling that Jaco is going to be remembered for a long, long time, but outside of bass player circles himself and his bands are very far from a household name.
 
#36
Midge Daniels: Don's in advertising.
Roy: No way. Madison Avenue? What a gas!
Midge Daniels: We all have to serve somebody.
Roy: Perpetuating the lie. How do you sleep at night?
Don: On a bed made of money.

But seriously....you gotta make the music that matters to you. The artists who get the respect of fans and musicians alike are the ones who relentlessly pursue their vision. I like a whole lot of players who aren't technical but just laid down great lines.

And I think it's a mistake to bank on your chops alone, because someone out there will always have better chops. No matter what.
 
#39
jtroska said:
At 42, I'm thinking in terms of bar gigs and fairs and such. In that context, my first answer would be that I just want to draw people in and make the money. I'd rather play "Call Me Maybe" to a full house than Rush songs to 5 musician friends.

On the other hand, I need to feel that my band is actually good. I did play for a band that could draw, but musically stunk, and I was very unhappy.

So I guess first I need to feel I'm involved in something good enough to be proud of. Once I have that, let's go after the $$.
Click to expand...

FWIW - Playing Rush songs to a packed house is the best of both worlds. I'd say half of who sees us are musicians on some level. Still filling clubs and having the best time doing it.
 

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