What really amuses me is that there's so much people (musicians wanabe and non-musicians) that judge someone's playing mostly by his/her technique. Yeah, if you're a lead guitarist of a speed metal band, then yes, good technique helps you play that flashy solo. But isn't bass (in most cases) about harmonics and groove and supporting guitars and vocals? Mike Dirnt probably is able to do a fast line from bottom to top and back, but would that fit in this type of music? Don't think so...
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Mike Dirnt..
- Thread starter BassSurfer
- Start date
For me it was just the general playing on 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours that did it for me. Just the fills and the basic style he used on that was great.
I think talent falls into 2 categories though. The ability to shred and the ability to play right in the pocket. Obviously shredding would be fast fingers and soloing. Playing in the pocket would be playing for the song, or playing the right thing at the right time. I don't mean just laying down root notes from the guitar player either. I mean playing whats appropriate, adding a fill in for some flavor when appropriate, and just making everything sound nice.
I think he's a great player and he's got some chops for neat fills and such as well. Sure he's no Geddy Lee, but seriously, Green Day isn't Prog Rock either. The greatest bass players are always going to be those who play the most musically demanding styles, obviously. There's nothing wrong with stepping down from that pedestal and enjoying a musical style that may not be as musically demanding, but is fun to listen to and has aspects that you can enjoy and respect.
About American Idiot? I think Greenday sold out. Why else would all the members of the band wear eye liner on stage? Some producer probably thought the grinding punk bass tone wasn't politically correct for the mainstream pop charts these days and toned mike down. Guess thats what you have to do to keep your career going in an ever changing music industry.
I think talent falls into 2 categories though. The ability to shred and the ability to play right in the pocket. Obviously shredding would be fast fingers and soloing. Playing in the pocket would be playing for the song, or playing the right thing at the right time. I don't mean just laying down root notes from the guitar player either. I mean playing whats appropriate, adding a fill in for some flavor when appropriate, and just making everything sound nice.
I think he's a great player and he's got some chops for neat fills and such as well. Sure he's no Geddy Lee, but seriously, Green Day isn't Prog Rock either. The greatest bass players are always going to be those who play the most musically demanding styles, obviously. There's nothing wrong with stepping down from that pedestal and enjoying a musical style that may not be as musically demanding, but is fun to listen to and has aspects that you can enjoy and respect.
About American Idiot? I think Greenday sold out. Why else would all the members of the band wear eye liner on stage? Some producer probably thought the grinding punk bass tone wasn't politically correct for the mainstream pop charts these days and toned mike down. Guess thats what you have to do to keep your career going in an ever changing music industry.
I like Green Day, and I've been into them since Dookie when it came out (like most high school kids). I can honestly say that album and NOFX's Punk in Drublic got me into punk. Kerplunk is my favorite album by them. I seriously doubt "No One Knows" is going to change anybody's mind about his playing, but I do like Dirnt and think he's a fine player. I also think American Idiot was one of the best albums they've released in awhile despite the fact that I hate the whole makeup image crap. "Holiday" has some really nice lines in it despite being simple.
BassSurfer, you seem to have this assumption that all people know Dirnt for is American Idiot. That's so not true. They've been incredibly popular since Dookie, so I'm sure most people over a certain age know the whole span of most of their career. The fact is there's quite a few punk bass players out there that are really good as well, and they don't get even half the recognition Dirnt does. Among the ones I enjoy:
- Matt Freeman
- Mike Watt
- Darryl Jenifer
- Chris Barker
- Jason Black
I intentionally left out the bands they're in so that people would look them up, though the first two names are pretty popular on Talkbass. There's a ton of good punk bassists out there. Mike Dirnt's among the best of them.
i never said it would change peoples views on mike dirnt.. i just wanted people to hear it who dont know it cause im walkin around sam ash and kids are like yeah mike dirnt sucks etc etc i just want to get it out there.
First off, Mike Dirnt is the reason i play bass. When i was thinking about playing guitar...back in the day..lol.....i was heavy into green day.His lines literally blew me away, even before i played bass. I thought "Thats how bass should be!" and he was a continual source of insperation thoughout my early bass days...I put "International Superhits" back on my Ipod the other day, and it took me baaaack!!!....I had a gig the day after i put it back on and later it was like.."Some of that was really Mike Dirnt-ish"....IMHO he has a style unique to punk players and has influenced my rock playing more than I thought...
FWIW, IMHO...etc....I think he's a good bassist, but more importantly a good musician!
FWIW, IMHO...etc....I think he's a good bassist, but more importantly a good musician!
Dirnt pretty darn good player he fits the band perfectly. I mean if he plyed geddy lee basslines he would be over playing and it would be harder to focus on the voice, guitar, and drums. im mean listen to acdc bass player in songs like thunderstruck, hell aint a bad place to be,dog eat dog he playes very simple line like 2 notes in a couple of his songs but thats all thats needed from him an thats all the bass player should play because thats all thats needed
that doesn't really have a lot to do with his bass playing...
but he is a pretty decent drummer...
yea i'm bored and tired give me a break!
but he is a pretty decent drummer...
yea i'm bored and tired give me a break!
REVIVED!
I love Mike Dirnt! He was the one that got me interested in bass playing in the first place. The first bassline I learned was "Longview," of course
In my opinion, what makes a good musician is one who can communicate with their instrument. I don't care if they can only play three notes, if you can truly communicate with those three notes and get the crowd moving and shaking then you are a good musician. Fancy technique is useless if it isn't used to communicate. I've seen some amazing technique but the musician is all inward--no communication.
Mike Dirnt communicates. I loved watching him live and was sad that I wasn't picked to come up and play bass on stage at the concert. They selected another girl and then GAVE HER THE BASS TO KEEP! So. Jealous.
I've also seen bassists who only have ONE or TWO "tricks" in their bag. My friend can slap and pop and do both really fast and really, that's it. And he runs around and communicates and everyone thinks he's just so amazing. He is...but if you break it down he can really only do two things really well and now that I listen...his basslines are predictable because he does the same thing in every song. Hee!
So Mike Dirnt is amazing to me because he inspired me. And inspiring others is a mark of a good musician, wouldn't you say?
I love Mike Dirnt! He was the one that got me interested in bass playing in the first place. The first bassline I learned was "Longview," of course
In my opinion, what makes a good musician is one who can communicate with their instrument. I don't care if they can only play three notes, if you can truly communicate with those three notes and get the crowd moving and shaking then you are a good musician. Fancy technique is useless if it isn't used to communicate. I've seen some amazing technique but the musician is all inward--no communication.
Mike Dirnt communicates. I loved watching him live and was sad that I wasn't picked to come up and play bass on stage at the concert. They selected another girl and then GAVE HER THE BASS TO KEEP! So. Jealous.
I've also seen bassists who only have ONE or TWO "tricks" in their bag. My friend can slap and pop and do both really fast and really, that's it. And he runs around and communicates and everyone thinks he's just so amazing. He is...but if you break it down he can really only do two things really well and now that I listen...his basslines are predictable because he does the same thing in every song. Hee!
So Mike Dirnt is amazing to me because he inspired me. And inspiring others is a mark of a good musician, wouldn't you say?
I honestly find him to be crap
Nothing really that interesting that he plays, just backs the guitar, boring lines, etc. It even amazes that he has a signature bass out. Well, that amazed me before Pete Wentz got one and then I find it to be a joke now.
Nothing really that interesting that he plays, just backs the guitar, boring lines, etc. It even amazes that he has a signature bass out. Well, that amazed me before Pete Wentz got one and then I find it to be a joke now.
if you first started getting into green day because of American Idiot then dont post in my thread ever again..
Go back and listen to their first six or seven albums. He plays all kinds of interesting lines and certainly doesn't just "back the guitar". As noted, he went for a different approach on "American Idiot" and played a little less.
Dirnt was very key to me as well. He wasn't my initial inspiration to play bass, but he was the first guy whose albums I really played along with when I was starting out. This was before "Dookie". He was super-melodic on that early stuff, and his lines were easy enough for me to figure out, but complex enough that they taught me a good bit about tying chords together and creating a line that flows through the song.
I never listened to Green Day, ever. I was never a fan and always disliked their music
Second, you asked for an opinion on him and I gave you one, which doesn't give you the right to be rude.
Thirdly, it's a public forum and you're not a moderator.
Been diggin' Greenday since 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours. (on cassette) "Knowledge" was probably the first time I'd ever heard the F-word on record. Haha I remember rockin to it on my mom's tape player in the car when she'd get out of the car.
Not many bassists can pull off the three man thing. It takes good musicianship all around to do it. It takes an entertaining and great bass player. Mike delivers what you stubborn critics aren't willing to hear.
Greenday live is an awesome experience.
Not many bassists can pull off the three man thing. It takes good musicianship all around to do it. It takes an entertaining and great bass player. Mike delivers what you stubborn critics aren't willing to hear.
Greenday live is an awesome experience.
Maybe the guitar backs him? He's the spotlight for many many songs. Not just their past two albums. Maybe know what you're talking about before you make yourself look dumb? Just a suggestion.
