RIP bernard edwards (19 years today)

[figital]

bernard passed 19 years ago today.

i think everyone here should pick up their bass and show some love for the great man on this day!

crank out GOOD TIMES, LE FREAK or one of the many massive lines 'nard gave us.

play with your heart and play like it might be your last time...like bernard edwards always did!

 

[BazzTard]

I did not know his name, but loved his basslines, I WILL play Good Times today

R.I.P

 

[walterw]

i see him slapping in that picture, but i thought his thing on the classic records was to essentially pinch his thumb and index together and use it like a fleshy pick.

(and yes, "good times" is definitely in the top 5 greatest bass lines ever)

 

[JimK]

There's an album & DVD, Live At The Budokan…recorded April 17, 1996.
I finally bought it last year. During the lengthy band intros, Bernard is sitting & apologizes...he's not feeling well.
It's unsettling.
RIP.

Live at the Budokan (Chic album) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[figital]

There's an album & DVD, Live At The Budokan…recorded April 17, 1996.
I finally bought it last year. During the lengthy band intros, Bernard is sitting & apologizes...he's not feeling well.
It's unsettling.
RIP.

Live at the Budokan (Chic album) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

the part that gets me is when he tells the crowd he has 'the tokyo flu' :-(

 

[figital]

i see him slapping in that picture, but i thought his thing on the classic records was to essentially pinch his thumb and index together and use it like a fleshy pick.

(and yes, "good times" is definitely in the top 5 greatest bass lines ever)

'nard was a monster. if you watch a video of him playing, you can see him effortlessly switch between styles.
in EVERYBODY DANCE, which is the song most famous for the 'chucking' technique, he switches between
the thumb/finger DIY pick style ( ) and trad finger
style with ease!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I may have spent more time playing Bernard Edwards basslines than anyone else in my bedroom "bass career." I absolutely love his playing and sound.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

I may have spent more time playing Bernard Edwards basslines than anyone else in my bedroom "bass career." I absolutely love his playing and sound.

I'm with you Doc. There are four electric bassists whose playing I treasure more than all others: Jaco, Jamerson, Anthony Jackson and ....Bernard.

 

[figital]

check out this old pre CHIC video. at 2:15 you can see bernard switch to chucking and then right back to fingers!



i can't imagine how many hours of playing he would have had, even at that time in 1976.

so good!!

 

[A.K.]

No joke: I was a torpedoman on a nuclear submarine in April 1996. We got a radio message for the captain that included all sorts of random world news. One of the items was the death of Bernard Edwards. I was pretty much the only person who knew who he was. Talk about a weird and unlikely way to learn that one of your musical heroes is dead.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

check out this old pre CHIC video. at 2:15 you can see bernard switch to chucking and then right back to fingers!



i can't imagine how many hours of playing he would have had, even at that time in 1976.

so good!!

That's a nice video. I wonder if that is Fonzi Thornton on vocals?

 

[figital]

the singer in THE BIG APPLE BAND was a guy named bobby cotter. nile said he was was best known as a performer in
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

and if you are a fan and never saw them, there's more vids from that same gig.

 

[figital]

oh, and if anyone ever wanted to know what bass bernard edwards used on early chic, my guess
is it is the fender he's rolling in these videos! (music man basses didn't come out until after the
early chic material was made)

 

[Brother Goose]

bernard passed 19 years ago today.

i think everyone here should pick up their bass and show some love for the great man on this day!

crank out GOOD TIMES, LE FREAK or one of the many massive lines 'nard gave us.

play with your heart and play like it might be your last time...like bernard edwards always did!

Thank you posting this tribute to a master. I remember hearing news in the Tom Joyner morning show. It was spring break OG my jr year is hs- dug out my parents Chic albums and started soaking it up. One my all time faves!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

oh, and if anyone ever wanted to know what bass bernard edwards used on early chic, my guess
is it is the fender he's rolling in these videos! (music man basses didn't come out until after the
early chic material was made)

I think he used a Fender on Everbody Dance and maybe that whole first album, but Stingrays were commercially available by 1976. I remember lusting at them on ads on the back of issues of Guitar Player. The first bassist I remember on a Stingray was Carl Radle with Eric Clapton.