• 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.

Roger Waters

#21
They were Blues artists Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.
I the studio David Gilmour did most of the bass work, but Rogers work on live in Pomeii is pretty cool.
Since we may never know who played bass on which song I think it speaks volumes that they seem almost indicernable.

HOLY Thread revival batman
 
#22
Waters, by his own admission, is a song writer first, bassist second and I think it's hard to argue that based on his work. The musical brilliance of the band was guitar & keys, and roger was enough bassist to keep up (usually), though Dave Gilmore has stated that he played the bass parts on several recordings because Roger just couldn't hang.

Don't get me wrong - I *dig* Roger, but I dig him because of his songwriting and sense of theater - and commitment to worthy ideas. One of the reasons he split with Floyd was that he hated playing in huge venues where he couldn't see the audience - - he likes to connect to the listener (if you saw the "Radio KAOS" tour, you'd know EXACTLY what I mean).

Roger rocks, but but as a young bassist, I was copying a great deal more John Entwistle and Chris Squire than I was Roger Waters...
 
#23
I am a Dave Gilmour fan, but I only know of the fretless bassline in 'Hey you' that Gilmour covered for Roger for certain. Roger may not have been a superstar bassist in anyones eyes- but the classic bassline 'Money'... thats Roger Waters :bassist: This is an excerpt of an Interview between Musician magazine and Gilmour from August '92:

Musician magazine: Was Roger an effective bassist back then?

David Gilmour: He had developed his own limited, or very simple style. He was never very keen on improving himself as a bass player and half the time I would play the bass on the records because I would tend to do it quicker. Right back to those early records, I mean, at least half the bass on all the recorded output is me anyway.

M: This is not a widely acknowledged fact.

DG: Well, I think it's been said, but it's certainly not something we go around advertising. Rog used to come in and say "Thank you very much" to me once in a while for winning him bass-playing polls.

M: Did you play the fretless bass on "Hey You"?

DG: Yeah. Hmm. Roger playing fretless bass? Please! [laughs] :D
 
#24
Hey wicked.
Was just watching a doco on the Floyd last night! I can't say I've listened to enough Pink Floyd to really comment on Water's bass lines, other than I like ''Another Brick on the Wall". Upsets me to think of Syd Barrett being to Acid Fried to be part of the band in their later albums, and definitely turned me more sXe!!!
 
#25
JWC said:
This is a guy who I sincerely believe gets far less, if any credit, than he rightfuly deserves. To be totally honest, when I bought my first bass years ago, I was heavily into Pink Floyd, and yes, I admit it, Roger inintially inspired me to pick up the bass. His lines are so cool and out there. He is a musical genuis. I cannot say enough great things about Roger and his bass playing, which is truly remarkable. Also, as far as questions go, I have one. Which big Floyd songs did he sing lead vocals on. His voice and David Gilmours are so similiar its very hard to tell them apart. :)
Click to expand...

Roger essentially played "lead bass" You'll find more Floyd songs where it is the bass that drives the riff. Money, Wish You Were here, and I love the simple pattern in Lucifer Sam from Pipers at the Gates Of Dawn.

He wasn't always flashy, and his lines tend to revolve around simple themes, but they are unmistakable. Although I enjoyed A Momentary Lapse of Reason (although the critics didn't) They were really done after The Final Cut.

Looking back, I am surprised I don't have any of Waters solo stuff in my catalog. :confused:
 
#26
Waters wasn't really that good at all. At best he's average. He made it clear that he didn't like the bass and would have rather'd play lead guitar. He's a great song writer but average musician.
 
#29
Pink Floyd is tied for 1st place as one of my favorite bands.

"Money" is the second bass line that I learned as a beginner. "Come as you are" was the first. A little bit easier during the first few days of playing.

I like some of Gilmore's later Pink Floyd but the earlier work is much better and I can listen to it 100 times more often.

If the Wooten wannabe wankers knew what Roger's bass lines did for a song then we wouldn't have so many kids playing super technical CRAP on yootube.

It's not that Roger doesn't get recognition as much as what we consider to be good is not very emotional or deep in general. Just proficient?!?!!!!?!~
 
#31
POTW, while I love both the Floyd and the Pistols, I find it ironic that you, as a fan of the Floyd, would have Sid as your avatar. The Pistols were well-known haters of Pink Floyd. No biggie, just ironic.
 
#32
iamthebassman said:
POTW, while I love both the Floyd and the Pistols, I find it ironic that you, as a fan of the Floyd, would have Sid as your avatar. The Pistols were well-known haters of Pink Floyd. No biggie, just ironic.
Click to expand...

I know, especially with the whole Johnny Rotten's "I hate Pink Floyd" t-shirt, but I love both bands. Pink Floyd more-so, but I couldn't find a picture of Roger Waters that would make a good avatar.
It's even more ironic that I have a Sid Vicious avatar and a TB Name named after a Pink Floyd song :p
 
#34
pigsonthewing said:
I know, especially with the whole Johnny Rotten's "I hate Pink Floyd" t-shirt, but I love both bands. Pink Floyd more-so, but I couldn't find a picture of Roger Waters that would make a good avatar.
It's even more ironic that I have a Sid Vicious avatar and a TB Name named after a Pink Floyd song :p
Click to expand...

Yes, all that caused my ironic-ness! Always like this pic of Rog, but might not make a good avatar.
rog.jpg
 
#36
I would agree that Waters' talents are more along the lines of songwriting and musical vision, as opposed to perceived technical ability.

However, if taken to excess, this can result in musical compositions that are more lyric/story oriented and are somewhat less interesting musically - this would be my main criticism of The Wall.

That said, he has demonstrated the ability to construct a bass line that, while not flashy, becomes an integral part of the sound. I think one of the best examples of this would be his bass line in "Echoes." - hard to imagine the song without it. In general, I would say he seems to thrive the most with good players around him.
 
#37
Roger Waters is the best bassist of all time in the soul. I can't say the same on the fretboard, but in the soul, there's no arguing. He was a born musical composer. He had such musical sense and timing that he could make a bass line of one note, and just give it that certain timing that makes you say 'Thats a great bassline'.
BTW, my bass is an exact copy of Roger's from 'Live at Pompeii'. Sunburst/tort/rosewood pbass w/ pickup cover. (I can say the same with Jamerson too.lol)
 
#38
I love early Floyd stuff. Not as much into the Wall era, but Pigs (Three Different Ones) is a great song, and I just can't get into their post-Waters music.

Waters' playing on the Pompeii dvd is great, it's simple but it grooves. In my opinion this was their best era. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#39
JWC said:
I cannot say enough great things about Roger and his bass playing, which is truly remarkable.
Click to expand...

I also think it's truly remarkable that you can't say enough good things about Roger and his bass playing... :p

wallshakerpbass said:
Roger Waters is the best bassist of all time in the soul. I can't say the same on the fretboard, but in the soul, there's no arguing.
Click to expand...

Uh, I must be missing something. How would anyone know for sure exactly what's in Roger's bass playing soul - if he can't actually express it on the fretboard? :confused:

Azzi said:
Waters wasn't really that good at all. At best he's average. He made it clear that he didn't like the bass and would have rather'd play lead guitar. He's a great song writer but average musician.
Click to expand...

This would have to be one of the most accurate statements about Roger in this thread thus far. I'm a Floyd fan from way back, but I can't let that fact cloud my judgment about the type or degree of Roger's musicianship. By and large, the material itself seems deliberately composed to allow for very simple bass lines. Nothing wrong with that, and the music rarely ever seems to suffer for it. On the other hand, one often gets the distinct impression that Roger would really rather be doing almost anything - other than playing the bass... :hmm:

MM
 
#40
Exactly, the only people that are saying he is an amazing bassist only are saying so because he's in Pink Floyd. Don't get me wrong, they have and always will be on of my favorite bands, but he isn't amazing at all.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back