• 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.

Simple-ish Bassists Who Kicked Ass!

How do you like your bassists?

  • Extremely technical (Jaco Pastorius style on Heavy Weather.)

    Votes: 26 12.0%

  • Moderately technical (John Deacon style on just about every Queen album.)

    Votes: 122 56.5%

  • In the middle (Mike Dirnt style on Dookie.)

    Votes: 33 15.3%

  • Less technical (Krist Novoselic style on Nevermind.)

    Votes: 20 9.3%

  • Simple as simple can be (Dee Dee Ramone style on the Ramone's eponymous debut.)

    Votes: 12 5.6%

  • Can barely play one note (Sid Vicious style.)

    Votes: 3 1.4%
  • Total voters
    216
#141
Watchootognbout said:
In no way would I call Jimmy Johnson "simple"His stuff will Allan Holdsworth and Flim & the BB's is beyond "Simple"
Click to expand...
Neither would I.

Since that thread is not quite what the title suggests I put him in as an example of "appropriate" (with massive chops), should have made that clear I suppose.

Regards,
Michael
 
  • Like
Reactions: Watchootognbout
#142
MichaelOz said:
Neither would I.

Since that thread is not quite what the title suggests I put him in as an example of "appropriate" (with massive chops), should have made that clear I suppose.

Regards,
Michael
Click to expand...
I agree.
The poll basically implies that although we may favor extremely technical bass:they don't want to hear from us.
Because the title asks for one thing.
Post an example of simple bassists.


 
#150
Eilif said:
I've always liked Dougie Payne's bass playing with Travis, especially the first 4 or 5 albums. Somewhere between "Middle" and "less", possibly towards less, likely because he sings backup alot. Nice bass lines that really serve the songs well but aren't totally static.

Hard to say that he "kicked ass" though as Travis music tends to be a more bit low-key.

John Stirrat of Wilco is a similarly supportive player, though he seems to be a better musician and falls more in the middle camp. I think he's also the only original member besides Tweedy, so he must be doing something right.
Click to expand...
Payne (or Travis for that matter), doesn't get much notice around here, but I agree with your pick of him. Pretty good singer too. Maybe it's just me, but I don't find Stirrat "simple-ish" at all. His sometimes out of the box lines are what make Wilco so original.
 
#153
MCF said:
Payne (or Travis for that matter), doesn't get much notice around here, but I agree with your pick of him. Pretty good singer too. Maybe it's just me, but I don't find Stirrat "simple-ish" at all. His sometimes out of the box lines are what make Wilco so original.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Even when they were getting US airplay, Travis didn't get much attention around here.

Agreed about Strirrat. He's never flashy but I wouldn't call him "simple". He manages to be creative without being too busy and he serves the song at every turn.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF
#154
vegas532 said:
Nothing that Simon Gallup does is overly difficult or technical, but OH is it melodic, tasteful, and essential to the song!
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. Doesn't get nearly enough love, but he'll always be in my top 5 favourites. Super tasteful playing, every line on Seventeen Seconds is a classic, and his most impressive lines as well IMO. I couldn't imagine playing and recording those parts when I was 19! now that's talent!

Here's some vintage Simon hard at work:

Grinding Halt:


In Your House:


Play for Today:


A Forest, Three Imaginary Boys & Killing an Arab:


Fire in Cairo & Play for Today:


A Forest:


I'll always have a soft spot for videos & bootlegs from this era of their career; Robert's not completely covered in makeup yet, and still rocking the white Jazzmaster, Simon with the always classy Black & Maple P and Hartley's AMAZING synths (which is the high point of this for me). The only way this could've been better if Boris was behind the drums :p
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maxime1980, exidor, jjmuckluckjr and 1 other person
#155
For pure rock'n roll toe-tapping, John David with Dave Edmunds could drive things like a train and still add colors when he wanted.
Also, John Bazz, when locked with Bateman's drumming in the Blasters...simple, but unstoppable.
Roger Waters has a fluid style; I like how he isn't afraid to take the bass line up to the melody level and "drape it around" for a bit without getting long and show-offish about it.
C.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back