I'm not a huge Styx fan, but they were actually considered pretty cool, especially if you were a foxy lady*
*70s term for beautiful woman
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Someone please explain all the love for Steve Harris
- Thread starter Yonni
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I'm not a huge Styx fan, but they were actually considered pretty cool, especially if you were a foxy lady*
*70s term for beautiful woman
Since you mentioned being into the prog side of things, look up their cover of King of Twilight! One of my favorites by them. Also, as someone else mentioned, Somewhere in Time is reaaaaaaally good.
I was preparing a rant about how "No one is required to "get" anyone and how irrelevant anyone's opinions are in general or even specifically to any artist".
Then I read the OP's post above and was pleasantly surprised. For whatever it is worth, I commend you for having and open mind and be willing to really "listen" and make an honest attempt to appreciate another person's art even if it isn't to your particular taste.
This is something that all musician's should do.
When we really LISTEN we can gain insights that can be beneficial to our own progress as musicians.
Taking the subject of the OP's question as an example, there are no albums of Steve Harris playing bass there are only albums of Iron Maiden playing songs and Mr. Harris makes his artistic choices in that context. In addition to the purely musical aspects there are many other elements present such as arrangement, lyrical construction and phrasing, recording techniques, production techniques and etc. These are all elements worthy of consideration and evaluation for applicability to our own efforts.
Snobbery, condescension, and close-mindedness robs us of these opportunities.
Art is by its nature subjective, it's OK not to like something but I believe that as artists we should always try to avoid being dismissive.
Plus, having "Iron Maiden Day" tomorrow sounds like a great idea!
Cheers!
Your missing the feel of the genre that he is playing. Perhaps if he stepped into a genre more to your taste you would be able to hear and feel his offerings. I hated Les Claypool's bass playing but once the style of music caught on with me I pulled a complete 360 on how I perceived him.
when I was a teenager I knew that I needed to perfect that technique because somewhere down the line I was gonna need it.
Sure enough, I have gotten some pretty good gigs because I can do Trooper / Run to the Hills thing.
Some of the rock / metal dudes are like, "yup, yer in!" because I can do that stuff.
Plus it is a lot of fun to play fast, loud and run around a lot waving my hair around.
Sure enough, I have gotten some pretty good gigs because I can do Trooper / Run to the Hills thing.
Some of the rock / metal dudes are like, "yup, yer in!" because I can do that stuff.
Plus it is a lot of fun to play fast, loud and run around a lot waving my hair around.
Gee a jazz guy isn’t impressed by Harris what a shock.
The guy could crack walnuts between his fingers and he hasn’t aged since the 80s!!
Seriously though, jazz bores the hell out of me but I would never say I don’t appreciate the talent of many players. I can’t stand to listen to it (like most Americans it sounds like guys practicing scales to me). Sure there are incredibly talented musicians playing it but if I want to stay awake I avoid it.
There are few RnR or metal bands where the bass player is absolutely 100% irreplaceable. Steve Harris IS Madien.
The guy could crack walnuts between his fingers and he hasn’t aged since the 80s!!
Seriously though, jazz bores the hell out of me but I would never say I don’t appreciate the talent of many players. I can’t stand to listen to it (like most Americans it sounds like guys practicing scales to me). Sure there are incredibly talented musicians playing it but if I want to stay awake I avoid it.
There are few RnR or metal bands where the bass player is absolutely 100% irreplaceable. Steve Harris IS Madien.
Thanks @Basshappi. When I was 18 I was a music snob and no one could convince me that the bands I liked were not superior to all other music. 30+ years later I work in learning and development and hope I continue to learn and be amazed by new things until the day I die. Working in a record shop for 3 years also helped broaden my tastes. You’ll find rock, metal, funk, punk, blues, jazz, classical, pop and country in my record collection. I have my favourites but I’ll listen to anything if someone tells me it’s good.
BTW I’ve already listened to the first album while studying tonight. I’d forgotten how many good tracks it has. I get what people were saying about the gallop style. He’s a bit of a beast. He must have a right forearm like a tree trunk. I also watched that Ed Friedland link. Love the bit where he apologises and when he says “tendinitis city”.
BTW I’ve already listened to the first album while studying tonight. I’d forgotten how many good tracks it has. I get what people were saying about the gallop style. He’s a bit of a beast. He must have a right forearm like a tree trunk. I also watched that Ed Friedland link. Love the bit where he apologises and when he says “tendinitis city”.
Around 2002 I was in a metal band and I don't usually play metal, I'm more of classic Prog and punk rock player. Yeah I know big juxtaposition.
So I show up with a 73 P bass and use that as my main bass and a lot of people keep saying "you must be a huge Maiden fan and Steve Harris fan.
At the time I didn't listen to Maiden and never thought anything of Steve Harris. I guess I was influenced by him without even listening to Maiden.
So I show up with a 73 P bass and use that as my main bass and a lot of people keep saying "you must be a huge Maiden fan and Steve Harris fan.
At the time I didn't listen to Maiden and never thought anything of Steve Harris. I guess I was influenced by him without even listening to Maiden.
From what I’ve seen of Jaco, he’s like a hipster at a modern art museum... not for me. Steve Harris on the other hand, is actually one of the best bassists in my opinion. Try playing an Iron Maiden set and you’ll see.
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It is all subjective, that's why. I don't "get" Jaco... I've seen his live videos riddled with sloppy mistakes, and find his "innovations" to be nothing more than clicks and whistles. James Jamerson? This guy was a talented pro, but produced nothing that appeals to me style- or tone- wise. And Larry Graham? Who is that again?
In pure skill, most rock guys are not going to be able to play like Hadrien Feraud, so any expectations get adjusted accordingly. Usually the top-rated guy on bass lists is Geddy Lee, because he's fantastic as a hard-rock player and good at communicating to the masses. He may not be able to do what a jazz guy can do, but most jazz guys can't sing and play bass, keys and Taurus pedals at the same time.
With that in mind, there's a video where the Bass Whisperer Ed Friedland demoes the Steve Harris p-bass. He's a very good player and educator, but it's obvious when he approximates Harris lines that he can't finger-pick that strong. Here's a conversation from the video:
Ed replied:
Now put yourself in a time machine to realize how Steve Harris truly became the hero to many... Instead of the 'fat boy in the back', here's a guy writing the songs, running around on stage with as much energy as the frontman for 4 hours, getting the bass heard as more than a lurking presence in the mix, etc, etc.
I'm gonna narrow it down to one thing: Some players got that x-factor. Steve is one of them. Kinda like Geddy and Entwistle. Yes, there are more precise and cleaner bass players, but there just some kind of magic in the way those guys perform and execute their music.
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Guess I'll have to have a play-through of Live After Death tomorrow now.
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Guess I'll have to have a play-through of Live After Death tomorrow now.
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C'mon now, Larry is awesome! I'm sure you don't care that he invented slapping and whatnot, but you have to see his instructional vids to see how great his personality is
Harris and Co helped spearhead the NWOBHM, and it was Harris at the helm for the majority of the songwriting and directing of the band. Harris' bass tone always stood out in a mix, and his lines, albeit repetitive at times, were accessible for both novice and experienced players alike.
For many bassists, Steve Harris was the guy that got them into bass playing due to everything he represented - a songwriting bassist who stood at the helm of one of the greatest hard rock and heavy metal bands of all time. You don't have to enjoy the music to understand and respect his contribution to the instrument just like others might not get Jaco or Jamerson. Harris was a pioneer for a style and a genre, and he also happens to be a genuinely nice guy as well.
For the record, he was the guy who got me into bass. I love Maiden but I also outgrew them some time ago. I personally can only listen to them in small quantities these days, but I still love and respect what they've done to a genre and what Harris has done for the instrument.
For many bassists, Steve Harris was the guy that got them into bass playing due to everything he represented - a songwriting bassist who stood at the helm of one of the greatest hard rock and heavy metal bands of all time. You don't have to enjoy the music to understand and respect his contribution to the instrument just like others might not get Jaco or Jamerson. Harris was a pioneer for a style and a genre, and he also happens to be a genuinely nice guy as well.
For the record, he was the guy who got me into bass. I love Maiden but I also outgrew them some time ago. I personally can only listen to them in small quantities these days, but I still love and respect what they've done to a genre and what Harris has done for the instrument.
Mr.Ace
Bass players rule!
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I don’t actually like Steve Harris’s bass lines. They do sit well in the mix, and for the music it seems like he does what needs to be done. Not a Maiden fan. I remember when they were huge. I had posters of Eddie. I guess that made me some what of a poser. Yeah, don’t like pretty much anything they do.
Or Glen Burton...Well, at least he’s not as bad as Cliff Burton.
...About those $9.99 basses on eBay.....
The number of the upside-down beast!!!
For me, IM was one of the first bands I got into. For the whole package. Regardless of where he (or anyone else for that matter) is on a list, I will like listening to him and his band because when I hear him my 47 year old ass becomes an early teen for the duration of the album. Ditto any other listed bass players. I laugh at these lists that get compiled as if sabermetrics are involved...
