the Billy Sheehan that i know

[40Hz]

Envy
that turns to hate
I'm confused as to how people have missed those posts from the envious.

Possibly because there are people in the world like me who don’t experience jealousy or envy. And as a result don’t see, or possibly imagine seeing it, everywhere.

Envy makes no sense to me. In order to feel envious or jealous, you need to have a sense of entitlement about something. As if what somebody else possesses somehow “rightfully belongs” (whatever that means) to you.

Which is probably why I don’t see or suspect envy. The bulk of the critiques I read (maybe I missed some of the more snarky ones?) seemed pretty accurate to me: as in an unfortunate tendency to display one’s technique over serving the song, etc.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Are you a Vulcan?, because normal humans do experience envy.

 

[Knavery]

Envy makes no sense to me. In order to feel envious or jealous, you need to have a sense of entitlement about something. As if what somebody else possesses somehow “rightfully belongs” (whatever that means) to you.

I don't think it has anything to do with entitlement. For instance, I've been envious of people that have really found their calling in life and succeed as a result. I've also been jealous, of say, my neighbors beautiful back yard that would take my wife and I several thousand dollars, or years, to look similar. Entitled? No. It's a normal human emotion. If you don't feel it, that's awesome. Although rare, I do experience it from time to time.

 

[40Hz]

I don't think it has anything to do with entitlement. For instance, I've been envious of people that have really found their calling in life and succeed as a result. I've also been jealous, of say, my neighbors beautiful back yard that would take my wife and I several thousand dollars, or years, to look similar. Entitled? No. It's a normal human emotion. If you don't feel it, that's awesome. Although rare, I do experience it from time to time.

I guess.

I never got it. It always felt that somebody else’s good fortune had nothing to do with my own circumstances. So if they were getting ahead, then the fact they were had no bearing on what was going on in my life. They just caught a break.

Did I ever wish things could have gone easier or more successfully for me? Sure. I want nice things. But seeing somebody else with something I wanted never once caused a twinge of envy. If anything it just reinforced hope. Because I figured as long as somebody was able to score, then that meant it was actually doable. And if that’s the case then there’s still the possibility I eventually could score too.

I sorta get some of the 7 deadly. Lust, sloth, wrath, maybe gluttony…that’s just the old ape brain there. But pride, greed, and envy? Null set. Those three just don’t resonate with me.

Probably too many years of Zen practice.

 

[Knavery]

I guess.

I never got it. It always felt that somebody else’s good fortune had nothing to do with my own circumstances. So if they were getting ahead, then the fact they were had no bearing on what was going on in my life. They just caught a break.

Did I ever wish things could have gone easier or more successfully for me? Sure. I want nice things. But seeing somebody else with something I wanted never once caused a twinge of envy. If anything it just reinforced hope. Because I figured as long as somebody was able to score, then that meant it was actually doable. And if that’s the case then there’s still the possibility I eventually could score too.

I sorta get some of the 7 deadly. Lust, sloth, wrath, maybe gluttony…that’s just the old ape brain there. But pride, greed, and envy? Null set. Those three just don’t resonate with me.

Probably too many years of Zen practice.

Exactly! Zen practice and realizing that for as many people that have things better, there are many more people that have it worse. I try to keep things in perspective, and therefore, realize how lucky I've been in life.

 

[JohnArnson]

I guess I'll go the other way here. I have had great interactions with him in multiple occasions at clinics. I lost a lot of respect for him with all of his birtherism/lock her up/MAGA crap on Facebook during the last election. He's certainly entitled to his opinion, but I don't have to look at it. And, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think differently of one of my heroes.

My point here is that what you call "bitter industry folk" can also be written as "sees the true person when not in front of a camera or fans on a daily basis."

I say this not to bash Sheehan, but simply to say that your passing superficial interaction doesn't give the measure of a man. And, someone else's reality isn't yours. There's absolutely no reason for both to not be true.

It's not like he's hurting for work.

I got a good friend like that.

We have a mutual agreement about not talking politics when we are doing stuff together.

Does some of his political Facebook comments annoy me?

Definitely.

Do I think he is somewhat misguided?

Probably.

And he probably feel the same way about some of my political Facebook comments.

Do any of us think the other is a crook or otherwise a bad person?

No, cause we know better through our friendship, and value it too much to let political indifferences ruin it.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Ixnay on the Oliticspay

Indeed. Closed for cleanup.

 

[kesslari]

Cleanup on aisle 7.
Kids, remember, someone's politics or religion has no place in this discussion on TalkBass.
Keep it clear.

 

[India_Sierra]

I've met him a couple times, super-super nice, and seems that way by all accounts. That being said, everyone has bad days and periods in their life. Maybe it was in the first implosion of Mr. Big - Billy wasn't on his best behavior in those days.

long story - infamous video where he's being blatantly uncooperative -

Indeed, the back story to that is indeed interesting. I stop find it remarkable that the moves were (allegedly) made to oust Billy; first off firing him, asking for him back and then the band ultimately imploding anyway.

I have always found Mr. Big an odd mismatch though. The draw to me was always the promise of the insane talents of the bassist and guitarist - but it Gilbert or Kotzen. The singer and drummer were nothing remarkable to my ears and the songs never grabbed me that much, particularly the ones that sounded like they were written for radio.There was better hair rock out there, not least when Billy was in the DLR band for 'Eat 'em and Smile'.

Funny that, after all the drama, Mr. Big would reunite and Billy and Richie Kotzen would bag an amazing drummer in Mike Portnoy for their own band.

If you really want to hear Billy cutting loose, check him out in Niacin or the Steve Vai band. I always say that Steve never sounded better than when Billy was on bass.

 

[Mastodon2]

I would take the words of a disgruntled road
manager with a pinch of salt. Billy is one of the nicest and most respectful guys in the business. Does he have bad days? Every human does, but he seems to be incredibly grateful for his career and friendly to his fans.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

tendency to display one’s technique over serving the song

If a guitar player embellishes a song he's "making it his own" or some other euphemism.
Why can't this apply to bass players?

 

[electracoyote]

I've heard only good things about Billy in his casual interactions. But I am not surprised in the least that two professionals would butt heads on an issue. The only disappointing thing here for me is one of them decided to blab about it with a one-sided account. It sounds to me like the dispute involved only one professional.

 

[40Hz]

If a guitar player embellishes a song he's "making it his own" or some other euphemism.
Why can't this apply to bass players?

If it worked better for bass than it usually does, it might.

I’ll make a song my own too. I have an unfortunate tendency to rewrite bass lines and “fix” things I disagree with. Usually its just picking a different chord tone I think sounds better, simplifying an overly fussy passage that I feel muddies up the waters, adding something I can hear in the original that somehow didn’t get played but should have bern, or “correcting” something else similarly minor. It’s not so much an embellishment as it is a series of tweaks. And it’s admittedly highly subjective on my part. But I also make no claims to being absolutely right about it. I’m just making it “my own” by bringing whatever it is more in line with my own personal tastes and musical ethos without adding anything that would draw attention away from the song itself in order to point a spotlight in me.

Someone asked me once if I never wanted to just stand out and shine during a performance. My answer was that I didn’t care that much about shining. What I really wanted was to glow.

QUOTE="Killed_by_Death, post: 22739704, member: 272436"]Are you a Vulcan?, because normal humans do experience envy.[/QUOTE]

I thought I was a normal human. I’m generally respected in the circles I move in. And I have and am able to keep friends. And keep a job. So I guess I’m normal.

And no, I don’t experience envy or jealousy. Never did. I don’t see life as a zero sum game. My head’s just not wired that way. I’ve got my share of vices like anyone else does. But those two aren’t numbered among them.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Zero Sum applies to jealousy, I've not once used that word, and purposefully so.

 

[Koshchei]

The bulk of the critiques I read (maybe I missed some of the more snarky ones?) seemed pretty accurate to me: as in an unfortunate tendency to display one’s technique over serving the song, etc.

Mediocre musicians have an annoying habit of to assuming that if somebody has chops, that they must use them at every available opportunity. Billy wouldn't have a full dance card if he had a tendency to overplay where it wasn't wanted/expected; regardless of his insane chops, he's a very solid bassist too.

 

[40Hz]

Mediocre musicians have an annoying habit of to assuming that if somebody has chops, that they must use them at every available opportunity. Billy wouldn't have a full dance card if he had a tendency to overplay where it wasn't wanted/expected; regardless of his insane chops, he's a very solid bassist too.

I think he is. Some of his stuff doesn’t appeal to me personally. But that just personal taste. I find him to be a very solid player. And one of the better ones out there. Seems like a nice guy too. Very open when discussing his gear and technique.

 

[Koshchei]

I'm not a huge fan either, but I can't fault his professionalism or musicianship.

 

[Rev J]

Mediocre musicians have an annoying habit of to assuming that if somebody has chops, that they must use them at every available opportunity. Billy wouldn't have a full dance card if he had a tendency to overplay where it wasn't wanted/expected; regardless of his insane chops, he's a very solid bassist too.

It's kinda like the guys who say "If it has more than 4 strings it's a guitar". To me that statement screams insecurity and mediocrity. If this is said to me in a guitar shop I hand them a ukulele saying, "This has 4 strings is it a bass?"

C/S,
Rev J