Thoughts on Roger Waters as a Bass Player

[tvbop]

MJ was never found guilty of anything.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

MJ was never found guilty of anything.

They're opening an old case. It's pretty immaterial except to the people claiming harm. I'm a father. But it's moot. I had insomnia last night I should stick to bad jokes today.

 

[Phaidrus]

MJ was never found guilty of anything.

Definitely guilty of bad taste.

 

[Pow R Tosh]

I was listening to versions of Astronomy Domine a couple of days ago (my personal favourite song of Floyd's). First version I ever heard was the live Ummagumma which I think is the best, I love Syds of course on Piper. Then I listened to the Pulse version (I was lucky to have gone in 94 to Earl's Court). I really like Guy Pratt, but just felt he over plays a bit more than I'd like on that particular track / version. Someone else posted about Roger Waters more minimalist approach (Careful with that axe Eugene was mentioned). Don't get me wrong though, when I heard that song live at Earl's Court I was chuffed to bits. I think I need to binge on some of Nick Masons Saucerful of Secrets and check Guy out some more. Btw some excellent clips from The Man and the Journey seem to have appeared on YouTube showing Floyd rehearsal in 1969, Roger playing some cool bass that I haven't seen before. Going back to the minimalist Roger, I just think he left the spaces where they needed to be, probably not a musician's thing, but the architectural mindset that a lot of biographies / articles / books talk about…..just my two pennies worth anyway

 

[Pow R Tosh]

Definitely guilty of bad taste.

Corey Feldman does a great MJ impersonation….his stab at music / dance / choreography in the 90s is YouTube comedy gold. Not knocking him at all, absolute legend.

 

[Phaidrus]

Someone else posted about Roger Waters more minimalist approach (Careful with that axe Eugene was mentioned).

Going back to the minimalist Roger, I just think he left the spaces where they needed to be, probably not a musician's thing, but the architectural mindset that a lot of biographies / articles / books talk about…..just my two pennies worth anyway

Yes, this track I had in mind, the bassline leaving the necessary space for the narration to unfold, as you mention. The less Waters plays as he provides the pulse, the more dramatic it all becomes, the more the eerie melody of Gilmour's notes is accentuated, Wright's keys soar in cosmic vibes, Mason's drums explode violently. It's a masterpiece of minimalist psychedelia made possible by all four of them together.

 

[tvbop]

Definitely guilty of bad taste.

So was Picasso and 100's of other creative artists.

 

[Pow R Tosh]

I couldn't have put it more eloquently!
I like Floyd top to bottom, but prefer the earlier psychedelic stuff, Syd and just post Syd. I like the Wall for obvious reasons (Gilmour probably mainly and his solos, fretless bass moments and the concept), final cut is a hard sell. Division Bell I really like. Piper will always be my favourite because of the rawness and production, I think most of it stands the test of time and is exhilarating (both guitar and bass which are both spikey, rudimentary and free from clichés). Roger's bass on Piper, Saucerful, Ummagumma (live) are just perfect, spacious and pulsing, perfectly complimentary to Syd and early Dave. Dark Side….obviously excellent but I don't know how much Dave played or influenced any of the bass on that.

 

[Pow R Tosh]

So was Picasso and 100's of other creative artists.

And Rolf Harris

 

[Pow R Tosh]

Yes, this track I had in mind, the bassline leaving the necessary space for the narration to unfold, as you mention. The less Waters plays as he provides the pulse, the more dramatic it all becomes, the more the eerie melody of Gilmour's notes is accentuated, Wright's keys soar in cosmic vibes, Mason's drums explode violently. It's a masterpiece of minimalist psychedelia made possible by all four of them together.

Richard Wright's keyboard intro to Astronomy Domine on Ummagumma is probably, no, definitely the best intro to anything I've ever heard……I've listened to it thousands of times and it never fails to bring me to my special place! I wish I knew exactly what he played and what effects etc. The whole live album from Ummagumma is pinnacle for me, love it

 

[ThudThudThud]

I'd imagine that someone who is as meticulous, and such a studio taskmaster as he, and who is such a clever songwriter would be able to have any sort of bassline he likes in a song. It doesn't matter who played the bass on which track, it would have been 100% what Roger Waters wanted it to be for that song.
He always serves the song. That, to me, is the epitome of bass playing.

 

[Pow R Tosh]

I'd imagine that someone who is as meticulous, and such a studio taskmaster as he, and who is such a clever songwriter would be able to have any sort of bassline he likes in a song. It doesn't matter who played the bass on which track, it would have been 100% what Roger Waters wanted it to be for that song.
He always serves the song. That, to me, is the epitome of bass playing.

Yeah, I do wonder what the conversations were like in those early days (when Syd was there) were like when they discussed the music / guitar / keyboards / bass. If it was really very improvisational etc. Roger certainly gripped things early on, then became more theatrical. His concepts and lyrics etc are fantastic and missed (certainly for me on Momentary) - it's a shame things fell apart. I did listen to the Redux version of Money the other day and…..well, let's just say I put the original on very quickly to cleanse things! Roger, no matter what is thought about his other leanings and activities, has certainly gifted us some of the best music throughout the years. I do regret not seeing them during the Live 8 reunion.

 

[Les Fret]

Btw some excellent clips from The Man and the Journey seem to have appeared on YouTube showing Floyd rehearsal in 1969, Roger playing some cool bass that I haven't seen before. Going back to the minimalist Roger, I just think he left the spaces where they needed to be, probably not a musician's thing, but the architectural mindset that a lot of biographies / articles / books talk about…..just my two pennies worth anyway

Do you have a link to those videos? Thanks

 

[Pow R Tosh]

 

[Pow R Tosh]

Roger has a groovy looking bass. Even though it's 69 it seems really recent in a strange way

 

[Pow R Tosh]

Biding my Time is the first tune, found on Relics compilation, but this rehearsal is awesome to watch, the dynamic and Roger's obvious control

 

[Pow R Tosh]

Dave is obviously still very new and feeling his way into the band. Green is the Colour then morphs into Careful with that Axe Eugene

 

[Pow R Tosh]

I would loved to have seen similar footage from Syd period, see the process, discussion and dynamic….how much was free improv and what was solidly defined. Probably Interstellar was literally 'let's start with the descending riff….noodle for a bit, then end on descending riff'! If so, their noodling was impeccably telekinetic lol

 

[Pow R Tosh]

Probably answering my own original question / post…. Roger's bass playing was great in the early days, by that I mean raw and free. His later genius as a lyricist and conceptualist is undeniable. Perhaps his bass playing was enhanced or surrogated via Dave. Technically not virtuoso, but feeling the space and structure requirements…..spot on. Separating the artist from the art etc (nodding to his political leanings, falling outs with band etc), I feel his bass playing is monumental in his own personal approach, for the sparsity and application he applied