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Tom Hamilton: Give him the recognition he deserves

M

Music_for_life

Aug 6, 2010
627
9
#1
In my opinion one of the best subtle player in rock. His fills make the song, very elegant playing and tone. Knows when to slide, when to throw an octave or a fifth, when to play streight eights or when to leave space. His bass lines are complex. give them a listen.
I like his work in Get a grip the ballads, amazing, cryin`, crazy, living on the edge, full circle, gotta love it, sweet emotion.
What do you think about him???
Are his early basslines so tasty as his work in Pump, Get a Grip, or nine lives ???

Only one thread about this underrated bass player! Him John Deacon and Cliff WIlliams are my top 3 bass players in rock.
 
#6
I too dig Tom's playing. Really like the early stuff off "Get Your Wings", "Toys" & "Rocks".
He's a good solid player. He obviously has been overshadowed by bandmates Tyler, Perry & Whitford. He would stand back and hold down the fort while the others tore it up onstage.
 
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#10
The bassline in Cryin' is very nice. It has always been one of my favorites. A very good player.

To me, not everyone has to be Jaco, Victor, or even Geddy. As long as your basslines bring something interesting to the party, that is all I ask/expect from any bass player. A lot of rock and pop bassists have made themselves interchangable....the rhythm is from the kick and the note is the root of whatever chord the guitarist is playing. Anyone can do that. Just come up with something interesting to put your own stamp on whatever song you are playing. Tom H has always done this with Aerosmith and I have a lot of respect for him.
 
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#11
There are periodically threads on TB as to whether it is possible to play funky lines with a pick (which, of course, is a silly discussion). Sure, Aerosmith is Rock genre pigeonholed, but Tom is one of THE funkiest pick players I've heard. Great feel, very musical, and his lines, while supportive, really make the tunes move. Walk This Way is a great example. Fantastic player, IMO.
 
#12
Double Agent said:
To me, not everyone has to be Jaco, Victor, or even Geddy. As long as your basslines bring something interesting to the party, that is all I ask/expect from any bass player.
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Excellent point


Double Agent said:
A lot of rock and pop bassists have made themselves interchangable....the rhythm is from the kick....
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For the sake of discussion, I take exception to this. Pop music rhythms for me emanate from the back beat, and that is the snare. The thing about Tom's playing that makes it work is that he plays around that backbeat. I don't really hear a lot of focus on the kick beat. But, maybe that's just me. YMMV.
 
#14
bucephylus said:
For the sake of discussion, I take exception to this. Pop music rhythms for me emanate from the back beat, and that is the snare. The thing about Tom's playing that makes it work is that he plays around that backbeat. I don't really hear a lot of focus on the kick beat. But, maybe that's just me. YMMV.
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depends on the song. for something like "dude looks like a lady" or "the other side," the accents are on the 1 and 3. for something like "walk this way" or "sweet emotion," the accents are on the 2 and 4.
 

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