Heck... just coming up with that intro lick to "Sweet Emotion" should be enough to establish his bona fides as an all-time great... but he's done much much more.
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Tom Hamilton: Give him the recognition he deserves
- Thread starter Music_for_life
- Start date
Couldn't agree more with everything said about TH in this thread. Just look at his body of work; it speaks for itself. Many of his lines are deceivingly tricky, and will wear on your endurance. That makes me respect him even more - to think that he's been doing it for so long night after night for hours on end. I saw Aerosmith back in '96, long before I started playing bass and his playing left an impression on me even then. Rock-solid bassist for sure.
One of my first LPs Long Playing records was Aerosmith's Dream On. Still one of my favorite albums. I switched from viola (sorta like a violin) to upright bass that year after hearing him play. Started on electric bass then too.
such a great bassist, shines throughout Aerosmith's career. IMO a big part of that band's sound! In the early day's, solid as a rock but full of swing and interesting basslines/heavy finger tone. Stuff like Toys in the Attic, Rats In The Cellar, Back In The Saddle, Sweet Emotion, Walk This Way... those lines are b****s to play up to speed!
even in the stuff Permanent Vacation onwards - his lines are so fat and filthy, but so subtle and funky! excellent bass player, and a lovely guy aswell!
even in the stuff Permanent Vacation onwards - his lines are so fat and filthy, but so subtle and funky! excellent bass player, and a lovely guy aswell!
Respect. Sweet Emotion was possibly responsible for me becoming aware that bass guitars even existed.
I'm an Aerosmith fan and a fan of Tom Hamilton's bass playing. Their first album continues to be my favorite (I like most of their stuff). I love the bass lines for Dream On.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
I agree. I think Hamilton and Deacon are two of rock's most under appreciated bassists.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Back in the early 80s, before Permanent Vacation hit, I was in an Aerosmith tribute band called The Nicotine Brats where I had to learn 40 Aerosmith songs - wow! I always loved his playing but it wasn't until I had to sit down and learn his licks and riffs that my appreciation grew. Great player and one of my favorites. Glad to hear that his cancer is in remission.
Another big +1 to TH here. Surprised when songs have been mentioned that no one said anything about Uncle Salty. GREAT line in that one!
He has always been one of my favorites. "Train Kept a Rolling" was the first bass riff I learned how to play, long before I actually had a bass. It is still the first riff I play when messing with a new/different bass. And yeah, lots of his bass lines are hard!
If all he had ever written was the line to "Sweet Emotion" he'd still be a pop bass genius in my mind. But his repertoire of tasty lines, riffs that literally define the song, is pretty massive.
All in all, a pretty underrated rhythm section, considering how many huge hits they play on!
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
