Under-rated/Over-rated bass players....

[Andrew1997]

Overrated -
-Paul McCartney
-Jaco
Underrated-
-Geezer Butler
-Robert DeLeo

 

[EZA]

EZA... You must have a nice home living in his neighborhood. I'd imagine this is as upscale an area as you're going to find in Toronto.

Real Estate is expensive anywhere in Toronto even the popular condo market can range upwards to $800/sq foot. Imagine buying a nice 1500 sq foot dwelling with no backyard and paying a million two to a million five. LOL

 

[EZA]

Ouch, man. Just…ouch.

EDIT: Waitaminute! You said "…an instrumental band…", but that's a comment on vocals, not as a bassist! So, to split a hair or two AND to refine the OP's original question, do you think he's overrated as a bass player?

I did not say "would have been good" I said "would have enjoyed them more" LOL

 

[jamro217]

I think the answer depends on who is doing the ratings. It seems like every bassist who is known to the general public (besides other bassists like us) is in the spotlight for some other reason than their bass playing. Sting=Vocals, leader of The Police, Paul=Author of Beatle's hits, Vocals, Kenny Rogers=Duets with Dolly Parton, Vocals, Gambling. No one seems to remember that Kenny slung a Rick with the First Edition. He also played double bass on a country music awards show in the early '80's that was unexpected and fantastic. We're all underrated by default. Using the bell curve, determining who among us is even more underrated, here are my picks: Gerald Johnson-Steve Miller Band, Derek Holt-Climax Blues band, Paul Goddard- ARS, George McArdle-Little River Band, Patrick Djivas-PFM, Bill Wallace- The Guess Who, Derek "Mo" Moore-Nektar.

 

[jamro217]

Without getting TOO far off topic, I will say that this clip shows folks doing a GREAT job making "a joyful noise unto the Lord" and IMO, if more folks expressed their faith as a source of joy and celebration, rather than a rigid and narrow dogma of conservatism, less young people would be confused and disappointed in the message.

Back to topic; I agree with those who say there is no such thing as an "overrated" bassist.

My feeling is that anything that gets folks fired up and makes them start the instrument is a GOOD thing.
Even if we grow up to appreciate more subtle and tasteful bassists, often it's the brash, loud, bombastic noticeable bassists who got us to pick up the instrument in the first place.

My feeling is that teaching the dogma of humanism in our public school system (despite the separation of church and state argument) under the heading of "science" is detrimental to our society. Telling children that humans are no more than clever animals that evolved from pond scum doesn't exactly bolster their self esteem and/or promote the value of human life. This may explain the increase in heinous crimes. If we're all just pond scum, what difference does it make if we're ruthlessly killed? Now, then, seeking out underrated bassists may include searching for them in places that are less obvious than usual, including houses of worship.

 

[monkeyfinger]

Ok, that was just bizarre.

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

Flea. Horrifically bad technique and why can't he wear a shirt?! Totally overrated.

Yolanda Charles - such a sensitively musical player - Underrated.

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

Dammit! Has anyone seen mein FLAMMENWERFER?!

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EDIT: I won't comment on the "Overrated" category, but as far as "Underrated" goes, how about singer/producer/bassist Trevor Horn?

That was scary - The frame the Trevor Horn YouTube video is frozen on looks like me with the wrong glasses on - I had to look twice to see if it was me, then I noticed he was playing with a pick - Phew! I never play with a pick.

 

[Malak the Mad]

That was scary - The frame the Trevor Horn YouTube video is frozen on looks like me with the wrong glasses on - I had to look twice to see if it was me, then I noticed he was playing with a pick - Phew! I never play with a pick.

Separated at birth?

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

Separated at birth?

Even though I'd love to be the proud owner of his bank balance, it was quite a shock! I cropped a screen shot of the still and showed the future Mother In Law (FMIL) and she actually asked where that picture of me playing was taken!

 

[Justin Urry]

Overrated-Geddy Lee
Underrated-Tim Commerford

 

[armybass]

I come to this forum every time I am listening to Travis Carlton to see if anyone else is talking about him. Tone, playing, feel.... the whole 9 yards.... but lots of folks do not know who he is. So yeah way under unappreciated. Go check him out!

 

[Blueinred]

Under-rated: Kenny Gradney of Little Feat

Agreed. He and the late Richie Hayward gave da Feats priceless grooves. Loved him on Robert Palmer's "Sneakin' Sally through the Alley", too. (Like the Russell quote, also.)

 

[wishface]

Flea. Horrifically bad technique and why can't he wear a shirt?! Totally overrated.

Yolanda Charles - such a sensitively musical player - Underrated.

Agree witht he latter, but with respect to the former you're going to need to provide some evidence.

 

[EZA]

Agree witht he latter, but with respect to the former you're going to need to provide some evidence.

and why does he have to wear a shirt?

 

[scourgeofgod]

I see Gary AKA Geddy walking his dog in my neighborhood all the time lives just around the corner from me, He asked me once if I liked his music I told him "Had Rush been an instrumental band I would have enjoyed it more"

Good lord man, that's ice cold. Then again as time goes on I only get more into Rush, but I can think of plenty of other musicians I would say much worse to.

 

[groovaholic]

Flea. Horrifically bad technique and why can't he wear a shirt?!

If I'm in that kind of shape at 52, you can rest assured that I'll be going shirtless too!

 

[jamro217]

Ok, that was just bizarre.

Sorry, this isn't the forum to defend your religious beliefs on. Then again, there shouldn't be comments that provoke you into doing so.

 

[PDX Rich]

Flea and Geddy aren't really rated as bass players only. They're both loved for how they brought the bass to the forefront and made it cool again! There's probably loads of people on this forum who can play all their licks (I'm not one of them, but this guy is. Love his videos)



p.s., 4string mofo doesn't need work on his capitalization . . . signed, e.e. cummings

This guy is fantastic! He also has some great Duran Duran playalongs to go with the Rush library.

 

[PDX Rich]

One of my guilty pleasures: Duran Duran.

(Let's just keep this our dirty little secret, shall we??)

When I started really listening to DD and namely John Taylor, my guilty pleasure became completely guilt-free (and played quite loudly). Listening to DD all these years later completely reinvigorated my love of music and has certainly improved my bass playing. How fun is it to play Girls On Film, Girl Panic, New Religion, et al.?

(and now I want all the Arias)