Whatever happenend to the bass?? Or...I think I miss the 80's.

Anytime people want me to teach them about bass and what it does in a song I show them "Rio"
they can pick it out right away and it teaches them about locking in with the kick drum and how to swing without me getting over wordy about it. A great tune.

 

Not big on '80's music myself, but Save a Prayer by Duran Duran was a pretty cool bassline. And don't laugh - but Livin On A Prayer has a great Motown-ish element to it, especially compared to all of the pumping 8th notes most other rockers were doing back then.

 

Queens of the Stone Age has some pretty cool bass parts.

 

Missing Persons w/ Patrick O'Hearn...check out "Give".

The Producers w/ Kyle Henderson..."Certain Kind Of Girl", "Body Language", "Back To Basics", etc.

'80s Bands like Madness, Haircut 100, The Specials, The Beat, etc were cool for infusing Pop w/ Ska.

By now, most are familar with Kajagoogoo & Nick Beggs.

If you like Duran Duran, check out Japan w/ Mick Karn.

 

Funny enough, I was 14 in 1984 and wasnt playing bass yet, but was definitely aware of it. And I discovered Rush in 86 and have been a huge fan ever since. But, it was the 80's music, notably the early stuff from John Taylor that made me want to play bass! The bass in DD's songs were so upfront and cool that I had to do that. I started playing in 86 and still love playing stuff like Rio for example.

 

The original version to Red Skies is way better

 

Sounds to me like you are just listening to the wrong music. Turn off the radio and look online.

 

You've got it all wrong. Rock has never really been a genre for technically skilled musicians, and it doesn't need to be. But, if there are skilled members, it's usually for the guitar though sometimes even that's not really that much needed (AC/DC for example).

Still, if you're looking for skilled rock musicians, check out Rush.

 

The 80's...ugh.

 

Perhaps, but they are truly awesome live.

 

I think you guys are missing the point...or didn't read the post. The OP is obvisouly already a Rush fan.

What you say about it being all about the guitar might be right, but to me the point was that during the 80's, lots of 'mainstream' music had great bass. The kind of bass you get from bands like Porcupine Tree, Umphrey's McGee, Coheed & Cambria, or Spock's Beard today. But outside of a comic book shop or jam band festival, where do you see those bands?

I agree. I think bass has regressed over the years. It's lost it's edge. It's no longer progressive. There, I said it! Outside of the bands mentioned above, and a handful of others, I'll bet most bass players today wouldn't be able to play Rio.

 

Pearl Jam and Gogol Bordello are two good post-80's bands where the bass is not only noticeable, it usually carries the songs. Obviously, there are many more, but those are two that pop into my head where you can listen to just about any song and hear good bass.

 

The earlier version of Red skies is way better than the newer one. And this is my first time listening to either of them. What the hell is up with the bearded,caped,Zoro looking bassist? Jeeze.

 

I doubt it, man... I've seen a good deal of really good bass players over the years. None of them are in the pop/rock realm unless you lump the Foo Fighters or Jane's Addiction in that group. Not to mention all of the ridiculous metal bass players around these days.

 

In the mainstream genre's, what instrument has excelled?

Auto-tune. Everything else is on the decline.

 

how comes the 80's is back in fashion