Which bands would suck without their bassist?

[JimmyM]

...
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it would be easy. I'm not saying that any hack bassplayer can do what he does. But... I think there are any number of session players that could have filled his shoes as far as playing the bass, especially if they had a reggae or ska background.

This is just going by bass playing. If we factor in songwriting, singing and such, I have a different opinion. When it just comes to playing bass, he doesn't do anything that a hundred session players couldn't emulate or even improve on.

Then why weren't bassists before Sting playing like that? Reggae and ska bass players stuck completely with reggae. Rock bass players stuck completely with rock. Nobody ever played like Sting did before Sting did it. That is why you are wrong.

 

[6-3-2]

The Clash
Interpol
Japan
Also agree with the person who said The Smiths
The Jam

 

[Perfect-Tommy]

Then why weren't bassists before Sting playing like that? Reggae and ska bass players stuck completely with reggae. Rock bass players stuck completely with rock. Nobody ever played like Sting did before Sting did it. That is why you are wrong.

Paul Simonon is a hack... he never tried to combine genres like Sting. Nope... never...

There were people that did it, he just took it a step further and people actually bought The Police's records. The idea of doing cross-genre is nothing new. He did it well and sold records. That's it.

 

[Brad Johnson]

...


^person that originally asked question.

You don't consider creativity a part of bassplaying? Where do you think the notes come from?

Yes, but as their career went on it became more and more the Sting show. The more his influence came to the top, the less I liked songs mostly. I honestly hate "Every step you take". If I never heard that song again, I wouldn't feel it to be a loss. I like their harder ska, reggae and punk stuff, which is kind of where Sting was leading away from in my opinion.

So you think the Police without Sting could've gotten to the same place musically as with him?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it would be easy. I'm not saying that any hack bassplayer can do what he does. But... I think there are any number of session players that could have filled his shoes as far as playing the bass, especially if they had a reggae or ska background.

That's what you don't seem to get... it wasn't just Reggae or Ska, the guy was schooled in Jazz and Pop too.

So who IYO would fill those shoes?

This is just going by bass playing. If we factor in songwriting, singing and such, I have a different opinion. When it just comes to playing bass, he doesn't do anything that a hundred session players couldn't emulate or even improve on.

Maybe you should actually ask his contemporaries about that. Nah, hundreds of guys could've done what he did.

For some strange reason they didn't. What a mystery.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Then why weren't bassists before Sting playing like that? Reggae and ska bass players stuck completely with reggae. Rock bass players stuck completely with rock. Nobody ever played like Sting did before Sting did it. That is why you are wrong.

It's like people coming years after Jaco or McCartney and people who don't really get it not understanding that the current crop of folks who can mimic their lines stand on their shoulders. As if there's no difference between mimicing and originating. People who do get it understand that it's exactly about originating. And that's about crativity.

Nobody was playing like Les Claypool before Primus. Now years later lots of people can play his lines note for note. Some people apparently think that's one and the same.

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, it's like when I saw Mike Judge on David Letterman when Beavis and Butt-Head first got popular. Mike starts doing the voices for B&B, and Dave says, "Is that all there is to it? Hell, I could have done that!" And Mike says, "I did it first." The audience died laughing and Dave says, "OK, you got me there."

Young folks have no sense of history at all, it seems like. And the ones who do are few and far between. The vast majority of kids think the world started when they were born. They're the same kids who think Green Day are the pioneers of punk.

 

[PunkerTrav]

Young folks have no sense of history at all, it seems like. And the ones who do are few and far between. The vast majority of kids think the world started when they were born. They're the same kids who think Green Day are the pioneers of punk.

Now, I appreciate a good stereotype as much as the next guy, but lets not get ahead of ourselves.

 

[DubDubs]

Yes woudn't suck but their music would be severly lacking if Chris Squire wasn't on bass. I'm convinced that Led Zeppelin wouldn't be half of what it was and is without JPJ. Try listening to We're Gonna Groove or the Lemon Song without the awesome bass work.

 

[PunkerTrav]

Yes woudn't suck but their music would be severly lacking if Chris Squire wasn't on bass. I'm convinced that Led Zeppelin wouldn't be half of what it was and is without JPJ. Try listening to We're Gonna Groove or the Lemon Song without the awesome bass work.

Definitely.

Also, I don't think I'd like No Doubt nearly as much as I do if Tony wasn't there.

 

[metalguy2]

Did we say Ryan Martinie of Mudvayne. Because I think without his playing style of the first 2 releases they wouldn't be that great of a band. IE Lost and Found. What a disappointment

Please refrain for the hundreds of replies about how I should accept what he chooses to do as a musician. I am aware it is him that has to play the music and not me.. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

 

[Perfect-Tommy]

You don't consider creativity a part of bassplaying? Where do you think the notes come from?

The place the same exact notes have been played before he was born. You cited his singing and songwriting, which had nothing to do with the question. The things he did that were ground breaking were his rhythm. He didn't use any amazingly new techniques, he didn't introduce the world to melodic basslines. The Police are amazing and Sting is a good bass player. I haven't said anything to imply he's not. The question is "If Sting wasn't the bassplayer, would The Police suck?" And I say, no, they would still rock.

So you think the Police without Sting could've gotten to the same place musically as with him?

I'm not sure. They might have. Maybe they would have gotten even bigger and done more if they had a bassplayer that didn't get in fist fights with the drummer. Of course, that dynamic is also part of what made them great.

That's what you don't seem to get... it wasn't just Reggae or Ska, the guy was schooled in Jazz and Pop too.

So who IYO would fill those shoes?

The question isn't "who could have filled in and kept a band from sucking?" I'm just saying it's very possible that The Police could have had another bass player and been alright. They're not like Rush or Primus. They weren't built around the bassplayer. I honestly think that RHCP could do alright if Flea wasn't their original bassplayer.

Maybe you should actually ask his contemporaries about that. Nah, hundreds of guys could've done what he did.

For some strange reason they didn't. What a mystery.

Just because he was the one famous for doing it, doesn't mean he was the only one or the first.

Young folks have no sense of history at all, it seems like. And the ones who do are few and far between. The vast majority of kids think the world started when they were born. They're the same kids who think Green Day are the pioneers of punk.

Pompous much? Please impart the wisdom of your years on the oh so ignorant youth. Especially those that have spent years research, listening, enjoying and writing music. I mean, if we're going to turn this into a "mine is larger" contest, I'm leaving.

That is why you are wrong.

Good to know my opinion is wrong. If you don't agree with me, tough. move on. I'm done talking about this. I think that Sting is good, The Police rule and that there is a possibilty that The Police could have been just as good, if not better, without Sting. I mean, we're talking about a world of hypotheticals.

 

[Brad Johnson]

The place the same exact notes have been played before he was born. You cited his singing and songwriting, which had nothing to do with the question. The things he did that were ground breaking were his rhythm. He didn't use any amazingly new techniques, he didn't introduce the world to melodic basslines. The Police are amazing and Sting is a good bass player. I haven't said anything to imply he's not. The question is "If Sting wasn't the bassplayer, would The Police suck?" And I say, no, they would still rock.

"The place the same exact notes have been played before he was born".

Now that's funny. Obviously you've distilled this down to the name of the note... what he did with those notes is inconsequential. Whether you want to belive it or not, Sting had a very recognizable SOUND. SOUND is not just a note. You even seem to have a clue about that:

"The things he did that were ground breaking were his rhythm".

And without that the Police would've been a very different group.

Where exactly did I cite his singing and songwriting... maybe I didn't realize I wasn't talking about his BASS WORK?

I'm not sure. They might have. Maybe they would have gotten even bigger and done more if they had a bassplayer that didn't get in fist fights with the drummer. Of course, that dynamic is also part of what made them great.

Funny, I didn't hear the fist fights on the recordings

Whatever it might've been sans Sting, it most likely wouldn't have been the same.

Believe it or not, some of the best music made by more than two people has come from people who didn't even like each other at the time... and since you like to cite the original question, was getting along with others a parameter?

The question isn't "who could have filled in and kept a band from sucking?" I'm just saying it's very possible that The Police could have had another bass player and been alright. They're not like Rush or Primus. They weren't built around the bassplayer. I honestly think that RHCP could do alright if Flea wasn't their original bassplayer.

Yeah, they could've been the Stone Temple Pilots.

Just because he was the one famous for doing it, doesn't mean he was the only one or the first.

I said he was first?



You really don't get historical context do you? He was doing what he was doing when he did it. People who came after him had him as an influence... he didn't have Sting as an influence.

Pompous much? Please impart the wisdom of your years on the oh so ignorant youth. Especially those that have spent years research, listening, enjoying and writing music. I mean, if we're going to turn this into a "mine is larger" contest, I'm leaving.

Dense much?

Bye. I didn't mention your age but you definitely fit the sterotypical can't put anything into context type.

Good to know my opinion is wrong. If you don't agree with me, tough. move on. I'm done talking about this. I think that Sting is good, The Police rule and that there is a possibilty that The Police could have been just as good, if not better, without Sting. I mean, we're talking about a world of hypotheticals.

And they could've been much worse or just ordinary... that's how integral parts works.

I've made it clear I don't agree with you... if you don't like that, move on. Seems like sound advice.

Oh yeah, TOP without Rocco. Of course Rocco without Garibaldi could've been an interesting thing.

 

[NewWaveBasser]

The Jam: Yep, Paul Weller rules, but without Foxton's aggressive style Paul would never have made it.

Duran Duran: Remember when John Taylor left??? Oh my...

New Order: Peter Hook is THE NO sound! Period.

The Cure: Although in 1982? they did OK as a duo sans Simon Gallup... hey, Robert Smith immediately brought him back and has been untouchable since, with all the firings (on keyboards and guitar...) and such. Mr. Smith knows Simon's the man.

The Killers: Yes, them. Brandon Flowers this Brandon Flowers that, and yet it's Mark Stoermer riding that horse like a Kentucky Derby winner. Mark is crucial to make The Killers work.

 

[burk48237]

The Brother's Johnson without the "Brother" Johnson?

 

[JimmyM]

OBTW, Paul Simonon was a standard issue punk bassist when the Clash started. By the time he started doing reggae rhythms in the Clash, the Police were well-established. Now it can be argued that Elvis Costello was part of that reggae/rock thing with "Watching The Detectives," but that song was pure reggae.

Also, if the Police could have survived without Sting, then how come Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers have pretty lackluster solo careers?

I didn't even want to participate in this thread at first because I thought the premise was pointless. The only thing that got me into it was the outrageousness of thinking that someone could easily replace Sting, or Flea, or Chris Squire, or any number of bassists who had trendsetting styles. There is more to bass playing than playing a blur of notes really really fast like Geddy Lee or Les Claypool.

 

[JimmyM]

Also OBTW, to those of you who disagreed with my statement about most young people not having any sense of history, prove me wrong. If you ask me, this thread has proved that I'm right. Anyone who thinks Chris Squire or Sting are replaceable when they invented the styles they came up with has no sense of history. I'm sure you can find isolated examples of kids with a good sense of history, but they're few and far between.

Again, if you disagree, prove me wrong.

 

[Petary791]

I've got a good one... Primus?

 

[snake]

I REALLY couldn't imagine The Monkees without Peter Tork. there's no doubt in my mind. Even if they did hire Stephen Stills for the job, it just wouldn't have been the same.

 

[malthumb]

The Brother's Johnson without the "Brother" Johnson?

That actually happened for a while. Louis and George wound up in a very bitter feud over it. George wanted to re-start the band. Louis was more involved in religious and teaching ventures and declined, so George formed a band, called it "The Brothers Johnson" and started touring. Louis either sued or threatened to sue, since the band did not consist of "Brothers" plural.

George left a really nasty threatening message on Louis' answering machine. I thought they'd never speak to each other again, let alone re-form the band.

Don't know how the band sounded without Louis. The Detroit appearance they had planned was cancelled during the time that the whole thing was unfolding.

Peace,

James

 

[Matt Till]

So who else could've stepped in and did what Sting did on bass?

Just so we know, I'm not arguing Sting was THE bassist for the Police, the comment I was quoting was talking about his songwriting though. I am (am = try to be) influenced by Sting, he's one of my favorite bassists. Sting and Stew worked together so well.