McCartney and Bruce, in that order....Then a day's lessons with Phil Keaggy (who is vastly under-rated as a bassist), and lots of practice and bands. Playing trombone in school tuned my ear to the bottom end, and to counter-melodic concepts, so that undoubtedly had an effect. I originally wanted to be a drummer, and had taught myself to play a trap set, but when it came time to actually buy one, the bass was less expensive, so I went that route.
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Who started it all for you?
- Thread starter trayner1
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Steve Harris, after i heard powerslave and somewhere in time. Also when i learned he was using his fingers and not a pick, i became a finger player.
This dude. I saw the Allman Bros live after Duane was already gone. I was totally blown away by Berry Oakley, the tone and melodic runs hit me and I just leaned on one of the speakers that was pumping out bass the whole concert. I never played with a pick but still tried to learn all those cool licks.
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If I remember correctly the two bass players that influenced me were Queen's John Deacon, for his very low profile as a person and his incredible rythmic and melodic structure and Sting for being the bass player who sang (like I was already doing) and played like a maniac. That's when I decided I wanted to play the bass and not guitar like every other teenager I knew.
After those two, the influences were many, but what really shaped my playing style was a mix of Geezer/Roger Waters/Any-Eloy-bassist that played up to 1979.
After those two, the influences were many, but what really shaped my playing style was a mix of Geezer/Roger Waters/Any-Eloy-bassist that played up to 1979.
Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, Eric Wilson of Sublime, and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth... i think theyre great 
AH YES....good one. I saw the Animals in a small theater in Providence, RI in 1966. They were awesome. )-(
Glad someone understands 
For me, it was Joe Principe of Rise Against. I was 13 when I heard Revolutions Per Minute, and it was the first time I ever consciously listened to the bass in a band. The tone on that album is just massive, and it's what really made me want to pick up bass in the first place.
Dirk Lance (George Alex Katunich)
His earlier work with Incubus was heavily influenced by funk and lounge, yet still held true to "nu-metal" of the era. I started playing bass around the first time I heard Incubus (Enjoy Incubus EP). I quickly snatched up Fungus Amoungus (had to order it direct from the band) and was blown away by his playing.
Now Alex is in a new band called Willie's Nerve Clinic. His work on this album (Vampire's Kiss) is just as impressive as ever. I admire many bassist since I started playing 12 years ago, but he is still my favorite for his versatility and uniqueness.
His earlier work with Incubus was heavily influenced by funk and lounge, yet still held true to "nu-metal" of the era. I started playing bass around the first time I heard Incubus (Enjoy Incubus EP). I quickly snatched up Fungus Amoungus (had to order it direct from the band) and was blown away by his playing.
Now Alex is in a new band called Willie's Nerve Clinic. His work on this album (Vampire's Kiss) is just as impressive as ever. I admire many bassist since I started playing 12 years ago, but he is still my favorite for his versatility and uniqueness.
I saw sevendust 97-98 some time abouts... It was a small venue and they were the opening act. After their show, they came out and mingled in the crowd. They were so cool I hung out with them in the back of the venue through the rest of the show and totally missed all the other bands. I have to agree with you, they were the most down to earth and cool band of that level of fame I have ever met. Not to mention their stage performance, sound and overall show is still the best hard rock concert I've ever seen. I've seen them several times inside and outside. All shows equally as awesome. Way better live then on album. Deftones is a close second as far as being cool to hang out with after a show.....
Also the least irritating of the characters in that anime...
I liked the band he joined after the breakup much better
I already mentioned which bass player, but I should mention which tracks specifically made me go 'WOW!'
Jeff Beck - Play With Me
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
Duran Duran - Girls On Film
The Police - When The World Is Running Down...
The Jam - Town Called Malice
ABC - Poison Arrow
AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
The Beatles - Lovely Rita
Jeff Beck - Play With Me
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
Duran Duran - Girls On Film
The Police - When The World Is Running Down...
The Jam - Town Called Malice
ABC - Poison Arrow
AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
The Beatles - Lovely Rita
Cliff Burton-Anathesia(Pulling Teeth) to this day....God!!!! Everything that guy did was of another world, so far ahead of what everyone else was doing. His classical training really shined through. Probably would've stopped playing bass after he died if not for a friend introducing me to Geezer Butler.
Honorable mention: the guy who played bass on Hank Williams Jr's Family Tradition album. That is how I found out what bass was. First time I heard the title song, in the middle behind the solo(fiddle if I remember correctly) that bass just thumped through everything. Don't know his name but 'thanks'!
Honorable mention: the guy who played bass on Hank Williams Jr's Family Tradition album. That is how I found out what bass was. First time I heard the title song, in the middle behind the solo(fiddle if I remember correctly) that bass just thumped through everything. Don't know his name but 'thanks'!
Victor Wooten & Oteil Burbridge - I was (still is) a drummer when my brother left the "What Did He Say" cd in my car. After about 2 months of it sliding around on my dash I popped it in and didn't really pay attention to it....just to have noise while driving. Then one day it was like, dang!...that's pretty awesome. Then I got the Colonel Bruce Hampton & A.R.U. Live cd from my brother and the rest is history.
Well, really it was a nameless bass player in a nameless cover band at a high school dance. He had a bass I was too clueless then to recognize, tall black boots, and looked so cool... I was as uncool as anyone could be, and wanted to be him.
But my first real influence was Jack Casady. Anyone remember After Bathing At Baxters? Crazy psychedelia, I was of a teen age and realizing there was more to life than living quietly in suburbia. Later, he changed my world again when I heard the first Hot Tuna album.
My influences since then have been many - Phil Lesh, Chris Squire, Mike Rutherford, and Geddy Lee come to mind instantly - but there is a little Casady in almost everything I play.
But my first real influence was Jack Casady. Anyone remember After Bathing At Baxters? Crazy psychedelia, I was of a teen age and realizing there was more to life than living quietly in suburbia. Later, he changed my world again when I heard the first Hot Tuna album.
My influences since then have been many - Phil Lesh, Chris Squire, Mike Rutherford, and Geddy Lee come to mind instantly - but there is a little Casady in almost everything I play.
Bass is much easier to play compared to guitar. It was an easy choice.
Well, one thing you forgot is that you need pocket in order to be a bassist. As a guitarist, I've found that the bigger a jack*** you are, the more people like you.
