Who Was Your First...

[jazzyvee]

Aston "Family Man" Barrett
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[theFixer]

Hmm, hard to pin it down to just one person. I'd have to say Janice Marie Johnson of A Taste of Honey was the first female that I saw late one night on Mdnight Special playing bass .

But it was all the bass players for Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Brother Johnson , and Teena Marie that really made me want to groove.

Janice
Louis Johnson
Nate Watts
Bobby Watson
Oscar Alston
Allen McGrier

I've always thought Louis Johnson was somebody special. The man could funk it up with the best of 'em, but had a great sense of when to lay back & let the song breath. I always look for that in drummers too.

 

[Gringo Basso]

McCartney got me interested but Entwhistle gave me the direction as far as TONE! Rotosounds made a huge difference in my style at a young age.

 

[TimBukToo]

Mel Schacher - Grand Funk Railroad

 

[theFixer]

Mel Schacher - Grand Funk Railroad

My friend... if the fates allow... I would proudly play Don to your Mel before I draw my last breath!

One day, I hope to own a wall sized poster of the "Mark, Don, & Mel" album cover!

(my ex-wife sez I have "issues")

 

[Timmy-Watts]

Rocco Prestia. It's like a heartbeat.

Soon to be followed by Flea, Marcus Miller, and Jamerson.

I drop in my best Rocco or Jamerson whenever the music allows for it.

 

[kodiakblair]

70's UK. Punk rock had politicians and the establishment terrified There were serious demands from some quarters that young folks should get jailed or drafted into the army again.

Saw Sid Vicious on TV hit some fella over the head with his P-bass. That was enough for me

 

[Sav'nBass]

I didn't know it at the time.. but Jamerson and Graham were the earlier ones for me.. Of course it took till I was 21 to even buy my first bass.

 

[theFixer]

70's UK. Punk rock had politicians and the establishment terrified There were serious demands from some quarters that young folks should get jailed or drafted into the army again.

Saw Sid Vicious on TV hit some fella over the head with his P-bass. That was enough for me

Inspiration comes in all forms. In your case... it apparently came in the form witnessing the delivery of a subdural hematoma!

 

[wikkid]

This is so hard.
Late 60s I saw Sly and the Family Stone on TV. They were dressed so funky and Larry . . . man, when Larry
Graham said "I'm gonna add some bottom" and proceeded to give me what my impressionable mind needed, all I wanted was a bass.

Gotta also say James Jamerson. The man's bass lines on "What's going on" and the Jackson 5's "Darlin' Dear." Truly a legend.

Jaco Pastorius for jazz. I so hate how he died. Much respect.

 

[brianrost]

Later on in life Tim Ayers

I was big into Mason Proffitt in the early 70s, esp. that album "Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream". Pretty much forgotten about them, actually.

 

[BooDoggie]

Who was the first bassist that really turned your head?

My Father... He played slap style on a double bass before he switched to a 62 Fender jazz in the 60's.

Who was that first guy that dropped such badass bottom on you, that you practically couldn't hear anything else?

Geddy Lee

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

John McVie. I didn't even know what a bass was at the time.

 

[A.K.]

First bass players who made me notice the bottom end and become interested in bass guitar:

Bernard Edwards on "Good Times"
Maurice Gibb on "Stayin' Alive"
Jimmy Bain on "Dream Evil"
David Ellefson on "Peace Sells"
Francis Buchholz on "No One Like You"
Roger Glover on "No Time to Lose"

 

[HeavyJazz]

From the Show of Hands video... I was 13 at the time. Started playing bass that same summer.

 

[AudioDwebe]

For me, it was Gary King. He was on so much of the music I listened to in the early 80's.

And also a relative unknown by the name of Marcus Miller.

 

[Watchootognbout]

First:Stanley Clarke.
Followed by Anthony Jackson.
Then Jaco,Louis Johnson,Geddy Lee,and Chris Squire.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Dude! Prepare to view me as a superhero my friend... for I have a tail to tell!

Let's gather round the campfire.

The band is touring for Master of Puppets. They're opening for Ozzy on his "The Ultimate Sin" tour. They're playing at the humble li'l Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Michigan. Arena artists typically stayed at the Stouffer Hotel, which was connected to the Arena by a mall area. I worked at a photo lab (remember those?) in the mall. It's the day of the big show, & the mall is FULL of denim & leather clad hooligans, just ACHING to get a look at the guys in the bands. I'm standing there at the counter doin' nuthin' (because nobody uses photo labs... even back then) when, who do I see comin'? SOB!!! THAT'S CLIFF EFFIN' BURTON!!! I mean... I'm not an IDIOT! OF COURSE I brought my skate board incase I saw somebody cool! I got his attention & asked him if he'd sign it for me. He said "sher man". I handed him a Sharpie, but before he could use it, we noticed an outa control mass of denim, leather, and hair rushing at us! He knew what it was... and I knew he was trapped like a pretty girl in a one room prison full of sex offenders! I just said, "THIS WAY!", and ushered him around the counter & in to the back room (he was quicker than you'd think!). I don't know how... but the mass of metal heads blew right by us like a dirt devil! I waited 'till they were a good distance away, & let him know the coast was clear. He said, "Whoooaaa... thanks man!" in his best "California Dude" way, then shook my hand, signed my deck, and was gone. A very large bag of douche stole my board the next day at school... but they DIDN'T steal the memory of my experience!

That was an amazing experience you had, except the board going missing.

 

[theFixer]

This is so hard.
Late 60s I saw Sly and the Family Stone on TV. They were dressed so funky and Larry . . . man, when Larry
Graham said "I'm gonna add some bottom" and proceeded to give me what my impressionable mind needed, all I wanted was a bass.

Gotta also say James Jamerson. The man's bass lines on "What's going on" and the Jackson 5's "Darlin' Dear." Truly a legend.

Jaco Pastorius for jazz. I so hate how he died. Much respect.

My Father... He played slap style on a double bass before he switched to a 62 Fender jazz in the 60's.

Geddy Lee

What an amazingly cool and rare thing, to be able to include your father on a list like this!

 

[Joe Nerve]

Exactly what I came here to say. Well done!

Ya know... I just realized after reading through these posts, that I might have to change the Jamerson thing to Joe Osborn.

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