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Who Was Your First...

Louis Johnson Herb Alpert Rise Album. When I heard the bass line to Rise that was it. I was 13 years old at the time and just felt an automatic need to learn the bass line and I've been playing bass ever since that introduction. Simple bass line, but groovy that's all that matters to me.

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For me it was probably Steve Harris I first took notice of in the bass position. I could not understand or tolerate type of music that Primus was playing no matter how insanely good bassist Les Claypool was, not my style at all. My buddy changed all that by trapping me in his car with his stereo cranking out Primus as we journeyed for one hour and a half to the fishing hole and after we arrived I was hooked, hook,line and sinker(no pun intended) I threw away my picks forever and learned how to really play the bass like I never knew I could. If you dont know anything about Les Claypool take James Hetfields word for it a 1:24 of the video
 
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Ironically I could not understand or tolerate this type of music that Primus was playing no matter how insanely good bassist Les Claypool was. My buddy changed all that by trapping me in his car with his stereo cranking out Primus as we journeyed for one hour and a half to the fishing hole and after we arrived I was hooked, hook,line and sinker(no pun intended) I threw away my picks forever and learned how to really play the bass like I never knew I could. If you dont know anything about Les Claypool take James Hetfields word for it a 1:24 of the video

HAH!!! I wish they would've shown Dennis Miller's reaction to the performance!
 
John Paul Jones (in case my profile pic didn't give it away)

I was 16-17, listening to Led Zeppelin II one day... about halfway through The Lemon Song, I realized just how much of the raw energy that I loved so much about Zep, was singlehandedly produced by JPJ. Saved up and got my own Fender Jazz later that year.

An honorable mention goes out to the late great Jack Bruce, whose playing kept me motivated as I was starting out... I think Sunshine of Your Love was the first "real" song I learned to play. Sure, it's just a descending blues scale, but when that's all you're able to play, being able to turn that blues scale into a kickass rock song is the most inspiring thing ever.

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For me it was Led Claypool that first made me realize just what a bass could do in the right hands. Even though I don't really play any slap bass he is the reason I first picked up a bass

I remember the day "Misc. Debris" was released. I snatched it outa the hand of the guy who was pulling it out of the delivery box to put it on the shelf!
So good it didnt even get to the shelf:thumbsup:
 
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John Paul Jones (in case my profile pic didn't give it away)

I was 16-17, listening to Led Zeppelin II one day... about halfway through The Lemon Song, I realized just how much of the raw energy that I loved so much about Zep, was singlehandedly produced by JPJ. Saved up and got my own Fender Jazz later that year.

An honorable mention goes out to the late great Jack Bruce, whose playing kept me motivated as I was starting out... I think Sunshine of Your Love was the first "real" song I learned to play. Sure, it's just a descending blues scale, but when that's all you're able to play, being able to turn that blues scale into a kickass rock song is the most inspiring thing ever.

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I would NEVER use the phrase, "just a blues scale". The Earth is "just dirt"... but look what it does!