Why does Willie need two bass players?

Well, the simple answer is, it works great and maybe one of them plays upright bass for the other songs.
Why did the Grateful dead, James Brown, Allman Brothers all have 2 drummers?

The cure used two basses for the song, 'Primary'
Robert Smith has such a talent for catchy, simple melodies that stick in your head

 

His playing is as off beat as his singing. Not literally...well...maybe. In any case, talk about an American original!

 

I don't know, but that was really great!

 

Often when the drummer just holds the line, the bass fills in the back beat. Some bass players can fill the melody, and hold a melody at the same time. But in Willie's case, more is less.

 

That looks like a TV production. Maybe is was the finale of a big TV show with several acts and they all jammed together at the end. That's a stage full for a simple country song.

I'v seen him in concert twice and he didn't have two bass players either time.

So, yeah, this was a "jam" for a TV show.

 

Why does Spinal Tap need every bass player in the known universe?

 

I heard Derek Smalls on the radio today... KCSN is spinning "Butt Dial".

 

i've seen lots of bands who needed two bass players.

 

Yep. It's from a taping of the PBS show Austin City Limits in 1984. Definitely not his normal line up.