This is coming from yet another who can say that Chris Squire is a big part of why I'm a bassist today... and if you're reading this CS I can't thank you enough.
To Mr. Christopher Squire
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shinynewtoy
- Intermediate Member
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- Joined: Fri May 27, 2005 7:46 pm
No matter how many times you've heard it, it must feel good to know that what you've pursued as a lifelong passion has touched and inspired so many people. It must be a humbling thought, when someone in that position thinks about it.
This is coming from yet another who can say that Chris Squire is a big part of why I'm a bassist today... and if you're reading this CS I can't thank you enough.
This is coming from yet another who can say that Chris Squire is a big part of why I'm a bassist today... and if you're reading this CS I can't thank you enough.
What do you mean the Bass is too loud???
Actually, I played my first ever gig at the school I'd recently left, back in (I think) 1980. There were some guys there who'd been in the year above me who were huge Yes fans; at the time I'd not really listened to them much so wasn't really aware of Chris. My first bass, which I played, was a Rickenbacker (naturally), bought mainly because of Lemmy and Geddy.
After the gig, the "Yes fans" strolled past and one said, "bet you wish you could play like Chris Squire", obviously familiar with my choice of bass. Not really knowing what I was talking about, I said indignantly " I can!!!". It was a couple of years later when I first really listened to him...oh boy did I feel stupid!
It's strange how I missed Chris as an early influence; in fact I only really listened to him when I saw an article which mentioned he was famous for playing a Ric, which obviously grabbed my attention! The rest, as they say, is history....my favourite bassist bar none.
After the gig, the "Yes fans" strolled past and one said, "bet you wish you could play like Chris Squire", obviously familiar with my choice of bass. Not really knowing what I was talking about, I said indignantly " I can!!!". It was a couple of years later when I first really listened to him...oh boy did I feel stupid!
It's strange how I missed Chris as an early influence; in fact I only really listened to him when I saw an article which mentioned he was famous for playing a Ric, which obviously grabbed my attention! The rest, as they say, is history....my favourite bassist bar none.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
I can honestly say that without a doubt, Chris Squire IS the reason I play bass today.
In 1977 a friend of mine, Dane M. (funny, I never heard anyone else with that name until this forum) introduced me to YES. He invited me up into his HUGE room and there were these cool Roger Dean YES posters all over the place. There was one large poster of Chris on the wall next to his Ampeg stack. I said how cool I thought he looked and what a cool bass he had. He then told me that if I think it looks cool, that I HAD to hear how it sounded!
That moment changed my life (and continues to do so) today. That SOUND, the STYLE just blew me away. It burned into my memory. My ears immediately locked into that sound. My musical journey began. I started playing electric bass and TO THIS DAY, I still TRY to play Chris' lines! I bought EVERYTHING I could related to YES & Chris Squire, still try to. My wife bought me my first RIC in 1995, now that was a Christmas to remember. We were going through some rough financial waters at that time and she manages to pull a 4001CS out of her hat!
But mostly, I listened to his (as my wife calls it) sound paintings. She is NOT a prog fan in the least. But, she once said of Chris' style "an artist uses brushes and canvas to convey his thoughts, that fellow seems to be one of the few I've heard that can do it with sound".
Today, I'm a far stretch from being able to do Chris' music justice, but I'm STILL TRYING. He is the one I set my standard to. It's like the WONDERFUL LIFE story. You never know how many lives you touch and in turn, how many lives they touch because of you. I've turned MANY a young person onto YES and Chris' music still today. Who knows what they might become or accomplish musically when they are adults?
The legacy of music & art lives forever. Long life, good health & happiness to you Mr. Squire. ONE of these days, I hope that we might meet!
In 1977 a friend of mine, Dane M. (funny, I never heard anyone else with that name until this forum) introduced me to YES. He invited me up into his HUGE room and there were these cool Roger Dean YES posters all over the place. There was one large poster of Chris on the wall next to his Ampeg stack. I said how cool I thought he looked and what a cool bass he had. He then told me that if I think it looks cool, that I HAD to hear how it sounded!
That moment changed my life (and continues to do so) today. That SOUND, the STYLE just blew me away. It burned into my memory. My ears immediately locked into that sound. My musical journey began. I started playing electric bass and TO THIS DAY, I still TRY to play Chris' lines! I bought EVERYTHING I could related to YES & Chris Squire, still try to. My wife bought me my first RIC in 1995, now that was a Christmas to remember. We were going through some rough financial waters at that time and she manages to pull a 4001CS out of her hat!
But mostly, I listened to his (as my wife calls it) sound paintings. She is NOT a prog fan in the least. But, she once said of Chris' style "an artist uses brushes and canvas to convey his thoughts, that fellow seems to be one of the few I've heard that can do it with sound".
Today, I'm a far stretch from being able to do Chris' music justice, but I'm STILL TRYING. He is the one I set my standard to. It's like the WONDERFUL LIFE story. You never know how many lives you touch and in turn, how many lives they touch because of you. I've turned MANY a young person onto YES and Chris' music still today. Who knows what they might become or accomplish musically when they are adults?
The legacy of music & art lives forever. Long life, good health & happiness to you Mr. Squire. ONE of these days, I hope that we might meet!
"Freedom of expression is important, but I have learned that people want to know how much you care before they care how much you know."
The only time a bass player gets noticed is when he stops playing.
The only time a bass player gets noticed is when he stops playing.
I told Chris Squire that if it weren't for him, I'd have been a drummer, which made him laugh. I always knew that I wanted to be a musician, but I just didn't know what voice I wanted to express it with till I heard The YES Album. Squire was self taught, which gave him the freedom of playing outside the box and doing things in a very non conventional way. There have been more technically oriented, better "educated" bassists before and since but you can't teach style. This is what makes Chris stand out at the end of the day. I can cop a lot of his playing but he did it first and best. He always seemed like a distant, mythical character but actually meeting him and having him compliment and sign my bass, which was kind of a trubute to him anyway, made him a real person. If you ever read this Mr.Squire and if all of this seems a bit hard to comprehend, just imagine how you felt the first time you met John Entwistle or Paul McCartney.(You have met them haven't you?) It's like that!
I am not a huge Yes fan, in fact I'm not a prog fan at all never really have been except for a few certain bands, but I still remember hearing Roundabout and the other hits from that album for the first time on AM radio thinking what a great unusual sounding bass sound it was. I think he is the stand out in Yes, the one who will be remembered as being an original. He was one of the very few bassists who have really had an impact on the instrument over the past 55 years.
If not to comment – then to lurk… I hope CS understands what an impact he has had. I didn’t start playing the bass because of him. Early influences were McCartney, Jones & Entwhistle. But when he and others raised the bar; this is where I became part of the legion. When I heard Time and a Word it was like – man this is what bass playing should be like!!! What was there not to like… and that was only the beginning. The style, the creativeness, the brilliant performances – man I just hope he understands what a force he was and is!!! One reviewer for the Solos tour (I think) ‘if Yes isn’t the house band at the second coming – then I don’t know if I want to be there…’ he went on to say nice things about Mr. Squire’s unique abilities as I recall.
If nothing else, maybe he could have the Forum to read before bed at night – Sweet Dreams…...
If nothing else, maybe he could have the Forum to read before bed at night – Sweet Dreams…...
The only thing we can perceive are our perceptions - George Berkeley
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myfretless
- Member
- Posts: 442
- Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 1:43 am
Squire is great and he clearly influenced many subsequent bassists.
If you are not aware of Yes' music though, or are only familiar with the 80's work, I strongly suggest you do yourself a favor and get a copy of Close to the Edge. You will find an amazing and integrated band of virtuosos who each are original and amazing. Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford each have their own incredible followings and it can be said that they are each at least as impressive as Squire is on their respective instruments.
Jon Anderson is nothing if not unique and singular.
If you are not aware of Yes' music though, or are only familiar with the 80's work, I strongly suggest you do yourself a favor and get a copy of Close to the Edge. You will find an amazing and integrated band of virtuosos who each are original and amazing. Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford each have their own incredible followings and it can be said that they are each at least as impressive as Squire is on their respective instruments.
Jon Anderson is nothing if not unique and singular.