Metallica Bass in Fortune Mag

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:13 pm

Marc, none was taken! But I didn't realilze you were limiting the comment to heavy metal - then what about Lemmy? Wouldn't he be considered a "lead bass" player? Not trying to be combative....

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:28 pm

I dont know, I just always thought of Jaco as the 1st lead style player. Eh who knows exactly who it roots back to. But we all personally owe them for taking us out of the back ground.

I watched that video that Dave gave a link to. Its pretty kool I guess. I never really enjoyed that. Iv seen people do that kind of stuff. I kind of always just brushed it off as nonesense. Probly cause it just reminds me of a imitation of a metalhead guitarist, which I despise. Cant stand all that jive.

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:39 pm

Cliff Burton didn't really "follow the guitars" and put in an occasional cool line . . . the guitars followed HIM.

Also, I would disagree that Chris Squire played lead bass; the bass was certainly up front in Yes' music, but it wasn't usually the melody or the main "line" of any song. He plays a lot more counterpoint, making his stuff atypical, but not "lead". In my opinion, lead bass is when the guitar or keyboard or whatever typically plays the melody or directly supports the vocals instead lays back and the bass either plays melody and/or supports vocals. John Entwistle and Geddy Lee are good examples, I think. Also, Paul McCartney, to a point, at least in that the bass was the primary vocal support for a lot of later Beatles stuff. Chris certainly has "lead bass" songs out there, but I wouldn't say that's what he mainly did. "Close to the Edge", "Long Distance Runaround", and "Siberian Khatru" are typical Chris Squire counterpoint songs, whereas "Starship Trooper", "Roundabout", and "Tempus Fugit" are good examples of Chris playing "lead". He does both extensively on "Sound Chaser". He's just amazing in general.

But yeah, Cliff Burton. Great bassist, died too young. Metallica has never been the same, though "The Black Album" was quite good. I thought Robert Trujillo might save Metallica, but then they put out "St. Anger". Oh dear god what a mess that was. Hopefully they'll put out something decent now.

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:03 pm

Personally I gave up on Metallica. For me the first three albums count, and that's it. Jason is a good player, but with Cliff they lost their vibe. I bought St. Anger, and thought it is Pathetic.... In the beginning of this topic is it funny to see that cliff has a J style pup in his Ric. Never noticed that before, and I've seen them life when they where a small band back in the days. Cliff will always be remembered by me....

clankchris · Post by **clankchris** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:29 pm

As a big fan of Faith No More, I went on a youtube crusade for it's individual members about a year ago, and found this - Jim Martin(original guitarist for FNM) and his high school buddy, Cliff Burton at a battle of the bands...maybe in the late 70's or early 80's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI_qWItKu58&search=jim%20martin

(Warning: it's messy and untidy, but I like it - especially the part where Jim pulls out the bow, and later, when Cliff does that harmonic tapping..pay no attention to the drummer

)

P.S. - I have a feeling this is before 1984, as the video dictates - Cliff's bass is unmodified in this clip.

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:07 pm

Ooh, Chris, do you like Mr. Bungle as well? That's some crazy stuff right there. It's pretty weird how many people were tied to Metallica and specifically to Cliff Burton.

clankchris · Post by **clankchris** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:55 pm

I have been deemed "The Media Nazi" by my friends for over-exposing them to FNM and Bungle.(playing Mr Bungle in the van when girls came along probably didn't halp my dating scene any when I was younger

)

I've been a Faith No More fan since I was 13, and discovered Mr Bungle 2 years later(my poor poor friends

)

prog_rockin_metal_man · Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:51 am

"Personally I gave up on Metallica."

yeah so did I Robin. I heard someone say once that "Metallica is an extremely talented band, it's just they are really good at hiding it." that quote pretty much sums up my feelings for Metallica now.

"After Cliff came Jason ( a good player ) but in a more classical style of ``backing the guitars`` and gone were the melodies..."

Marc we are totaly on the same page he was the reason I play a Ric too. I think that cliff was an even greater composer than he was a player. He studied classical music alot and always tried to incorporate that into Metallica's music. I'm sure the intro to fight fire with fire was cliff's handy work. And I'm pretty sure he was the reason they harmonized stuff as well because after he died they stopped harmonizing.

I recommend getting Cliff 'Em All if you are a Cliff Burton fan. It has some of the clips mentionned here and lots more. Even has a few songs with the Ric.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:02 am

I always thought Metallica was a good cover band but their originals were not so good ...

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:44 am

For what I can see in the video is that he already has the J - pup in his ric in the treble spot. Man this guy could play. I've seen him perform once and really loved it. Maybe I should look for my wah, opend the drive knob on my bassdriver and rock on for days lol. I think it's typical a ric thing to play with drive open, and use some overdrive or distortion. Even switching bass like Geddy but still using drive. I never play without my Bassdriver. I used to slap and pop a bit, but I don't like it anymore. Nowadays it's flatwounds, drive and from time to time a pick.

It's always nice to remember nice moments like pulling teeth live on video again, but it makes me feel a bit of an old man lol.

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:56 am

Oh yeah, and from what planet are you coming Jeff? Joking, their first three albums where good the rest sucks......

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:04 am

Interesting because he's playing a Rick, but not my cup 'o tea.

blueflamerick · Post by **blueflamerick** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:33 am

How can anyone in their right mind say that "And Justice For All" sucks? Sure, you can't hear the bass, but that album rocks.

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:11 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUL8dEroAY4

Everybody who says Metallica sucks should see this.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:19 am

That just reinforced my opinion.

I'll take The Who, thank you very much.