What Artist Put Rickenbacker On The Map?

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 5:58 am

The Jam !!!!!! i cant think of anyone else who used Rickenbackers in such a powerful way - and they will always be remembered for playing them

big_g · Post by **big_g** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 6:26 am

Owen, have you seen the new Jam DVD that came out reciently? I want to get it myself.

ted_williams · Post by **ted_williams** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 6:39 am

I've got the Jam DVD, but haven't had a chance to watch all of it. It appears to be an excellent retrospective, with performances from their entire duration.

BTW, Paul Weller's live DVD is excellent as well.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 7:46 am

As far as who put them on the map, I would have to say Lennon, Harrison, and McCartney. With Lennon being number 1, Harrison 2 and McCartney a distant 3rd, and a lot of the other 60's british bands that were mentioned previously.
Peter Quaife of the Kinks was a much more visible Ric bass player than McCartney and also very early and consistant.
A big one was Squire, Roundabout was the first time I ever personally knew or heard about Rickenbackers, he was and is a very great presence for Ric basses. He has probably been the most consistant (very famous) Rickenbacker player over the years, and I am not a big Yes fan although I do like some of their stuff, and my sound is very different than his. His sound would not work in any type of music I play, but I think he has a great sound, As a fantasy I would like to play in a band where I was the lead bass player with a tone like that, roar!

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:07 am

I totally agree with Bob.
Squire is really the "Rickenbacker Bass Man" though his sound is not for everyone. Lennon, Harrison and Macca are still leading promoters for RIC instruments up to today. Lots of players buy Ric guitars/basses for the Beatles connection. I love the Beatles and Yes, but I fell in love with the 4001/4003 not because of any of the artists mentioned above but for the beauty and sounds of them.

I've got the Jam DVD and have watched the 2 discs for a few times. Nice collection of The Jam's performances. Bruce Foxton didn't look quite "right" with that Fender bass.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:22 am

Lets have some eye candies while I'm at it...

Macca during rehearsal for "All You need Is Love" live broadcast, June 1967.

Chris Squire live 1973.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:50 am

That is interesting, McCartney is using only the treble pickup.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 9:02 am

What Artist Put Rickenbacker on the Map? Why, that'd be Kenny Howes!

carr · Post by **carr** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 12:45 pm

Steve Hackett with the double, Genesis

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 2:06 pm

Well, as long as we're posting pics, here's Glen Matlock in 1976:

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 2:11 pm

But as an Old Guy, my opinion is that Rickenbacker was firmly established on the map well before 1970.

bottom4 · Post by **bottom4** » Thu Aug 21, 2003 2:27 pm

Mr Yan the Pic man!

Great Pics Paul!

Oh and by the way - John first than Paulie for me!

cheers

motoryeshead · Post by **motoryeshead** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 6:29 am

Agreed on Squire/Macca/Glover/Geddy for Rick basses in the 1970s, but someone who really kept the flame burning all through the 80s and 90s is LEMMY. I'm surprised he hasn't been mentioned yet, to my knowledge, he has used Rickenbackers pretty much exclusively since his Hawkwind days in the early 1970s (excepting a couple of very brief moments), and I have certainly never seen him use anything else live in the last 25 years. The intro to Ace Of Spades is almost "household" now. He may not be a pioneer, or someone who "put Rickenbacker on the map", but Lemmy definitely qualifies to be a Rickenbacker icon, along with Squire, Macca etc, regardless of signature bass (or lack of production, hint hint...), his persona and sound are legendary, nobody else does it like Lemmy, absolutely nobody...

dougp · Post by **dougp** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 1:19 pm

The only albums on which Lemmy plays a non-Ric bass were (AFAIK) 'Warrior On The Edge of Time' (his last album with Hawkwind) - Thunderbird, and 'Another Perfect Day' - Washburn (actually 20 years ago - 1983 - sorry to split hairs, P.). I'm not sure whether or not he had the Ric yet when Hawkwind recorded "Silver Machine", their biggest hit, and their first record (single-only) with Lemmy. His autobiography, 'White Line Fever' is a MUST-read for anyone who loves stories of good ol' fashioned sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Fri Aug 22, 2003 1:54 pm

What impresses me most about Lemmy is that he has been able to accomplish all this with a deformed fretting hand: