Lemmy's Basses in the Shop

[berth]

......and let's emphasize the sheer number of live gigs. Others may be more well known, mainstream and "respected" but for living life on the road and just non-stop gigging (and recording) I don't believe anyone else comes anywhere near. Always with a Ric is just a bonus.

And that is exactly what I mean. Adding all the festivals he plays (at least in Europe) this means stadiums full of people who see him play his Rickenbacker's. I have no clue of what Motorhead does in America, but apart from normal touring medium sized halls over here they play at least some of the really big festivals in Summer. I know Paul McCartney plays really big crowds some times. But Motorhead plays several every year and I know PM only played one concert the last xx years at my country.

[Ivan3000]

I think of Chris Squire (Yes) as a more consistent showman of the Rickenbacker bass. I know there are the hard rockers who will argue that progressive rock music isn't really "rock," but Chris Squire defined and separated "bass" in rock music more than any other IMHO. Lemmy's use of the instrument isn't so much playing bass as it is filling the sonic pocket. To me it just sounds like blaaat while Squires playing sounds like clearly defined notes (sometimes closely coupled). But true, Squire has played several other instruments on record and stage, while Lemmy always seems to sling the Rick.

In my opinion, it was James Paul McCartney who modernized bass.

[08 Ric 4003]

I tried listening to Hawkwind with Lemmy, but being a person in in military I am not allowed to get high enough to understand the Space Rock. Some stuff I can take, but alot of the echoey space sounds just get on my nerves. The original Motorhead song is full bore kick butt.

[colin]

Some stuff I can take, but alot of the echoey space sounds just get on my nerves.

If you can get past the wacky spaceship stuff and the bad poetry, Hawkwind cranked out some real gems during the Lemmy years. Plus, Hawkwind's big hit single "Silver Machine" was sung by Lemmy!

[rictified]

Mr.Kilmister must certainly punishes the bass like no other, but come on that opening bass line on Ace Of Spades is easy but effective, sure Lemmy is not a articulate player but it is the only axe he has used for almost as long as I have been alive.

Lemmy is actually a very good player, I have stuff where he is very articulate and plays fast runs, I think his playing has just evolved to the style he has now, it works for Motorhead.

[08 Ric 4003]

I am not knocking Lemmy. I love Motorhead and have almost all of there stuff. I have two Hawkwind albums, both with Lemmy bass. Silver Machine is a cool tune.

[08 Ric 4003]

Opps, Lemmy on bass.

[teeder]

Yea, what Paul said... +1.

+2.

I think of Macca, Squire, and Lee, in that order, of who made me aware of Ricks, (beside my brothers).

I was never a fan of Motorhead, but I do think this was very cool to see Lemmy's bass being worked on.

[jps]

My first conscious awareness of Ricks was through a guy I knew in high school, then it is a toss up between Squire and Rutherford; Rutherford was the first I saw in concert, though, by a couple of years.

[Ivan3000]

I know William Young made a copy of this, I'm pretty sure it was with actual RIcks though.

[jps]

Yep, I saw that bass at a couple shows, sitting near the stage, too, up close like.

[wim]

I love what Lemmy does with his sound.
Although he goes for a fairly plain humbucker distortion sound nowadays, his sound until the mid 80's was just awesome.

like this:

[Lefty4001]

Lemmy plays RickenbackerSSSSSS. Not just one "iconic" bass that no one has seen or heard for years. He has stuck with this company and it was right to produce an artist model for him. He just plays the "wrong" music for some. I don't really think it bothers him much. Some people don't like McCartney. Whatcha gonna do?

I do like the "road worn" comment. I listen to "The Road Crew" now and can only picture lag screws, a DeWalt, Elmer's and a greasy hanky.

Turn up the Bass!- Lemmy in between every song

[Ivan3000]

Lemmy actually fired a roadie because he droped his favorite Rick bass.

[08 Ric 4003]

There is no such thing as wrong music. There is only two kinds of music. Music we (I) like or music we (I) don't like. I can not see why people like Hip Hop or Rap or whatever it is called these days, so I don't listen to it. If Motorhead is not for you move on. One day I will see them live.