Least Favorite Bassists

[heinpete]

...although I might be outed: Lemmy .
He just can't play and sing at all , in my taste it's just noise.

[SquireFan91]

*Cliff Burton and Lemmy: the bass, while busy, is either far too close to the guitar or the drums for my liking. SYNCOPATION! COUNTER-POINT! I also feel that their sin of making a Rickenbacker bass sound like a cross between a buzz-saw and a fart is neigh inexcusable. It's got such a nice throaty snarl on it's own, and there are ways to distort it without just turning it into "BZZZZ".

*Every metal bassist who does nothing but lock with the kick drum: These guys are obviously good, fast and precise as all get out. I just wish they'd exist as their own part of the music, rather than a sad little extension of the drum kit.

*Every bassist who does not stand out as a technical master of the instrument or at least a defining factor to it's use within a genre who gets a signature bass: One example of this that particularly bugs me is Sting. Decent bassist and all, but I've always felt his strength was in his singing and songwriting. To me, his bass parts are utterly replaceable. I feel he did nothing for pop-rock bass or bass in general that was outstanding, and certainly nothing to deserve being particularly honored as a bassist. I have the same problem with Mike Dirnt of Green Day. "You didn't get a signature bass because you deserve it, you got one because your band's famous and mindless sheep will buy anything with your name on it."

* Les Claypool: about half of everything he does on the bass bothers me. He's technically brilliant, but some of his super sloppy sounding low register slapping and the way he tends to use chords makes my ears hurt.

All just my opinions of course.

[Kopfjaeger]

WOW!! I agree with quite a few of you guys!! While I love Metallica, I'm not a fan of Trujillo. He is a very talented bass player but he antics on stage make me long for the days of Cliff Burton or Jason Newsted. I can listen to him without a problem but any video irks the **** out of me.

I was never a Rush or Yes fan so I get the inability to listen to either.

I can't really listen to Red Hot Chilli Peppers either and I'm not so sure it's because of Flea. I think that's more because of the lyrics.

Jazz, I just don't get it. Sorry....

I completely agree with the assessment of Les Claypool as well. Super talented but I'm not fond of the music, lyrics, and most of the sounds he makes come out of his instrument. I do believe he was masterful in Ozzy's re issue of NIB. That version with him on bass ranks way up on my AWESOME scale!!

All great bass players in the above mentioned bands, but I can't relate to them for one reason or another.

I don't really like the the sound of chords being played on a bass. In moderation, OK, but that's it. Perhaps because I'm too spastic trying to play chords. If I could have done that with success, I may have been a guitarist instead of a bassist.

Nah, probably not.

Sepp

[psychomatthias]

*Every metal bassist who does nothing but lock with the kick drum: These guys are obviously good, fast and precise as all get out. I just wish they'd exist as their own part of the music, rather than a sad little extension of the drum kit.

This is why I'm influenced by metal guitarists and not metal bassists.

At one time, I listened to a lot of Primus. Now, I can't stand slap bass at all and, for that, I blame Seinfeld and Fieldy from Korn.

[winston]

Brian Medway

I suspect that most metal bassists have a hard time playing anything that does not lock into the kick drum. Probably because that's what is generally expected of them.

IMO Geddy Lee is a great bass player. His voice drives me nuts........not his playing.

[rickenbrother]

I prefer rating musicians in a least or most favorite rather than who is better than who. I've never liked that. Who really is to say who is better than who?
We usually have our favorites not only for their playing style, but also for their tone, their look, personality and maybe even choice of instruments they use.
My least favorite bassist?
Myself. I'm very critical of my playing and it's not as good as it used to be. My hands just don't work like they used to.

[winston]

My least favorite bassist?
Myself. I'm very critical of my playing and it's not as good as it used to be. My hands just don't work like they used to.

Don't sell yourself so short.

[Lefty4003S8]

I prefer rating musicians in a least or most favorite rather than who is better than who. I've never liked that. Who really is to say who is better than who?
We usually have our favorites not only for their playing style, but also for their tone, their look, personality and maybe even choice of instruments they use.
My least favorite bassist?
Myself. I'm very critical of my playing and it's not as good as it used to be. My hands just don't work like they used to.

I LOVE This!!!!!! I also feel the same way about MY playing as well

While SOME people have said I am good......I don't believe them. Why?? Because I've heard what's out there and I can't even come close to it.
Still, I keep playing....hoping one day my "Bass Fairy Godmother" might appear, wave her wand and all of a sudden I can play like Squire---and NOT Billy Squire!!!!!!

Oh, and I agree about Pattitucci......WOW!!! He's great, but he just doesn't do it for me.

Lefty4003s8 (Mediocre bassist in residence)




Do not drink from the toilet while taking Lyrica

[cjj]

My least favorite bassist?
Myself. I'm very critical of my playing and it's not as good as it used to be. My hands just don't work like they used to.

I understand that completely! Between the arthritis and the Dupuytren's contracture, there are times I can hardly play anymore. Quite a shame since I can finally afford to have some nice instruments, but sometimes can hardly play 'em...

[cassius987]

WOW!! I agree with quite a few of you guys!! While I love Metallica, I'm not a fan of Trujillo. He is a very talented bass player but he antics on stage make me long for the days of Cliff Burton or Jason Newsted. I can listen to him without a problem but any video irks the **** out of me.

I was never a Rush or Yes fan so I get the inability to listen to either.

I can't really listen to Red Hot Chilli Peppers either and I'm not so sure it's because of Flea. I think that's more because of the lyrics.

Jazz, I just don't get it. Sorry....

I completely agree with the assessment of Les Claypool as well. Super talented but I'm not fond of the music, lyrics, and most of the sounds he makes come out of his instrument. I do believe he was masterful in Ozzy's re issue of NIB. That version with him on bass ranks way up on my AWESOME scale!!

All great bass players in the above mentioned bands, but I can't relate to them for one reason or another.

I don't really like the the sound of chords being played on a bass. In moderation, OK, but that's it. Perhaps because I'm too spastic trying to play chords. If I could have done that with success, I may have been a guitarist instead of a bassist.

Nah, probably not.

Sepp

Wow, what DO you like Sepp?? I'll give you a suggestion, go listen to Kind of Blue by Miles Davis (sit down and LISTEN) and you might start to like more complex forms of jazz.

In all seriousness... and even in light of my comments about Geddy etc... it's my opinion that I should be able to hear great things even in the music I dislike. The longer I have played music the more I have felt this way. There is a good groove or hook or something in every song out there, or else it wouldn't be out there. It's easy to rag on the music industry but the truth is that even music for the masses takes a certain talent to put together, and a lot of us who are obsessed with being great players instead of great performers and songwriters ignore this at our own risk.

I was recently approached to be in a Katy Perry cover band. Honestly, if I'd had enough time, I'd have done it. That gig would have been loads of fun (and probably would have paid way better than most of my gigs) even though on a technical level it would have been elementary at best. Just keeping a good beat going with a drummer is enough for me to have fun, and the energy from the crowd (that the drummer and I create) keeps it going.

I suspect we are all hardest on the people who play the same instruments that we play. I hear guitarist rag on a lot of the "simple" players, for lacking skill or what have you, but those are some of my favorite guitarists because instead of wasting my time with a bunch of notes they churn out a steady hook or pattern that puts me in a good place. That's what it's all about, unless you're totally content to play to an audience of one: yourself. Kudos to the great players out there that manage to still keep an audience, like Medeski Martin & Wood, but a big reason why they have the following they do is because they put being great players after laying down a hook and making sure people are having a good time.

[coolingitdown]

Now, I can't stand slap bass at all and, for that, I blame Seinfeld and Fieldy from Korn.

Those hardly qualify as slap bass! Seinfeld being a keyboard and Fieldy being...Fieldy.

That said, I'm hardly a slap player (or advocate) myself. It's fun to tool around with, but I have rarely used it on stage, and never in the studio.

Back on topic, one player I used to despise but have changed my opinion of: Flea. I used to think he was completely overrated, especially in a world where Les Claypool exists. But listening to RHCP a bit more over the last 2 years or so has made me realize that Flea has great control of the pocket, knows how to groove unbelievably, and typically constructs very tasteful bass parts, breaking out the flash every now and again. He actually demonstrates quite a bit of restraint in his playing.

I can't really think of anybody off hand that irks me. I'll post again if I do.

[cassius987]

Flea has great control of the pocket, knows how to groove unbelievably, and typically constructs very tasteful bass parts, breaking out the flash every now and again. He actually demonstrates quite a bit of restraint in his playing.

Good ears Jonathan! I'm not an RHCP fan by any means but I agree with you.

[sloop_john_b]

This immediately came to mind and sadly it has totally soured me on him, though on the early stuff he certainly has his moments.



Not a fan of Geddy either.

[pag]

This is strange thread!
(Apart from the floundering of Lennon on the Fender VI....)
I cannot say that any bassist is my least favourite and some guys might be mixing up music they dont like with the players that play it.
Case in point;
If you judged Herbie Flowers bass playing on what he did for BBC Playschool (childrens TV show from the 70s) sessions you might say he
wasnt up to much.
Check out other music he played ie; Jeff Waynes War Of The Worlds and Lou Reeds Walk On The Wild Side and you get a different picture.
Flea for instance can do manic and hold down the root all in the same song it all gets down to whether you like the tunes you are refering to.
Some people cringe at the sound of ABBA (somebody said they cringe at the sound of Yes) but you cant deny theres a skilfull bass player at work on Dancing Queen and Money Money Money.
I dont happen to be the greatest fan of Chas And Dave but to sing that and play bass at the same time is only done with lots of practise and dedication.

Thinking about the stuff above that people dont like the bass playing on.....What would you play on those songs to make them better?
Least favourite music I could mention but I still tip my hat to guys that can play.

[bartyclue]

Gene Simmons