#725981 - 03/08/06 08:41 PM
Underrated bassists
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thabottomend
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Here I go again, opening not a can but probably a bushel barrel of worms............
How about your opinion on bassists who were underrated or ignored because of their style of music or delivery of same? I was watching VH1 yesterday, the "Ultimate Albums" show, and they were doing Kiss Alive. I had never really paid that much attention to the bass lines before, but I have to admit that Gene Simmons impressed me some. A lot of his bass lines were on the McCartney walking melodic style, such as Rock and Roll All Night. Not only that, but he was singing lead as he was playing.
Anyhow, that's my dark secret for the week. I look forward to the wisdom I am about to gather. 
_________________________
Do not be deceived by, nor take lightly, this particular bit of musicianship one simply describes as "bass". - Lowell George
"The music moves me, it just moves me ugly." William H. Macy in "Wild Hogs"
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#725982 - 03/08/06 09:01 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Stackimo
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There may be a few here that have said Gene didn't play the bass lines in Kiss's studio cuts, but I have and continue to listen to Kiss Alive I and II from time to time. I owned the albums back in the late 70's, early 80's and also remember listening to them on my buddy's 8 track. I have also seen them live and watched them on DVD's live. He knows how to play.
I was given a bass tab book of Kiss about 1.5 years ago. I didn't need to see it to realize how well he played. There are many thoughtful lines. It is easy to pass over him when you have someone like Ace ripping it all the time, but he is definately there.
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#725983 - 03/08/06 09:03 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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getz76
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Loc: Hoboken, NJ
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Me.
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#725984 - 03/08/06 09:34 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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_Sweet Willie_
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getz,
Just 'cause no one gives a steamy $#!@ who you are, doesn't mean that you're underrated.
Sorry to be the one to break this to you if you haven't already heard it before.
Peace.
--Sweet "spreadin' the luv" Willie
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#725985 - 03/08/06 10:33 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Aussie bass dude
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Me, well my mum thinks so
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#725986 - 03/08/06 11:23 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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getz76
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Originally posted by Dr. Sweet Willie:
Just 'cause no one gives a steamy $#!@ who you are, doesn't mean that you're underrated.
You lost me.
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#725987 - 03/08/06 11:37 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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jeremy c
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To answer the original post, I don't think that someone who has been on the cover of Bass Player Magazine can be considered an underrated bassist.
To me an underrated bassist would be someone with no national recognition, no major label recording credits, just someone who when you see him or her play you know that there is something special about their playing.
I've been fortunate to meet and hear some of those people through this forum.
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#725988 - 03/09/06 02:07 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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catsak
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Yeah, like Bob Weston (Shellac) or Greg Norton (Husker Du).....to name a couple off the top o' my head.......
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#725989 - 03/09/06 02:34 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Phil W
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What Jeremy said!
Plus this thread
- especially towards the middle/end of page two where it gets going
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#725990 - 03/09/06 02:37 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Jode
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Steve Lewis of the Tarbabies. You should know who he is. Find an album called Honey Bubble, if you can.
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#725991 - 03/09/06 08:19 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Dark
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Not sure if he can be classified as under-rated, but i'd have to say les claypool. The guy is completely insane
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#725992 - 03/09/06 09:45 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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thabottomend
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Has Phil Lynott ever been in BPM?
_________________________
Do not be deceived by, nor take lightly, this particular bit of musicianship one simply describes as "bass". - Lowell George
"The music moves me, it just moves me ugly." William H. Macy in "Wild Hogs"
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#725993 - 03/09/06 11:04 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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jeremy c
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Originally posted by Dark:
Not sure if he can be classified as under-rated, but i'd have to say les claypool. The guy is completely insane
That's what's completely insane.
(donning asbestos suit)
I'd put him on a list of over-rated bassists.
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#725994 - 03/09/06 11:22 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Quinn
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Gary Grainger.
He's an absolutely monstrous player, but most people have never heard of him. (Nice guy too!)
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#725995 - 03/10/06 01:26 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Phil W
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Gary Grainger 
Phil Lynott
Phil is fairly famous though, I would make a list just from memebers of this forum!
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#725996 - 03/10/06 02:11 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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ArwinH
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Gary Grainger is distinctive in playing and tone, but super versatile. Really an amazing player.
Now, this is gonna get people lookin' at me sideways. As I mentioned in another thread, I'm listenin to some Marcus stuff on Hideaway and checkin' out a live version of run for cover. Now, as a slapper and dead funky musician with the quintissential 70's jbass tone, Marcus gets TONS of recognition, signature model from fender, and thousands of people trying to get THAT tone.
I think though, that because of this, some of Marcus' melodic, supportive playing gets overlooked. Marcus plays some really great things on fretless, but I don't too many people talking about that. People tend to associate him with slapping, with good reason obviously...the guy set the bar in the late 70's-today.
Just though I'd put that out there.
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#725997 - 03/10/06 05:53 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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tnb
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You're right, ArwinH, I AM looking at you sideways. What do you want, a state named after him? Maybe a series of commerative coins?
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#725998 - 03/10/06 05:57 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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robb.
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i think tim payne of thursday is actually underrated. i know, another rock bassist who at least gets to make a comfortable living playing music. when there are so many musically accomplished jazz bassists out there not getting their due.
but the guy does a great job playing with the drums and guitars and playing very melodically. i think he has very many thoughtful lines. i have listened to several thursday songs where i thought, "i [b]know[/i] i wouldn't have played that line." so he's improved my playing.
and with the stream of post-hardcore and indie bassists still filling the inner pages of bass player, i have yet to see a feature or interview of tim anywhere. not many people talk about the bass when they talk about thursday.
around here, not many people talk about thursday. unfortunately.
robb.
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#725999 - 03/10/06 06:39 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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ihategarybettman
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I've been listening to the Paris concert from the "Bonfire" boxset, and the live bass sound that AC/DC gets, combined with Malcolm Young's awesome rhythm guitar, is truly massive. So, I nominate Mark Evans and Cliff Williams as two of the under-rated.
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#726000 - 03/10/06 06:46 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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ihategarybettman
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I'd also like to mention Conrad Lozano of Los Lobos. The catalog of "The Wolves" is amazing in its scope, ranging from Mexican corridas to the blues to country to straight-up rock and roll to electronica, and Conrad handles it all with taste and groove.
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#726001 - 03/10/06 06:54 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Rowbee
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Jon Evans who plays with Tori Amos is pretty amazing, I've not seen too much written about him anywhere so I assume he must be under-rated. I saw him live with Tori a few years ago, I was gobsmacked - no wonder she didn't bother having a guitarist on that tour, he's so versatile.
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#726002 - 03/10/06 08:07 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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ZZ Thorn
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I'm an Isley freak, but I think Marvin Isley is very underrated as a bassist. Tons of rhythym but excellent taste as well. His brother Ernie, known best for his Hendrix impressions, is really a phonomenal rhythm guitar player.
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#726003 - 03/10/06 08:12 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Mark Zeger
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The same guy always comes to mind on this topic:
Jim Creegan of Barenaked Ladies
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#726004 - 03/10/06 09:14 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Jabinski
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How about the guy from Oasis....
JOKE
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#726006 - 03/10/06 09:34 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Tim C
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I always found that Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) never got his deserved recognition. Pino Palladino too. Alex Kantunic (stage name Dirk Lance) who was the the original bassist of Incubus, he did some amazing work on their CD fungus amongus (he was 16 at the time). That's about all I got right now...
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hmmm...
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#726007 - 03/10/06 10:02 AM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Gimmegroove
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Originally posted by catsak:
Yeah, like Bob Weston (Shellac) or Greg Norton (Husker Du).....to name a couple off the top o' my head.......
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#726008 - 03/10/06 02:22 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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Phil W
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Tim, I've hardly heard a bassplayer not namecheck Pino - he gets masses of recognition among bassists - and rightly so!
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#726009 - 03/10/06 08:33 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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DJR_Bos
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I might take some objection to the idea that a bassist would be on the cover of BP and still be under rated.
Certainly Gene Simmons is not under recognized/exposed. In keeping with that band’s philosophy he’s a relentless self promoter and, yes, well known and on the cover of some mags
Thing is – Some of his line are really pretty cool and the live discs back up the fact that he more than covers the gig.
But I digress.
Being a cover boy for the masses does not mean you’re an appreciated bassist/artist…what ever.
Just a thought. Flame away.
BTW – Spirits In the Material World just came on. Jeez, what a band. And Sting just blows my mind. Just counting that tune….
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#726010 - 03/12/06 09:35 PM
Re: Underrated bassists
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viejid
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I think a lot of the bands who are thought of more as guitar driven bands get their bass players left behind.
Jeff AMent (Pearl jam)
Mike Dean (COC)
I don't think Les Claypool is overrated though. Even though what he plays is not skill wise on the league of say, Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten, Les Claypool exists in a different genre of music. Not only that, but Les Claypool (with primus) created a genre of music... one that pretty much only Primus is good at. While The above mentioned have their merits in terms of composition, it is their ability as players that sets them apart. I think Les Claypool is not only a great player (once again, not as great as wooten) but he is also an amazing composer. ANd once again, i dont mean composing in the classical , lets harmonically arrange things... i mean composing as in groundbreaking style of writing composing...
anyway, that's my 2 cents.... take it for what its worth...
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