Japhet

I blame Simon (effing) Cowell and the brainwashed British public who sit on their backsides and lap up whatever garbage he dishes up to them on a Saturday night. The demise of live music is in direct relation to the rise in Saturday night 'talent' shows.

It's only finished when there's nobody left who wants to listen to it. Can't see that happening for a very long time.

The Godlyke Great Divide has always sounded good to me but very hard to find.

Don't suppose anything that sensible would occur to a drummer. Certainly wouldn't occur to our's.

Miss my old 300SMX. Lovely amp with buckets of power.

I've played in bands on both sides. I prefer stage left since I'm right handed and being on the other side usually ended up with my headstock in amongst the cymbals. Always had problems with drummers encroaching in my space though. They seem to think that a guitarist needs extra room even though they're playing a much smaller instrument. I've also played with 2 guitarists where I share one side of the stage with a guitarist and the bloody drummer always used to set up in the middle. I gave up trying to explain that he needed to move over - it seemed too much for his brain to handle. It's an old story but I understand how Bill Wyman ended up playing his bass almost vertically.

Keith Emerson too. Very sad.

Many of those already listed were shocking. I'd add Tom Petty to the list. I found his death particularly hard to get a handle on.

Saw Robin Trower a few times and always liked Dave Bronze and Pete Thompson 'in the engine room'.

Not a massive fan of Rocco so I'll be a bit cheeky and say David Garibaldi and Bobby Vega in Tower of Power.

Clyde Stubblefield and Bootsy.

Billy Cobham and Leland Sklar. Gilson lavis and Dave Swift. Gene Lake and David Dyson.

I'm very much in the realms of a cover being a version of a song, not a slavish copying of the original. That, in my opinion, is the job of a tribute band.

I'm up for this pending the usual possible flies in the ointment. Happy to bring some gear as well. Could bring a couple of heads (Tecamp Black Jag and Weber Mywatt 200 all valve). Would quite like to bring my cheapo Harley Benton 51 P Bass copy to show just how much you get for about £85. Could probably bring a cab if needed too.

Comments like 'it does nothing for me' really do nothing for me. Why bother?

Roland Cubes are very good.

In my case, I bought a lot of the PA gear so I also apparently have to cart it around, set it up, break it down take it home and store it. I also have to make any adjustments in settings whilst simultaneously playing a bass guitar In the meantime the singer shrugs his shoulders and looks confused if anything needs doing. Bringing a microphone is apparently his limit. Any repairs are also 100% down to me. P.S. Drummer is actually very helpful in reality.

I've only ever auditioned for 1 band. Since then every gig I've got has been through word of mouth or people approaching me. I've had a couple of dep jobs turn into permanent work. Apart from the music I'd say a few plusses would be Happy to buy a round. Know how the PA works and how to get a decent sound. Happy to put up with Prima Donna flouncyness from the 'stars' in the band. Have a vehicle big enough to cart the majority of the cr@p around that nobody else can be bothered with. These things will help you to get a position in plenty of bands.

Tecamp is by far the best on your list IMO. Build quality is top notch and the Puma amp is a beaut. It will also take an extension cab where the Rumble won't. I don't know about the VT200 but I'd imagine it would be hard to shift if you wanted to move on.

I go for the grumpy face EQ at live gigs and find that it matches my own grumpy face rather well.

No, you should be proud.

You lasted an hour and a half longer than I would have done.

Jameson always gets all of the plaudits but Babbitt was just as good in my opinion. Absolute monster player.

I've been in the same band now for 10 years. We've recently started doing a few songs that I've suggested. The general consensus is 'Why weren't we doing these years ago?' The answer is quite simple really; 'We could have been if anyone thought for 1 minute that my opinion might be valid. Instead, we've wasted years churning out the same sort of generic pub rock covers that every band from here to Land's End has been doing. It's a proper slog being a bass player who would like to be heard once in a while.