Seven female bassists who helped shape modern music.

[ambient]

[url="http://www.openculture.com/2015/07/7-female-bass-players-who-helped-define-modern-music.html"]http://www.openculture.com/2015/07/7-female-bass-players-who-helped-define-modern-music.html[/url]

[wateroftyne]

Hmm.. I'm not sure Tal has helped [i]shape[/i] modern music..

[Kirky]

Or Jeff Beck, for that matter. Most of the others have been in highly influential bands in their genres and are worth celebrating. Its amazing but it's still very difficult for female musicians to get ahead in the industry. Just go to any night in any rock/indie venue in the country and count the female musicians - it's never even close to 50/50. Of course the reasons are many and complex, but anything that celebrates them and potentially inspires more is a good thing.

[TrevorR]

All amazing bassists in their own right. However, depending how you define it I'd say only 1 or 2 or 4 could be said to have a shaping role... Kaye, no brainer. Weymouth, certainly. Gordon and Deal, probably in the music shaping class.

Not a sexist thing, just an influence assessment. Of my top ten favourite bassists only about two or three could be claimed to have a modern music shaping influence.

Top list of top players, though. And as Kirky says, great to see credit going to world class female players. On a personal basis I'd add Clare Kenny and Gail Ann Dorsey to my personal list

[Twincam]

Shaped modern music? I think that statement is questionable.
But Carol Kaye surely must of had a widespread influence.
The rest I'm not sure about. I think Kim deal and Tina Weymouth have influenced me and therefore probably others.
Others while being very good bass have have in my mind not been big influences. While the three I've mentioned often get included in conversations for having a certain style and being involved in music that was very influential at the time or years later.

[ambient]

Personally I've only heard of 2 of them. Namely Tina Weymouth and Carol Kaye. That's probably more to do with my musical tastes, than their lack of talent or lack of influence.

I just saw it on Facebook and thought it may be of interest to others.

[Roland Rock]

I'd definitely agree with Kim Deal. The Pixies as a band and and individuals (and as songwriters) had an enormous impact on their genre. Much more so than Kim Gordon IMO

Edited March 26, 2016 by Roland Rock

[PaulWarning]

all american aren't they? always had a soft spot for Gaye Advert

[Marvin]

Carol Kaye, Kim Deal and Tina Weymouth, out of that very short list have definitely had an impact. I don't think Tal Wilkenfield has really been around, or known long enough, to have been able to shape music.

[bassace]

But have any bass players of either gender shaped modern music, after Jamerson and Pastorius that is. I suppose it's natural that a bass forum would want to talk up the instrument. But while the bass's importance in jazz and rock is undisputed, is it really a shaper?

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1459004088' post='3012769']
But have any bass players of either gender shaped modern music, after Jamerson and Pastorius that is. I suppose it's natural that a bass forum would want to talk up the instrument. But while the bass's importance in jazz and rock is undisputed, is it really a shaper?
[/quote]Lemmy? Motorhead would not have been the same band with a 'normal' bass player

[spectoremg]

Looks like one extremely bored journalist.

[probablypike]

[quote name='Kirky' timestamp='1458977060' post='3012495']
Of course the reasons are many and complex, but anything that celebrates them and potentially inspires more is a good thing.
[/quote]

This.

Music journalism aimed at musicians is awful for excluding women. And that needs to change. One magazine that is doing amazing things is She Shreds. Check them out over here: http://sheshredsmag.com/

[Old Man Riva]

[quote name='probablypike' timestamp='1459073588' post='3013252']
This.

Music journalism aimed at musicians is awful for excluding women. And that needs to change. One magazine that is doing amazing things is She Shreds. Check them out over here: [url="http://sheshredsmag.com/"]http://sheshredsmag.com/[/url]
[/quote]
It's a fair point but it's hugely inhibiting (and widely open to debate) when it's referenced as 'shaping' music.

If they're trying to promote positive reaction to female players then surely reference players who have 'inspired' - with a little artistic licence you could legitimately name any/every female who has ever been near a bass guitar and say that someone has been influenced by them.

So, Annie Holland from Elastica would get a mention, ditto Tessa Pollitt from The Slits and Este Haim from Haim and Tracy Wormworth, along with Gail Anne Dorsey and Gaye Advert (both mentioned above) and countless others.

And if they are going to reference someone shaping modern music (which is an incredibly difficult thing to quantify) then why leave out Sara Lee and her work with Gang of Four; a band that hugely influenced Flea and RHCP as just one example?

Edited March 27, 2016 by Old Man Riva

[pfretrock]

[quote name='probablypike' timestamp='1459073588' post='3013252']
Music journalism aimed at musicians is awful for excluding women. And that needs to change. One magazine that is doing amazing things is She Shreds. Check them out over here: [url="http://sheshredsmag.com/"]http://sheshredsmag.com/[/url]
[/quote]

Female drummers also have their own magazine

[url="https://issuu.com/tomtommagazine"]https://issuu.com/tomtommagazine[/url]

(isssue 24 has an interesting article on time)

[seashell]

[quote name='probablypike' timestamp='1459073588' post='3013252']


This.

Music journalism aimed at musicians is awful for excluding women. And that needs to change. One magazine that is doing amazing things is She Shreds. Check them out over here: http://sheshredsmag.com/
[/quote]

I subscribed to She Shreds. Received a copy in January - great! Nothing since then. I'm beginning to wonder if they've gone out of business.

[probablypike]

[quote name='Old Man Riva' timestamp='1459091586' post='3013469']

It's a fair point but it's hugely inhibiting (and widely open to debate) when it's referenced as 'shaping' music.
[/quote]

Oh yeah, I see your point, but I meant generally rather than in reference to the article above.

[probablypike]

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1459106188' post='3013599']

I subscribed to She Shreds. Received a copy in January - great! Nothing since then. I'm beginning to wonder if they've gone out of business.
[/quote]

I think they've been putting shows on recently? Still got a decent online presence. They might be late because they're a relatively small American based group?

[seashell]

[quote name='probablypike' timestamp='1459109547' post='3013633']


I think they've been putting shows on recently? Still got a decent online presence. They might be late because they're a relatively small American based group?
[/quote]

I looked on line..they are still featuring the copy I already have. Hopefully they will produce another one at some point!

[ahpook]

[quote name='Old Man Riva' timestamp='1459091586' post='3013469']
It's a fair point but it's hugely inhibiting (and widely open to debate) when it's referenced as 'shaping' music.

If they're trying to promote positive reaction to female players then surely reference players who have 'inspired' - with a little artistic licence you could legitimately name any/every female who has ever been near a bass guitar and say that someone has been influenced by them.

So, Annie Holland from Elastica would get a mention, ditto Tessa Pollitt from The Slits and Este Haim from Haim and Tracy Wormworth, along with Gail Anne Dorsey and Gaye Advert (both mentioned above) and countless others.

And if they are going to reference someone shaping modern music (which is an incredibly difficult thing to quantify) then why leave out Sara Lee and her work with Gang of Four; a band that hugely influenced Flea and RHCP as just one example?
[/quote]

It's just one person's opinion, I don't think the article is trying to be a definitive summation of the state of the art !

[Old Man Riva]

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1459112621' post='3013667']
It's just one person's opinion, I don't think the article is trying to be a definitive summation of the state of the art !
[/quote]
That's alright then, I'll calm myself down!

(*Mumbles to himself*... "still don't know why Sara Lee wasn't mentioned... bloody lists for this and that and the other etc etc and no Sara Lee...")

[ahpook]

[quote name='Old Man Riva' timestamp='1459113363' post='3013676']
That's alright then, I'll calm myself down!

(*Mumbles to himself*... "still don't know why Sara Lee wasn't mentioned... bloody lists for this and that and the other etc etc and no Sara Lee...")
[/quote]



I do agree with you, I think that she's a greater influence bass-wise than Kim Gordon for example...who has made a much greater contribution in general as a singer and lyricist for SY than as a bassist...IMHO.

Edited March 27, 2016 by ahpook

[chris_b]

IMO to have "shaped modern music" you have to have achieved more than being a good player or having been in a famous band.

Willie Dixon, Paul McCartney, Larry Graham and James Jamerson are the only bass players I know, of either sex, who could claim to have actually shaped modern music.

Edited March 27, 2016 by chris_b

[JwK94]

All great bassists in their own right, but to say they 'Shaped modern music' is a bit of a stretch, you could most likely say that about Kaye which is fair. But there has to be only a handful of bass players in general that you could say really 'shaped modern music'

[Count Bassy]

I wonder how it would go down if someone launched a magazine that advertised the fact that it was specifically dedicated to male musicians? I suspect that there'd be a court case!!

Edited April 1, 2016 by Count Bassy