yorks5stringer Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Blur..? What is this 'Blur'..? Is it a 'thing'..? Hmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I’ve actually spoken to people at gigs my old covers band were playing and been asked if I go to see the band regularly as they’re quite good! But at a festival my punk band played some guys asked if they could have a photo taken with the band, and handed the camera to our drummer to take the photo. Did he not like that. Seems it’s only singers and guitarists that get recognised all the time. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 It just goes with the territory. It suits me, I’m not good-looking and I enjoy being anonymous. I don’t think even top-class bass players are generally recognised by the listening and watching audience. If they are, it’s because of their status as singer or front-person. Like Macca, Sting etc. I’m a firm believer in the wisdom of Martin Ace, long-time bass player for Welsh rock band Man. “If you’re bothered about being overlooked, ignored or misunderstood you’ve probably chosen the wrong instrument.” Look at it this way. If the audience don’t notice we’re on the stage surely they can’t put any mistakes down to us. 😂 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I think Bass players and the contribution they've made / and make is recognised more and more these days ... There's been a growing awareness helped in no small part by a new wave of really talented players, many of whom sing, write and front their own musical projects. Many of them are female which is great Thats building really nicely on the legacy of Macca, John Entwistle, James Jamerson, Jaco, Stanley Clarke, Chris Squire, Bootsy, Larry Graham, Mark King, Carol Kaye, Kim Deal etc, etc.. and let's not forget Suzi Quatro of course ! So I think it's all good personally. 😊 I'm a bit more worried about the lack of bass guitar in a lot of modern pop music to be honest, given the tendency for 'bass' on records to be a sample generated sub-bass type sound.. That's obviously the vibe that's called for in a lot of pop now, but it's not something I particularly care for. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Agree, Nik, we need some young scruffy ‘erberts with guitars to make a racket and bring back some noisy music to the masses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) it depends if the bass player hides at the back or puts a bit of a show on, they'll notice them if they prance around a bit (like Flea, extreme example), and make an effort to dress a bit differently, but if they stay at the back staring at your fret board what do they expect?, I wouldn't have recognised Alex James either but I'm not a big Blur fan. But yes, the singer gets most of the attention because they are the focal point edit, now the Drummer has real problems 😄 Edited January 8, 2021 by PaulWarning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 TBH I doubt whether I'd recognise anyone from Blur these days. They all look like a bunch of anonymous non-entities (and did during most of their career with the exception of Alex James). There is more to bass than a few bits of wood with some chunky strings on it. There was plenty of bass in music before the invention of the bass guitar and there will continue to be after it has been relegated to being a quirky folk instrument of historical interest only. If you want to be noticed in a band, be an interesting person. Your choice of instrument does not dictate that. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Wear a loud shirt and a hat , sorted . we played a food festival in NWales a few years ago , boy did the guys have a laugh when the following year yours truly was the poster boy 😂 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baxlin Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I’ve no chance then - when live streaming with our church band, I have to wear a facemask........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) Someone came up to me in Asda once!! They seemed pleased to see me!! But they just asked me where something was in the store. Perplexed I told them I didn't work there. They got annoyed and told me I was wearing the shop's uniform. "No," I replied. "Sainsbury's have blue shirts, not even the same blue," as I gestured to the one I had on. #NeverWillBeARockStar Edited January 8, 2021 by Dood 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I used to wear a really colourful shirt when I gigged and I was usually the only one in the band anybody recognised, off stage. But only when I was wearing the shirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I got recognised on holiday a few years ago when I was first with my missus. I played it cool but was secretly delighted. I think a lot of bass players like to shun the spotlight which is why they play bass but there are a few posers covering the low end and with absolutely no pride I can confirm I am one of them! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krispn Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 It's always good to be recognised for ones contribution to fashion as much as music. As @Dood says 'Every Little Helps!' 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krispn Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I mentioned this before somewhere on BC but a few years back me and the singer were on the look out for a new fiddle player having had a few months off from gigs. We went to a local folk bar and a punter approaches the singer and starts chatting asking when you guys gigging again etc as they were a regular in the pub we played 3-4 times a month in. The singer turns to introduce me - How do you know Rab? they ask. Err I'm the bass player in his band? and the guy says "Naw don't recognise you mate!" so I stand beside the singer and play air bass and ask if I looked more familiar now? I thought it was funny as f**k 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_dinger Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Baxlin said: I’ve no chance then - when live streaming with our church band, I have to wear a facemask........ So, did they ask you to do that before Covid19 started . . . ? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I was briefly in a band with a guitarist who had been in a local band called 'The Business' that were reasonably high profile at the time. They had twin guitars. He said one day he was shopping when someone came up to him and said 'Are you in the band The Business?' he started to preen himself and confirmed he was. 'Your guitarist is great, isn't he!' 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I once got stopped in the street by 2 young ladies and asked if I was in x band, I said yes, and they seemed genuinely pleased to see me. Not as pleased as I was to be recognised! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 In my last band I got recognised quite a bit at gigs, but to be honest in the punk scene everyone is pretty much the same, some of us are in bands some of us watch bands but we all mix & socialise together, def no “us & them”. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyP Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 It's true that most non-musicians do not notice the bass player - or even the instrument! To most, it's just a guitar. My wife has a similar problem. She plays principal oboe in our city orchestra and has lost count of the number of compliments she has received for her clarinet playing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkey Steve Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I depped for a name band a couple of years ago while they were between bass players - big fish in a small genre pond, not entirely my sort of thing but within the Venn diagram of what I like, and I know all the band members pretty well, and play/have played in other bands with most of them I had a ball playing shows at Rebellion in Manchester and the Underworld in London, in front of very enthusiastic fans, who seemed keener for me to sign autographs knowing that I was only doing a couple of shows than if I'd been a permanent member. In fairness, being their bass player is like being Spinal Tap's drummer, so those posters must be ultra rare collectors items They played in London a few months later at the Garage (with their new, permanent bass player) and I met their lead guitarist over the road for a couple of pre gig drinks. The pub was packed with their fans, and a few came up to the guitarist to say hello, and one at the next table couldn't believe that he was meeting his hero and turned his chair round so that he could start chatting. He tells the guitarist that he's such a huge fan, loves the last album, has been to all their London shows in the last couple of years. "Oh, you'll recognise him then" says the guitarist, pointing at me "er...yeah, I'm sure I know you...are you in *insert name of band I've never heard of here*?" Fame is so fleeting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollin Thunder Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 5 hours ago, PaulWarning said: it depends if the bass player hides at the back or puts a bit of a show on, they'll notice them if they prance around a bit (like Flea, extreme example), and make an effort to dress a bit differently, but if they stay at the back staring at your fret board what do they expect?, I wouldn't have recognised Alex James either but I'm not a big Blur fan. But yes, the singer gets most of the attention because they are the focal point edit, now the Drummer has real problems 😄 Makes some really nice cheese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 4 hours ago, LeftyP said: It's true that most non-musicians do not notice the bass player - or even the instrument! To most, it's just a guitar. My wife has a similar problem. She plays principal oboe in our city orchestra and has lost count of the number of compliments she has received for her clarinet playing! Our two lady cellists often get complemented on their double bass playing! Why they think we’d have me on electric bass too is beyond me, but they probably think I’m on rhythm guitar I suppose. 😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 I sent that joke about accidentally sleeping with the bassist to one of my mates, who replied that there were actually some really good looking female bassists - and then listed a load of guitarists. I despair. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.