NOFX

[SteveXFR]

It seems Fat Mike from NOFX seems to have this reputation as a below average bassist but after trying to learn The Decline, I've come to the conclusion that either he was actually pretty good or I'm really bad.

He is singing as well as playing bass and yes, it's an 18 minute punk song.

 

 

 

 

[PinkMohawk]

I'm not sure where that rep comes from, as for my money, Fat Mike was always one of the more impressive punk players, with more than his fair share of intricate, complex lines. And yeah, he's singing while playing them live too, which makes it all the more impressive. I do still prefer Matt Freeman's playing, but I've never agreed with the thought that Fat Mike was lacking in terms of skill. 

[SteveXFR]

I'll agree about Matt Freeman. The best punk bassist ever and one of the very best rock bassists

[joeystrange]

Fat Mike is a great bass player.

 

He has a really weird quirk where he plays mostly upstrokes, which he puts down to never being shown or told how to play and working it out for himself.

He also does a weird thing where he moves his right hand in a circular motion when picking parts like The Decline intro.

 

Unconventional to say the least!

 

I think he talks about it a bit here

 

Edited January 4 by joeystrange

[ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

He was always a great player, and he could sing along too. I don't agree with his politics, but that's irrelevant. 

I used to love the band.  I got a bit bored after Heavy Petting Zoo though. 

[SteveXFR]

They're surprisingly tight live. 

Last time we saw them live, he asked my wife for a thumbs up or down after each song. Unusual but we had a great night.