Bass Guitarists for the Win - According to Science

 

Bruce, Flea, James, JT, Paul and Sandy

Something I already knew long ago and now I got science to back it up! From Alan Cross’ A Journal of Musical Things:

[According to] an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the bassist is who holds a band together.

It was also a great excuse to post a sampling of some of the most amazing bassists.

Top Left to Right:

⭐️: Bruce Douglas (the Reaction, Snatch)

📸: Mark Jordan

📍: Friars Aylesbury, 1978

🔗: The Reaction - I Can't Resist/I'm A Case

 

⭐️: Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

📸: Frank Micelotta

📍: Woodstock, 1994

🔗: Flea - The Best Solo

 

⭐️: James Jamerson

📸: ?

📍: Blues Unlimited, 1964

🔗: Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Live 1972)

 

⭐️: John Taylor (Duran Duran, the Power Station, Neurotic Outsiders)

📸: Denis O’Regan

📍: Oakland Coliseum, 1984

🔗: Duran Duran - Rio (isolated bass)

 

⭐️: Paul Webb (Talk Talk, .O.Rang, Rustin Man)

📸: George C. Bekker

📍: Torhout Festival, 1986

🔗: Talk Talk - Today (Live at the Paris Studio, 1982)

 

 ⭐️: Sandy Horne (the Spoons)

📸: me 😁
📍: The Tattoo Parlour, 2010
🔗: the Spoons - Romantic Traffic

🔗 (Science article): https://www.pnas.org/content/111/28/10383
🔗 (A Journal of Musical Things): https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/science-says-that-the-most-important-member-of-a-band-is/

Alan Cross is the host of an amazing radio show/podcast "The Ongoing History of New Music" which is filled with bits of trivia and a sampling of some amazing alternative music. Like Pop-Up Video, but better music and facts without the bubble sound effects. He's been doing it for many years and I was happy to rediscover the show recently.

Stuff I'm Listening To: Special Happy Birthday John Taylor edition

Artist: Duran Duran
Title: Lonely In Your Nightmare
Lyrics:
Must be lucky weather when you find the kind of wind that you need
C'mon show me all the light and shade that made your name
I know you've got it in your head, I've seen that look before
You've built your refuge turns you captive all the same

Why?: Well, it's John Taylor’s birthday. He is one of my favourite bassists. If you haven’t figured it out, I have a thing for hot bassists (Paul Webb, Paul McCartney, Sting, Sandy Horne). I think his work on this song is beautiful and I discovered that it’s a fretless bass that's giving this beautiful sound. I love his work on Last Chance on the Stairway too, but I’ve already posted it before (on FB anyway). 

Also, I need to show of my John Taylor swag. I had met him during the same autograph session that had Nick Rhodes remembering the photo of us was taken on (sic) my birthday (it was near my birthday) and pulled that out of the blue three years after the fact. John was far more interested in my friend's Cult T-shirt (thinking it was Guns and Roses) than me. I don't take it personally. There was a lot going on that day as the autograph session was poorly planned and by the time I'd made my way to the front (injured knee and all) we were being paraded past them as if they were zoo animals on display. 

So below is his book, In the Pleasure Groove and the audio CD signed (purchased from Amazon). 

I can't tell you it's a great book without sounding biased. But it was a good read. If you liked the 80s, grab it. If you like biographies, grab it. If you like Duran Duran, shame on you if you don't already own it. ;) 

Happy birthday John Taylor, hot bass guitarist. :)