The Last Bass Outpost

@tore00

When I was much younger, I studied some Spanish and Portuguese.  In time, though, I realized it's unlikely I'll ever visit any Spanish-speaking or Portuguese-speaking countries.  Several months ago, I began getting interested in Italian.  Spanish, Portuguese and Italian are all sister languages of course.  Hopefully, some day I might get to visit Italy.  All my friends who have vacationed there said it's great. 

The other two countries I'm interested in visiting some day are Israel and the Netherlands.  In the case of the Netherlands, I've already been there four times, but hope to keep going.  It's true, for example, that almost all Dutch speak English.  But if you're over there in a room with 20 people who all know Dutch and English, they are going to mostly use Dutch.  I don't know how it is in Italy and Israel, but that's the way it is there.  I've never been very good with foreign languages and don't expect to become fluent in any.  But it makes things more interesting to at least learn some basics. 

I noticed in the Luca Rovini bio that it said he started singing in English.  However, he switched to Italian, obviously.  As far as I'm concerned, that's something good. 

I may have to move to Italy to play Southern rock again.  You don't hear it much anymore in the South like you used to.  Most people are interested in pop, hip-hop and fake country music from Nashville.  Keep rockin', Snakebite. 

All joking aside, Billy Idol pretty much looks like an actual ghost in that photo. 

Fleetwood Mac gets an honorable mention!
In my book they are not an American band.

Plus I think lists are silly to begin with. 😜

I did say in the first two sentences, though, that most people don't take lists seriously and that I wasn't taking this one seriously, either.  My main purpose in posting it was to point out its absurdity.  Some of the comments, by the way, under the article were pretty hilarious.  That was the best part for me.

Men Without Hats didn't make the list? What a sham! 

Well, unfortunately you have to be American to make the American rock bands list.  Otherwise, I'm sure Men Without Hats would have been on there.  Also, Men At Work if they hadn't been Australian. 

Or for that fact Jefferson Airplane...

I'd keep the Doors but lose the CCR...do I get to keep my Vanillla Fudge now pretty please? Pretty pretty please...

I like the Doors okay.  But some of Jim Morrison's antics were a little over the top.  Also, it always bothered me that they didn't have a bass player.  Vanilla Fudge, on the other hand, may have been the first band in my life that just totally blew me away.  I was literally in awe of them for a time.  Jefferson Airplane I also liked a lot, although not as much as Vanilla Fudge. There was a time when Tim Bogert was my main bass hero, too. 

Lists usually aren't taken very seriously anymore.  I don't take this one seriously, either.  But the reason it got my attention is because I disagree with it so much.  I don't know what my own list of America's greatest rock bands would be.  I do know it would look very different from this one.  For starters, I'd move the Allman Brothers from an honorable mention to first place.  CCR wouldn't be on the list at all.  At best they might be an honorable mention.  In fact, I have to wonder if this list might be some kind of Onion-level joke.  People have different tastes; that's normal.  Also, through the years I don't think so highly of my taste in music as I used to.  I definitely respect what other people say.  I even respect this guy.  But having to go on a long trip with him with music playing in the car would not be easy.  I'd probably want to start with the Allman Brothers, ZZ Top and Hendrix.

https://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/the-greatest-american-rock-bands-of-all-time/

I hadn't ever paid much attention to Eko.  But when I did I thought it was kind of interesting, yet if you wanted something like a violin bass, it might make more sense to get something else.  This article presents some context and insight, like the Eko connection to the Grass Roots and even Les Claypool--a name I wouldn't have expected to be involved in any of this.

https://www.vintageguitar.com/8937/eko-995/