The Last Bass Outpost

You have to wonder if this attitude comes from the fact that greats like Hendrix, EVH and SRV have been analyzed and overanalyzed, with instructional videos to show you how to copy them lick for lick. Of course none of the greats grew up in a vacuum, but they built on what they learned and innovated. Learning what they did and how they did it is fine, just don't confuse that with being as good as they are or were.

I think there must be a complete disconnect with some people on the difference between being able to play something and being able to create something in the first place.  You've also got people out there chiding Paul McCartney for his less than stellar technical skills, in their opinion.  Please go out, write some Beatles-level songs, sing them as well as Paul, come up with bass lines out of thin air the way he usually did, THEN, maybe then, people like that can brag how they're better bassists than Paul McCartney.  The same goes for Muse.  Being able to play the bass line to "Hysteria" does not automatically qualify someone as a replacement for Chris Wolstenholme.  It is he--not anyone else--who created that particular bass line. 

I find that when it comes to Hendrix, there are often two camps on YouTube:  People who refuse to tolerate any criticism of him and people who name loads of other guitarists they feel are better.  Along with this is the assumption that your taste in music sucks because you made the mistake of overrating Hendrix.  I find myself completely unable to relate to either camp.  I don't know which gets on my nerves the most, the worship of Hendrix or the snarky, superior attitude that the person is too "advanced" to listen to him. 

Huxley's granddaughter! It's here you get the interesting stuff. And news! (Which this was, for me!)

Well, I did get that from Wikepedia.  I do think it's probably true, but it isn't like it comes from a book written by a scholar.  On the other hand, try researching Rushton Moreve on the Internet and you won't find much.  By the way, that wasn't even his real name. 

I like to think I have "a taste in music" and this is one of the only shows I watch regularly. What can I say? I love a good train wreck! Plus it's fun playing armchair A&R guy/producer. I do start to lose interest as they wind down to the final 4-5 contestants. The show is probably toast at this point anyway. Tyler was great, but with him gone, and last man standing, Randy Jackson (great bass player BTW) leaving, they don't have much going on in the judging department.

I was talking about the X-Factor which is the one with Britney Spears and Simon Cowell.  I did watch American Idol from time to time, but that was only to see what Steven Tyler might be up to.  The way things stand now, I don't plan to be watching either one and have never much liked the idea of these kinds of shows anyway.  Most likely, though, if someone had the patience to sit through it, there might even be something worthwhile to watch from time to time.  Seriously, though, like I said, I wouldn't ever watch a show with Britney Spears in it.

It reminds you of how rare true songwriting ability is.  It can't be faked, although certainly many try. 

Despite having questionable talent, it does seem to me that the Spice Girls may have had some genuine sex appeal.  This is unlike, for example, Britney Spears who has neither talent nor sex appeal.  I saw a picture of her several days ago which showed what she looked like when she shaved her head.  I'm still grossed out by that and have found it hard to forget. 

In trying to look up info about Randy Meisner, I was somewhat surprised there doesn't seem to be much out there.  When is the last time someone came up with a bass line like the one to "Hotel California" anyway?  I love what he does with that.  Can't get enough.  So, my hat is off to Randy Meisner, someone who is better than many others who get more attention (as far as I'm concerned.)