An open letter to former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Care to explain? I'm curious since you have yet to argue a single point related to this thread.
BTW- please don't assume I'm ignorant. I can play bass better than Rick Savage on his best day, (that's not saying much). I've also met a man on the street who has played the kazoo through his nose professionally for 43 years.

I explained in my first post. Not my fault if you don't understand.

Bass has been my main instrument for several decades. I've played classic rock, alternative, metal, punk, blues, jazz, Motown, funk, country and pretty much every other form of popular music you can think of in that time. Bass is an essential part of all of that music. It creates the groove that makes a style what it is. I can literally change the feel of a song by playing a different bass line.

And about the only styles that routinely play only on the root as you said are punk and some metal. Even Rick Savage doesn't just play on the root, although you are correct, he isn't a great bass player.

Now I'm off my soapbox.

One more thing, you can't always tell how good a bass player is by their recorded bass lines. A good bass player plays for the song. Sometimes that means keeping it simple, because that is what works for the music. Michael Anthony is a much better bass player than he appears to be listening to Van Halen, because in VH he plays it simple to keep out of Eddie's way. That it the job of the bass, to support the song.