Bass or Surdo players as lead singers

[Elta]

Do you think it looks dumb or that the recording will be messed up if a bass player or surdo player ( the surdo is in Pagoda music ) is the main singer in a music group?

* if you know about surdos please vote on that rather than the bass guitar.

 

[nonconformist]

Well, Phil Lynott was comfortable singing with Thin Lizzy.

Contrarily, Paul Simonon of the Clash would swap his bass with Joe Strummer's guitar when playing Guns of brixton since he felt uncomfortable singing it and playing the bass.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Geddy Lee and Lemmy play bass as well...

 

[MjM]

Slayer does just fine with lead bass/vocals. So did KISS.

 

[Harbringer]

But base is so simple

 

[nonconformist]

But base is so simple

Anyone who says that has never seen John Entwhistle in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfDE-ZvfOwU

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I agree that John Entwistle was very good at playing the bass.
Cliff Burton from Metallica was terrific too until he died of course.
Geddy Lee from Rush plays the keyboards with his feet at the same time as playing bass and singing too. But no-one likes a smart-arse.

EDIT: Paul McCartney's bass playing skills often get ignored too. And he sings alot.

 

[Masquerouge]

That Paul McCartney comes only in post 7 is a serious offense

 

[nonconformist]

That Paul McCartney be featured at all is an offence that rates slightly higher than genocide

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Well it is a discussion about bass players who sing. Penny Lane and Fixing a Hole have memorable bass-lines too. I admit he has more reknown as an all-rounder and composer though, try listening to Blackbird and tell me it isn't a good song.

 

[Trajan12]

Roger Waters from Pink Floyd played bass and was a terrific singer, and songwriter.

 

[Stevenpfo]

Anyone who says that has never seen John Entwhistle in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfDE-ZvfOwU

Or Flea.

NOFX does it too (for you punk fans out there).

 

[Yoda Power]

What kind of question is that anyway? There are plenty of good singing bass players.

 

[Elta]

What kind of question is that anyway? There are plenty of good singing bass players.

Well then let me explain

In Vegas we have a "arts" festival called first friday which takes place every first friday of every month (catchy isn't it? )

at the end of the night ussually at 1 or 2 in the morning everyone heads over to the unloading area ( like 2 their vans to put there stuff up)
and we all plug in and what not and try to improvise something - there are usually 30 or more performers so it will allways be a well known song or we will all just try to jump in and play along. I have a habit of moving over to the mic when I have a Surdo or A Bass on and everyone is like "WHY?!" "Dear God a Bass player singing!!!" - maybe it's just one of those local music scene subculture things.

Allthou AFIAK A Surdo player who sings is unheard of but, I play one handed and use a napa head and a towel so it's not like it comes through to heavy on the mic ( I actually use a mic mounted on the Surdo so you don't even hear it on the vocals really....)

 

[Masquerouge]

I think the only crime would be for drummers to sing, for the rest of the band it's fine.

that's what Guitar Hero says anyway

 

[nonconformist]

I think the only crime would be for drummers to sing, for the rest of the band it's fine.

that's what Guitar Hero says anyway

Dude, Genesis, the Who, the Eagles!

 

[sysyphus]

But base is so simple

If it's so simple then why can you not spell it properly?

And it's not simple. Guitarists and keyboarists can afford to be a bit off time. If the bassist is even slightly off it stands out immensely.

 

[Barbo]

To add to the list of bands that seem to do fine with a bass player lead singer; X and the Police.

 

[MjM]

Wait, the Surdo is drum? Are you talking about a bass drum or guitar? If it is a bass drum or a surdo, that is a little weird.

 

[Elta]

Wait, the Surdo is drum? Are you talking about a bass drum or guitar? If it is a bass drum or a surdo, that is a little weird.

Yeah it is a basss drum - http://www.reggae.ch/html/reggae/pics/olodum.jpg (the ones in the back) - I wear mine a little higher thou - rather than have it in between my legs I wear shin padds and it rest on my legs ( aka Timbalada style)