For this short amount of time spent on this earth, I have consumed millions of sound and noises. From the quiet sounds of grass blowing in the wind to Mozart's Jupiter Symphony, I am an amalgamation of these memories. Within these memories a small percentage is made by humans. This page is dedicated to those musicians who have influenced me to become who I am.
Let us start from the start, what sparked my interest in music first was Hip-Hop. Let's start with Eminem.
Eminem
Initially, it's surprising to think that Eminem was the one that really brought Hip-Hop to the mainstream. There obviously is some racist element to it however I think it's more of logistic issue that Eminem was the one to break down the wall. In a predominatly black genre of music, Eminem stuck out like a sore thumb. Keep in mind we have The Beastie Boys and *gasp Vanilla Ice before Eminem but none struck the imagination of young white kids all across America. Vanilla Ice was a joke so that one is easy to figure out. The Beastie Boys on the other hand were somewhere in between true artists and a punk band while being a Hip-Hop group. You have an album like Paul's Boutique which is masterpiece that is hard to swallow but then you have Sabatoge which is just ridiculous goofing around. Eminem on the other hand took elements of both worlds and brought a new energy and fire to his art. He took the raw, pure angst of white music and combined with the sufffering of black music. Yes, there is anger in Hip-Hop but that is anger towards institutions, towards the man. No, Eminem brought that hate to a whole new level, a level even Chuck D could not reproduce. If you want an example of the pure evil that is Eminem all you have to do is listen to his song Kim, that's all you need. Say what you will about Eminem, but take The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Matthers LP, and The Eminem Show and you'll be hard pressed to find a stronger offering of music anywhere else.
A Tribe Called Quest
In the summer of 2010, I saw A Tribe Called Quest reunited. The festival was Rock the Bells in New York City and the theme of the day was to play an album from start to finish. A Tribe Called Quest chose to perform Midnight Marauders. Now this is a testament to this group's depth, when asked to perform their classic album, Tribe had three options! Three! The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders, or Beats, Rhymes, and Life. Name another artist that has 3 classic albums under their belt. You'll be hard pressed to find another Q-Tip, you'll be even harder pressed to find another Tribe. Just gotta say Busta Rhymes is frickin' huge now. When he jumped on stage I think there was a mini earthquake.
Run-D.M.C.
The only ringtone I've ever had in my life on my cell phone is by Run-D.M.C. The options were Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden or King of Rock by Run-D.M.C. I've never looked back on that decision. You can't underestimate the influence that Run-D.M.C. has had on Hip-Hop. If not even to comment on Run, Jam-Master Jay, and D.M.C.'s music, for better or for worse, they are responsible for product endorsements in Hip-Hop. Actually right now, I'm wearing my ADIDAS Superstars. Regardless, they important because they brought the mentallity, only found in rock stars, of being the best to the genre. It was a swift kick in the ass to get the genre moving in the right directions. Force people to listen to you.
KRS-One
The street teacha. The real Hip-Hop is over here. If you want the run down on what Hip-Hop really is and what it really means, you don't have to look much further than KRS-One. THE REAL HIP-HOP IS OVER HERE!!!
Public Enemy
This is what "Hip-Hop" today should be. Hell this is what pop music today should be. There was a point in time, that we truly believed that pop music could change the world and it did... because we believed in it. No one has that time anymore to believe in such intangible fantasies. You can dismiss Flava Flav all you want, but what you see is what you get. You cannot fault him on that. He is how appears, he is not fake. What he lacks in artistry, what he lacks in actual Hip-Hop talent, he makes up for in energy. Greatest Hype man ever period. Then you look at Chuck D, the immovable, stoic, legendary MC. I don't think Chuck D could do what he could without Flava Flav, and Flava Flav would defintely be dead from foolery if anything with Chuck D. They seem like the biggest odd couple in the world, and they are (I'm sorry Griff that I'm not mentioning you). Regardless, this is what music should be, charged with a message. Not all music needs to be politically/socially driven. Just have something to say... say something that's important to you. Don't be afraid to voice your opinions and make them known. Public Enemy is my favourite Hip-Hop group and are up there in influence with Metallica, Dylan, and NIN on me.
The Fugees
Fame has gone their heads and they destroyed what was the greatest Hip-Hop group of all time. I have very little respect for Wyclef these days, from doing pop songs with Shakira to trying to run for president of Haiti; he's a mere shadow of the Goliath he once was. Can't comment of Pras because he disappeared after Ghetto Superstar (well not disappeared, but from anything significant). Now to the crazy one, Lauryn Hill. In the summer of 2010, New York City, Rock the Bells I had the honour of seeing Lauryn Hill perform. Hands down (and this included Metallica) greatest concert I've ever seen. Greatest performance I've ever seen. Lauryn Hill is no where near as talented or good as she was when she was younger with that said she's still better today than any other musician today. Ladies and gentlemen this is a performer, this is an artist. This woman is incredible, just incredible. Crazy people make the best music, it's the Cobains and Lennons that make masterpieces.
Fame has gone their heads and they destroyed what was the greatest Hip-Hop group of all time. I have very little respect for Wyclef these days, from doing pop songs with Shakira to trying to run for president of Haiti; he's a mere shadow of the Goliath he once was. Can't comment of Pras because he disappeared after Ghetto Superstar (well not disappeared, but from anything significant). Now to the crazy one, Lauryn Hill. In the summer of 2010, New York City, Rock the Bells I had the honour of seeing Lauryn Hill perform. Hands down (and this included Metallica) greatest concert I've ever seen. Greatest performance I've ever seen. Lauryn Hill is no where near as talented or good as she was when she was younger with that said she's still better today than any other musician today. Ladies and gentlemen this is a performer, this is an artist. This woman is incredible, just incredible. Crazy people make the best music, it's the Cobains and Lennons that make masterpieces.
Dr. Dre
Combined with his work in NWA, Dr. Dre really is a prime example of work ethic. Realistically most people do that have the benefit of sitting in their studio for 11 years to make an album. But you can learn an important lesson from Dr. Dre. Don't release anything unless it's perfect. Not saying that every note is perfect. Art can be perfect in its own imperfections. But take the time to make something that is worthwhile.
Nas
The Wu-Tang Clan
The Beastie Boys
Bassist
There are a lot of bass players past and present that I have learned from. Ultimately, these cats are just bass players and they are incredible musicians. However, a lot of them have not went to that third level of artist. However, this does not discredit the influence these people have had on me, but it also means I rarely will stick in one of their records for listening pleasure. Rather it would be to study and learn or be reminded by the sheer power of these cats.
Let's start with the rockers.
- Sting, the reason why I picked up the bass. The first player I studied. For better or for worse the reason why I started learning to play with my thumb instead of my fingers. That's why you'll see me play with my thumb at times. The thumb has a much larger surface area compared to the fingers. Therefore you can attain a much softer, almost legato sound with the thumb. Also my split thumb-finger pluck comes from this starting point.
- Steve Harris, the trot. Do I have to say more? Trot trot trot... speed and coordination between the two fingers is the name of the game. Also the reason why I use flats instead of rounds. I use the strings that his signature set is based off of.
- Billy Sheehan, best tapper on the bass ever. period. The reason why, I tap today because he showed that it was possible.
- Geddy Lee, well what can you say other than Rush. Geddy Lee is definitely the best rock/metal bass player there is. It's not always about speed nor is always about what you know (see John Myung), it's about creating music. Geddy is instrumental in my development in showing me that, 'ya, it can be complex and technical, but it has to be fun and musical'
- Cliff Burton, surprisingly Cliff's influence on me isn't what you would assume. Cliff is a fast mother******. His use of distortion and creating the illusion of playing a guitar solo isn't what gave me the idea of my own playing (although probably subconscious influence). His level of talent is what influenced me. His playing level was so fast frickin fast that I could not keep up. So I had to go beyond traditional method. I had to alternate pick (as a guitar player would) but with my finger. I'm efficient with both fingers now thanks to Cliff.
- Les Claypool, slap and pop extraordinaire. If you were to ask me who the best slap and pop bassist is/was, I would say Les. Yes, yes, you have your Marcuses and Wootens but Les takes slap and pop to a totally different level. Wooten and Marcus is no where as funky. Graham is just as funky but Les is on a different playing level. Les has the funk and the chops to take on any bass player. However, I'm no slap and pop expert... actually quite the opposite. I bet most people could out play me in a slap and pop duel. What Les gave me was the inspiration to be different. You should play music that you want to play, not music that is expected of you.
- James Jamerson, on to different territory. Jamerson only played with one finger.... what??!?!?!? If you listen to him play, you would think he played with 4. He can play with 1 finger what other bass players can barely do with 2 or 3. Jamerson along with Cliff inspired my alternate picking fingers.
- Bootsy, KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid. Keep it simple, keep it clean, keep it FUNKY. Sometimes you get caught up in your own pride in trying to outplay others. How do you do that? Play faster and play more complicated things. But there is another way, just PLAY better. It's not about how many notes you hit, or what brown note you find. Bootsy is the master of that. He'll take the most basic bass lines ever and play them like the greatest thing you've ever heard.
- Larry Graham, I really don't think I need to explain this one. I'm not much of slap and popper but if there's somewhere I funky I need to go I turn to Graham. The original slap and popper.
- Charles Mingus, music is the name of the game. Bass players have the difficult time of creating music that the masses can understand and consume. The bass is not a conventional instrument, it's meant to support. This is where Mingus steps in. It's about knowing your place. As a bassist your aren't restricted to just your bass. You can write your own music to outside of just the bass.
- Marcus Miller, I think it's expected of me to put Marcus Miller on my influence list. Whereas I can ignore Jeff Berlin because of his strewed strickness to textbook form or Paul Chambers because of the generation gap; Miller is a talent that can't be ignored.
- Stu Hamm, almost missed him. Where Billy fails to make anything musically meaningful with his solos.; Stu Hamm is a master of ZzzZZzzZzz tapping. lol, nah, there's no doubt that Stu Hamm is one of the most talented bass players ever, but what makes him a cut above is his ability to play in the pocket. There's no doubt he could rip some guitar players to shreds but his ability to lay back and play in the pocket is truly an important teaching point.
- Abe Laboriel, where I got the Flamenco style of playing from. His use of percussive sounds on the bass is out of this world. If there was one bass player I could play like it would be this guy.
- Victor Wooten, ahhh Victor Wooten. It seems quite unfair that this guy started playing professionally at the age of 6 but Buddy Rich started playing at 18 months so that's just how things go. Wooten wins best bass player alive, and I would say he would also win best bass player ever. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean he's the best musician/artist who is a bass player. Those titles go to Jaco and Clarke. Meh, his playing speaks for himself.
- Stanley Clarke, if Victor Wooten is the best bass player, Stanley is the best musician. Stanley Clarke's album School Day's is by far the best bass album ever. Where it exceeds Jaco's self titled is that it actually is MUSIC. Yes yes, Jaco's album was mind blowing. But to the casual listener it is un-enjoyable. Stanley Clarke influenced everyone, he can play with the best and beat them at it. He finds new ways of playing the instrument and continues to be a great innovator in the bass guitar.
- Jaco Pastorius, to complete the trifecta, greatest artist. It takes someone greater than most to take an instrument and push it beyond it's boundaries. Jaco pushed the bass beyond what anyone before (or even after) has done with the bass. He expanded the limits and reaches of what a bass guitar could do.
Metal
This is where I call home. It may seem strange to you but at one point in my life Metal was even my lullaby. Slayer would drift me off to sleep. Metal is life. That's all there is to it. It goes beyond just music. It's a lifestyle and it's a way of thinking. Metal has given me more than I can comprehend and more than anything else in my life. If you are to take one thing away from Metal it would be to be yourself no matter what, regardless of what others say or think, just be yourself.
Protest the Hero
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Maximum the Hormone
Galneryus
In Flames
Alice CooperThis is where I call home. It may seem strange to you but at one point in my life Metal was even my lullaby. Slayer would drift me off to sleep. Metal is life. That's all there is to it. It goes beyond just music. It's a lifestyle and it's a way of thinking. Metal has given me more than I can comprehend and more than anything else in my life. If you are to take one thing away from Metal it would be to be yourself no matter what, regardless of what others say or think, just be yourself.
- Iron Maiden, the unequivocal masters of metal. Combined with the Air-Raid Siren and the Galloping Trot, Iron Maiden is the best metal band of all time.
Protest the Hero
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Maximum the Hormone
Galneryus
In Flames
Judas Priest
Slipknot
Rage Against the Machine
Rammstein
Black Sabbath
MetallicaJohn Coltrane
Limp Bizkit and KornOasis
Younha
Nine Inch Nails
Bob Dylan
Radiohead
Bob Dylan
Radiohead
Guns N' Roses
The Police
Elvis Presley
Rush
Eddie Van Halen
