By Jordan Bond
If one had to name all of the members of a particular band, perhaps the bassist would be always forgotten. The bassist seems to be "that guy (or girl) in the corner of the stage." True, most bassists are not in the forefront, nor do they seem to play as prominent a role in the music, unlike a guitarist's never-ending solos or lead singer's onstage antics. However, they still play a role that most who actually create music never underestimate. Some bassists have even had the fortune of having successful solo careers after leaving their respective band. However, many casual aficionados seem unresponsive when hearing about bassists. But, hopefully, with anecdotes about bassists of note, all of their previously conceived notions will turn into the understanding that a bassist is as equally important as anyone in a band.
In terms of blossoming solo careers, Roger Waters is the archetype for bassists if they want to go on a solo venture into the world of music. As the main songwriter for the dense, morbid group Pink Floyd, he shared vocal duties on occasion with Syd Barrett and later lead David Gilmour. However, it was his dark nature that gave Pink Floyd its distinct following and place in rock and roll lore. Currently, Waters continues to tour, playing various songs from his solo works, including the acclaimed "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking." For his second set, he plays Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon," keeping the fans coming in droves.
Another bassist that continues to pay tribute to his previous group in similar ways to Waters is Phil Lesh, formerly of the Grateful Dead. Lesh is one of the bassists in rock and roll history who seems to be a prominent member in the memory of fans. Even though bandmate and frontman Jerry Garcia predominates discussion concerning the Grateful Dead, Lesh still made a name for himself and continues to sell out shows playing old Dead tunes under the tour heading Phil Lesh and Friends. An innovator of the electric bass, Lesh and his work in the 1960s has shaped bass playing style and technique, along with Beatle Paul McCartney and Cream bassist Jack Bruce.
However, Lesh was not the only bassist who gets plenty of press. When thinking of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, one cannot help but think about bassist Flea. Varying stylistically from energetic slap bass to relaxed bass melodies, Flea has played an important part in making the Chili Peppers sound one of the most recognizable in modern rock. Further disproving the notion that bassists are inconspicuous, Flea has appeared in minor roles in movies, most notably "The Big Lebowski" in 1998.
Even if the bassist is not brash and outlandish like Flea has been known to be, that by no means discounts their credibility as a musician, This holds true especially for Stefan Lessard, bassist for the Dave Matthews Band. Lessard, a classical bass prodigy, joined the band at age 16 upon recommendation to Matthews from friend John D'Earth. Lessard is known to have the least compatible musical taste compared to the rest of the band, as he pulls his inspiration from alternative rock and heavy metal.
Although this seems contradictory, so does discrediting bassists and their roles in creating the sounds of bands we follow today. Not being the focal point of an onstage performance does not mean that they sit behind the amps twiddling their thumbs. If anything, they are the band's metaphorical electrician, connecting any loose ends and making sure the current flows as one from all instruments, creating auditory bliss.
