![]() “He could play his instrument and you’d swear you were hearing another guitar and bass - three instruments - when it was just Jeff. You’d swear you were hearing another guitar and bass - three instruments - when it was just Jeff I think he’s one of the greatest, up there with Jaco, in terms of facility, brilliance, dexterity and creativity. “They did this song called Joe Frazier, which they’d stretch out live. In his band, he had a bassist named Jeff Berlin. “Bill Bruford, who is connected to Yes and one of my favourite drummers from that period, did a couple of solo albums that really affected me. He’s what took me from John Entwistle to my next step in twangy tone!” Chris is the reason I wanted a Rickenbacker 4001. “Chris was so orchestral, creative and complex, his parts are classically structured in that they’re inventive and all over the place. He played with a pick, but I don’t hold that against him, haha! The bass came blistering out of the speakers and I was wondering, ‘ Who is this?!’ He sounded adventurous and rhythmic. That song was No Opportunity Necessary from Time And A Word. “One time he put a song on and asked me to close my eyes. “The first time I heard Yes was in my buddy’s house - we would skip school and hang out when no one was home, smoking joints and listening to music. ![]() He played with a pick, but I don’t hold that against him! I would say after John Entwistle, Chris Squire had the most impact on my life as a bassist, in terms of both sonically and aspiration. “This one of the more unsung bass players that I got introduced to through my love for Yes. He helped the Pastorius family save the Bass Of Doom, what a lovely man.” “Robert Trujillo, who I also interviewed in my book and made the Jaco movie, has done a lot to keep Jaco’s name in the right context. He set the bar that so many others are compared to. It was unbelievable he was the combination of a technician and a sound stylist, very adventurous and experimental with tones. “I’d never seen a bassist like that, making the sounds he got out of his fretless. And then later that night, we watched the show. “There’s a famous song Jaco wrote called Teen Town, one of the most quintessential bass songs that’s ever been written, and Jaco was playing drums while the keyboard player covered his bass parts. He was the combination of a technician and a sound stylist, very adventurous and experimental with tones A friend of mine from the band touring with us went to watch the soundcheck and came back with this story… “I had the pleasure of seeing him in Weather Report in the late-'70s/early '80s somewhere in Milwaukee. What can you say about Jaco that hasn’t been said? “After a pair of Johns and a pair of Jacks, I might mix up the names ever so slightly. It was all about one man on his '62 Jazz Bass.” He played Heartbreaker and everyone in the room stopped talking and moving. “That day when I interviewed him - here in London about a year ago - he sat there fiddling around while we got ready. I didn’t just pick great bass players, because that’s a list that never ends. I was looking for people that could light on the period of time and were also collectors. He made it easy for me as an interviewer I was on the other side of the table, which was a new gig for me! He has such amazing stories. We had met before - he’s such a lovely and easy guy to talk to. “Full props to John Paul Jones for contributing to my book. He could play keys, had an ear for arrangements and wrote great bass parts - just listen to what he does on What Is And What Should Never Be. “His role in Zeppelin was a lot more profound that people credit him with. You’re talking about the London sound! He played on all those Mickie Most records and was an arranger as well. Even before Led Zep, he was one of the most popular studio musicians in London at that time. He began as keyboard player before picking up the bass. ![]() ![]() He will always be my hero and among the top bassists that have ever lived.” I’m very happy to have one of those instruments. ![]() Sadly, he passed away and that collection got sold on to other people. He had one of the first true bass collections back in the day. Plus, he could get that twangy tone out of almost any bass he played. He had the dexterity it was just so fluid, man… a pure joy to listen to. He didn’t want to do anything other than play awesome bass. “I’ve become friends with somebody who worked for him and still works for The Who, and I love listening to the stories of him walking around the house playing constantly. He will always be my hero and among the top bassists that have ever lived I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that. “The Ox! Ever since I first heard My Generation right through to Won’t Get Fooled Again or The Real Me… he was quite possibly the greatest rock bassist of all time. ![]()
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