Band Stereotypes?

[Pitre]

I watched the Stereophonics live last night and it (re) occurred to me that the bassist is invariably the coolest member of every band?

Also, the drummer is usually mental, the singer's ego is enormous and the lead guitarist is the extrovert. Any number of band members fit these stereotypes. I wonder why?

[Tyre Smoke]

Almost.

The Who certainly almost fill your stereotype. Keith Moon was totally batst. John Entwistle was incredibly cool. But I'd say Roger Daltrey is pretty level headed and normal. Pete Townshend certainly had (has?) a massive ego, but a talent to match.

[gazza285]

That’s why I am the bassist.

[Drooles]

Not directed at you, Gazza, but I’m not sure bassists are always cool… John Deacon?

[Pitre]

Cool Bassists:
Norman Watt-Roy
Bill Wyman
George Harrison
John Entwistle
Mark King
Mike Rutherford
Phil Lynott
Sting
John Paul Jones
Lemmy
Jack Bruce
Chris Squire
Paul McCartney

Probably easier to list the uncool ones!

[slopes]

Pitre said:

Cool Bassists:
Norman Watt-Roy
Bill Wyman
George Harrison
John Entwistle
Mark King
Mike Rutherford
Phil Lynott
Sting
John Paul Jones
Lemmy
Jack Bruce
Chris Squire
Paul McCartney

Probably easier to list the uncool ones!

I’d add Tony Franklin, Mick Karn and Tina Weymouth to that list but totally agree with your closing comment

[sidewinder500]

Pitre said:

Cool Bassists:
Norman Watt-Roy
Bill Wyman
George Harrison
John Entwistle
Mark King
Mike Rutherford
Phil Lynott
Sting
John Paul Jones
Lemmy
Jack Bruce
Chris Squire
Paul McCartney

Probably easier to list the uncool ones!

In what world is Sting anywhere close to cool...?
Also, Mark King is definitely not cool as well, same goes for M. Rutherford and McCartney.
And George Harrison is not really known as a bass player.
Doesn't mean they are not good players, but cool...

Well

[Tyre Smoke]

sidewinder500 said:

Pitre said:

Cool Bassists:
Norman Watt-Roy
Bill Wyman
George Harrison
John Entwistle
Mark King
Mike Rutherford
Phil Lynott
Sting
John Paul Jones
Lemmy
Jack Bruce
Chris Squire
Paul McCartney

Probably easier to list the uncool ones!

In what world is Sting anywhere close to cool...?
Also, Mark King is definitely not cool as well, same goes for M. Rutherford and McCartney.
And George Harrison is not really known as a bass player.
Doesn't mean they are not good players, but cool...

Well

My thoughts exactly.

[gazza285]

Drooles said:

Not directed at you, Gazza, but I’m not sure bassists are always cool… John Deacon?

John Deacon might not be cool, but he might have been the coolest member of Queen, as there wasn’t much competition…

[Drooles]

gazza285 said:

John Deacon might not be cool, but he might have been the coolest member of Queen, as there wasn’t much competition…

Ha ha! You’re probably right…

[Pitre]

sidewinder500 said:

Pitre said:

Cool Bassists:
Norman Watt-Roy
Bill Wyman
George Harrison
John Entwistle
Mark King
Mike Rutherford
Phil Lynott
Sting
John Paul Jones
Lemmy
Jack Bruce
Chris Squire
Paul McCartney

Probably easier to list the uncool ones!

In what world is Sting anywhere close to cool...?
Also, Mark King is definitely not cool as well, same goes for M. Rutherford and McCartney.
And George Harrison is not really known as a bass player.
Doesn't mean they are not good players, but cool...

Well

Mistake including George Harrison.
I've always admired Mark King but yes, he's probably not cool.
However, Sting's coolness depends on how old you are, maybe? He was cool in Quadrophenia IMHO
In general the theory holds though...?

[Sheetmaself]

Us Banjo player’s get all the chicks!

[deeen]

Pitre said:

sidewinder500 said:

Pitre said:

Cool Bassists:
Norman Watt-Roy
Bill Wyman
George Harrison
John Entwistle
Mark King
Mike Rutherford
Phil Lynott
Sting
John Paul Jones
Lemmy
Jack Bruce
Chris Squire
Paul McCartney

Probably easier to list the uncool ones!

In what world is Sting anywhere close to cool...?
Also, Mark King is definitely not cool as well, same goes for M. Rutherford and McCartney.
And George Harrison is not really known as a bass player.
Doesn't mean they are not good players, but cool...

Well

Mistake including George Harrison.
I've always admired Mark King but yes, he's probably not cool.
However, Sting's coolness depends on how old you are, maybe? He was cool in Quadrophenia IMHO
In general the theory holds though...?

Sting was an actor in the film, so his character was cool, but...? Also, to re-hash an old joke... was Paul cool? He wasn't even the coolest Beatle!

[Tyre Smoke]

Exactly. I've watched Quadrophenia more times than I can count. He definitely didn't play a bass. In fact he didn't play anything particularly well.

[sociopath]

[Pitre]

Muse's Chris Wolstenhome....

[Jambo85]

Pitre said:

I watched the Stereophonics live last night and it (re) occurred to me that the bassist is invariably the coolest member of every band?

Also, the drummer is usually mental, the singer's ego is enormous and the lead guitarist is the extrovert. Any number of band members fit these stereotypes. I wonder why?

I’d be cool if I was Richard Jones! He’s got the easiest job on the planet, 20 yrs of banging out little more than root notes.

He can play though - https://youtu.be/URsy3zX_c8I

[andySC]

Pitre said:

Muse's Chris Wolstenhome....

Definitely uncool. Only a very short step away from a headless bass that lad.

[sidewinder500]

sociopath said:

Should have got the drummer, but, well...

Not that I'm biased...

BTW
My bassist IS cool, AND he is the mental one...

[Halmyre]

Roger Glover of Deep Purple. IIRC he once said in an interview that he used to keep Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore from constantly being at loggerheads. Basically, he is Derek Smalls from Spinal Tap.

For every cliched wild man drummer there's loads more who aren't. Moon and Bonham are more the exception than the rule.