# Beatles - Not Even Close To The Best Group Ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2016, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280 "2016-08-19T09:43:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/61 "2016-08-20T00:14:00Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > I’m vaguely positive on the Beatles but I love arguments like this because there is too much tiresome Baby Boomer nostalgia which assumes the Beatles catalog is about as important to human civilization as the discovery of electromagnetic waves. DISCLAIMER: I’m not a baby boomer, I was born in '68. It is important, in a cultural way, because the Beatles unwillingly created the international music business as we know it since then. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/62 "2016-08-20T00:16:40Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > your headline is laughable, and not helped at all when you risibly include the likes of Guns ‘n’ Roses, Kris Kristofferson, The Police, Metallica, Offspring, Emimem, and Anthrax as possible contenders. I spoke too quickly, what I meant to say was: [Guns ‘n’ Roses cover Let it Be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6lKP5r67MY) [Kris Kristofferson covers Paperback Writer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJvZuSeHwY0) [Sting covers A Day in the Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyIO1BAbRUw) [Metallica cover In my Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udrz-6FgwJg) [Anthrax’s John Bush covers I Feel Fine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv47paasLtQ) Incidentally, that lists include some of the worst Beatles’ covers I have ever had the displeasure to hear. [Then there’s Offspring’s blatant knock-off of Obladi-Oblada](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxSEW3sUitA) Eminem gets a free pass, except to say he is the first artist since The Beatles to have four singles in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/63 "2016-08-20T00:17:17Z")
No, they didn’t. If it wasn’t them then Epstein would have packaged another British band and they would be the Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/64 "2016-08-20T00:20:00Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > I spoke too quickly, what I meant to say was: > [Guns ‘n’ Roses cover Let it Be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6lKP5r67MY) > [Kris Kristofferson covers Paperback Writer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJvZuSeHwY0) > [Sting covers A Day in the Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyIO1BAbRUw) > [Metallica cover In my Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udrz-6FgwJg) > [Anthrax’s John Bush covers I Feel Fine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv47paasLtQ) > > Incidentally, that lists include some of the worst Beatles’ covers I have ever had the displeasure to hear. > > [Then there’s Offspring’s blatant knock-off of Obladi-Oblada](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxSEW3sUitA) > > Eminem gets a free pass, except to say he is the first artist since The Beatles to have four singles in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Ummm so a bunch of geniuses covered some Beatles songs and that proves what exactly? That people are aware of the Beatles? Okay, you got me. Fuck sake ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/65 "2016-08-20T00:22:46Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > So about 25% of their stuff wasn’t theirs. And even if it was 100% theirs who cares? Writing your own stuff is BASELINE. Why do they get special credit for doing what any angsty 9th grader does? They wrote 3/4 of their own stuff yay for them. I think Leonard Cohen (for instance) did write 100% of his own stuff. No why no one points that out? Because it’s fucking exceptional. Zeke, I ain’t getting worked up. On the subject of covers, I took the time (you should do too) to look at some contemporary discographies. Start with Chuck Berry’s (an artist covered by The Beatles in their early work) you’ll see it was very typical of the era to include a fair number of “standards”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/66 "2016-08-20T00:24:29Z")
I think I’ll say good-bye now, before it’s too late. kthxbye ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/67 "2016-08-20T00:28:34Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > Zeke, I ain’t getting worked up. > > On the subject of covers, I took the time (you should do too) to look at some contemporary discographies. Start with Chuck Berry’s (an artist covered by The Beatles in their early work) you’ll see it was very typical of the era to include a fair number of “standards”. Man, I never gave them shit for using others people’s stuff (except the stolen parts). I object to the “they wrote their own songs” argument because they didn’t always and what does it matter? It is meant as a rebuttal to the “but they wrote their own stuff.” They didn’t always nd even if they did so what. Lot’s of people / groups did. Why does that earn the Beatles a medal? ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/68 "2016-08-20T00:34:45Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > And I said show a musician that has cited A Beatle as an influence (Lennon singing / lyrics, McCartney bass / lyrics / singing, Harrison guitar, Ringo drums.) Lest I be accused of moving the goal-posts I will remind that these are the criteria I have always laid out. All right sparky, let’s try another one. (I will give you credit for taking the time to read the article and actually watch the video.) From the comments section in the article I cited, there’s [this](http://beatlessongwriting.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Under%20The%20Influence). There are over a dozen artists citing the Beatles’ influence including Dylan and Andy Summers no less. Now I take it you will dismiss most of it as substance-less gushing that we’ve all heard before. Yet you wanted something with a greater degree of specificity. From the article, **Dave Mustaine** , lead singer and guitarist of \*\*Megadeth \*\*states: > [@](#): > > But what I learned from the Beatles was how to move the root a half or full step while keeping the rest of the chord suspended, which is really cool. We do that quite a lot. They also used a lot of 7th chords, whether they were major, minor or augmented, and I found that fascinating. So stuff that one in your hash pipe and smoke it bub! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/69 "2016-08-20T00:40:47Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Man, I never gave them shit for using others people’s stuff (except the stolen parts). I object to the “they wrote their own songs” argument because they didn’t always and what does it matter? > > It is meant as a rebuttal to the “but they wrote their own stuff.” They didn’t always nd even if they did so what. Lot’s of people / groups did. Why does that earn the Beatles a medal? Ok. So maybe there’s been some talking at crossed purposes. The thing is, The Beatles moved relatively quickly to writing all their own stuff, some time before that became the norm. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/70 "2016-08-20T01:00:19Z")
I don’t think that you can dismiss people covering the Beatles so easily. I think that it is hard to make an argument for one band being better or worse than another but if you are looking at quality of songwriting, then one criteria could be how many other bands choose to cover a song. Now you could argue that songs are more covered if they are more popular but if you want to argue that you consider certain bands “geniuses” who play the best music, then looking at which songs these bands choose to cover certainly shows which songs they consider worthy of their talents. Even if you see them as a “manufactured boy band”, the Beatles are clearly revered among other musicians\* that you consider to be geniuses\* for their songwriting talents alone. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/71 "2016-08-20T01:00:38Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > Ok. So maybe there’s been some talking at crossed purposes. The thing is, The Beatles moved relatively quickly to writing all their own stuff, some time before that became the norm. It’s much more than that. How did it become the norm? The Beatles forced everybody to adapt or die in terms of writing their own material. They changed the lives of all musicians and those professional songwriters who had been writing the tunes previously. Bert Berns said “Those boys are geniuses, They may be the end of us” Very few musicians who succeeded after the Beatles have disavowed the Beatles influence on their own music. If we had some citations for them we might be able to take the OP seriously. Judging by the last post of the OP it’s not going to happen. It’s past raving now. Not liking the fabs is OK, but not knowing what you’re talking about when you do it? C’mon. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/72 "2016-08-20T01:05:22Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > All right sparky, let’s try another one. (I will give you credit for taking the time to read the article and actually watch the video.) > > From the comments section in the article I cited, there’s [this](http://beatlessongwriting.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Under%20The%20Influence). > > There are over a dozen artists citing the Beatles’ influence including Dylan and Andy Summers no less. Now I take it you will dismiss most of it as substance-less gushing that we’ve all heard before. Yet you wanted something with a greater degree of specificity. From the article, **Dave Mustaine** , lead singer and guitarist of \*\*Megadeth \*\*states: > > So stuff that one in your hash pipe and smoke it bub! Again it is a Beatles fan site. The questions insisted that the answers revolve around the Beatles. Douglas Adams loved them? Great Although I think his listing the Plastic One Band as being his favourite album either suggests that he’s taking the piss or he lacks any sort of taste. Musicians, unsolicited, giving a Beatle as an influence. Not “well I used to listen to them and they made me want to play” but "I think George Harrison went painfully unnoticed. His technique and what he could do on a guitar really opened my eyes to the possibility. Goal post haven’t moved. Not a fan site, not a “what do you think of the Beatles” answer. a simple, unsolicited example of a musician citing any one of the Beatles as an influence. Should be easy. One of the first questions in any interview is “who were your influences.” Really, how hard is this? If they influenced so many people and if each of them were such great whatevers then there should be a tonne of musicians dropping their names like flies after raid. So come one. Please. Goal posts are the same as always But in spite of them being static not a single ball has gone through. I will say again, just for the cheap seats, I don’t think the Beatles suck. I don’t hate the Beatles. I simply don’t think that they are the bestest ever. And all you Beatles fans have failed to dissuade me from that opinion. I’ve read your cites. I’ve listenned to more Beatles in the last 24 hours than I have in the last 10 years. I made two challenges and I’ll make them again: 1. An unsolicited example of a musician saying that any one of the Beatles was a major influence 2. Produce the best of the Beatles’ lyrics and I will find something better by a contemporary - who wrote their own stuff. If the Beatles are the bestest ever neither of these should be difficult. The fact that no one has managed to do either is somewhat telling. > [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > Ok. So maybe there’s been some talking at crossed purposes. The thing is, The Beatles moved relatively quickly to writing all their own stuff, some time before that became the norm. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/73 "2016-08-20T01:17:14Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > It’s much more than that. How did it become the norm? The Beatles forced everybody to adapt or die in terms of writing their own material. They changed the lives of all musicians and those professional songwriters who had been writing the tunes previously. > > Bert Berns said “Those boys are geniuses, They may be the end of us” > > Very few musicians who succeeded after the Beatles have disavowed the Beatles influence on their own music. If we had some citations for them we might be able to take the OP seriously. > > Judging by the last post of the OP it’s not going to happen. It’s past raving now. Not liking the fabs is OK, but not knowing what you’re talking about when you do it? C’mon. You’re the one who said that no one says it because everyone knows it and that’s why there is no evidence of it right? Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence? C’mon Dog bring home some meat rowf! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/74 "2016-08-20T01:18:30Z")
[https://www.signaturehotelliverpool.co.uk/top-10-musicians-influenced-beatles/](https://www.signaturehotelliverpool.co.uk/top-10-musicians-influenced-beatles/) [http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2014/02/04/top-11-musicians-influenced-by-the-beatles-50th-anniversary/](http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2014/02/04/top-11-musicians-influenced-by-the-beatles-50th-anniversary/) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/75 "2016-08-20T01:24:46Z")
After seeing the title of this thread, I thought, what the hell, despite a thread title that sounds like a petulant comment made out on the playground, I’ll read through it. Maybe the author of the OP will give a cognizant argument for that statement. Well… that was a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/76 "2016-08-20T01:44:09Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Goal post haven’t moved. Not a fan site, not a “what do you think of the Beatles” answer. a simple, unsolicited example of a musician citing any one of the Beatles as an influence. > > Should be easy. One of the first questions in any interview is “who were your influences.” Really, how hard is this? If they influenced so many people and if each of them were such great whatevers then there should be a tonne of musicians dropping their names like flies after raid. You’re not so much shifting the goal posts as making up the rules as we go along. I will staunchly try to keep up. Go to youtube and type in “who were your musical influences beatles” and there are dozens of clips of artists speaking on the topic. But wait! That won’t work because they were all prompted to answer along those lines, the question wasn’t open-ended so all of those testimonials are to be dismissed with extreme prejudice. Here’s one of **Geddy Lee** that appears to fall within the narrow parameters you set. He is a musician of certain renown speaking of McCartney’s influence and doesn’t appear to be prompted to answer in a particular way. [clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BgrGhzD7qI) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/77 "2016-08-20T01:46:24Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Again it is a Beatles fan site. The questions insisted that the answers revolve around the Beatles. > > Douglas Adams loved them? Great Although I think his listing the Plastic One Band as being his favourite album either suggests that he’s taking the piss or he lacks any sort of taste. > > Musicians, unsolicited, giving a Beatle as an influence. Not “well I used to listen to them and they made me want to play” but "I think George Harrison went painfully unnoticed. His technique and what he could do on a guitar really opened my eyes to the possibility. > > Goal post haven’t moved. Not a fan site, not a “what do you think of the Beatles” answer. a simple, unsolicited example of a musician citing any one of the Beatles as an influence. > > Should be easy. One of the first questions in any interview is “who were your influences.” Really, how hard is this? If they influenced so many people and if each of them were such great whatevers then there should be a tonne of musicians dropping their names like flies after raid. > > So come one. Please. Goal posts are the same as always But in spite of them being static not a single ball has gone through. Will you take the word of the coolest rockin’ motherfucker ever, [Lemmy?](http://bravewords.com/news/motorhead-frontman-lemmy-the-beatles-had-an-influence-on-everybody-they-changed-the-way-you-looked-at-things) > [@Lemmy](#): > > The Beatles had an influence on everybody. They changed the way you looked at things. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/78 "2016-08-20T01:58:26Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Will you take the word of the coolest rockin’ motherfucker ever, [Lemmy?](http://bravewords.com/news/motorhead-frontman-lemmy-the-beatles-had-an-influence-on-everybody-they-changed-the-way-you-looked-at-things) And Lemmy was a Cavern goer. Saw the band when they weren’t playing in stadiums not able to hear themselves. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/79 "2016-08-20T02:05:16Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > And Lemmy was a Cavern goer. Saw the band when they weren’t playing in stadiums not able to hear themselves. Right, he ADORED them. Btw., the mother of his son was a Lennon groupie. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280/80 "2016-08-20T02:10:58Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > 1. An unsolicited example of a musician saying that any one of the Beatles was a major influence [Getty Lee on Paul McCartney](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BgrGhzD7qI) (I don’t know if it satisfied your “unsolicited” stipulation, as I don’t have the whole context of the interview.) [Interview with Stu Cook of CCR](http://forbassplayersonly.com/interview-stu-cook/). That should qualify as unsolicited. > [@](#): > > FBPO: Who were your influences as a young student of bass? > > SC: My first and foremost influence was Duck Dunn. I liked Bill Wyman, Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones, Jack Casady, Jack Bruce and all the bassists from the big bands, as well. As I grew my musical ears, the hit records with great bass parts became my next influences. [Lemmy chimes in](http://www.banger.com/pix/lemmy.html). > [@](#): > > TH: You really stand alone as a bassist. Has anyone influenced your style? Hendrix? > LK: Well, Hendrix influenced everyone. He totally changed the sound of rock. The way he hit the guitar may have influenced me some. John Entwhistle influenced me a lot. Pete Townshend maybe more, the way he hits his guitar. Townshend is way underrated as a guitarist. The Who were a huge influence in England in the '60s. And Paul McCartney-he’s a brilliant bassist. He can play either way, because when you’re left-handed and you borrow your mate’s guitar, you have to play with the strings upside down, so if you’re any good, you learn to play with either a left-hand or a right hand guitar, strung either way. Hendrix could do that too-it’s fucking amazing. [Norm Stockton](http://www.normstockton.com/about/pressreviews/norm-stockton/363-2001-interview-by-bassicallynet.html) (He’s one of those pyrotechnic bassists a la Stu Hamm > [@](#): > > Describe your musical influences. Which bassists had the biggest influence on you and why? > There have been different phases. Early on, it was certainly all about Paul McCartney. Speaking of [Stu Hamm](https://koreaguitar1.wordpress.com/2016/04/03/stu-hamm-the-korea-guitar-interview/) > [@](#): > > I know that your first bass hero was Danny Bonaduce from the Partridge Family, but who were your real bass influences? > > Danny Bonaduce > Danny Bonaduce > Well, you know, as I got older, I realized how much Paul McCartney influenced me. Just growing up listening to The Beatles and his lines are so subversively melodic. I don’t think you realize, until the maturity gene kicks in at about 30 years old, what a fine bass player he was, without having to be flashy. [Rick Rosas](https://www.lakland.com/int_rickrosas.htm), bass session player who worked with Neil Young, CSN&Y, Joe Walsh: > [@](#): > > What were your main bass Influences? > Now I can say Paul McCartney, Motown James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, and early John Entwistle (late 1960’s). [Billy Sheehan](http://bassplaying.com/node/349) (worked with David Lee Roth, Steve Vai, UFO, and a whole mess of others. > [@](#): > > WB: You’ve had a huge influence on an entire generation of bass players. Who > are some of the bassists that inspired you when you were starting out? > > BS: Ha! I usually make a rule for interviews—no questions about “influences.” > I’ve answered it 650,000,000 times & if they can’t think of any questions, > the default question is ALWAYS “Who were your influences”. No offense though! > BUT, I always try to answer whats asked of me, so here goes! Ha! Answer: > Anyone & everyone. Mostly (in somewhat chronological order) Paul Samwell Smith, > Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce, […] [Chris Squire](http://forbassplayersonly.com/interview-chris-squire/) > [@](#): > > FBPO: Who were your influences as a young, up-and-coming bass player? > > CS: As I said, I was at that particular age when Paul McCartney was one. And then of course Bill Wyman came along with the Stones and I liked his playing. Not long after that, there was Jack Bruce and the late, great John Entwistle as well. I was a major Who fan when I was 16. There’s a lot to choose from, really, a lot of influences. [Rex Brown, former Pantera bassist](http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-former-pantera-and-down-bassist-rex-brown-talks-gear-influences-and-kill-devil-hill) > [@](#): > > Here’s a question from Branson Cobb in Arkansas: Who inspired you to play bass? > > That’s a tough one. I had a sister who was 17 years older than me; she gave me all The Beatles’ records, all of The Rolling Stones’ records, so I would say as far as melodic bass playing goes, it was Paul McCartney. As for metal bass, it would be Geezer Butler for sure. And don’t ever forget John Paul Jones! [Collective Soul Bassist Will Turpin](http://www.beatlesnews.com/news/the-beatles/201110261024/interview-collective-soul-bassist-talks-about-his-beatles-influence.html) [Gene Simmons](http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/KISS-Gene-Simmons-and-Paul-Stanley-on-Monster.aspx) (don’t you give me crap for this one. I’m not making judgments on the musicians, just citing musicians who have unsolicitedly cited Paul > [@](#): > > ho were your main influences? > > SIMMONS: Paul McCartney, above everybody else. His approach wasn’t based on how Motown bassists played. The Motown guys were stupendous, but when you listened to those records – everything from The Temptations to The Supremes to Stevie Wonder – the bass line was never something you hummed. It wasn’t a hook. When you heard Beatles songs, sometimes you actually hummed the melody of the bass. “Taxman” is a good example. A lot of those Beatles songs served as the basis for metal – or certainly hard rock. Think of those bass riffs [hums the riff for “Day Tripper”]. Whatever the bass is playing, the guitar is playing. That’s true of “Lady Madonna” and on and on. [Andy Fraser of Free, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers](http://www.flyguitars.com/interviews/AndyFraser.php) > [@](#): > > GibsonBass You have cited a jazz player Binky Mackenzie who was a boyfriend of your sister as a strong influence on your bass playing but were there other players that influenced you? > > Andy Fraser I listen to everyone. Paul McCartney was very influential in the way he used the bass to orchestrate the songs. [Pete Trewavas of Marillion](http://www.popmatters.com/feature/marillion-030610/) > [@](#): > > PM: Who are your favourite bass players and which ones, do you think, had an influence on your playing? > > PT: I have, of course, mentioned many times Paul McCartney. > > […] The most influence was probably from McCartney then Chris Squire followed by Mike Rutherford. [Joe Skyward](http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2000/11/07/interview-joe-bass-skyward/) of Sunny Day Real Estate and the Posies. > [@](#): > > The biggest influence on me by far was Yes bassist Chris Squire and, of course, Paul McCartney. [Wes Wehmiller](http://weswehmiller.net/about/wes-press/activebass-interview-by-chris-tarry/) of Duran Duran: > [@](#): > > CT: Who are some of your main influences on the electric bass? > > Wes: I guess the types of players I’ve listened to and learned from have changed as I’ve gotten older. These days, whenever someone asks me, I just mention the “Gods of the Gods”, like James Jamerson, John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, Nathan Watts, Anthony Jackson, “Duck” Dunn, Will Lee, Pino Palladino, just to name a few. The guys that have been around for a while and have a huge resume seem to influence me the most. If I keep digging, I’m sure I can come up with dozens more… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-not-even-close-to-the-best-group-ever/763280.md?page=5)