It's not strange when a rock band vocalist has a prestige beyond any other personnel or even an icon of his band. Then what about a bassist in a rock band? Generally, the bassist of the rock band is less prestigious than other personnel, moreover to be an icon in his band, it is a very difficult thing.
Do you still remember the famous names of rock bassist, such as Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Cliff Burton (Metallica), Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Steve Harris (Iron Maiden), Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols ), Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) ? They do have a great prestige and become a legend in their generation. The prestige they get is not just a bassist, but a vocalist or wild lifestyle that makes them have a great prestige. If you like watching rock music in the mid-80's and 90's, you'll probably know a figure like Billy Sheehan from Mr.Big.
Image : Billy Sheehan
Like it or not, Billy Sheehan is a phenomenal name that successfully hit the rock music world with the "lead bass" style, until he is considered as an icon of the band that he formed, Mr. Big. Not just the band wrote that get international recognition but Billy Sheehan many times have crowned as the best rock bassist.
Billy Sheehan's hand grip is like the Steve Harris from Iron Maiden, especially when Billy Sheehan plays a two-handed tapping technique previously known only as an electric guitar technique. It is said that the development of two-handend tapping technique for this bassist was inspired by Billy Gibbons guitar style.
Because guitar is the first instrument studied by Billy Sheehan, a figure like Jimi Hendrix is sure to be an early inspiration that makes Billy Sheehan continue to expand his music references to dare to experiment with his musical style, he uses an electric drill to play bass in the "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy " song.
Although the technique and the speed of his hands are amazing but Billy's bass sound still sounds harmonious, especially his sensitivity in processing bass performance to fill the void in every song so that the musical structure that is carried well maintained.
Here's the Billy Sheehan performance video in Budokan 2009 :
And that's about Billy Sheehan, The Bassist Who Capable Become an Icon. Hope you like it and give more knowledge for you all. See you in my next post guys...
