Minutemen - Mike Watt -Trilogy of Tunes II on bass - LRRG

[Brozotheclown]

I have that poster

[cai038ify]

you are on badass bassist awesome job ;d

[tan1]

i think you should tab pure joy

[killjoke]

Wow.....awesome job! I'm a big fan of Watt, which is one of the reasons I just started bass lessons....that being said, my teacher has me starting with a pick. Do you think it's possible do any any Mike Watt (eventually) with a pick?

[endthedrugwarvision]

Kick fucking ass! You couldn't have done better!

[badbrain94]

I play guitar but watching this video made me wanna go out and buy a bass really fucking badly. You make it look so fun. Great covers!

[LzrdKng9000]

awesome cover man! i love the minutemen. i was wondering, do you think you would have or know where i can find tabs for stuff off of Politics of Time? really love the stuff on that one

[adebicki]

awesome chops! just curious, what type of rick-o bass is that? what year, toaster or hi-gain pick-up? through what amp? thanks! sounds great!

[jaguar4499]

dude you should tab these, most of these arent available online

plus a lot of minutmen bass lines are hard to figure out by ear because of the chords used

[johnnykaka66]

I wanna play like this but I just suck.....

[zibblewits]

is that a rickenbaker bass?

[Yaksniffer]

@zibblewits yes

[S2Cband]

Mike Watt is a true punkrocker

[AJT041979]

Great job! The bass sounds awesome.

[simpsons2170]

agreed im always skeptical of youtube rockers but i was mighty impressed.

[beaubrewton]

good grief! that looked like a pain in the ass to play

[ddilling71]

zodiacironfist, are you using flatwound strings?

Incredible playing, by the way. And thanks for showing me how to play "Cut". Always loved that one.

[beatchimps]

Unbelievable! How about some Firehose or Descendents? Do you know any James Brown?

[Equinoxx1337]

Hey, I've been playing bass for about 6 months. I was just wondering... what are some Minutemen songs that you would recommend for a mediate bass player ?

Thanks, Kevin.

[zodiakironfist]

Well, "Cut" on this video is an excellent one. Beyond that, I would go with anything at all off of Buzz and Howl and Double Nickles. Try "Toadies"...that's a great one.

[quizzizzle]

the first minutemen song i learned was anxious mofo

[Equinoxx1337]

Nice I'll look that one up. Since 2 weeks ago i've learned 'Cut' and 'Maybe Partying Will Help'

[toddjosh26]

fuck yeah man!!!!!!!!!you fu ckinnggggggggrooooockkkkkkkkkk­kk you really enjoy the fucking rockandroll

[Kenkesey104]

thats acutally faith/ east wind not pure joy. obviously someone doesnt know their minutemen

[zodiakironfist]

They actually say "Pure Joy" in the song and I just got done looking up the lyrics to verify. It seems that you are wrong.

An except:

Money

Survival

Out of necessity

Man-made boundaries

To conquer

And conquer

That's the second song for sure.

[ericdrum74]

That IS Pure Joy dude. And you played the Minutemen elitist card? Ouch.

"And closer to the conquerin', the inevitable."

[adebicki]

man u got that nailed! the sound is even right on! i would have never thought a ricko thru a peavey TNT. brilliant!

[spicyMcHAGGIS9green]

Mike will always be THE best punk bass player.

[keilan303]

Damn thats a nice looking bass...

Awesome job, I bet you would fkn love to have a jam with Watt...and you know how to play the bass with style!! ;)

Maybe not your thing but are you into Chris Squier at all?

[zodiakironfist]

I freaking love Chris Squire!

And yes, I would definitely love to f'in jam with Mike Watt....even with all of that pick playing and Primusey stuff I do, the core of my sound is Mike Watt. Nobody had a better knack for basslines thank Mike.

[seedtosser]

You talk like Mike Watt is dead. He's still pushing the thunder broom.

[Murdoc102]

wow that was sick

[ErvaBoy]

Nice

[tarim69]

The Minutemen, simply rule. Nice job.

[ragnarokisnow]

mike watt really puts the bass to work.

[spicyMcHAGGIS9green]

I think he hits the strings harder than anyone who has ever lived.

[aaarrrggghhhh]

The minutemen really put the bass to work.

[123Nathaniel321]

You looked like you were so excited to be playing that you almost got an Erection.

Good JOB! xD

[TKAA64]

A song I have always tried to play on bass but it never sounded right was 99 off of "What Makes a Man Start Fires?" You should give that one a go. And keep up the good work! Love your Primus and Rush covers but The Minutemen are my favorites!

[wynobelly]

nice job. minutemen rule

[OrangeLighting1]

You should do some avenged sevenfold, but I'm not sure if you even enjoy metal that is around these days.

[zodiakironfist]

Some of it, but I cannot stand the death metal/thrash music with the clean singing. Bands like Opeth, Dream Theater, In Flames, Soilwork, Dragonforce etc. annoy me, but the more brutal stuff like Black Dahlia Murder, Arch Enemy, Necrophagist, Job for a Cowboy, etc. are pretty good.

[JPmoney]

why not dreamtheater?

[zodiakironfist]

Well...the singing is too clean, no rasp at all...and the music is wrong for it. I am kinda old school, and during that time there was the thrash movement...Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, and Anthrax were the big bands that drove that movement. I was a fan of every one but Anthrax....hated Joey Belladonna. Dream Theater has that same feel...I know they are musician Gods, just not my cup of tea with those vocals.

[JPmoney]

ah ok. i know what you mean

[Rick36561]

I know Mike and he would dig this. All for D. Boon !

[zodiakironfist]

LOL....well please don't show this to him!!  I never play anything the same as the original since I am a chaotic ear player, and I would hate to be responsible for making Mike Watt's face screw up into a lemony grimace.

And yes, D. Boon, in combination with Zach de la Rocha, changed my life far more than musically. And D. Boon did it from beyond the grave, even. His influence is seen everywhere in my political circles. All for D's causes...cuz this 'aint no picnic.

[Munkybarz]

Hi Rob, I haven't been too frequent in my visits lately, my apologies friend. Am I ever glad I checked this out! I've watched this vid about 4X so far, it kicks ass. All hail Mike Watt! (we share the same last name). Although it isn't a Minutemen tune, could you do a cover of 'Brave Captain' from Firehose's Ragin', Full-On?

[zodiakironfist]

It's okay, Bill....with fame comes demands and responsibility. I have gotten less and less able to see other's stuff and comment, as well. Life has it's demands, and it's hard enough just keeping up with what is said on my vids.

If you request it, I'll go for it...you're still my bro! I think I can dig the tune up and include it in my next Mike Watt trilogy.

[XtremaDiva]

really rockin stuff there.. and you can tell you're having a good time playing it.. that's cool

[mer1972]

Mike Watt kicks ass. I got to see him jam last year in Hollyood.

[LeopardJoy]

Just an absolute joy to hear/watch, Rob. And I also enjoy your comments and commentary in the description box...got the smarts to go with the chops, I see :) Oh yeah, a triple threat guy...

Cheers,

Joy

[zodiakironfist]

Thanks, Joy...as always, god to see you.  I am rather verbose, 'tis true. It is helpful for youtube because people like to read stuff while they watch, but it is somewhat of a hindrance when I try to publish. Editors are not keen on people who write like 18th century politicians.

[travirjir]

awesome stuff dude, AGAIN.

[douglas84zz]

haha fuck yeah! long live mike watt and fuck metallica! lol yeah u got somethin great goin on there with that bass bro. jaco who?

[605506]

Hey Zodiakironfist, do you play any metallica, slayer, or anthrax?

[zodiakironfist]

I do not play Metallica because they are the RIAA's lapdogs these days. They don't want anyone using their music for anything without paying them first, so I will oblige them.

Slayer is awesome, but the bass is rather easy and non-descript. I was thinking of playing Slayer on my Ibanez, but I still cannot solo on a guitar worth a darn (the frets are so damned tiny and the strings cannot take strong attacks..typical bass player syndrome).

[605506]

You're reason for not playing metallica doesn't seem like a very big deal. It's not like the band's going to sue you for doing a cover for one of their songs. Their are many Metallica covers on youtube.

[zodiakironfist]

It is a HUGE deal, but not because I am afraid of getting sued, but because they are a band that turned their backs on their hardcore fans from back in the day. They reversed their positions of letting bootleggers into their shows and moved themselves from the category of "musician" into the category of "business" by encouraging their parent company to sue their fans. I play the music of musicians, not businesses. For that reason, Metallica is dead to me.

[zodiakironfist]

Others don't have a problem with it, and more power to them. I certainly do not want to dictate what others do or like. I, however, have a big problem with them, and their music will never be featured on my channel as a result.

[605506]

I see that you have pure hate for metallica today. Do you still listen to their music? Or at least their old-school music? What are your thoughts on Metallica's history of bassists?

I'm sorry if I'm annoying you with these questions. You don't have to answer them.

[zodiakironfist]

You are not annoying me at all...to be honest I am more afraid of how people will react to my answers than I am about being asked the questions.

Not really pure hate, though, just total disgust at how they have sold their souls for album sales. It is sad, really. But I am a politically-motivated musician (Minutemen and Rage aren't just music to me), so these things are deal-breakers for me.

And yes, I still listen to their music from the Cliff era plus ...And Justice.

[zodiakironfist]

As far as their history of bass players...Cliff was mourned by many, many of us when he died. It was so soon after Master of Puppets...just as many of us had our lives changed by their music. It was a huge loss.

[zodiakironfist]

Then they got Jason Newstead, who kept his mouth shut during And Justice, but by the time of the black album was insulting the late Cliff as a "busy bass player who didn't appreciate minimalism". At that point, I didn't care for Newstead for his irreverence, who owes his fame to Cliff's songwriting (after all, who listened to Flotsam and Jetsam?).

I was glad when Trujillo joined....he's a good bass player that understands history and doesn't have insecurity problems like Jason did.

[605506]

Random Question: Jason Newstead or Robert Trujillo? Me personally Jason Newstead, he fits Metallica's style better.

[zodiakironfist]

Trujillo. Newstead really only played underneath the guitar players so they could hog the show...he was a placeholder in Metallica, really. A bass player certainly has the right to their own style, even if it messes with the band's traditional "sound".

[zodiakironfist]

Anthrax has great music, but Joey Belladonna's voice drives me nuts. I has never fit the music in my opinion. I would love to do Anthrax, but I am not looking forward hearing Joey in my ears over and over as I work the tunes up. I'll probably break down and do some, though...perhaps "Skeletons in the Closet"

[605506]

You could always hear instrumental versions of their songs. This way you can't hear Joey's voice.

[zodiakironfist]

LOL...there is an instrumental version of "Skeleton in the Closet".  If so, please say where.

[skalewilly]

Hi zodiakironfist, how are doing?

excellent, great !!!!! good bassline!! and you play fantastic!!

at what year old you learned to play the bass?

your Rickenbacker sound very weel!!!

have a nice week!

-Ale-

[zodiakironfist]

I was 13 years old, Ale. I mowed lawns and bought my first bass used from a fireman.

[PDXguitarlegend]

Kick ass stuff... I bet it's such a release to play Mike's stuff. Rock on Rob!

[zodiakironfist]

Absolutely...especially "Cut". That opening bass part just makes you want to stomp, and because you are not doing any complicated scale-work, you are free to do "hair metal pose #1 & 2...the up and down and side to side body bend", according to your instructional video.

[PDXguitarlegend]

Hahahaha, it's funny how natural some of the poses come if you just free yourself. :D

[zodiakironfist]

If you are like me (and I deeply suspect you are), then you have "freed yourself" for so long that it becomes difficult to play without the moves. The timing suffers.

[PDXguitarlegend]

Well, your videos don't seem impacted to me. Even if they are, I prefer to see someone feeling it then just trying to go through the motions. As for me, I laugh at my vids all the time ("what the hell did I just do with my face... why is my leg doing that???" hahahha)

[RandomTuber782]

Lets try this again, "Hey man you should use a pick ;)" (wink) now for all the duochetards and interlopers, the wink implies I am joking, which I am, it's an inside joke, so stfu.

[Chipsonfire]

Awesome playing! Though I know the name, I'm not too familiar with Mike Watt, but this is some inspiration to go do a little research :-)

[srbnmircea]

Another amazing video by the bass master of youtube,bravo,keep it up

Oh!and please put more guitar videos:D

[Lupza1337]

Finally a bass player on YouTube who shows both skill and passion!

Even if I dislike almost all the music you play (sorry) I watch atleast five of your videos everyday.

Greetings from Denmark

//Lupza//

[zodiakironfist]

Thank you. Sorry about not playing much that you like. It is unfortunate that we have different taste. However, I have a friend on youtube named Bill (Munkybarz) that I bet plays music that you would enjoy very much, and he is a killer bass player to boot. Regardless, I appreciate you coming by and enduring the music to watch my antics, nonetheless, and hope that someday I'll give you something more to tap your foot about.

[PepWan]

Awesome playing dude! =:D

[GreyuZaru]

I can never seem to get my notes as clear and defined as you can---I would sound like muddy farts if I tried playing at your speed--

[zodiakironfist]

The strength of your attack is very important for that. If you lightly hit the strings (or even hit them medium), you rely on the lower part of the tone for your sound, which tends to get muddy when there are a lot of notes packed in together. But if you dank the crap out of the string, that initial mid-tone punch defines your note precisely where it is, and it is this part of the tone that you are really playing for to get clear sound. Passive pickups help, too.

[lowend]

Hell yeah! Cut is one of the first Minutemen tunes I learned! I still say ya need to break out the flannel for these though!

10 stars easily!

[zodiakironfist]

It's a great tune...not too hard, but difficult to pull off with the power and beat that makes the tune so awesome. I really think as far as sound, this is one the best Minutemen tunes, which is why I put it first. Thanks for dropping by and rock on!

[lowend]

Definitely-I also dig Dream Told by Moto

Watt is amazing, and I think you have a great selection of tunes-always enjoyable to watch ya play!

[Guitarhero829]

oh my god i less than three you "<3"

[zodiakironfist]

It took me five minutes to figure out what you were saying. Thanks!

[bflemin093]

You sure do get in to it.

nice job.

[zodiakironfist]

Yes, I do...it allows me to keep the timing better. It helps that I pretty much limit my playing to tunes I love. Thanks for stopping by!

[patman2112]

Excellent skills. No pick needed! 5 stars

[OnBasses]

Yeah!!!!! Rick 4001?

[zodiakironfist]

Yes....old school.

[bigweedtw]

Very nice!

[zodiakironfist]

Thanks. I know it is obscure punk, but it is pretty good obscure punk.

[xXDarkArconXx]

Hey man. GREAT SONG! Never really heard of the Minutemen before but I must say that I need to do some studying eh? If you would be so kind as to gimme the names of some of the bassists that you study or used to study so when I get my bass I will have a few people to look at it would help me greatly.

[zodiakironfist]

Sure. Geezer Butler, Jack Bruce, Chris Squire, John Enwistle, Steve Harris, Stanley Clarke, Geddy Lee, Cliff Burton, Ron Royce, Flea, Les Claypool, P-Nut, and Mike Watt. Those are my influnces as far as playing is concerned.  For stage show, Nikki Sixx and Gene Simmons in addition to Les, Flea, Steve, and Cliff.

[zodiakironfist]

And,and I cannot forget Dave Ellefson.

[AlexVincentD]

Picks are really just for palm muting when it comes to bass.

[MajorImpact]

There you go, folks - we've been 'educated' by another teenager.

[RandomTuber782]

you should really use a pick ;)

[zodiakironfist]

LOL.

[zodiakironfist]

Wow...sorry about everyone brutalizing your comment. I suppose not everyone knows that you are joking about the pick thing.

Everyone, it is an inside joke from a previous vid.

[RandomTuber782]

no dude that's not how you handle it, this is how you handle it:

EAT A BAG OF DICKS! there, now the youtube community will know that I was joking, and not trying to start anything with you, in turn they think I'm starting sh*t with them, which I am, so EAT A BAG OF DICKS! Am I joking? I don't know anymore.

P.S. the comment rating thing sucks, It easily makes things appear one sided or bad, and it down right blows.

[aJazzcat]

and that is why i thumbs up your comment ;)

[RandomTuber782]

hmm, should I be clever and thumbs down your comment, or would I seem like a dick, and giving it a thumbs up seems cliche....

I got it! neither.

[RadLionheart]

I'm not really into Minutemen, or punk for that matter, but I just wanted to hear the Ric sing, and sing it did.

[zodiakironfist]

Thank you.  Not everything I play is palatable to everyone, that is for sure. When you have Primus and Benny Goodman in the same channel, that is liable to happen. I appreciate you lending an ear nonetheless. Rock on!