How come John never slapped the bass much, in studio or live?

I say much, because I know someone was getting ready to fire off with Cool Cat... And yes I know he was popping the bass, and not slapping it! But seriously, is there a reason? Did John ever state why he didn't do it for any significant reason?

I suppose John just wasn't a slapper..ha ha. Also slapping tends to go hand in hand with, shall we say, percussively busy music. Queen's music could never really be considered like this even in the Hot Space period. Also as far as chart music was concerned it quickly became a bit of a fad in the early 80's and i think Deacy and Queen in general thankfully tried to steer clear of fads - hence the longevity and timelessness of most of their music. Mark King of Level 42 was a leading exponent of slap in the uk and, great bass player though he was/is it was all over the shop for a couple of years and people got fed up of it chart wise.  Actually, and I'm sure someone will put me right if I'm wrong, didn't Deacy actually slap the Bass in 'Ga Ga' just before the second verse ? could be wrong...

I think there's a bit of slapping in Dragon Attack.

yeah, probably cause he's a more melodic bass player than a slapper.

the few notes on COOL CAT are probably the only exception... i think the bass solo on Dragon Attack is pretty much just playing semi-plucking... or "strong/fuerze" whatever the proper word is for it.

Considering that Radio Ga Ga sounds like a synth i suppose that's not him either... i used to try that back in the days on my bass. :)

arpeggiated synth most likely...

....But ...you might wanna check the related post for "John's Solo Album" ;) ;) ;)

mwahahhahaa...

Regarding Ga Ga, the main bass bit (during intro and verses and such) is synth-generated, but the 'solo' is human.

I disagree, you can clearly here real bass from John in radio gaga during the verses and intro.

And what about the outro on Ga Ga .

Underneath Brian's slide solo you can hear John playing too

liam wrote: I disagree, you can clearly here real bass from John in radio gaga during the verses and intro.

Yeah I'm with you  - that's the real thing on 'Ga ga' - no question and some of his best playing..

Yes, John is playing during other sections too, but the main bass (the one appearing first) is synth-generated.

I think you're right - the instrument you hear over the drum intro is a synth and again in the gap before the second verse and in the break down before the outro clearly..

You can hear some "early" basic slapping on the Houston 1977 show at the start of Get Down Make Love. Slap bass was still pretty limited to R&B & funk at that time (Sly & the family stone, Brothers Johnson, etc...)
Given John's taste in music I'm surprised there was not more of it.

My guess is that he was too busy slapping his wife.

Speaking of Radio Ga Ga... everyone should listen carefully to the bass line.  It's quite possibly the prettiest one he ever recorded.  It's just so musical.

John was never anything more than a bass player where technique was concerned.  He was simply charged with accompanying Roger and filling in the bottom end and that worked incredibly well for Queen.

Unlike (BETTER) bass *GUITARISTS* John Entwistle and Jack Cassady, JD had no need to do anything else other than provide simple bass lines where bass *GUITARISTS* differ by filling in the empty spaces left by the lead guitar with a touch more trebble and a more improvisational style.

John's value to Queen was as an electrician, business mond and writer more than as a bass player; *anyone* could have played bass for Queen as Danny Miranda has proven.

Zebonka12 wrote: My guess is that he was too busy slapping his wife. WHAT!

NO WAY. I've never heard of John doing anything stupid.