Is Peter Hook the best bass player ever?

i thought mark king was the best bass player

Hooky adored Mott the Hoople when he was younger. They reformed to do a few gigs last year and Hooky begged to be allowed to join them but he was turned down on the grounds that they wanted somebody would could play a bit. Hooky wasn't too bothered so presumably he is aware of his own limitations. His sound is integral to New Order though.

Originally posted by Take My Hand (And Don't Let Go) Hard to compare with others, as Hooky is playing a 6 string bass like a guitar (playing melodies) and is usually not playing basslines like most bass players do.

Actually, what made early New Order sound unique was Hooky's particular bass playing (as you sressed, he plays the melodies) and also Barney's own guitar style (on EGG and Temptation, to name a few, it's far from being classic electric guitar). Today, Barney's style has become more straightforward, but Hooky's bass remains unique.

So, Hooky may not be the best bass player, but he's definitely the most creative/original one.

Originally posted by Andy Some of the replys on this thread made me laugh. People saying they're better than Hooky remind me of the Spinal Tap guy comparing himself to Jimmy Page. He rated himself because he had learned to play "Stairway to Heaven" when 14 but Page didn't write it until he was 25.I've always felt that creativity and an ear for melody easily outweigh technical chops.

Another thin I like about him, and new order in general, is that none of them are "band" types, you know , obsessed by the latest hair cut , minor techinal aspects (that includes gillian), etc. they are (obviously) really artistic types, but seem to lack the shite that is generally associated with being artistic. I read somewhere that john squire took years of endless endless endless practice to become a proficient (techinally) guitar player. but he still hasnt 1/8th the art in him that hooky has. what has squire done in his life? 1 decent album, a few sheep skulls, and some terrible solo work.

anyone can put in the hours.

In my opinion a definite yes!

who would compare to Hooky as far as emotion and "atmosphere" from the bass instrument? how manty bass players can bring a tear to your eye like on "24 hours" or "Ceremony" or "Leave me Alone"? of course few bands let the bassist take such a lead role.

Originally posted by ShugZV© > Originally posted by Garymac> > > Or BEST chance of having the sound of their bass recognised ?>

I had a Cure track on the other night and the missus asked if it was Hooky

He's the dogs bahollicks alright!

Could be cos the bod in The Cure was so taken with the Hooker's eccleshall that he phoned him up to find out where to get one, and then got one, as well as a big ass ancient chorus pedal.

Originally posted by Steve Campbell > Originally posted by ShugZV© > Originally posted by Garymac> > > Or BEST chance of having the sound of their bass recognised ?>

I had a Cure track on the other night and the missus asked if it was Hooky

He's the dogs bahollicks alright!

Could be cos the bod in The Cure was so taken with the Hooker's eccleshall that he phoned him up to find out where to get one, and then got one, as well as a big ass ancient chorus pedal. Perhaps once Simon Gallup's style was similar to Hooky's, but I don't see much similarity between them right now. Simon just seems to fill the role of the bassplayer in The Cure, while Robert and Perry (and Porl previously) fill out most the guitar lines. Simon has his solos, but he doesn't usually play the melody to every Cure song. True, In between Days does swap Hooky's bassline from Dreams never end, but is it as up front as Hooky's bassline?

Originally posted by Clockwork C > Originally posted by Andy> Some of the replys on this thread made me laugh. People saying they're better than Hooky remind me of the Spinal Tap guy comparing himself to Jimmy Page. He rated himself because he had learned to play "Stairway to Heaven" when 14 but Page didn't write it until he was 25.> > I've always felt that creativity and an ear for melody easily outweigh technical chops.

Another thin I like about him, and new order in general, is that none of them are "band" types, you know , obsessed by the latest hair cut , minor techinal aspects (that includes gillian), etc. they are (obviously) really artistic types, but seem to lack the shite that is generally associated with being artistic. I read somewhere that john squire took years of endless endless endless practice to become a proficient (techinally) guitar player. but he still hasnt 1/8th the art in him that hooky has. what has squire done in his life? 1 decent album, a few sheep skulls, and some terrible solo work.

anyone can put in the hours.

Hear hear. That's what separates the artists from the technicians. Neil Young plays lead guitar like he's tapping out morse code, but there's more raw artistry in his music than an army of soulless technicians could ever hope to squeeze out.

Speaking of technical matters, doesn't Hooky actually play a baritone guitar, rather than bass?

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr > Originally posted by Clockwork C> > > > Originally posted by Andy> > Some of the replys on this thread made me laugh. People saying they're better than Hooky remind me of the Spinal Tap guy comparing himself to Jimmy Page. He rated himself because he had learned to play "Stairway to Heaven" when 14 but Page didn't write it until he was 25.> > > > I've always felt that creativity and an ear for melody easily outweigh technical chops.>

Another thin I like about him, and new order in general, is that none of them are "band" types, you know , obsessed by the latest hair cut , minor techinal aspects (that includes gillian), etc. they are (obviously) really artistic types, but seem to lack the shite that is generally associated with being artistic. I read somewhere that john squire took years of endless endless endless practice to become a proficient (techinally) guitar player. but he still hasnt 1/8th the art in him that hooky has. what has squire done in his life? 1 decent album, a few sheep skulls, and some terrible solo work.

anyone can put in the hours.

Hear hear. That's what separates the artists from the technicians. Neil Young plays lead guitar like he's tapping out morse code, but there's more raw artistry in his music than an army of soulless technicians could ever hope to squeeze out.

Speaking of technical matters, doesn't Hooky actually play a baritone guitar, rather than bass?

The Eccleshall, the Yamahas, Fenders, and Rickenbackers are all basses ( please don't call them bass guitars, as they are violins in guitar shape....just being anal...and avoiding any relationship to guitarists.). The Shergold Marathon6 is indeed described by Shergold as a Barritone guitar.

**ditto the basist in Motown's official backing band, I can't remember her name, but there's a woman that played bass for Phil Spector and Brian Wilson in the sixties who was amazing.**

James Jamerson is the Motown guy. And you're thinking of Carol Kaye who played on Pet Sounds amongst others...

I agree that they're both amazing, especially James Jamerson, but of course doing a completely different job to PH.

Yes, yes he is.

I never gave two shits about bass players before discovering New Order. Even when I first heard BLT, I knew (other than the brilliant synths) that this was a very different brand of music, and I must discover more. Although True Faith and Blue Monday were heard first as well, BLT made me def. take notice.

And we also ought not forget Barney's contributions on "Confusion"

So besides TPK, what are generally considered the best of the best for Hook's mastery?

Peter Hook the best bass player ever?

I've seen Peter Cook slapping his bass with more style than the former mullet'n'keks connoisseur (and I don't mean bass as in guitar either)

;)

Originally posted by By 'Eck! My Neck! Peter Hook the best bass player ever?I've seen Peter Cook slapping his bass with more style than the former mullet'n'keks connoisseur (and I don't mean bass as in guitar either);)

This guy rocks!!! I bow down to you, sir