BASSNOTES

a.k.a. the accidental importance of bass players in multi-million dollar media projects

For years, I thought that the driving creative force behind my favorite band of all times was Lars and James; it's true, of course, but I'm having second thoughts about its exclusivity:

There are essentially 3 great periods in the life of Metallica -

RIDE THE LIGHTING/MASTER OF PUPPETS period - CLIFF BURTON
JUSTICE/BLACK ALBUM period - JASON NEWSTEAD
POST-LOAD/RELOAD/ST ANGER period - ROBERT TRUJILLO

Easy to spot it. Enforced by the fact that not much else has changed over each period, apart from the death of one and the 'forced' resignation of the other bass player. James himself has acknowledged the importance that specific member of the band played over the years, while talking about career highs and their respective periods of time, in Greek Mad TV interview last summer: "Master of Puppets was our high point with Cliff, Black Album was our high point with Jason, maybe we'll hit that point again with Robert." 

Before Some Kind of Monster and therapy, at least in my eyes, Metallica was the ultimate band because millions of dollars aside, they looked like the best mates in the universe. Many bands rely on their producer, their manager, or their dealer; I realise now that Metallica needs a bassist to inspire them and keep them together. A specific kind of relationship always emerges between the bassist and James, and that seems to set the tone of the things to come - until the next bassist. James and Cliff, they strongly bonded over their rebel / redneck alcoholic existence and beliefs. James and Jason were out drinking together while the other two snorted lines off bimbos' tits and listened to electronica. I don't know a lot about James' relationship with Robert but once again I see that Metallica look refreshed and excited, and it's all due to that heavy monkey bassist.

RESPECT