A look deep into the bassist’s psyche . . .

Robbie Fulks has already shared his view of bassists, so I thought I'd toss in an insight into the denizens of the low end - courtesy of William Muderface, bassist for Dethklok, just after his bass solo had been usurped by his bandmates' auto accident:

“Why do I get pre-empted? You know why? ‘Cause I’m just the stupid bass player. Why don’t I just play behind the bass amp? Maybe that would be good. Then album sales would go up. Who am I fooling? I don’t deserve the spotlight. I thought I could maybe just once, just once be in the spotlight. That’s all I want. Just once.”

Who hasn't felt that way at some point, though? I regard this not as a lonely call for unrequited attention, but further proof that the bassist is Everyman, the personified hero of all folks, common and otherwise. His is the struggle of everybody who ever sought, ever struggled, ever tried to attain a little sun while making sure the foundation was strong and sure for his fellow compatriots. He is the figure for whom Copland composed, Whitman wrote, and Debs struggled. He is you. He is me. Probably more me, but it's just as valid.

Or it's just sad. I could go either way.