Transcending Traditional Bass with Billy Sheehan - GearFest 2019

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[@The-Real-Blissful-Ignorance]

I've been watching a lot of Billy Sheehan videos lately, and I am impressed by how kind and genuine this man is. He's the type of guy you'd want to have as a mentor or even a neighbor.

[@bigchunkybubbles]

It’s amazing that Billy just gets better and better as he gets older. There’s more depth and musicality to his playing; it’s not so much “look at me” scales and acrobatics. He’s got the chops so why not use them, but they’re more in service of the art.

[@billstrat2917]

You're Eddie's counterpart in the bass world. R.I.P. Eddie. You're the bass version of Eddie. You're the lone king now

[@evolutionmb]

My favorite bass player, and truly a phenomenal person and musician!

[@attentiondeficitsquirrel7660]

While not my favorite player he is definitely a powerhouse and force of nature. His playing with Steve Vai on ‘Eat Em And Smile’ especially the song “Elephant Gun” is face melting metal.

[@paveantelic7876]

i could listen to this man for hours

[@timwilliams7274]

Goose bumps man hands down best bassist to ever lived.. love you man

[@fugamantew]

Golden, just golden. This. Is. The. Guy. He is the bass player exemplified. What an honor it is to watch a musician has this amount FUN out of his craft. Masterful.

[@bozziovai]

for me, the best bass player alive. none has ever demonstrated the true potential of a 4-string bass. billy sheehan has showed the world that you don't need 5 strings nor 6 strings to produce those notes ... all you need is a 4 string bass ......

[@mikemischievous2091]

I think it is impossible to not like Mr Sheehan. I could listen to him talk about music and gear for hours! Best bassplayer in my opinion!

[@kenminerva]

Not only the GOAT in the rock n roll bass world, but also the nicest human being. He is Billy Sheehan! ❤️❤️🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@refbassist]

Billy is a living legend.

[@NikkieRoxxx]

Yes, and lets wish him many more long, happy,, heathy years more!!! Long live Billy, and respect!!

[@gmotionedc5412]

Total class act🎉🎉 shows you where talent can take you👏👏👏👏

[@freq9939]

Mans a true original. Not cookie cutter and has his own thing going on. Hes got the technique, tone and swagger

[@erikottens7536]

Came to hear about his Yamaha stayed for the whole video, I could listen to Billy talk for hours, nothing but a class act,a true professional but comes down to a personal level, thank you Sweetwater & Billy for a great interview

[@jmasno5]

I've seen a lot of interviews with Billy Sheehan. For whatever reason I am not familiar with his body of work. However, I think this guy is a truly great person. It seems to always shine through. Maybe he wasn't always this authentic but as an older guy, he is now.

[@Jase1000-p2f]

The Great Billy Sheehan

[@RemoBongo530]

If you dream it, you can make it happen! Great guy with amazing talent and chops. I remember watching his vhs instructional video when I first started playing bass and it helped me a lot👍🤘🏻

[@johngrow]

Me too. That video had a lot of practical advice I still use to this day. Love it...

[@hobbyknight9962]

Lucky enough to go to Bass Player Live in 2015 and I had a chance to meet Billy Sheehan and he exactly the same person in person. Amazing career obviously, but much more impressed with the man himself.

[@alfhisyahrin4822]

Im falling in love with his personality

[@och70]

It's one of those beautiful occasions where someone with a MASSIVE amount of talent is even more humble and grateful than he is talented. I love this guy.

[@paulonascimento2073]

Thanks so much Mr Sheehan and Sweetwater for allowing us to see this.

[@lukecho9225]

Ending comments were so inspiring. Much love and respect Billy.

[@AriVD]

Man, He's a great storyteller 👍🏻

[@F0dd3r26]

Billy is a monster of a bass player. I absolutely love what he says between 22:02-23:18

[@VincentAllen-v2m]

Nothing again Mike but imagine if Billy had joined Van Halen. Definitely my favorite rock bassist. And about as nice as anybody could possibly be.

[@RadityoPramAdi]

*casually sweep picking bass... 1:01

[@josephalvaro5244]

Crazy this,my two passions are bass playing and fishing.....Love this guy and his immense talent and the tales of his career he chose as a kid.

[@YTiswoke]

Fishing AND playing:You must really like BASS

[@MeatSteeple]

Used to see Billy play in Rochester, NY clubs in the mid-late 70's in various bands. Monster player then as he is now and a down to earth guy.

[@chrislestermusic]

Super nice guy and would be hard to find someone more committed to the instrument than Billy is.

[@StevesRykerAdventures]

Inspiring. What a great human being. Thanks for sharing.

[@kornuithildr4129]

Probably the greatest rock bass player of all time. Great guy aswell.

[@carloscupim]

My hero!

[@blakkmoon]

Well spoken, killer bass player, show man, Mr Big icon mr Billy Sheehan.

[@charlesvaught3730]

Hey Billy...Man..You got to be the best bassist ever...Everything you do is soo amazing..So happy your still active...Happy jamming..🤘🤘🤘

[@Ron_Padgett]

Billy is soooo awesome!

[@Hogman666]

Billy doing Billy what more could one want!

[@limestarinc]

One of my favorite players and has played with 3 of my fav drummers...

[@georgeohwell7428]

A few days ago, I kept saying "Billy" like gizmo and now KZbin shows me a bunch of Billy Sheehan vids. At least they didn't send me Billie Ellish vidz.

[@chrisf6216]

Thank you SW / BS/ AV folks! Fantastic chat from a legend. Thank you for sharing - cheers!

[@junbu8958]

I saw him and David Lee Roth years ago and man did he jam

[@trance9158]

Met him in Indianapolis on the B3X tour with Stu Hamm and Jeff Berlin. Such a cool down to earth dude. Love his Cosmic Troubadour CD and his playing is fairly unique and phenomenal. Really dig the super group he's in currently. They really found a place for his sound to really fit in too!!

[@benbrouckaert8382]

Sheesh what a legend

[@stanhathcoat920]

Sheehan is a once in lifetime musician as a bassist, very few can claim such stature, & he has all respect from me! Except! I'm the same age, nowhere near his talent & abilities, but, I grew up when bass was actually bass, SVT with a touch of harmonic distortion, enough to grow cajones, but not so distorted that it sounded like a few of your tens in your SVT cabs were busted. But that's me, guess I'm now living in a distorted world that loves the "breakup". Now, haters, show yourselves. All respects to Billy. Tone, like music, is entirely subjective, isn't it, & I'm not a fanboy like many are, & I don't flock to the latest scenes or opinions. Billy is a phenomenal talent, but, I still enjoy a thundering bass tone, not distortion. :)

[@ilyadruzhinin854]

Best saund was been the rose hamelion, and red bases. Thank you Sheehan!

[@cesarrodriguezgutierrez1144]

The first time I saw Billy playing live with Mr Big at Velodromo Anoeta in San Sebastian , with Aerosmith , never a musician impact me in that way !!

[@aryinc]

this is "bass"ically awesome.

[@SeagoGuitarist]

arjan snijder Man why you gotta go lower the tone with puns?!? 😆😆😆

[@aryinc]

@@SeagoGuitarist :p. lower tone XD.

[@leonadawson6559]

Awesome presentation! Thank you for sharing.

[@roamershaker]

love this guy thanks Billy

[@vassili87]

I don't like the way he plays but man I love him as a human being. He's so kind and he's a HUUUUGE musical culture.

[@EJROCKER1]

Great stuff. Billy Rocks!

[@hgostos]

Billy is a true gentleman

[@geekguitars]

I was in the crowd!!

[@aidencantrell8295]

geekguitars so was i

[@studiodude1]

Love Billy!

[@geekguitars]

Ooohh Billy!! (Cable Guy voice)

[@DaviDuarteRocha]

Billy still one of the niciest guy in the biz!!! Amazing

[@gerbyzachycamzydator1719]

Awesome! As always

[@jimkalfakis9893]

This was a great video, I really enjoyed it

[@hoboroadie]

Rode out the Northridge quake in Toluca Lake. After I turned off the gas mains it was sure nice having Roy Arndts, the retired welder next door, with his array of lights set up in the front yard. I helped set up the table for the two big coffeepots. Generators can be useful.

[@Tommy.Traeumer]

Awesome

[@jairguitarrologia]

OMG, that B bend!!!!!!! 4:45 !!!!!

[@thekaimurai4146]

Holy crap Billy Sheehan wears his hats like me! Maybe one day I’ll play bass like him. Lol

[@777Yoni]

Even though you could see where the Orvis story was going, I still laughed and teared up. I'm going fishing now.

[@cyb3r3vil30]

Damn it that was Awesome! TFS enjoyed it!

[@scottpolston6137]

Your work with niacin is amazing man you can do jazz billy

[@scottpolston6137]

One day I’ll own a high end Yamaha bass probably a bb I love that bass but the one I’m after is 2k$ plus it’s gonna be like buying my American elite jazz bass again but will be worth it

[@juanvillafuerte7797]

THE IS STEVE VAI IN THE BASS BILLY FANTASTIC EXPECTACULAR THE BESTTTT...

[@huppmoile]

I was there!

[@rikd5452]

Would've been great, had Sweetwater furnished a lapel, or headset mic for Billy.

[@hellfire8883]

Wow I hear alot of cliff burton in his playing

[@TheChipMcDonald]

Funny.

[@hellfire8883]

@@TheChipMcDonald what was I suppose to say I hear a lot of Billy Sheehan in cliff burton's playing?

[@qdaveq6597]

@@hellfire8883 Billy was playing long before Cliff and has said that he is not familiar with Cliff's playing. It's perfectly possible that you hear some similarities, but Billy was in no way influenced by Cliff.

[@hellfire8883]

@@qdaveq6597 Yea obviously billy has been around longer than cliff. I was simply saying I hear similarities in both of their playings. But i was not insinuating that billy was influenced by cliff. If anything it would be the other way around. So Its possible cliff was influenced by billy but who knows. Regardless I just hear some similarities in their playing styles.

[@qdaveq6597]

@@hellfire8883 Nice one, got it.

[@tinkersailorhead4360]

The Sound on that stage must have been quite good. Do anybody else see those kickdrum heads moving when he hits the strings ?

[@philiphall9609]

I would almost rather listen to him talk than play.

[@pawel9450]

🤩

[@ZijunTan]

38:44 as a bass player from Malaysia, I'm not quite sure.... should I laugh or should I cry?

[@russellzauner]

FUZZBUCKER! YEAH BOI!

[@timwilliams7274]

Talis high speed on ice

[@wiseguy9202]

This guy kicks serious ass on bass. Here's a sample(@2:35) during his tour with Steve Vail. kzbin.info/www/bejne/anK5iZSuaqaLhaM

[@mikedervos5974]

im only here for the shred! lol

[@shawnhuff6024]

Why isn't Billy playing in Metallica

[@lames_jahey9734]

He would scare them away. Les Claypool did.. haha

[@shawnhuff6024]

@@lames_jahey9734 I was surprised by the fact that Robert took the job but then It's such an easy gig to have easy money and endorsement opportunities for equipment I mean wow easy who can't over an Em or Emaj 7th cord the hole time

[@joemartucci4786]

Actually listen to Mike Portnoy Billy Paul Gilbert Gary Cherone doing a Who tribute....don’t know why The Who didn’t go after him.

[@adambrown8867]

I have an idea for a band with 2 bass players, a drummer, a percussionist & 5 part vocal harmonies...

[@stanknugget]

Hahaha!

[@babayaga1767]

Zenu approves

[@mobiuschrome2878]

so does your mommy

[@josephsdsu1]

I'm no fan of Scientology, and Billy certainly isn't evangelical about it, but he's consistently one of the sweetest, most humble rock musicians around. Scientology is a borderline criminal organization and the source of a lot of suffering (like many religions, hell, like many hierarchical organizations, period), but if he finds comfort in his faith and if it has anything to do with his easy-going, generous personality, well, more power to him.

[@OuttaHere7]

Never heard of Gallien Krueger ????????? Dang! Just sad but would love to hook him up to GK! Par Excellance player extrordianaire!!!!

[@trees3d]

Billy goes to great lengths to not go to a 5 string bass

[@walt1a]

Whole lotta notes...note Olympics...

[@loweffortproductions1985]

Lost me when you said Line 6... just kidding haha.

[@chris_bern]

He shreeeeds that poor bass

[@montychristo86]

Any bass would be honored to be shredded by him! Consider it dying in a Viking battle I guess?

[@chris_bern]

Christopher Taylor Oh yeah it wasn’t a negative thing. I would love to be that bass haha

[@jamesmyers2571]

I can play like you. So much you will want to here me play. My name is jaymz myers I'm 52. Years young. I will meet you in person. Asap. I'm in oregon right now.

[@stanknugget]

Billy here! I’m sorry, I just saw this comment. Are you still in Oregon?

[@BRICKIEREPORT]

He should play guitar instead

[@Lucas-rh1ey]

That poor bass

[@rustywp]

Start off by making a bunch of useless noise...