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Unsung Forum » Chris Squire RIP. |
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Moon Cat 9577 posts |
Jun 29, 2015, 00:08
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Just heard the shocking news that Chris Squire has died. Gobsmacked. One of my fave musicians of all time that's played on some of my favourite music. Devastating. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33306933
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billding68 1016 posts |
Jun 29, 2015, 06:34
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Bummer a very talented man! R.i.p
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The Seth Man 1242 posts |
Jun 29, 2015, 07:24
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You and me, too, Moon Cat...Truly sad. I know a LOT of people who are sorely depressed by this news, and nearly all of them musicians. It was Squire's bass playing that a music friend in my early teens pointed out to me what a "bass guitar" was -- on "Roundabout." When he ripped it up on Rickenbacker, he was unparalleled in all of Progressive Rock in terms of placement, attack and aggression. I never really heard half of what he was doing on "Roundabout" until I heard this: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCIQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGRjAgl1dQBk&ei=8diQVd_UFcXAsAWtooG4BQ&usg=AFQjCNGz_t3JwHmmAcQp1kkeDq7cFXfAPg&bvm=bv.96783405,d.b2w For me, his peak on record (for me at least) is on the double live "Yesshows" doing the unimaginable all over "Ritual" from Cobo Hall in Detroit in 1976. It bears little resemblance to the studio version. It's almost like Lemmy if he was in Mahavishnu Orchestra. Sounds stupid, but it's true: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQyCkwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQXTn82YwTZk&ei=XtqQVabYIYXlsAXHtab4BA&usg=AFQjCNH-BSdXheherjf3Vjr4mQHD1cASHQ&bvm=bv.96783405,d.b2w Chris Squire. Dead. Man. Maybe it's better to just remember the good times: Hearing "Astral Traveler" for the first time. Seeing Yes in the Round in Madison Square Garden June, 1979 and walking a friend who was a girl (and not a girlfriend who was gonna kiss me) home later. Or the time Squire's bass made the huge Moroccan dinner plate displayed on the wall of a friend's den rattle like mad during "Sound Chaser" when he cranked it to an unimaginable volume. Or how Squire produced "Yesshows" and wound up jacking his bass up like Tony Visconti did his on "The Man Who Sold The World." Or even three nights ago when I played "Parallels" at top volume as a celebratory victory lap for a personal triumph. And his gear was sharp and snappy as fuck: the silk cape, the fuzzy boots, the Harlequin suit later on...and on and on. I remembered an experience in a record store on Portobello Road about a decade ago that brought a smile to my face as much as Squire's attack on "Astral Traveller." I was flipping through the bins when two smartly dressed, attractive young women came in the shop. It was a small shop, so I couldn't help but hear that one of the women was talking about getting her Dad a present for his birthday. There was a glass case with stupidly pricey picture sleeve singles and excitedly, the woman burst out in a super posh accent: "Oooh! I must get this for Dad: look at that bouffant of his!" The single was The Syn's "Flowerman"/14 Hour Terchnicolour Dream." It was around ?200-?300 and she bought it because she was Chris Squire's daughter...! http://images.45cat.com/the-syn-flowerman-deram-3.jpg After she left, I joked to the guy at the counter why he didn't just sell her one of their manifold copies of "Don't Kill The Whale." He smiled (because they were so plentiful and cheap.) But he then said, "Wait a minute: how'd you know we got copies?" I replied, "Doesn't everyone?" (Boom) After thinking about it today, nearly everything I still like about Yes is dominated by Chris Squire's plastic fantastic, tripping-the-light fantastic pummel bass. (Well, and/or Patrick Moraz. But he's my fave member, natch.) Chris Squire left a big impression on me, I guess. Far bigger than I previously thought.
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IanB 6761 posts |
Edited Jun 29, 2015, 08:19
Jun 29, 2015, 08:16
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Nicely said. He was the main reason for me picking up the instrument in the first place. Well, him and Cleo Laine both. That beautiful, rolling, melodic, gleaming épée of a Rickenbacker is going to be irreplaceable in rock music in general never mind prog. Glad I got to see him at the Royal Albert Hall going out on a high, Jon or no Jon. Seeing them next year is going to be tough though.
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Squid Tempest 8763 posts |
Jun 29, 2015, 11:22
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There's a big Rickenbacker-shaped hole in the musical world now. His bass sound was amazing and unique and runs like a gold thread through my lifetime of listening. So glad I got to see one of the "classic" line-ups live before it was too late. Rest in peace Chris, your playing lit up my life.
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Squid Tempest 8763 posts |
Jun 29, 2015, 11:22
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Well said man.
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Fitter Stoke 2611 posts |
Edited Jun 29, 2015, 18:11
Jun 29, 2015, 17:59
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Another great bass player leaves us: what's the reaper up to? I can't add anything to Seth's consummate eulogy, except to point out that 'Fish Out Of Water' was easily the best of Yes' 1975 solo albums, and that without Chris Squire Yes are effectively redundant. He was the most distinctive sounding and gifted member of a tremendously talented band (in whatever lineup) and no-one could even hope to replicate his contribution, nor should even try. I raise a glass to Chris tonight while playing 'On The Silent Wings Of Freedom', Yes' finest and most unsung eight minutes, on which he absolutely shines. R.I.P., Fish man.
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Andfurthermoreagain 696 posts |
Jun 30, 2015, 14:32
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A great anecdote (and having googled the sleeve, indeed a great bouffant too!). I heard another once about when XTC were recording an album only to find out Chris was also recording in the same studio. Colin Moulding, being a massive fan asked if he could borrow Chris's famed Rickenbacker for a recording. "Of course, I'll pop home now and get it for you". Few hours later Chris comes back. "I'm sorry mate, I'm afraid I've just moved house and can't remember where I live now". RIP Chris, one of the bass greats!
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dhajjieboy 913 posts |
Jun 30, 2015, 17:49
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Got HIGH many times to 'Fish Out Of Water' back in the day. That album and 'Fragile' were very important parts of my formative years. So glad I grew up in those times.
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HI DEN 814 posts |
Edited Jul 02, 2015, 01:25
Jul 01, 2015, 21:42
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That's heavy. Been returning back to some Yes within the last year or so, after not listening to them for almost 20 years (I once managed to get an, up until now, lifelong trauma whilst listening to "Tales.." for the first time, in a rather impressionable state. My hopes were way too high then, probably impossibly so (and I was pretty much familiar, and loving, much of their previous output..) I don't even remember how far I got listening to it then, I just remember it doing my head in in a big way...) This turn of events (and this thread!) got me revisiting even that album. And the two links on The Seth Man's post were really a revelation! Never heard "Yesshows" before (gotta find that on vinyl!)!
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