Heartland

So why was there no bass player on the Bite The Silver Bullet tour?

Keeping the tour costs down?
thought the computer was good enough?
Couldn't find anyone good enough?

Any thoughts?

Probably thought it would've added little to the live experience for considerable extra cost.

Probably was right. Only people who think it important to have a bass-player could complain about how the tour sounded sans bass-player.

Hom_Corleone wrote:So why was there no bass player on the Bite The Silver Bullet tour?

Why just the Silver Bullet tour ? Don't you think the question rather is why no bass player since 1992 ? Or do you think there's anything specific to this one tour ?
Just a couple of ideas : maybe Von likes the sound of synth bass better, or maybe he thinks that a human bass player isn't significantly better than the Dok (while being significantly more pricey).

Badlander wrote:

Hom_Corleone wrote:So why was there no bass player on the Bite The Silver Bullet tour?

Why just the Silver Bullet tour ? Don't you think the question rather is why no bass player since 1992 ? Or do you think there's anything specific to this one tour ?
Just a couple of ideas : maybe Von likes the sound of synth bass better, or maybe he thinks that a human bass player isn't significantly better than the Dok (while being significantly more pricey).

Not specifically this tour Eric but I was thinking more of the scale of it and the exposure. But fair points raised. I, personally, have always wanted a 'live' bass player but that's just me.

It's not just you, I think a "real" bass could add a new dimension to the Sisters sound.

Probably Von thinks that it's good with as few people as possible in the band, makes it easier to get a long with everybody.

Nic wrote:...makes it easier to get a long with everybody.

That's probably more the case.

Hom_Corleone wrote:I, personally, have always wanted a 'live' bass player but that's just me.

Same here. I'm happy the way things are, but a human bass player would make it even better.
Maybe it was the Dok's decision ?

I prefer the Doc playing bass.

Gives the live sound a bigger feel to me.

I like it how it is.

And I'm inclined to agree with Purp. A live bass player would certainly bring a different dimension to the band, but not necessarily a better dimension. I'm pretty sure the cost implication is a major contributory factor to the current situation, but I'd also say that given the current sound / direction of the band (industrial-techno-rock, quasi-psychedelic at that), the mechanised bass fits just fine. I thought it added an extra oomph to the NEC 92 gig, and has continued to do so ever since. Good work Doktor!

it makes me wonder at all why there's such investment in smoke and lights and not in GOOD sounding machines at all.

Be honest, the nurse should really take a double check if it comes to the equipment. If you compare the Bullet sound to the massive audio of the latest Depeche Mode tour, the Dok sounds like a Casio toy on low batteries.

But hey, so is Vons voice. I gave up caring about the sound, i admit. It's more the concept that gives me the shivers than the live act at all.

In Berlin, Columbiahalle this year... loved the gig, hated the sound.

Yep, the Leeds gig was the quietist I've ever heard. I'd imagine everything has been turned down so much to 'accommodate' Von's declining vocal capabilities. Definitely time to turn into an out-and-out techno onslaught. Von could maybe do a bit of a Bez.

or let another Dok do the vocals.

Planet Dave wrote:Yep, the Leeds gig was the quietist I've ever heard. I'd imagine everything has been turned down so much to 'accommodate' Von's declining vocal capabilities. Definitely time to turn into an out-and-out techno onslaught. Von could maybe do a bit of a Bez.

Maybe they should just become a Instrumental Groove Machine with Bez Eldritch hopping boggle eyed around the stage with his maraccas.

They should just turn everything up to 11 and put a rocket up the Doktors arse if they're not going to ask Craig to come back.

dinky daisy wrote:it makes me wonder at all why there's such investment in smoke and lights and not in GOOD sounding machines at all.

Be honest, the nurse should really take a double check if it comes to the equipment. If you compare the Bullet sound to the massive audio of the latest Depeche Mode tour, the Dok sounds like a Casio toy on low batteries.

But hey, so is Vons voice. I gave up caring about the sound, i admit. It's more the concept that gives me the shivers than the live act at all.

In Berlin, Columbiahalle this year... loved the gig, hated the sound.

Aye, but if you compare the budget DM are working with to that the Sissies are working with, I'm sure you'll find similar discrepancies.

Sound can be largely outside of the bands control anyway. Venue acoustics, PA quality and all the rest have a very significant role. Not even a good mix can put back in something that was never there in the first place.

Back to bass - I remember when Tony left, Von said that he was going to let the Doktor handle bass duties for a while and see how things go. Obviously he liked the result, so now we have all the new songs written to work with an electronic bass, so that's the way they're gonna be played.

We do get a few on a real bass though, so it's by no means exclusive.

dinky daisy wrote:or let another Dok do the vocals.

Yeah - or that. Like that Cher record maybe......'I beleeeeeeeeeeevvvvvvveeeeeeee'

SISTERS OF MERCY GIG 2026

Aye, but if you compare the budget DM are working with to that the Sissies are working with, I'm sure you'll find similar discrepancies.

Aye, but if Von would be inspired by the enthusiasm and communication DM are working with, the Sissies would find more coins in their pockets and more power to their machines.

Fair point & well made.
& you are right about his voice. Where did it go???
Too much "smoke inhillation?"

Still, another silhouette with a bass in the smoke would look quite cool huh?

I would have peferred a real bass player, but the Dok did okay.

I much prefer two guitarists and synth bass rather than only one guitarist and one human bass player.
But I'd still rather have two guitarists and one human bass player.

dinky daisy wrote:SISTERS OF MERCY GIG 2026

Can't wait, he might even be tempted to play Glastonbury with this 'incarnation'.

Try to imagine either Never Lands without a 'real' bass, I think not...

James Blast wrote:Try to imagine either Never Lands without a 'real' bass, I think not...

The horror, the horror...

Syberberg wrote:

James Blast wrote:Try to imagine either Never Lands without a 'real' bass, I think not...

The horror, the horror...

'zackley...

all i want for christmas is:

one drum machine

two drummers

one bassist

six guitarists

Back in the garage Ez?