re: Why are bassists looked down on

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Why exactly is that?

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It is considered a lower level skill than lead and even rhythm. And, when you consider it was a throwaway instrument for some bands (The Sex Pistols) and the instrument for the masses of unsigned/less regarded bands is generally the one you can spare your least gifted player (other than drummer of course ).

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They have their place I think.

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More than that - it's almost required at the high end - and a drummer to match - without them, the music won't have any sense of cohesion. Let's face it, rock and pop music isn't all that complicated, even at the high end. If it's not held together by a solid rhythm section, it quickly degenerates into simplistic cacophony.

Imagine Zeppelin without JPJ or The Who without Ox - just as 2 examples.