Les Claypool, the peculiar frontman and bassist for alt-metal icons Primus, helped to redefine the presence and feel of the four-string in heavy music. His playing framed his bass guitar lines as if it were a lead guitar, incorporating unorthodox techniques to set Primus’ surrealist vibes and zany concepts apart from many others in the music world for the last thirty-plus years. As such, prospective bass players take it upon themselves to study his work to hone their virtuosity and fretboard mastery.
So imagine the shock when Mohini Dey, an Indian-born solo fusion artist and session bassist for guitar gods Steve Vai and Guthrie Govan, to name just a few, nails the first section of Primus’ “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver” in a matter of minutes. On a recent video for Scott's Bass Lessons, Dey takes on the challenge and makes mincemeat of it. Host Sharon Renold informs Dey that she can put whatever spin on it she wishes, but her by-ear take on it comes damn close to the genuine article in both sound and execution, punctuated by Renold's surprised and amused expressions within the first couple of attempts.
No tablature, no bread, no water, just a few minutes of hearing it back a few times and cranking it out like it's the thing to do. Bass guitar doesn't get the love that it should, even in heavy music, but Dey's take on a funk-metal all-timer is a nod to a bass god.
