--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can sing, but I consider myself a bass…" description: "\"I can sing, but I consider myself a bass player. I'm, you know, a musician first.\" — Michael Anthony" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass_2951299.jpg" --- # I can sing, but I consider myself a bass player. I'm, you… ![“I can sing, but I consider myself a bass player. I'm, you know, a musician first.” quote by Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass_2951299.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass_2951299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass_2951299.jpg) > “I can sing, but I consider myself a bass player. I'm, you know, a musician first.” [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identifies primarily as a musician, placing instrument role secondary to overall musical identity. **In simple terms:** He sees himself first as a musician, not just a bassist. Key Takeaway Prioritize your core identity over specific titles. Themes music identity role instrument band Mood introspective motivational Type personal professional When to use this quote - band rehearsals - studio sessions - public statements Key Concepts musician identity role hierarchy self‑definition Questions to Reflect On - What defines you beyond your job title? - How do you balance specialization with broader identity? A Different Perspective Focusing on one role may limit broader recognition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bass player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-player/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't want to be the bass player everyone forgot about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-didn-t-want-to-be-the-bass-player-everyone-forgot-about/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [Being a bass player in these big-time rock bands is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/being-a-bass-player-in-these-big-time-rock-bands-is-hard-work/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [Music is a universal language insofar as you don't need to know anything else about a musician that you are playing with other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/music-is-a-universal-language-insofar-as-you-don-t-need-to-know/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [I don't know any musician, successful or otherwise, that got in it to make money. Or writer, for that matter. You get into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-springfield/i-don-t-know-any-musician-successful-or-otherwise-that-got-in-it-to/) [Rick Springfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-springfield/) > [My advice to women who habitually gravitate toward musicians is that they learn how to play an instrument and start making music themselves. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/my-advice-to-women-who-habitually-gravitate-toward-musicians-is-that/) [Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/) > [ I don't know whether you \[musician\] can be all things to everybody, which is why there are different kinds of music. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/i-don-t-know-whether-you-musician-can-be-all-things-to-everybody/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Virtually every writer I know would rather be a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/virtually-every-writer-i-know-would-rather-be-a-musician/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I don't know any musician who got to the top without hard work. Take whoever you want. They all work bloody hard, harder than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-rossdale/i-don-t-know-any-musician-who-got-to-the-top-without-hard-work-take/) [Gavin Rossdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-rossdale/) > [There was one lady in a club we played regularly who was also a fan of Sly Stone on the radio at the time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-graham/there-was-one-lady-in-a-club-we-played-regularly-who-was-also-a-fan/) [Larry Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-graham/) > [I was the bass player in the '70s all-female rock band the Runaways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/i-was-the-bass-player-in-the-70s-all-female-rock-band-the-runaways/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I always just wanted to be the singer or the bass player in the band. I'd love to have a band, where I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/i-always-just-wanted-to-be-the-singer-or-the-bass-player-in-the-band/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [I was a guitar player in a band that had two keyboard players, sometimes two other guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer, four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-was-a-guitar-player-in-a-band-that-had-two-keyboard-players/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## More by Michael Anthony > [It wasn't until the fourth or fifth Van Halen record that people would go, 'Wow! You're singing backgrounds on those records. That's not David…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/it-wasn-t-until-the-fourth-or-fifth-van-halen-record-that-people/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [My wife likes to say I act like a kid, so maybe that's why I sing like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/my-wife-likes-to-say-i-act-like-a-kid-so-maybe-that-s-why-i-sing-like/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [“Gunner shook his head; he wasn't in the mood. He stared down at his bottle as he spoke. "Yeah, and what if I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/gunner-shook-his-head-he-wasn-t-in-the-mood-he-stared-down-at-his/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [Probably for drums, a guy I really enjoyed watching is Simon Phillips. I've seen him play with The Who and with Pete Townshend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/probably-for-drums-a-guy-i-really-enjoyed-watching-is-simon-phillips/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [I always had to have music in my cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-always-had-to-have-music-in-my-cars/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [I didn't want to be the bass player everyone forgot about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-didn-t-want-to-be-the-bass-player-everyone-forgot-about/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [I hate to exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-hate-to-exercise/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [A Tennessee Squire is an elite group of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/a-tennessee-squire-is-an-elite-group-of-people/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [I'm trying to grow old gracefully. I've got to at least grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-m-trying-to-grow-old-gracefully-i-ve-got-to-at-least-grow-old/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [I don't hold any kind of grudges for anything, and you never know what will happen at anytime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-don-t-hold-any-kind-of-grudges-for-anything-and-you-never-know-what/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [It's an honor to be brought into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and I'm going to show up if I'm invited, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/it-s-an-honor-to-be-brought-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-and-i/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [Being a bass player in these big-time rock bands is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/being-a-bass-player-in-these-big-time-rock-bands-is-hard-work/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [I've always loved playing Zeppelin - they were one of my favorite bands growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-ve-always-loved-playing-zeppelin-they-were-one-of-my-favorite-bands/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [I always want harmony within the band. I want it to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-always-want-harmony-within-the-band-i-want-it-to-work/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [Everyone used to call me 'Mr. Switzerland.' I'm not the kind of guy who smack talks anybody or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/everyone-used-to-call-me-mr-switzerland-i-m-not-the-kind-of-guy-who/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) [Explore all 77 Michael Anthony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) ## More Bass quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [In life's orchestra, the bike is the double bass. Hard to forget it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fournel/in-life-s-orchestra-the-bike-is-the-double-bass-hard-to-forget-it/) Paul Fournel > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [The kind of fishing that I do is pretty much bass, trout or freshwater fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/the-kind-of-fishing-that-i-do-is-pretty-much-bass-trout-or-freshwater/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [I've always been playing with other people, and that's how I learned. I got a kit of drums I couldn't play, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-ve-always-been-playing-with-other-people-and-that-s-how-i-learned-i/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I grew up on the pirate radio scene which started out as drum 'n' bass music. U.K. garage picked up and got bigger on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-grew-up-on-the-pirate-radio-scene-which-started-out-as-drum-n-bass/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [Close to the Edge by Yes. Such a fun tune to play on bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/close-to-the-edge-by-yes-such-a-fun-tune-to-play-on-bass/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [That's what Joe Don Rooney and I do. He plays guitar and I play bass - and there's no reason to call it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/that-s-what-joe-don-rooney-and-i-do-he-plays-guitar-and-i-play-bass/) [Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/) > [I've always said the bass just happens to be the crayon I picked out of the box. I'd still be drawing the same pictures...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-ve-always-said-the-bass-just-happens-to-be-the-crayon-i-picked-out/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [I was a guitar player in a band that had two keyboard players, sometimes two other guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer, four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-was-a-guitar-player-in-a-band-that-had-two-keyboard-players/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I live a different way today. I have a family, and they are a priority for me. These days, I no longer wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/i-live-a-different-way-today-i-have-a-family-and-they-are-a-priority/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) Browse all 722 Bass quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can sing, but I consider myself a bass player. I'm, you know, a musician first.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Anthony" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass-player-i-m-you-know-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bass" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass-player-i-m-you-know-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass_2951299.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass_2951299.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass_2951299.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can sing, but I consider myself a bass player. I'm, you know, a musician first.” — Michael Anthony", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Anthony", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can sing, but I consider...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass-player-i-m-you-know-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-can-sing-but-i-consider-myself-a-bass-player-i-m-you-know-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```