--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'll sing backgrounds, but a lead singer…" description: "\"I'll sing backgrounds, but a lead singer, you know, you've got to have that mentality and personality. I'd rather be the bass guy.\" — Michael Anthony" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-ll-sing-backgrounds-but-a-lead-singer_2371374.jpg" --- # I'll sing backgrounds, but a lead singer, you know, you've… ![“I'll sing backgrounds, but a lead singer, you know, you've got to have that mentality and personality. I'd rather be the bass guy.” quote by Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-ll-sing-backgrounds-but-a-lead-singer_2371374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-ll-sing-backgrounds-but-a-lead-singer_2371374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/michael-anthony-8865_bass_i-ll-sing-backgrounds-but-a-lead-singer_2371374.jpg) > “I'll sing backgrounds, but a lead singer, you know, you've got to have that mentality and personality. I'd rather be the bass guy.” [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. Being a bassist requires confidence but often stays in the background, highlighting the value of supporting roles. **In simple terms:** Bassists support without spotlight. Key Takeaway Value behind‑the‑scenes contributions. Themes music role confidence Mood appreciative thoughtful Type inspirational musical When to use this quote - band rehearsals - studio sessions - live performances Key Concepts team dynamics self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize unsung contributions? - What does “lead” mean to you? A Different Perspective Lead singers may receive disproportionate credit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backgrounds Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgrounds-lead-5840878/) [Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) [Bass Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-guy-5840876/) [Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead/) [Lead singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-singer/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Personality Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality-bass-5840875/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Sing Backgrounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-backgrounds-5840877/) ## Related quotes > [While I was sitting back on drums for years, I was watching how the lead singer interacts with the crowd, how the bass guitarist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-flip/while-i-was-sitting-back-on-drums-for-years-i-was-watching-how-the/) [G Flip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-flip/) > [Jack Bruce really showed me that you could go anywhere with a bass part, and as long as you stayed in time, as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/jack-bruce-really-showed-me-that-you-could-go-anywhere-with-a-bass/) [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 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/) > [Don't forget to get your Motley Crue t-shirt, you know, all proceeds go to get their lead singer out of jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/motley-crue/don-t-forget-to-get-your-motley-crue-t-shirt-you-know-all-proceeds-go/) [Motley Crue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/motley-crue/) > [I'm a lead singer of a band, and that's so enough. It's not like I need to have my name on everything. The new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-smyth/i-m-a-lead-singer-of-a-band-and-that-s-so-enough-it-s-not-like-i-need/) [Patty Smyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-smyth/) > [I think my most famous was 'Poco's Legend.' It's a white album with a simple line drawing of a horse. It almost has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hartman/i-think-my-most-famous-was-poco-s-legend-it-s-a-white-album-with-a/) [Phil Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hartman/) > [The lead singer for Deerhunter, Bradford Cox... I don't like saying people are geniuses or whatever, but I just think that dude is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-anderson/the-lead-singer-for-deerhunter-bradford-cox-i-don-t-like-saying/) [Blake Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-anderson/) > [“Halfway through the set, the lead singer, who goes by Cloud, knife in hand, begins to stab at the cutout of Copal Brandt with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-a-flores/halfway-through-the-set-the-lead-singer-who-goes-by-cloud-knife-in/) [Fernando A. Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-a-flores/) > [People would come up to me, saying, 'You sound a lot like the lead singer from Queen.' I started wondering, 'Who is this guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-martel/people-would-come-up-to-me-saying-you-sound-a-lot-like-the-lead/) [Marc Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-martel/) > [I started as a drummer, so I sort of took on singing duties by default. I had sung backgrounds and some lead vocals from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-started-as-a-drummer-so-i-sort-of-took-on-singing-duties-by-default/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [My dad was lead singer of the Tremeloes and he gave me advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/my-dad-was-lead-singer-of-the-tremeloes-and-he-gave-me-advice/) [Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/) > [I like the Stereophonics. I know the lead singer, Kelly Jones, and theres the Welsh connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-rush/i-like-the-stereophonics-i-know-the-lead-singer-kelly-jones-and/) [Ian Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-rush/) > [I'm the lead singer of the Beach Boys and an ambassador of this amazing music that touched a generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-love/i-m-the-lead-singer-of-the-beach-boys-and-an-ambassador-of-this/) [Mike Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-love/) > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'll sing backgrounds, but a lead singer, you know, you've got to have that mentality and personality. 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