--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was never so much the heavy metal…" description: "\"It was never so much the heavy metal thunder that got me. I was into players who played with taste and did these walking bass parts. If you can play li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/michael-anthony-8865_bass_it-was-never-so-much-the-heavy-metal-thu_3204694.jpg" --- # It was never so much the heavy metal thunder that got me… ![“It was never so much the heavy metal thunder that got me. I was into players who played with taste and did these walking bass parts. If you can play like that, it really opens up the music. You can't just pound away. After a while it's like, 'So what? What else you got?'” quote by Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/michael-anthony-8865_bass_it-was-never-so-much-the-heavy-metal-thu_3204694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/michael-anthony-8865_bass_it-was-never-so-much-the-heavy-metal-thu_3204694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/michael-anthony-8865_bass_it-was-never-so-much-the-heavy-metal-thu_3204694.jpg) > “It was never so much the heavy metal thunder that got me. I was into players who played with taste and did these walking bass parts. If you can play like that, it really opens up the music. You can't just pound away. After a while it's like, 'So what? What else you got?'” [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. He values musical nuance over sheer volume, preferring tasteful playing that expands creative possibilities. **In simple terms:** Tasteful playing expands music more than loudness. Key Takeaway Focus on nuance, not just volume. Themes music creativity taste technical skill Mood reflective inspired analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - band rehearsals - recording sessions - live performances - songwriting - music education Key Concepts musical nuance artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate subtlety into loud genres? - What does “taste” mean in your playing? A Different Perspective Heavy emphasis on volume can overlook subtlety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heavy metal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavy-metal/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Grunge, like Nirvana and all that. Heavy metal, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Guns and Roses, drum and bass. I like to listen to it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/grunge-like-nirvana-and-all-that-heavy-metal-iron-maiden-metallica/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [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/) > [“Do not make your life a television, so that people around you won't play you like a video Game”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efe-zinox-jacob-baddestdon/do-not-make-your-life-a-television-so-that-people-around-you-won-t/) Efe Zinox Jacob BadDESTDon > [In previous years I was so fired up at times I made little mistakes. So I kept telling myself to be patient, relax, play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/in-previous-years-i-was-so-fired-up-at-times-i-made-little-mistakes/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [It's difficult. You tell yourself that, but you don't believe it. You always feel like there's another game. You know, the reality is, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-strickland/it-s-difficult-you-tell-yourself-that-but-you-don-t-believe-it-you/) Marshall Strickland > [Just watch your Queen baby like a poker cards fan, I tap that and then play her like GarageBand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/just-watch-your-queen-baby-like-a-poker-cards-fan-i-tap-that-and-then/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [Yeah, people did say I play like Vieira. I like going forward from midfield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-wanyama/yeah-people-did-say-i-play-like-vieira-i-like-going-forward-from/) [Victor Wanyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-wanyama/) > [I finally realised I really enjoy playing the way I play and I'm not going to try to play like Travis Barker because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-ledger/i-finally-realised-i-really-enjoy-playing-the-way-i-play-and-i-m-not/) [Jen Ledger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-ledger/) > [Dravid Could play attacking cricket like me but i could never play like him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gayle/dravid-could-play-attacking-cricket-like-me-but-i-could-never-play/) [Chris Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gayle/) > [A lot of people say I do play like Carmelo Anthony. That's just a great saying of my game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/a-lot-of-people-say-i-do-play-like-carmelo-anthony-that-s-just-a/) [Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/) > [Unless I play like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, it'll be hard to give myself 100 out of 100.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/son-heung-min/unless-i-play-like-lionel-messi-or-cristiano-ronaldo-it-ll-be-hard-to/) [Son Heung-min](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/son-heung-min/) > [When I do a play, it's like agreeing to be ill for a couple of months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/when-i-do-a-play-it-s-like-agreeing-to-be-ill-for-a-couple-of-months/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [So everybody is trying to play like Eddie Van Halen. I think it's rubbish. I think Eddie's great, but everyone's trying to do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/so-everybody-is-trying-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen-i-think-it-s/) [Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/) ## 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": "It was never so much the heavy metal thunder that got me. I was into players who played with taste and did these walking bass parts. If you can play like that, it really opens up the music. You can't just pound away. After a while it's like, 'So what? 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