---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back in the day, being a young, inspired…"
description: "\"Back in the day, being a young, inspired bass player, I started to gravitate toward jazz fusion. I almost would have called myself an elitist. I got to..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/robert-trujillo-5752_bass_back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-b_2909313.png"
---

#  Back in the day, being a young, inspired bass player, I…

![“Back in the day, being a young, inspired bass player, I started to gravitate toward jazz fusion. I almost would have called myself an elitist. I got to the point where, for a little bit there, I was more interested in instrumental music.” quote by Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/robert-trujillo-5752_bass_back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-b_2909313.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/robert-trujillo-5752_bass_back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-b_2909313.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/robert-trujillo-5752_bass_back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-b_2909313.png)

> “Back in the day, being a young, inspired bass player, I started to gravitate toward jazz fusion. I almost would have called myself an elitist. I got to the point where, for a little bit there, I was more interested in instrumental music.”

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes a shift from jazz fusion to instrumental focus, reflecting personal artistic evolution.

**In simple terms:** The musician moved from genre fusion to pure instrumental expression.

Key Takeaway

Embrace artistic growth and explore new musical directions.

Themes

artistic evolution genre instrumental music

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

musical personal

When to use this quote

- recording sessions
- live performances
- collaborations

Key Concepts

creativity personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives an artist to change style?
- How does this shift affect audience perception?

A Different Perspective

Fans may resist stylistic changes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) [Bass player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-player/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspired Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired-bass-4181437/) [Instrumental music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrumental-music/) [Interested Instrumental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-instrumental-4181438/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Fusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-fusion-940071/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/)

## Related quotes

> [Traditionally, the role of the bass player was just to keep things simple and solid, so it's really a special thing when you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/traditionally-the-role-of-the-bass-player-was-just-to-keep-things/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [Lemmy is, I think, for anybody in the world of rock n' roll - you don't have to be a bass player - he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/lemmy-is-i-think-for-anybody-in-the-world-of-rock-n-roll-you-don-t/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [I don't think the Beatles were that good. I think they're fine, you know. Ringo's got the best backbeat I've ever heard... Paul is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/i-don-t-think-the-beatles-were-that-good-i-think-they-re-fine-you/)

[George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/)

> [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/)

> [As I said, when we needed to move over to rock'n'roll, Sam and Vernon couldn't quite make the shift. So that's when Larry took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/as-i-said-when-we-needed-to-move-over-to-rock-n-roll-sam-and-vernon/)

[Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/)

> [Onstage I like to play with a an 18-inch speaker, which very few bass players do. I need that fat, underneath sound, which I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/onstage-i-like-to-play-with-a-an-18-inch-speaker-which-very-few-bass/)

[Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/)

> [In general, we like to play as a band - guitar, piano, and voice. We also tour with a bass player, a drummer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dost/in-general-we-like-to-play-as-a-band-guitar-piano-and-voice-we-also/)

[Andrew Dost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dost/)

> [I was in a really crummy pop-punk band. I think we did a whole bunch of Blink-182 covers, and we were on the fringe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/i-was-in-a-really-crummy-pop-punk-band-i-think-we-did-a-whole-bunch/)

[Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/)

> [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 Robert Trujillo

> [Sometimes artists die young, and we don't know exactly why. I think that, in life, you have these special individuals, whether it's Jimi Hendrix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/sometimes-artists-die-young-and-we-don-t-know-exactly-why-i-think/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [Writing a Metallica song is a journey and a process, and it takes time, but that's what's special about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/writing-a-metallica-song-is-a-journey-and-a-process-and-it-takes-time/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [I've played with the best drummers in rock, ranging from Josh Freese to Brooks Wackerman to even Dave Lombardo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-ve-played-with-the-best-drummers-in-rock-ranging-from-josh-freese/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [If you choose to take care of yourself, you're going to get more mileage for your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/if-you-choose-to-take-care-of-yourself-you-re-going-to-get-more/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [When I was younger, I was trying to create from attitude more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/when-i-was-younger-i-was-trying-to-create-from-attitude-more-than/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [With the fretless bass, you have a different tone and different sound, a different dynamic to the instrument, so you can really make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/with-the-fretless-bass-you-have-a-different-tone-and-different-sound/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [I'm always pulling and really feeding off of my inspirations. I think most musicians do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-m-always-pulling-and-really-feeding-off-of-my-inspirations-i-think/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [It's very important to us, family, and the balance of family within the band is probably the most important. Metallica is important, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/it-s-very-important-to-us-family-and-the-balance-of-family-within-the/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> ['Mama I'm Coming Home' is one song that I think is incredible. One of his best songs ever written. Lemmy wrote the lyrics to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/mama-i-m-coming-home-is-one-song-that-i-think-is-incredible-one-of/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [My father had a friend who actually had a hollow-body bass guitar and didn't work through an amp, but because it was hollow body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/my-father-had-a-friend-who-actually-had-a-hollow-body-bass-guitar-and/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [Flamenco was probably the first music that I may have heard as a baby, because my father played flamenco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/flamenco-was-probably-the-first-music-that-i-may-have-heard-as-a-baby/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [Mike Clark, who's a really amazing surfer, got me back into surfing. I surfed a lot from '82 to '86, and then I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/mike-clark-who-s-a-really-amazing-surfer-got-me-back-into-surfing-i/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [I like that Metallica has found a way to have these non-pedestrian arrangements but then the vocal melody is strong and intense. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-like-that-metallica-has-found-a-way-to-have-these-non-pedestrian/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [We see kids out there on their parent's shoulders rocking out. And that's really special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/we-see-kids-out-there-on-their-parent-s-shoulders-rocking-out-and/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [A lot of the hardcore fans wanna hear the deep cuts - songs like 'Orion' or maybe like a 'Disposable Heroes' - you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/a-lot-of-the-hardcore-fans-wanna-hear-the-deep-cuts-songs-like-orion/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

[Explore all 100 Robert Trujillo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

## 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": "Back in the day, being a young, inspired bass player, I started to gravitate toward jazz fusion. I almost would have called myself an elitist. I got to the point where, for a little bit there, I was more interested in instrumental music.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Trujillo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-bass-player-i-started-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bass"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-bass-player-i-started-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/robert-trujillo-5752_bass_back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-b_2909313.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/robert-trujillo-5752_bass_back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-b_2909313.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/robert-trujillo-5752_bass_back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-b_2909313.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Back in the day, being a young, inspired bass player, I started to gravitate toward jazz fusion. I almost…” — Robert Trujillo",
                "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": "Robert Trujillo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Back in the day, being a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-bass-player-i-started-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/back-in-the-day-being-a-young-inspired-bass-player-i-started-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
