Billy Sheehan is widely considered one of the premiere rock bassists, with a resume that includes being an original member of Mr. Big, The Winery Dogs, and David Lee Roth’s solo band.
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As talented a bassist as Sheehan is, for him, no one in the rock world surpasses Paul McCartney. Billy shared his respect for the iconic Beatle during a recent interview on The Mistress Carrie Podcast.
[RELATED: The Teenage Roots and Adult Triumph of “To Be with You” by Mr. Big]
During their conversation, host Mistress Carrie asked Sheehan if he could name a song with what he’d consider the best bass line.
Sheehan’s initial response was the 1966 Yardbirds song “Lost Woman,” which featured Paul Samwell-Smith on bass. He then moved on to pour praise on McCartney’s playing.
“Almost anything McCartney did is just brilliant,” he declared. “Some people don’t get it. I think if [you] give me enough time, I’ll get them to get it.”
Sheehan continued, “I would be happy to explain to anyone why Paul McCartney is probably the greatest … really, just a really great, great player.”
The 71-year-old musician then drew positive comparisons between McCartney and lauded Motown session bassist James Jamerson.
“James Jamerson, of course, anything by The Temptations or any Motown that he played on, very similar [to McCartney,]” Sheehan maintained. “The bass was all over the place. McCartney’s bass is all over the place, but it’s so musical and woven in so well with what’s going on with every other component of the song and the music. It’s quite amazing.”
About the Beatles-Related Gift Sheehan Received from Another Rock Star
Sheehan then told Mistress Carrie a story about a very special Beatles-related gift he received from another famous musician.
Billy explained that a friend of his went to meet AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams to sell some gear to the Australian rocker. Sheehan also noted that he’s “the biggest AC/DC fan of all time,” and when his friend returned from meeting Williams, he brought a case with him that Williams wanted Bily to have.
“I go, ‘What’s that?’ … I go, ‘Open it up!’” Sheehan recalled. “[It was] a Hofner 1973 Beatle bass. And [my friend] said, ‘Cliff wanted you to have it.’ I had tears in my eyes. Just amazing. Apparently, he knew that I was a big Beatles fan. I didn’t even know he knew who I was.”
He continued, “And it’s … one of my most valued treasures ever. To get a gift from that man. … And he, as a bass player too, man, what a great, great player. AC/DC, the sound of those records and his bass playing on [them], just so amazing. … You could have knocked me over with a feather. I … had tears in my eyes.”
As for the bass itself, Sheehan said, “[T]he thing is just perfect, so playing McCartney on that is just so enriching and so cool.”
Billy revealed that he has special plans for his next birthday that involve the instrument.
“I will sit down with that bass, I think … and have a bottle of wine and put Sgt. Pepper’s [Lonely Hearts Club Band] on and play the whole thing on that bass,” he shared. “It’ll be so great.”
More About Sheehan
This past summer, Sheehan wrapped up a farewell tour with Mr. Big with an August 23 concert in Romania. The band released a final studio album titled Ten in July, and followed that in September with a live album and concert film called The BIG Finish Live.
It’s not clear what Sheehan’s forthcoming musical plans are.
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