Steve Vai with Billy Sheehan: “The Crying Machine”, Live

by Kevin Johnson | Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Billy Sheehan is usually know for blazing riffs and absolutely ripping solos, but the man knows how to really get down, too.

Sheehan presented Steve Vai with the Les Paul Award at this year’s TEC Awards, and afterwords they jammed out the guitarist’s tune “The Crying Machine.”

Sheehan lays down a funky groove that just won’t quit.

As much of a “guitar feature” as this song is, it’s really about the bass.

More: Billy Sheehan

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Comments:

Jimi Cunning says:

February 19, 2013 at 11:10 am

I’m done reading comments/threads on musical websites. The haters, the immature, the stupid, the closemeinded, the dogmatic…. You can all die in terror, in a @#$%ing fire.

Barry Irwin says:

February 19, 2013 at 12:25 am

Billy Sheehan is the epitome of a rock bass player.People love to make comparisons about who is better but its really about how the music sounds and that’s where he delivers by making the music sound great! That’s the job of a great bass player.In that he delivers in spades.

Edna Levack says:

February 19, 2013 at 2:25 am

Awesome.

Bjorn Arvidsson says:

May 16, 2012 at 2:10 am

These guys are amazing players, and I’m sure they can play more notes per minute than any other, and I know they are both greats, but…. what horrible elevator-music!

Patrik Wennström says:

May 16, 2012 at 2:40 am

Sorry if I infected you with my post of a Joe Satriani video. But I have to agree about this one. It is elevator music.

Bjorn Arvidsson says:

May 16, 2012 at 9:25 am

You didn’t! I like to think that there are two kinds of music; Good and bad. Basta! These are great players, playing bad music.

Carrie Petersen says:

May 15, 2012 at 10:40 pm

Turn down the guitar! lol

Don Henning says:

May 15, 2012 at 10:25 pm

The thing I like about Billy is that he really created his own style and he does it well. There are many who followed — and I don’t know their names. Billy owns his space in the world of bass players.

Dale Raszewski says:

April 8, 2012 at 9:40 pm

Mr Shehaan is one of the kindest most considerate people I have every met! He does not consider himself the greatest Bass player in the world, to him Tim Bogart is. It is his peers calling him the greatest. If he can he will sit there all day talking about Bass or anything else you wish to speak of.

As for rolling stone mag. it has not been a true music mag since the 70′s and is not worth the paper or computer you read it on.

Travis Martin says:

April 8, 2012 at 11:39 pm

rolling stone is crap. they are the sports illustrated of the music world. just remember, rolling stone said led zeppelin sucked and would never last.

Brian Pierce says:

April 8, 2012 at 11:55 pm

Billy Sheehan is totally one of the best bassists ever. I don’t consider him the best, but at what he does, he is the best. Other bassists are equally as great in their genre as he is in his. Steve Harris, Victor Wooten, Stuart Hamm, Jaco, Flea, and so on and so forth. But, there is much to be said about the people these and others have influenced along the way and the fact that Rolling Stone Magazine had nothing to do with it. Remember folks, the mag is lop-sided in what they view as good for the industry/art of music. Hell, look how many musicians/bands KISS has influenced, yet Rolling Stone Magazine consider them crap. If you like or admire a musician for whatever reason, don’t be swayed by others. Enjoy and soak up what/who moves you. That’s what it’s all about anyway.

Jimi Cunning says:

February 19, 2013 at 11:10 am

Brian Pierce just cause something is popular or influential has NOTHING to do with how good it is…

Chadpole Venatibus Broski says:

April 7, 2012 at 11:09 pm

You know a man is lost in his music when he loses control of every muscle in his face and neck. Billy Sheehan is a master.

Jeff Karlson says:

February 25, 2012 at 11:55 pm

What bass, couldn’t hear a note!

Gerald Fernandes says:

February 25, 2012 at 11:25 pm

Billy and Steve you guys are always rockin God bless you both with happy healthy long life…thumbs up.

Luke Reep says:

February 25, 2012 at 5:55 pm

billy sheehan
steve vai
larry mitchell
joe satraini
basically every instrumental artists.
R OVERRATED!

Eda Bassette says:

February 25, 2012 at 11:25 pm

Well,I guess you’re much better…

Val Peers says:

February 26, 2012 at 5:55 am

First, Billy Sheehan has mostly played with non-instrumental bands (Talas, David Lee Roth, Mr Big). Secondly: check Niacin, an instrumental jazz band he’s been in… you’ll be able to argue over his musicianship.

Luke Reep says:

February 26, 2012 at 10:09 am

Val Peers its simple actually those other non instrumental bands are also overrated n my proof is from rolling stone magazine….rolling stone magazine made a poll of the top ten greatest bass guitarists of all time n wat do u noe billy sheehan wasnt selected at all or nominated n also steve vai was also not nominated for rolling stones magazine of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time…reason why bcuz theyre overrated n they will always will be u can try to prove me wrong but all the evidence comes from rolling stone magazine n honestly u cant really argue wit rolling stone magazine bcuz theyve bin around more than any magazine ever n their opinions of music or much more satisfactorial to the readers n the public.

Val Peers says:

February 26, 2012 at 10:55 am

Luke Reep my answer to this magazine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bSbKXQAhpZA . Lets say some players are way over rated, and that others should deserve much more respect! peace

Jerry Schwanebeck says:

February 26, 2012 at 12:40 pm

Luke Reep , Luke Reep , Rolling Stone Magazine is nothing more than opinion (probably biased), just as yours. Everyone you mentioned are all accomplished musicians and very good at what they do.

Jerry Schwanebeck says:

February 26, 2012 at 2:25 pm

Luke Reep ,Rolling Stone Magazine is nothing more than opinion (probably biased), just as yours. Everyone you mentioned are all accomplished musicians and very good at what they do.

Luke Reep says:

February 26, 2012 at 6:25 pm

Jerry Schwanebeck sure sure but theyre not the best or be considered the greatest
u jus stick to ur convictions which shows tats the only gud thin u can only do of course.

Luke Reep says:

February 26, 2012 at 6:25 pm

Val Peers tats real mature -_-

Eda Bassette says:

February 26, 2012 at 11:55 pm

Luke Reep OMG that’s so funny!!!.Your reference comes from rolling stone magazine!,I guess you don’t have any musical education!. Arguing with you seems really pointless,so first get yourself an education.By the way,this kind of magazines tend to put Gene Simmons as one of the greatest bass players in history,Kurt Cobain as one of the greatest guitar players,or Britney Spears as one of the greatest singers of all time.If you think Steve Vai sucks,I suggest you BUY a guitar and try to do at least 1% of what he can do.Ignorant fool.

Luke Reep says:

February 27, 2012 at 8:25 pm

Eda Bassette FYI ima friggin guitar instructor so stfu!

Jerry Schwanebeck says:

February 27, 2012 at 8:39 pm

Luke Reep , nevermind, your entitled to your opinion. I just think you came across pretty harsh.

Christopher Robinson says:

February 25, 2012 at 5:10 pm

I am feelin this!

Erik Eklof says:

February 22, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Yea, I noticed the scallops too…never played an instrument like that, wonder if it’s easier to be quick.

Kyle Smith says:

February 25, 2012 at 9:55 am

he uses the scallops to know where he is on the fret board

Erik Eklof says:

February 25, 2012 at 10:55 am

Kyle Smith I don’t think so…between each fret on the fingerboard itself, the wood has been “scalloped” out in a shallow curve. It’s not the inlays to mark the fret location…look closely.

Neil Bertrand says:

February 25, 2012 at 5:55 pm

The scallops are supposed to allow for better string bending.

Shaun College says:

February 25, 2012 at 10:10 pm

It reduces friction between the string and fretboard – eliminates it, really. It is supposed to make it easier (i.e. faster) to play and easier to bend. It was all the rage back in the late 80′s/early 90′s.

Chadpole Venatibus Broski says:

April 7, 2012 at 11:09 pm

Shaun College I’ve never understood that. scalloping’s always been done above the twelfth fret and, looking at my bass, the string doesn’t even touch the fret board down there. I’ve always wanted to try it out, though.

Shaun College says:

February 18, 2012 at 3:40 pm

Lot of scalloping on those instruments…

David Mastroianni says:

February 25, 2012 at 7:40 pm

mmmm, i could mau a plate of scallops right now!

Chadpole Venatibus Broski says:

April 7, 2012 at 9:54 pm

David Mastroianni I tried putting scallops on my instrument once. Ultimately, they just got in the way, so I ate them instead. Definitely doesn’t make anything easier.

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Steve Vai with Billy Sheehan: “The Crying Machine”, Live

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the online magazine for bass players

Steve Vai with Billy Sheehan: “The Crying Machine”, Live

Aaron Gibson: “I Will Take You Home” (All-Bass Grateful Dead Cover)

Or Lubianiker: Interactive Bass Licks Video Lesson

No Treble T-Shirts, Hoodies & Stickers

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