I do think this poll is rather silly, and well, not very nice towards Adam. Who's the better bassist? Overall, Flea, but for what the bass is for in a rock band, Adam does very well. Adam plays to the songs, that's not a bad thing at all.
Honestly, the world's best bassist won't get the same respect as the world's best guitarist.
How many here know who Jaco Pastorius (sp?) is? (no googling)
How many here know who Pete Townshend is?
Why not do a Edge vs. Jimmie Hendrix while you're at it. Larry vs. Stewart Copeland. Bono vs. Robert Plant.
Well, Adam is getting better as a bassist, but I guess to some people, you have to do monster scales, do wicked solos and 'gymnastics' in order to be good, whereas laying down solid work, playing to the songs, and doing your job as a bass player in a rock band, makes you mediocre.
Bass is not a lead instrument, it can drive the songs, and there are some that Adam does that, but it's a rhythm instrument, now if U2 was a jazz band or some other genre where the bass is much more important, maybe he'd play differently. From what I've read from his bass teacher, I'm lead to believe Adam can play much more than what he shows, but he just chooses not to.
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Don't think most notice, but Adam adds to his basslines in live concerts. I was listening to a live video of the Freedom for Tibet concert, and a more recent Vertigo one, and Adam definitely plays better.
Most people don't know who the bassist is in a band anyway, unless they're already a fan of whichever band, but having a nickname or being the more famous person in band, is the only way to get noticed as a bassist from casual fans, or people who maybe know a few songs but that's it.
I don't know much about Flea other than what I saw on a Behind the Music and hearing some of their albums, but according to Bono, there is no one more professional in the band, then Adam.
After selling, millions of albums, selling out stadiums, being a successful band for almost 15 years, he goes back and takes proper bass lessons. Okay, maybe he should've done the lessons first but would he have stood out among other bass players? I think both of them kinda did their own thing.
Adam may not play a lot of complicated stuff, but he stands out. Next time you're listening to the radio, pay close attention the bass on the songs you hear, the way the bass sounds. Then compare to a U2 song, unless you live somewhere that hardly plays U2 on the radio then you can't really do this.
Flea, stands out, Adam stands out. Other bass players, not so much. I wonder why heavy metal bands even have bass players, other than to just 'be there' you hardly hear them unless there's a break in the guitars. Adam should be happy he's not in a heavy metal band, he'd be even less known.
