Bass players who have also been a pope.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Craig Regan

how about this Pope?

Good try Craig, but I don't think that Mike has ever been elected by a Papal Conclave. Anyway, if Mike were a real pope, he could become known as
Pope Pope and that could look like a mistake on official Vatican documents. It might be prudent not to push this "could Mike be the first bass playing pope" line.

[Richard Prowse]

Im starting to suspect that there aren't any. That would make this thread a little pointless. I know, we'll include bass players who have also been a cardinal!

[Craig Regan]

were getting warmer....

[Kevin Newell]

I knew he would go for the blonde....quilted maple...

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Kevin Newell

I knew he would go for the blonde....quilted maple...

Kevin, while I am naturally very grateful for the effort that Craig and yourself have invested in the interest of saving the good name of this thread, if Pope Benedict did actually play a Smith bass (or any brand of bass, for that matter) he'd probably adopt the title
Pope Benedict The Bassist.
The three string chord that he has just strummed with his thumb is Amaj7b5(no 3rd). He's playing a tritone in that chord
(A - D# (enharmonically)); an interval that the early Church seriously disliked enough to refer to as 'the devil in music'. Has the church done an about turn? Has Heavy Metal sold out and will Heavy Metal songs now contain words such as 'love' and 'forgiveness'?

[Kevin Newell]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Kevin, while I am naturally very grateful for the effort that Craig and yourself have invested in the interest of saving the good name of this thread, if Pope Benedict did actually play a Smith bass (or any brand of bass, for that matter) he'd probably adopt the title
Pope Benedict The Bassist.

Silly, if he played a B.C. Rich then he might be named Pope Benedict The Bassist. If he plays a Smith he would just be call Pope or the Pope Formerly Know as Pope. Or magnificent.

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

The three string chord that he has just strummed with his thumb is Amaj7b5(no 3rd). He's playing a tritone in that chord
(A - D# (enharmonically)); an interval that the early Church seriously disliked enough to refer to as 'the devil in music'. Has the church done an about turn? Has Heavy Metal sold out and will Heavy Metal songs now contain words such as 'love' and 'forgiveness'?

I know it looks like an Amaj7b5, but as we all know Pope Benedict plays Alto. So on top of his poor right hand technique (mostly due to his age) and being played Alto strung, that would actually be a Dsus2 chord which is quite common in Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina music. While I am sure the Pope gets down to Judas Priest on occasion, I cannot for see Rob Halford singing about the loaves and fishes any time in the foreseeable future.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Kevin Newell

I know it looks like an Amaj7b5, but as we all know Pope Benedict plays Alto. So on top of his poor right hand technique (mostly due to his age) and being played Alto strung, that would actually be a Dsus2 chord which is quite common in Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina music. While I am sure the Pope gets down to Judas Priest on occasion, I cannot for see Rob Halford singing about the loaves and fishes any time in the foreseeable future.

Alto bass? What's that? Even trumpet players don't get into that nonsense! Anyway, Dsus2 is a sissies' chord - if a guy gets to be pope, no matter how sloppy his fingering is (and I agree that it is), he's going to want to make a strong musical statement. After all, a large portion of the world hangs onto his every word. Sorry Kevin, if I come across all 'high and mighty', but a guy of Bene's age who is enjoying his time in the limelight isn't going to tolerate a chord with no 7th. That'd be far too esoteric for him! No Kevin. Organised religion follows a well trodden road. I think I'm qualified to pull you up on this one. What is my qualification, I hear you ask? Well, I do run a blog that has just about been able to prove that the universe is finite - what have you done? Anyway, I suspect that the 'popegate photo' was a setup. It's more likely that he would play double bass.