Planet Bass - The Martin Mendez Interview April 2004

Martin Mendez is the bass player in the top Swedish Progressive Death Metal band, Opeth. They play music that does not bow to trends. Over their 7 album career they have explored their musical form, ignoring boundaries and playing what they want to hear. Fans of Progressive Rock, which they quote as being the ultimate form of music, and Death Metal alike, will love this band. They have melody, power and the musical expertise to pull it off. Their career goes from strength to strength and Martin is part of the powerhouse behind their music. Opeth's website is at- www.opeth.com

What inspired you to first pick up a bass and what were your first attempts at playing it like?

 I took the bass when I were 13 or 14 years old after my father, he was a bass player but stopped playing when I was a baby. He had a nice bass (A Beatles copy model) that he had owned for 15 years but when I started I wanted a black and evil one, so I sold it for 100 US dollars. I bought a “Tenon” bass, black and evil. It looked like Tom Arayas bass (Slayer) and that was cool at the time in Uruguay. I wanted to play Death Metal, since I started. Morbid Angel inspired me a lot, from the music, to the way they looked. It was evil!

Who were your early influences and what did you learn from them?

I had always been into metal since I started to listen music, so bands like Megadeth, Metallica, Sepultura, Nuclear Assault, and many others helped me to get into that style. The tropical or South American music has always been there too. That is something I discovered after many years, the rhythms. I never played that stuff over there but teachers and musicians I knew at that time did it. And at some point you get it in the blood. That’s what I most remember from the beginning.

Did you take lessons or are you self-taught?

I took lessons for the first 4 years, and then I started to teach my self with videos and books. Sometimes I try to take a couple of lessons from somebody just to refresh my mind but most of the time I’m sit by my self and practice for hours.

What’s the most important bit of advice you were given by another musician?

I think it was from Mike (Opeth), when he started to play together with Lopez (the drummer) and me and we were into technical stuff. He taught us to combine that with feeling. I think that’s the most important break I had as a musician. I started in a new world into music and that’s the time I started to feel like a musician.

What’s the most important bit of advice you could give to new bassists?

Practice and practice. That’s the most important thing, sit down and play for hours by your self. It is as important as it is to play with a band.  But to find your style I think you have to leave a lot of your time to practice.

Where do you stand on the old fingers vs. plectrums debate and why?

I always played with my fingers. I don’t know why, but plectrums never caught on to me. I feel freer with the fingers; more alternatives to do with them, and the sound of the plectrum cannot compare for my taste.

Do you play 4, 5 or 6 string basses mainly? Fretted or unfretted?

I have mostly 4 strings basses. I think they are more comfortable for my playing. I use 5 strings when I need it for the sound but I prefer 4. I love to play fretless too. I own 3 and they sound so beautiful in my taste.

How would you define your style of playing?

I don’t really know. I love to play all kind of music so it’s difficult to define just one style. I like crazy shit, technical but always groove. What I’m doing in Opeth for me is not my style as a bass player. I adapt my playing to Opeth and that’s different.

Tell us a little about the artists you have worked with, and how / if you adapted to playing with each of them?

I had been playing different kind of music. I never had the problem to adapt my playing with other people. I had been playing in technical progressive metal bands, South American styles like, Candombe, boss nova, rock and blues, and others. For a bass player it’s important to play with the drummer and personally I always had the same drummer. Lopez and I had been playing together since we started. I tried a couple of times with different ones but for me it’s not the same. We know each other so well when it comes to play together.

Who was the most inspirational and in what way?

My biggest inspiration is Jaco Pastorius. He had the touch and the groove that nobody else had. He had been my teacher for years through the records he did. I get me more ideas listening to his records that anyone else.

Do you warm up before a gig and if so how?

No so much, but I should. It use to happen very often that people would wake us up 30 minutes before the gig and during the first song it feels like you just woke up. But I can tell the difference when you warm up.

Do you have any other last minute rituals or habits before a gig?

No, we just always shake hands and try to be awake before the intro's done.

What do you drink onstage?

Water.

Have you ever played while drunk or under the influence of drugs?

I can’t play when I’m drunk. That would be a really bad show if we did it. I can smoke and still play well though.

What’s the biggest disaster you’ve ever had onstage, and how did you cope with it?

I broke 2 strings at the same time in the first riff of the first song one time. That was the only time I was a little bit drunk on stage. It was the last gig somewhere in the States and everyone was very fucked up. I’m still don’t understand how that could happen.

What’s the biggest disaster you’ve ever had in the studio, and how did you cope with it?

The studio time used to be a disaster the whole time we are there. We use to get into the studio without songs, just riffs. That made it chaotic for everyone. We had so many technical problems the last time that I don’t even remember all of them.

What’s been your proudest playing moment?

I used to enjoy almost every single concert, but when we played in Barcelona, my father was there to see me for the first time. I was a little bit proud playing for him.

What’s been the most fun playing moment, and why?

I think that was the first tour we ever did, it was with Nevermore in the States. Everything was unreal, to play in front of that many fans. That’s the best feeling and we still have it. But the first time’s always the best.

What’s been the least fun playing moment, and why?

We did a one-week tour in the UK and I had a big cyst in my ass, which fucked up the whole trip.

What equipment do you use live and in the studio and why?

I use Fender Jazz basses live and specifically the Marcus Miller signature bass.  For amps, I have Laney endorsements, but when I can’t get it I prefer to use Ampeg. In the studio I really don’t know. We use different ones every time.

Are you fairly flexible about the equipment you use or must you always play with the same gear?

I prefer to use the same gear, but I can play with different ones.

What one piece of equipment would you advise all bass players to own?

Ampeg (classic), it’s just so easy and sounds great.

Do you read music?

Yes, I did it for a while when I was studying, but I have never used it in the bands I have played with.

Do you play any other instruments, and how well?

I can play guitar, I never took lessons but it’s the most familiar instrument to the bass.

Do you write or co-write songs and if so do you write on the bass?

I do and with both guitar and bass.

Do you ever play cover versions, and if so how do you learn the originals note for note or do you improvise you own parts?

We used to play Soldier Of Fortune by Deep Purple, but I don’t think you need to read for playing that song. And I just improvise in the moment.

Do you sing? Do you feel it is important?

No, I can’t sing. I did it in a black metal band but that was screaming. I think that singing is one of the lead instruments in a band.

If you could nominate one song that you’ve recorded to sum up your playing style and feel which one would it be?

That’s difficult, I feel like it’s many parts of different songs. But if I have to pick one, I will say Deliverance

What have you been doing recently?

We have just finished 15 months touring, the last tour we did was Australia for 6 gigs.

Would you like to recommend any other useful websites?

I can recommend www.katatonia.com.