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Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath only mentioned once?
Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine not mentioned at all?
Both of these guys lay down the foundation of their bands. They're a bit like rhythm guitar players.
Rob Trujillo (current Metallica bassist) hasn't been mentioned either.
Others that have been mentioned -
Cliff Burton (hands down favorite) - YouTube "Cliff Burton For Whom the Bell Tolls" to see and hear this guy play. Everyone I showed it to couldn't believe what they saw.
Les Claypool - YouTube "Les Claypool Master of Puppetts"
Flea
John Paul Jones
Another not yet mentioned - Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead |
Jaco on Joni Mitchell's Hejira.
Arild Anderson
Gary Peacock on Keith Jarrett Trio Live at the Blue Note
Chris Squire on Close to the Edge
Jeff Berlin |
kimo clark of the throwdowns |
Laura Ballance of SUPERCHUNK fame. If you've ever seen her play live you know what I mean - her bounce around is better than a Box Furniture Co. D4A rack! |
Slightly OT, but related.
Richard Thompson has composed a song cycle call "Cabaret of Souls" that is designed to showcase the double bass skills of (unrelated) Danny Thompson. They are touring with a limited # of performances (LA on Nov 19). Fans of the instrument may want to investigate.
Marty |
Notec, Ballance is a great add to this list. Just saw them play and ohmigod. |
i don't believe anyone's mentioned my fave, andy fraser (free). not the most technically proficient player, but among the most unique--he plays bass like a lead guitarist; more melodic than rhythmic, kinda trebly, fast without being flashy. check out "all right now" or "fire and water". i also think paul simonon (clash) is underrecognized--his style is extremely basic, almost primitive, but he's got the dub/white boy reggae feel down; social context and songwriting smarts aside, the clash records always sound great, and i think that throbbing, pulsing bass is the key. |
Who ever played bass for Robin Trower because most of the songs really hinged on a bass riff as much as a guitar riff.
Did anyone say John Paul Jones? Some one came close by naming Zepp's drummer. (hehhehe) Anyway I thought JPJ was really great and lent allot to the Zepp sound and I think Jimmy Page at one time addmitted that JPJ had the most musical knowledge in the band, or it was page and jones that did most of the techincal stuff.
Any bass player in a rock trio (as zepp really was because Plant never played anything) needs to really pull double duty as a rythem and bass player. Like someone mentioned M Anthony from Van Halen who was more like playing rymthem guitar and lead bass allot. imo |
Anyone remember the scene from Spinal Tap where they were all playing bass? lololol |
Charles Mingus, because he is the most creative. |
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I agree with so many names in this thread, but I'm shocked that Rocco Prestia is only mentioned once. He is one of Jaco's main influences. One of the true innovators of the electric bass.
I love all the love that Chris Squire and Tony Levin get here. |
My favorite 3 are Jack Bruce and Jaco for their innovative lines and ability to propel the music forward and Tony Levin for his technique and ability to be incredible no matter what group he was playing with. And this will make a lot of you laugh but I picked up a lot of technique from listening to Lee Dorman of Iron Butterfly (I played bass in NJ area bands in the 60's and 70's) . Too bad he didnt have a better band to play with. |
I like Chris Squire the best, but I couldn't tell you why. |
Flea of the RHCP; Kimo Clark of the Throwdowns. |
I've started practicing bass and find Chris Squire a great bassist. He supplies solid fundamentals of music and great bass melody. He's one of the best to follow after when learning. |
Chris Squire is the only bass player I know of whose bass line I notice. Somehow he's contributing to the melody. I couldn't tell you what other bass players are doing; somehow they're more hidden in the mix. I don't know if it's Chris' effects or if he's playing higher notes, but he's easier to hear and more a part of the song than most bass players. |
I have to go with Stanley Clarke. |
I agree...Paul McCartney was a great bassist and a songwriter. If you have a chance listen to "Nowhere Man" and you can see how great he was. |
Back when I cared to own television, a few years ago, I happened to scroll to a music award program. Maybe mtv awards... Jack Black (actor) was at the podium. He (introduces) says " Paul McCartney is here". Paul stands, and receives applause, etc. Then Jack says " now I will introduce the best bassist in the world, my father in law, Charlie Hayden"! Jack Black dissed a Beatle! Anyone remember this one? |
Pop/Rock- Billy Sheehan is technically the best. In a group John Entwistle was the best. He was a great antithesis for Keith Moon's erratic brilliance.
Acoustic/Jazz- Scott Lafaro and Eddie Gomez, maybe it's my bias to the Bill Evans Trio. |
how about a shout out for Spooky Tooth and Humble Pie's Greg Ridley,Fleetwood Mac's John McVie,ex Dylan and Mike Bloomfield alum,Harvey Brooks and Blood Sweat and Tears original first album bassist, Jim Felder. All had really good drummers to work with |
*Best line: Slave's Slide; Pleasure's Glide; Azymuth's Dear Limmertz
*Old school but still rule: Louis Johnson
*Was good, but have nothing else to give: Larry Graham, Stanley Clark, Mark King
*Song writers pretend to be bass players: Sting, Paul McCartney
*Worst, should take lesson: Benny Rietveld
*Boring: Dave Holland, Anthony Jackson
*Should change to playing guitar instead of bass: Wayman Tisdale
*Funkiest Tone: Marcus Miller, Jonas Hellborg
*Impressive speed and/or technique but that's all: Brian Bromberg, Victor Wooten
*Extraordinare technique, incredible live: Michael Manring
*Musicality: Richard Bona, Doky Minh, Renaud Garcia Fons
***MY FAVORITE BASS GUITARIST: Alex Malheiros of Azymuth (Brazillian group); CDs that are 20+ years still so sound so emotional today. Never play the same line twice.
***MY FOVORITE GUITARIST: no list, just one guy = Nguyen Le. |
Great choices.I agree with most of the picks in this thread. My personal favorites:
Jazz: Ron Carter, Scott LaFaro, Ray Brown. The first time I heard Scott on "Waltz for Debby" I couldn't believe bass in jazz could be played like that. His so premature death was one of the biggest losses in the history of jazz. I love Ron's thick plucking and the weight he gives to his lines. Ray is a just an all-around tremendous player and composer.
Rock: Tony Levin; he's my Ron Carter of rock bass players. Geezer Butler; "War Pigs" is arguably the best rhythm section work in the history of rock music. Cliff Burton; just like Scott LaFaro in jazz music, his premature death is one of the biggest losses in the history of rock music. As great as Metallica is, I cannot help but wonder how much greater the band would have been had Cliff not have got killed. My third favorite is Steve Harris from Iron Maiden. His speed and technical ability is in my opinion unmatched in heavy metal and beyond. The fact that he doesn't use a pick just makes him one of the best ever. |
On the subject of favorite basslines - rock 'n' roll division:
I love the bass line in Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain". It pops up sporadically and adds forward momentum and then just disappears for several measures at a time. Then, the song stops and an all-time classic bass figure kicks off the breakdown - at which time the bass line carries the band as it goes nuts, pretty close to straight noise when performed live. Usually, Buckingham steals the show for me, but that is John McVie's shining moment.
Marty |
