|   Poll: Great rock bass players | Grblgrbl
Aug 23, 2001 8:49 AM | | Okay, we all know that the bass player is a key part of most rock bands, but how many really have a critical impact on the sound of the band? I'm not talking about someone like John Paul Jones who was critical to Led Zeppelin for his keyboards, songwriting, and arranging, or Paul McCartney who was obviously critical to the Beatles as a vocalist and songwriter, or even Geddy Lee (again vocalist). Who has really had an impact on the sound of the band because of his bass playing? Let's keep it to rock only (no votes for jazz greats like Ron Carter or Ray Brown, fusion aces like Stanley Clarke or Jaco Pastorius, or funksters like Bootsy Collins).
My votes:
John Entwistle-just a phenomenal bass player in terms of power, speed, and overall technique. Can be both thunderous and nimble. Part of the greatest rhythm section in the history of rock.
Chris Squire-love that booming Rickenbacker.
Tony Levin-both with Peter Gabriel and King Crimson on bass and stick, very innovative. (I guess I'd give an honorable mention to Trey Gunn also.)
Flea-very inventive, can funk and rock
Les Claypool-also very inventive with great technique. Not a huge fan of his music, but he's a great talent. |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | unleasHell
Aug 23, 2001 8:59 AM | | Squire, Levin, (agree)
also
Percy Jones
John Wetton
Mike Rutherford |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | Grblgrbl
Aug 23, 2001 9:33 AM | | I love Genesis and I think Mike Rutherford is a very good bass player, but does his bass really have a major impact on the sound of Genesis? I don't think it does. John Wetton may be a different story, his bass work with King Crimson in the mid 70's was pretty distinctive. Percy Jones as a session player I would agree with. His fretless bass on Brian Eno's Another Green World is amazing. I wouldn't count his work with Brand X, which is really fusion, not rock. |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | MasterCylinder
Aug 23, 2001 9:01 AM | | Of course, Chris Squire stands out quickly......however, my number one pick right now is John Myung of Dream Theater......awesome. |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | Over50
Aug 23, 2001 9:29 AM | | Bass player from Peter Framptons Band can't remember his name |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | Grblgrbl
Aug 23, 2001 9:41 AM | | Don't really know Dream Theater, but am in general leery of neo-prog bands. Seems to me that prog had it's time and place and most attempts I've heard to revive it have been pretty lame ( i.e., Spocks Beard). Is Dream Theater different? |
| I Think They Are Different | MasterCylinder
Aug 23, 2001 11:16 AM | | but hey -- I'm biased because I attended music school.
They all met at the Berklee School of Music in Boston; that alone will segregate them from most rockers.
They list influences as Pink Floyd and Zeppelin but to me they sound more like Queensryche (actually they sound more like "Queensryche goes to graduate school").
If you want to sample, start with SCENES FROM A MEMORY. |
| Squire is tha Man | jsujo
Aug 23, 2001 11:17 AM | | I think what separates Squire is his compositional skills, and being able to shine in a band where all are on top of the virtuoso ranks, except Alan White...
shinning in such an environment isnt easy...
Jack |
| I agree | Grblgrbl
Aug 23, 2001 11:26 AM | | particularly when your instrument is one that in most bands does not lend itself to shining. |
| the walrus was Paul | dave c
Aug 23, 2001 1:02 PM | | I think you should consider PM here as his bass playing WAS an essential part of the Beatles sound and he is a great player.
I'm a bit out of my league here as I'm not a great rocker and not at all a progger, but for a scope of imagination try Phil Lesh from the GratefulDead, his playing is like no one else. Although I guess you might find that a very good thing! If you don't like him that is....
Oh and the guy, not PETE Thomas, but the other Thomas from Elvis Costello's Attractions was tremendous. |
| Good Call on Phil Lesh | ALPHAKAYA
Aug 23, 2001 5:25 PM | | good call on Phil Lesh ... his work on Europe '72 (among others) was amazing ..
some of the best bass players (IMHO) are reggae bassists, where the Bee-line is an essential part of the music ..
Aston "Familyman" Barrett (of the Wailers) and Robbie "Basspeare" Shakespeare (played with Black Uhuru, Peter Tosh and hundreds of Reggae Acts) of course, lead the way here .. |
| BRUCE Thomas is fab | maf
Aug 26, 2001 5:31 PM | | he really shapes The Attractions sound.
A couple I would mention...
Brian Ritchie - Violent Femmes, his bass is pretty well the lead instrument of the Femmes and he has the chops to carry it off.
John Taylor - Duran Duran, I know, maybe not the hippest band in the world, but this guys bass playing always carried the song.
Mark |
| Agree with the one's listed - Here are a couple more | nohjy
Aug 24, 2001 7:22 AM | | the bassist's name is Tony fanklin, the band was the Firm, and he is very good. I want to add one that hasn't been mentioned: Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews band).
JK |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | DustyChalk
Aug 23, 2001 8:05 PM | | Good call on a lot of those. John Entwistle on that one track on Quadrophenia, "The Real Me" (?title) -- excellent track for bass lovers. Flea is amazing. Actually, supposedly Les Claypool is hated by proper bass players for his lousy technique, but I think he's fantastic -- how many people can play a clean chord on a bass? And of course I agree with Squire -- one of the kings of tone -- and Levin -- bassplayer extraordinaire, even when he's not playing Stick.
Peter Hook comes to mind. New Order wouldn't be New Order without his high-on-the-neck, almost guitar-like sound.
Cliff Burton from Metallica -- and not because he's dead! He really is astoundingly good. He took the bass places.
Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) -- every Sabbath fan knows the intro to "N.I.B." ("Bassically", a bass solo) note for note. |
| It is "The Real Me" | Grblgrbl
Aug 24, 2001 5:48 AM | | I always use that track (MOFI disk) when I'm auditioning speakers. It's a real bass showcase (also some incredible drumming from Keith Moon on that track). |
| Jack Bruce | ChipB
Aug 24, 2001 3:14 AM | | Surprised no one has mentioned him yet. Bruce is arguably the most influential rock bassist ever. Also:
Rik Grech (Blind Faith). Proved a fine compliment to Ginger Baker's drumming and drove "Had to Cry Today" beautifully.
Rustee Allen (Robin Trower). Allen only played on a couple of Trower's records (In City Dreams and Caravan to Midnight), but he definitely influenced the sound. He gave Trower's music a bit funkier feel.
Dave Steel (The English Beat). I can't imagine EB as being nearly the band they were without Steel's frenetic basslines. Pure brilliance.
-Chip |
| Great call on Jack Bruce | Grblgrbl
Aug 24, 2001 5:45 AM | | Can't believe I left him off my list. |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | Wronholio
Aug 26, 2001 4:35 PM | | Flea - RHCP |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | pro
Aug 27, 2001 4:47 AM | | almost forgotten , but still a superb bassplayer in my book is Pino Palladino. Palladino was responsable for the fretless bass parts of Paul Young (wherever I lay my hat,...)
Few people know he was the first choice of Jimmy Page for 'the Firm' .
Another important Brit bassplayer was Mick Karn from Japan.
Both players had a very distinctive fretless style and were immediately recognisable. |
| re: Poll: Great rock bass players | raulpizza
Sep 5, 2001 10:01 AM | | Justin Chancellor - Tool, absolutely amazing!!!! |
| One More | CZ
Sep 5, 2001 10:39 AM | | Lots of good choices here, but I'll add in one of my all-time favorites:
Paul Goddard - Atlanta Rhythm Section, also played on Kerry Livgren's excellent 'Seeds of Change'.
Cheers,
CZ |
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