Best (rock) bass player

[Bossy Monkey]

Poll question: Best (rock) bass player

I know, I know, it's Jaco Pastorius. Or Lemmy. Or Flea. Or Jack Bruce. Or Dee Dee. Or McCartney. Hey, at least I didn't put Sting on the poll!

[vi5]

1. I voted for Entwistle even though I'm not a Who fan...

My reasoning being is that I regard a great bass player as someone who can hold down a bottom end but also throw in some flash but not TOO much flash. Entwistle was content holding down some solid bottom end notes and didn't feel the need to overplay. What people regard as good bass players sometimes (Flean, Geddy Lee, etc.) are guys who play the bass like a guitar. That's being a good guitar player and not serving the role of being a good bass player.

[Quahog]

22. Amen

As a bass player, that's the way I see my role. While I am totally blown away by guys like Victor Wooten, I don't see him as a bassist so much as a soloist in an ensemble of soloists (albeit one of the best ensembles of its kind ever).

BTW, I voted for Robbie, just because I couldn't stand to see him without a single vote. I had been a working guitarist for years when I first saw Robbie with Black Uhuru. I went out and bought a bass and amp the next day. Never was there such a tone... I think several bones in my body have been liquified at his live performances.

[Zuni]

36. good points

Entwhistle was a real darn good bass player

[peekaloo]

2. Voted for Bootsy!

I like a bass man who also has the ability to make me larf! :dunce:

Thank you for not putting Sting on the poll!

Shout out to Mike Mills.

[charlie]

3. John Paul Jones?

Without his Motown injection, early Zep would've plodded instead of soaring.

And my God man, where's Les Claypool?!

[demnan]

4. Why is Paul McCartney not on this list

wasn't he about the most inventive bass player rock ever had?

[MaineDem]

54. That was my thought, too. (n/t)

.

[Xandor]

5. Jack Casady

[commander bunnypants]

6. Like any of these other guys even come close to Sir E

But then again The Who was the greatest Rock Band and will always be.

IMHO

DDQM

Disclaimer- The other guys are also excellent but.....

[jus_the_facts]

7. The late GREAT Cliff Burton of Metallica......

.....Anesthesia Pulling Teeth is one of the most awesome bass solo's EVER!! CLIFF'EM ALL...RIP BABY!! :yourock:

[jus_the_facts]

15. With honorable mention to Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.....

....his bass sound of horse hoves in Run To The Hills...most awesome! ;-)

[TimeLord]

57. I thought about Cliff too....

But think Les Claypool or Flea are slightly better.

We didn't experience enough of Cliff to really find his brilliance. Orion is a great tune too.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. It's Tony Levin!

End of discussion! If you've never seen this guy live, you have missed the best. Oh Your God, is he ever great!
The Professor

[Drifter]

14. Agreed ...

I saw King Crimson around 97 (Thrak, Vroom). This band was described as a Double Trio (2 guitar, 2 bass, 2 drums).

I was taking an unused ticket from a friend. All I knew was that we were in Row AA. So I figured that's around Row 27, right ?.

I was wrong. We were in the orchestra pit, in front of "Front Row".

Unbelievable

Cheers
Drifter

[ProfessorGAC]

17. The Only Rock Show That I Ever Left Agape!

I saw them at the Park West in Chicago for the Beat tour. It's the only rock band i ever saw that dropped my jaw. They were incredibly tight, phenomenally adventerous, and the sound was impeccable.

Seen lots of rock bands live, famous and not so. But, these guys were the best group of players i've ever seen in the rock idiom. (Close second, Sting's original Blue Turtles Band.)
The Professor

[BigMcLargehuge]

9. Entwhistle, hands down

:)

[commander bunnypants]

13. You know it mon

nobody could bend a string like Sir E


DDQM

[Loonman]

10. Eddie Branch

Of the 100 Men, Peter Murphy's old backing band.

[ChompySnack]

11. Les Claypool

From Primus.

[TriadLeftist]

25. Yep

Les Claypool is the best ...

[GumboYaYa]

12. Rocco Prestia

Rocco invented fingerstyle bass. He is one of only a few bassists in any genre of music wo can claim to have invented the whole style of playing. Everyone on that list owes a debt of gratitude to Rocco.

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

16. My favorite? Rock? Go ahead...name him.

Below-average band. Beyond average bassplayer.

[Bossy Monkey]

19. I just right-clicked; ya might wanna hide them URLs better

Yeah man, they were heavy! (Or I was really young. Hmmmmmmm.)

[supernova]

24. Now, that's a blast from the past

I haven't thought about them in years. :thumbsup:

[number six]

18. Paul Simonon - The Clash

Come on now. He's your man

[Zorro]

20. Felix Pappillardi

gets my vote. Mountain man, Cream producer. Tasteful playing, memorable tunes.

Shot by his wife at too early an age, if memory serves me well.

RIP Felix.

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

47. Played a Gibson EB-1....

One of the most impractical..and beautiful..basses on the planet.

[Abaques]

21. Ever seen or heard Primus?

Les Claypool is insanely good on the bass.

[NashVegas]

27. Ooh, Les

I'd pay to dance with him!

[TimeLord]

58. The guy (Les) is unbelievable.....

Plus I love how weird he is.

My name is mud.....

Anyone ever hear his take on Pigs by Pink Floyd. Better than Pink Floyd....

:toast:

[Search Party]

23. Phil Lesh

http://www.phillesh.net/

[NashVegas]

26. Tom Petersson - Cheap Trick

1. The only player alive whose solos I can tolerate.

2."Gonna Raise Hell" 'nuff said.

Honorable mention: Mark Sandman (Morphine) if he weren't dead.

[GOPisEvil]

28. Stu Hamm

I saw him with Satriani, and his bass playing (and solo) were quite impressive.

[Quahog]

29. Brad Houser is my current fave

All the guys mentioned in this thread are great, as are some who haven't been mentioned (Stanley Clarke, anyone?).

I'm with vi5 on the role of the bass player in a band, and I clicked Robbie Shakespeare on the poll (he needed a vote!). I like lots of different players, but am currently sold on Brad Houser of Seattle art-noise-jazz-rock-comedy fusion band Critters Buggin. He's a fingerstyle player primarily, with a phenomenal sense of melody and a tone that makes grown bass players weep. Get a copy of their first cd, "Host," used at amazon.com for $7. Your satisfaction guaranteed by Quahog.

Also, you can buy his custom designed 5-string bass from Reverend (www.reverenddirect.com) for $850. I'm saving for one!

(Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with either amazon.com or Reverend Musical Instruments.)

[DBoon]

30. Jack Bruce

Cream

[11 Bravo]

46. Absolutely!

(I wondered how far I would have to scroll down before Bruce was mentioned.)

[Richardo]

31. Breaking the gender barrier - Tina Weymouth

Then: Now (2002): :loveya:

Maybe not the "greatest" but still has chops.

[DinahMoeHum]

32. Aston "Family Man" Barrett . . .(Wailers/Bob Marley)

But Robbie Shakespeare is a helluva stand-in.

And their complementary drummers were/are terrific (Carlton Barrett/Aston) (Sly Dunbar/Robbie)

:bounce:

[Zuni]

35. good choice

The barrett brothers were the bob Marley/Wailers rythym section. Shakespeare and Dunbar played with peter Tosh and others, but I do not know of any recordings they have done with the Wailers.

[grannylib]

33. John McVie, Fleetwood Mac

Mick Fleetwood and John McVie make up the best rhythm section, bar none, in rock music, IMHO.
Give a listen to "Mystery to Me" or some of the pre-1976 Fleetwood Mac albums.

[Zuni]

34. Ever listen to the Peter Green blues stuff

that is the best. peter Green is one of the best blues guitarists ever.

[grannylib]

40. yes indeed

Green is great, and the blues rock!

[Zuni]

37. As a bass player myself,

I HATE flashy bass players, slapping and what not. I like cool, smooth, bottom end grooves.
Here are some good bass players---Jamie Jamerson of Motown, plays on a lot of old motown records. Duck Dunn--Played with Stax records guys like Otis redding, Albert king, Wilson pickett, Booker T and the MGs, and even the Blues Brothers. For reggae, Aston barrett of the wailers was the best reggae bass player ever. Paul mcCartney was incredible too. John Entwhistle was amazing. John Paul jones of Led Zepplin also has some fantastic lines.

[FDRrocks]

38. Other... Victor Wooten (sp?) ... Les Claypool.

[ronzo]

42. Victor Wooten and a guy you've probably never heard of...

http://www.victorwooten.com/">Vic Wooten
Vic is Two mofos.

http://www.oteilburbridge.com/">Oteil Burbridge
I am particularly fond of Oteil's work with Col Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit.

Given the choices, I went with The Ox...

[ronzo]

50. kick for the bass players...

Gotta getcha one of these:




I muffed the links above.

Oteil

Vic

[TimeLord]

56. Flea or Les Claypool most definitely....

Most definitely....

I can't believe neither of them are on the list!

:shrug:

[proud patriot]

39. Cliff Burton ....RIP

Listen to Anastasia and then tell me otherwise :mad:

[pdx_prog]

41. These are all mainstream wannabes

except for Squire and Tony Levin.

What about Jaco, Dave Larue, Rosco Beck, Andy West, and John Wetton? Man.....I could go on and on.....

[Aristus]

43. John Giblin.

He is (or was) a session player with A&M Records.

[Paragon]

44. Doug Wimbish

Easily.

[rucky]

45. Mike Watt, dammit!

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

48. While you're arguing, put on a Joe Jackson album....

on which Graham Maby is playing.

You will wake up and say "What the ****?"

Just like you're supposed to.

on edit: typoes. I'll take care of this. (bloodcurdling screams from typist)

[NightTrain]

49. James Jamerson

The late, great bass player of Motown's legendary session band, the Funk Brothers. He was so integral to the Motown sound, that when the "Hitsville U.S.A." boxed set was released, critic Greil marcus called it "James Jamerson's Greatest Hits."

[ronzo]

60. I hear you.

That guy played on some tracks. Guess we can mention "Duck" Dunn when we're talkin' house bands. Good stuff!

:toast:

[xJlM]

51. John Paul Jones, Bill Wyman, just off the top of my head...

Two guys with a history of playing bass and writing.

[Nailzberg]

52. Steve Effing Harris

and the two fastest fingers on the face of the Earth.

[AntiCoup2K4]

53. Sid Vicious!!

Nah, just kidding....

Let's see....

Billy Sheehan
John Entwistle
Geddy Lee
Flea
Les Claypool

[Zero Gravitas]

55. Chris Squire, Geddy Lee or....

... LEMMY!

[DS1]

59. Les 'freakin' CLAYPOOL!

owns all.

[Zomby Woof]

61. Paul Goddard

The ARS was a bit lightweight at times, but Goddard was a helluva bassist. It's hard to find, but if you can check out his solo on "Another Man's Woman" from 1976's 'Red Tape' album, it can put a hole in your floor.

I think Scott Thunes, who played for Zappa in the 80's, deserves mention, as does the late Leon Wilkeson.

[Papa]

62. nobody has mentioned...

Sting. There's a player who knows what notes to play. He is one of the best. Listen to anything by the Police.

[rppper]

63. GEEZER BUTLER

how could you have forgotten? my inspiration anyhow...cliff burton(rip) as well...he was the randy rhodes of the bass guitar....