May-8th-2003, 10:23 AM
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#1
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Columnated ruins domino
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Melrose, MA
Posts: 9,999
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Best "rock" bassists
It was inevitable, but a good excuse to highlight the stars of the fat strings. Quotes around rock to allow funk, etc., but despite sessions for Joni and Ian Hunter, I don't think it's appropriate to include someone like Jaco. Here's my initial list, in no particular order (except maybe for the first):
John Entwistle
Chris Squire
Larry Graham
Herbie Flowers
Harvey Brooks
Tony Levin
Duck Dunn
Graham Maby
John Paul Jones
Paul McCartney
George "Chocolate" Perry
Ray Shulman (Gentle Giant)
Jack Casady
John Wetton
Jack Bruce
Jon Camp (Renaissance, a group in which bass and piano were the lead instruments)
Chuck Rainey
Last edited by Gentle Giant; May-8th-2003 at 10:23 AM.
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May-8th-2003, 10:48 AM
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#2
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Hartsell Cash, 1924-2006
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 6,222
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GG, if you're willing to allow funk dudes, I might add:
Doug Wimbish (listen to "White Lines" by Grandmaster Flash) - he's also done a ton of quality session work
Would further include:
John Norwood Fisher of Fishbone
Bootsy Collins
Wilbur Bascomb
Among the more pure "rock" players, I've always loved Entwistle and John Paul Jones (Jones never really seemed to get his due, or am I wrong? He always seemed to be overshadowed when folks discussed Zep).
Also agree on Casady and Jack Bruce.
Tony Levin's work is mind-blowing in parts and always excellent.
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Tanager
Last edited by Tanager; May-8th-2003 at 10:49 AM.
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May-8th-2003, 10:58 AM
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#3
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Unflappable
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Posts: 15,849
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Rockette Morton (Mark Boston)
The breaks on "Doctor Dark" and "Bellerin' Plain" alone cement his place.
Last edited by Brian Olewnick; May-8th-2003 at 12:06 PM.
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May-8th-2003, 11:57 AM
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#4
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Next year....
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: The San Joaquin Valley, CA
Posts: 23,920
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Just off the top of my head I would add:
Toy Caldwell [Marshall Tucker Band]
Noel Redding [Hendrix Experience]
John Paul Jones [Led Zepplin]
TimMc
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May-8th-2003, 01:46 PM
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#5
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with a twist
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: 41.66 -76.2
Posts: 7,085
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Another vote for John Entwistle, and Jack Bruce.
Chris Squire, too.
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May-8th-2003, 01:57 PM
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#6
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10 Day Disabled List
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ocean City, NJ
Posts: 2,675
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James Jamerson
Bob Babbitt
Chuck Rainey
John Entwistle
Last edited by SinginSumo; May-8th-2003 at 04:48 PM.
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May-8th-2003, 02:09 PM
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#7
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Next year....
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: The San Joaquin Valley, CA
Posts: 23,920
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I saw Jack Bruce after the break-up of Cream in concert with a trio called West, Bruce and Lang. The other two, Leslie West [guitar, vocals] and Corky Lang [drums] were former members of Mountain.
To be honest, I was never really much impressed with Bruce's bass work...seemed to me he played it more like a lead guitar than a bass, in the purest sense of the instrument.
FWIW.
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May-8th-2003, 03:43 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 78
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Geddy Lee needs to be on this list, I would think.
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May-8th-2003, 04:38 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,045
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Bootsy Collins
Les Claypool
Cliff Burton
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May-8th-2003, 04:59 PM
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#10
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Hartsell Cash, 1924-2006
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 6,222
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Flea
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Tanager
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May-8th-2003, 05:19 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 78
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From the punk side of the spectrum - Mike Watt (Minutemen, Firehose)
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May-8th-2003, 05:48 PM
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#12
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Six decades
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Capital City
Posts: 12,801
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Nick Lowe. All the evidence you need is John Hiatt's "Bring the Family."
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May-8th-2003, 09:44 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,331
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Prog Rock - Chris Squire & Tony Levin. Maybe Trey Gunn also who is perhaps more of an all rounder than a strictly bass guitar player.
Post Punk - Peter Hook (Joy Division) I don't know if he is really that great a musician but I loved his sound.
Dave Alexander from the stooges was pretty cool.
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May-8th-2003, 11:13 PM
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#14
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Just be frank
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SF
Posts: 13,434
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Jack Bruce, for sure. I agree with several of the others - Casady, Bootsy, Claypool, Entwistle, Rockette, etc.
The late Felix Pappalardi.
Sting was actually pretty good in the early days of the Police.
Sara Lee and Dave Allen - both of whom played with Gang of Four.
Gail Ann Dorsey, who has played with Bowie among many others.
Fernando Saunders (Lou Reed, etc.)
Last edited by BFrank; May-8th-2003 at 11:14 PM.
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May-9th-2003, 12:23 AM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by BFrank
Fernando Saunders (Lou Reed, etc.)
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Yes I forgot about Fernando - he is great! Saw him w/Lou a coupla years ago - best rock n roll shows I have seen for years.
Last edited by john williams; May-9th-2003 at 12:45 AM.
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May-9th-2003, 09:45 AM
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#16
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Wheezer ripped my flesh.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: 'burbs of Boston
Posts: 485
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As yet unmentioned:
Mike Mills
Paul Simonon
Joey Spampinato
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May-9th-2003, 10:46 AM
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#17
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Jon
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank
Posts: 6,072
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More votes for Les Claypool, Mike Watt, and Flea.
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May-9th-2003, 01:45 PM
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#18
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User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Below the line
Posts: 9,884
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Tom Petersson from Cheap Trick. Check him out on the very first (and still the best!) album--he's playing chords, nailing the bottom, moving everything forward. Pretty amazing.
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May-9th-2003, 05:59 PM
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Left of Center
Posts: 16
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Never thought Rocco Prestia's (Tower of Power) bass lines sounded all that tough until I started trying to learn them!
Trevor Dunn is an amazing all round bassist. The stuff he does for Mr. Bungle/Fantomas is unreal and then his free jazz/Zorn jazz is crazy good.
Stuart Zender (used to play with Jamiroquai) always got my head bobbin with some great grooves.
Willie Weeks' stuff with Donny Hathaway was incredibly tasteful and fluid.
Mark Sandman of Morphine fame (R.I.P.) was fantastic for his unique approach to bass.
I'm sure I'll think of more later...
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May-9th-2003, 06:07 PM
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#20
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Jon
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank
Posts: 6,072
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Quote:
Originally posted by bbrooksux
Stuart Zender (used to play with Jamiroquai) always got my head bobbin with some great grooves.
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Has this guy done anything since? He MADE Jamiroquai.
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May-9th-2003, 06:08 PM
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#21
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Hartsell Cash, 1924-2006
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 6,222
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Criminy, how did I forget Francis Rocco Prestia. He laid down the smoothest meanest groove just about anywhere - listen to the live version of "What is Hip?" from Live and in Living Color.
__________________
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Tanager
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May-9th-2003, 06:10 PM
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#22
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Left of Center
Posts: 16
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tanager
Criminy, how did I forget Francis Rocco Prestia. He laid down the smoothest meanest groove just about anywhere - listen to the live version of "What is Hip?" from Live and in Living Color.
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That's the EXACT song I was talking about being difficult to play. How the hell does that guy get his fingers going that fast??!
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May-11th-2003, 09:28 PM
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#23
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Columnated ruins domino
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Melrose, MA
Posts: 9,999
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Oh, man, that tune live is so hot! A friend of mine put it on a tape for me and I was going crazy. Torture for me would be being tied up completely so I couldn't move my head or feet or hips at all, and then having to listen to that tune over and over.
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May-20th-2003, 01:56 AM
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#24
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Just be frank
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SF
Posts: 13,434
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While not strictly a "rock bassist", Danny Thompson should be on this list.
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May-20th-2003, 07:27 AM
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: The big apple - North of the Core
Posts: 5,440
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Paul McCartney's bass parts in many songs are brilliant and unique with respect to how they interplay with /counterpoint the other instrumental (and vocal) parts. Example: Getting Better
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May-20th-2003, 12:25 PM
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Miguel de Allende
Posts: 3,698
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McCartney's terrific bass lines functioned as part of an arrangement--you don't hear that happening every day.
Last edited by Jazzooo; May-20th-2003 at 12:26 PM.
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May-20th-2003, 04:52 PM
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#27
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Columnated ruins domino
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Melrose, MA
Posts: 9,999
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Mac has credited Brian Wilson with turning him on to making the bass more melodic and less rooted to the root of the chord.
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May-20th-2003, 06:20 PM
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#28
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: The big apple - North of the Core
Posts: 5,440
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Quote:
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McCartney's terrific bass lines functioned as part of an arrangement--you don't hear that happening every day.
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Exactly what i was trying to say. And they were often terrific parts of fabulous arrangements.
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