100 Greatest Bass Players in Rock/Pop

boo boo · 07-03-2009, 12:44 PM

Examples?

I mean look at how low Roger Waters is, and below a lot of lesser known musicians from less popular bands. And everyone knows I'm a huge Floyd fanboy.

That's not the agenda of the list at all. Thing is a lot of these popular bands had great and influencial musicians behind them.

If it was all about popularity, Michael Anthony, Cliff Williams, Gene Simmons, Jason Newsted and Nikki Sixx would all be up there. Tom Hamilton, Fieldy and Krist Novoselic wouldn't have just been filler to take out of the list once I found players more worthy of adding.

What makes those bass players different from Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, John Paul Jones and John Deacan is that while they were in insanely popular bands, they were also highly respected bassists.

Alfred · 07-03-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

Examples?

I mean look at how low Roger Waters is, and below a lot of lesser known musicians from less popular bands. And everyone knows I'm a huge Floyd fanboy.

That's not the agenda of the list at all. Thing is a lot of these popular bands had great and influencial musicians behind them.

If it was all about popularity, Michael Anthony, Cliff Williams, Gene Simmons, Jason Newsted and Nikki Sixx would all be up there. Tom Hamilton, Fieldy and Krist Novoselic wouldn't have just been filler to take out of the list once I found players more worthy of adding.

What makes those bass players different from Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, John Paul Jones and John Deacan is that while they were in insanely popular bands, they were also highly respected bassists.

Yeah no worries. It's just me. :P

jackhammer · 07-03-2009, 01:15 PM

I know it's the same old same old when someone is missed out but no Robbie Shakespeare? Reggaes finest bassist and defining sounds of many bands.

Sly and Robbie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SATCHMO · 07-03-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I know it's the same old same old when someone is missed out but no Robbie Shakespeare? Reggaes finest bassist and defining sounds of many bands.

Sly and Robbie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think a solid argument could be made that Robbie, or any reggae bass player, wouldn't be who is is today without the influence of "The Family Man".

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

I knew that one would be a pleaser.

Yet another update: I moved Gallup up and Mani down.

So guys, who are your favorite bassists?

Stanley Clarke
Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai)
Mike Watt (Minutemen, Firehose)
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
Verdine White (Earth Wind & Fire)
Flea (even though I hate RHCP)

jackhammer · 07-03-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

I think a solid argument could be made that Robbie, or any reggae bass player, wouldn't be who is is today without the influence of "The Family Man".

For sheer longevity and inimitable sound I still go for Robbie myself. You just know it's Robbie somehow when you hear a track:

Some of mine:

Les Claypool
Steve Harris
Stanley Clarke
Jean Jacques Burnel (another omission)
Peter Hook
Geezer Butler
Jaco Pastorious

Double X · 07-03-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

42. Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order, session work) - Essential record: Closer (Joy Division) (1980)

I'm surprised he was on the list.

sweet

boo boo · 07-03-2009, 02:57 PM

I knew that one would be a pleaser.

Yet another update: I moved Gallup up and Mani down.

So guys, who are your favorite bassists?

Double X · 07-05-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

I knew that one would be a pleaser.

Three reasons why he is cool:
1. He plays the bass lower than anyone I've seen
2. She's Lost Control
3. His name is PETER HOOK...sounds like some stage name like Joe Strummer or Sid Vicious. But it's his actual name.

Mirrorball95 · 07-05-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double X

Three reasons why he is cool:
1. He plays the bass lower than anyone I've seen
2. She's Lost Control
3. His name is PETER HOOK...sounds like some stage name like Joe Strummer or Sid Vicious. But it's his actual name.

Peter Hook is an excellent bassist but he couldnt outplay Victor Wooten

boo boo · 07-06-2009, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirrorball95

Peter Hook is an excellent bassist but he couldnt outplay Victor Wooten

Well I consider Wooten more of a fusion bassist.

And while this list covers many diverse styles of music, fusion bassists would stick out like a sore thumb, because they're playing a genre of music where bass is really more of a lead soloing instrument.

Trying to compare bassists from genres as varied as Pop, R&B, Funk, Metal, Prog, Psychedelic, Alternative, Punk, Rockabilly, Folk Rock and Reggae is challenging enough as it is.

I'm not really into the "shred" bassists like Wooten and Manring, what they can do is certainly mind blowing, but they also seem to forget that bass at it's core is a rhythm instrument, they treat it as something strictly for making flashy and elaborate solos. Do they even know what a bassline is?

UPDATE: Rick Danko added, Dave Alexander removed, Waters now above Gordon and Lemmy.

07-03-2009, 01:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I know it's the same old same old when someone is missed out but no Robbie Shakespeare? Reggaes finest bassist and defining sounds of many bands. Sly and Robbie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”