100 Greatest Bass Players in Rock/Pop
 

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I did one for guitarists, so why not one for my favorite instrument? The most underrated instrument in rock music, what gives rock and pop music it's groove and it's soul.

I tried to be as objective as possible and shine a light on all genres. Influence, impact, popularity, originality and skill make up the criteria.

1. James Jamerson (Funk Brothers, session work) - Essential record: What's Going On? (Marvin Gaye) (1971)
2. John Entwistle (The Who) - Essential record: Live at Leeds, Deluxe Edition (The Who) (1970, 2001)
3. Larry Graham (Sly & The Family Stone) - Essential record: There's a Riot Going On (Sly & The Family Stone) (1971)
4. Tony Levin (King Crimson, Liquid Tension Experiment, Peter Gabriel, solo, other projects, session work) - Essential record: So (Peter Gabriel) (1986)
5. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings, solo) - Essential record: Abbey Road (The Beatles) (1969)
6. Chris Squire (Yes, solo) - Essential record: Fragile (Yes) (1972)
7. Bootsy Collins (Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band, James Brown, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Mothership Connection (Parliament) (1976)
8. Jack Bruce (Cream, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Wheels of Fire (Cream) (1968)
9. Geddy Lee (Rush) - Essential record: Moving Pictures (Rush) (1981)
10. Donald "Duck" Dunn (Booker T & The M.G.'s, session work) - Essential record: Otis Blue, Otis Redding Sings Soul (Otis Redding) (1965)
11. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers, session work) - Essential record: Mother's Milk (Red Hot Chili Peppers) (1989)
12. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath, solo) - Essential record: Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath) (1970)
13. Les Claypool (Primus, Oysterhead, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Primus) (1991)
14. Louis Johnson (Brothers Johnson, session work) - Essential record: Off the Wall (Michael Jackson) (1979)
15. Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) - Essential record: Live/Dead (Grateful Dead) (1969)
16. Willie Dixon (Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Howlin Wolf, Bo Diddley, solo - Essential record: The Great Twenty-Eight (Chuck Berry) (1982)
17. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, solo) - Essential record: Led Zeppelin II (Led Zeppelin) (1970)
18. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) - Essential record: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Iron Maiden) (1988)
19. Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges, solo) - Essential record: Contemplating the Engine Room (solo) (1997)
20. John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep, Asia, U.K., solo, other projects) - Essential record: Starless and Bible Black (King Crimson) (1974)
21. Aston "Family Man" Barrett (Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Wailers Band, solo) - Essential record: Catch a Fire (Bob Marley & The Wailers) (1973)
22. Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) - Essential record: Bless It's Pointed Little Head (Jefferson Airplane) (1969)
23. Cliff Burton (Metallica) - Essential record: Master of Puppets (Metallica) (1986)
24. Bob Babbitt (Funk Brothers, session work) - Essential record: Sky's the Limit (The Temptations) (1971)
25. Carol Kaye (session work) - Essential record: Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys) (1966)
26. John Deacon (Queen) - Essential record: The Game (Queen) (1980)
27. Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, King Crimson) - Essential record: Brain Salad Surgery (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) (1973)
28. Billy Cox (Band of Gypsys, Jimi Hendrix) - Essential record: Band of Gypsys (Band of Gypsys) (1970)
29. Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) - Essential record: Tower of Power (Tower of Power) (1973)
30. Chuck Rainey (session work) - Essential record: Aja (Steely Dan) (1977)
31 & 32. Bernard Odum and "Sweet" Charles Sherrell (James Brown, session work) - Essential record: 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! (James Brown) (1991)
33. Roger Glover (Deep Purple, Rainbow, solo) - Essential record: Made in Japan (Deep Purple) (1972)
34. Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics, solo) - Essential record: Foxtrot (Genesis) (1972)
35. Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order, session work) - Essential record: Closer (Joy Division) (1980)
36. George Porter, Jr. (The Meters, Runnin' Pardners, session work) - Essential record: Rejuvenation (The Meters) (1974)
37. Mick Karn (Japan) - Essential record: Tin Drum (Japan) (1981)
38. Berry Oakley (Allman Brothers Band) - Essential record: At Fillmore East (Allman Brothers Band) (1971)
39. Sting (The Police, solo) - Essential record: Zenyatta Mondatta (The Police) (1980)
40. Paul Simonon (The Clash, other projects) - Essential record: London Calling (The Clash) (1979)
41. Andy Rourke (The Smiths, session work) - Essential record: Meat is Murder (The Smiths) (1985)
42. Bill Black (Elvis Presley, Bill Black's Combo) - Essential record: Elvis Presley (Elvis Presley) (1956)
43. Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club) - Essential record: Fear of Music (Talking Heads) (1979)
44. Bernard Edwards (Chic) - Essential record: Risque (Chic) (1979)
45. Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings) - Essential record: Let it Bleed (Rolling Stone) (1969)
46. Verdine White (Earth Wind & Fire, solo) - Essential record: That's the Way of the World (Earth Wind & Fire) (1975)
47. Rick James (solo) - Essential record: Street Songs (solo) (1981)
48. Billy Sheehan (Mr Big, David Lee Roth, Steve Vai, Niacin, solo, session work) - Essential record: Eat 'Em and Smile (David Lee Roth) (1986)
49. Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) - Essential record: This Year's Model (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) (1978)
50. Jah Wobble (Public Image Ltd., solo, other projects) - Essential record: Metal Box, Second Edition (Public Image Ltd.) (1980)

51. Colin Moulding (XTC) - Essential record: Drums and Wires (XTC) (1979)
52. Holger Czukay (Can, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Ege Bamyasi (Can) (1972)
53. Bruce Foxton (The Jam, Stiff Little Fingers) - Essential record: All Mod Cons (The Jam) (1978)
54. Hugh Hopper (Soft Machine, session work) - Essential record: Third (Soft Machine) (1970)
55. George Murray (David Bowie, Iggy Pop, session work) - Essential record: Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (David Bowie) (1980)
56. Richard Sinclair (Caravan, Hatfield & The North, Camel) - Essential record: In the Land of Grey and Pink (Caravan) (1971)
57. Dave Allen (Gang of Four, Shriekback, other projects) - Essential record: Entertainment! (Gang of Four) (1979)
58. Simon Gallup (The Cure, other projects) - Essential record: Disintegration (The Cure) (1989)
59. Joe Osborn (session work) - Essential record: The Age of Aquarius (The 5th Dimension) (1969)
60. Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, solo, session work) - Essential record: Passion and Warfare (Steve Vai) (1990)
61. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy, solo) - Essential record: Bad Reputation (Thin Lizzy) (1977)
62. Martin "Youth" Glover (Killing Joke, other projects) - Essential record: Killing Joke (Killing Joke) (1980)
63. Ray Shulman (Gentle Giant) - Essential record: In a Glass House (Gentle Giant) (1973)
64. Nick Lowe (Rockpile, Brinsley Schwarz, solo) - Essential record: Jesus of Cool (solo) (1978)
65. Billy Gould (Faith No More, other projects) - Essential record: Angel Dust (Faith No More) (1992)
66. John Myung (Dream Theater, Platypus, The Jelly Jam, other projects) - Essential record: Image and Words (Dream Theater) (1992)
67. Steve DiGiorgio (Death, Testament, Sadus, Control Denied, session work) - Essential record: Human (Death) (1991)
68. Norwood Fisher (Fishbone) - Essential record: Truth and Soul (Fishbone) (1988)
69. Klaus Flouride (Dead Kennedys) - Essential record: Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables (Dead Kennedys) (1980)
70. Kim Deal (Pixies) - Essential record: Doolittle (Pixies) (1989)
71. BB Dickerson (War, Eric Burdon & War, Lowrider Band) - Essential record: The World is a Ghetto (War) (1972)
72. David Steel (The English Beat) - Essential record: What is Beat? (The English Beat) (1983)
73. Trevor Bolder (David Bowie, Uriah Heep, session work) - Essential record: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (David Bowie) (1972)
74. Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival, Southern Pacific, session work) - Essential record: Willy and the Poor Boys (Creedence Clearwater Revival) (1969)
75. Mike Howlett (Gong, other projects) - Essential record: You (Gong) (1973)
76. Dirk Lance (Incubus) - Essential record: S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (Incubus) (1997)
77. Marshall Lytle (Bill Haley & His Comets, The Jodimars) - Essential record: Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley & His Comets) (1955)
78. Eric Avery (Jane's Addiction, Polar Bear, other projects) - Essential record: Ritual De Lo Habitual (Jane's Addiction) (1990)
79. Mike Gordon (Phish, other projects) - Essential record: A Live One (Phish) (1995)
80. Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, other projects) - Essential record: Mr. Bungle (Mr. Bungle) (1991)
81. Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash) - Essential record: Argus (Wishbone Ash) (1972)
82. Horace Panter (The Specials, General Public) - Essential record: The Specials (The Specials) (1979)
83. Carl Radle (Derek & The Dominos, session work) - Essential record: Layla and Other Assored Love Songs (Derek & The Dominos) (1970)
84. Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead, Hawkwind, other projects) - Essential record: Space Ritual (Hawkwind) (1973)
85. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth, Free Kitten, other projects) - Essential record: Goo (Sonic Youth) (1990)
86. David Ellefson (Megadeth, other projects) - Essential record: Rust in Peace (Megadeth) (1990)
87. P-Nut (311) - Essential record: Music (311) (1993)
88. Rick Danko (The Band, Bob Dylan, solo) - Essential record: The Band (The Band) (1969)
89. Roy Estrada (Mothers of Invention, Little Feat, other projects) - Essential record: Freak Out! (Mothers of Invention) (1966)
90. John McVie (Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers) - Essential record: Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) (1977)
91. Fred Smith (Television) - Essential record: Marquee Moon (Television) (1977)
92. Justin Chancellor (Tool, Peach) - Essential record: Lateralus (Tool) (2001)
93. Tim Commerford (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) - Essential record: Rage Against the Machine (Rage Against the Machine) (1992)
94. Joe Lally (Fugazi, Ataxia, other projects) - Essential record: 13 Songs (Fugazi) (1989)
95. Gary "Mani" Mounfield (The Stone Roses, Primal Scream) - Essential record: The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses) (1989)
96. Bruce Palmer (Buffalo Springfield) - Essential record: Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield (Buffalo Springfield) (1969)
97. Matt Freeman (Rancid, Operation Ivy) - Essential record: ...And Out Come the Wolves (Rancid) (1995)
98. Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam, Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, other projects) - Essential record: Ten (Pearl Jam) (1991)
99. Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies, Metallica, Infectious Grooves, other projects) - Essential record: The Plague That Makes Your Body Move... It's Infectious Grooves (Infectious Grooves) (1991)
100. Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band) - Essential record: Under the Table and Dreaming (Dave Matthews Band) (1994)

Honorable mentions

Roger Waters (Pink Floyd, solo) - Essential record: Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd) (1973)
Jerry Scheff (Elvis Presley, session work) - Essential record: LA Woman (The Doors) (1971)
Ian Hill (Judas Priest) - Essential record: Killing Machine/Hell Bent for Leather (Judas Priest) (1978)
Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) - Essential record: OK Computer (Radiohead) (1997)
Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta, Racer X) - Essential record: Frances the Mute (The Mars Volta) (2005)
Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree, other projects) - Essential record: Lightbulb Sun (Porcupine Tree) (2000)
Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Appetite for Destruction (Guns N' Roses) (1987)
Billy Bass Nelson (Funkadelic, Parliament, session work) - Essential record: Maggot Brain (Funkadelic) (1971)
Doug Ferguson (Camel) - Essential record: Mirage (Camel) (1974)
Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne) - Essential record: L.D. 50 (Mudvayne) (2000)
Tom Bogert (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus) - Essential record: Vanilla Fudge (Vanilla Fudge) (1967)
Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh) - Essential record: Bug (Dinosaur Jr) (1988)
Peter Quaife (The Kinks) - Essential record: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (The Kinks) (1968)
Dave Alexander (The Stooges) - Essential record: Fun House (The Stooges) (1970)
Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, session work) - Essential record: The Division Bell (Pink Floyd) (1994)
Garry Tallent (Bruce Springsteen) - Essential record: Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen) (1975)
Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) - Essential record: Toys in the Attic (Aerosmith) (1975)
Andrew Bodnar (The Rumour) - Essential record: Squeezing out Sparks (Graham Parker & The Rumour) (1979)
Mike Starr (Alice in Chains) - Essential record: Dirt (Alice in Chains) (1992)
Chris Wolstenholme (Muse) - Essential record: Origin of Symmetry (Muse) (2001)
Peter Cetera (Chicago) - Essential record: Chicago (Chicago) (1970)
Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, other projects) - Essential record: Blues for the Red Sun (Kyuss) (1992)
Richard Hell (The Voidoids, Heartbreakers, solo, other projects) - Essential record: Blank Generation (The Voidoids) (1977)
Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) - Essential record: Nevermind (Nirvana) (1991)
Michael Anthony (Van Halen) - Essential record: Van Halen (Van Halen) (1978)

I think that I should be on that list.

Is this in order? Or just a list?

Nah, of course it's not in order, how else would you explain Jamerson and Novoselic, bass players of equal greatness, being at opposite ends?

Easily. Someone divided by zero.

I know he's not particularly well known and his song writing and singing is horrible at best, but this guy Nathan Hughes is a monster on the bass. Here's a video of him:

IMO this list--like a lot of these lists--is biased towards classic rock, prog (not a surprise), and generally older music. Overall, a good job and one of the best lists of this kind I have seen, but I have a few observations.

Les Claypool seems too low for my tastes; he may be hurt by his product not being as cohesive of an effort, but his bass playing is incomparable.

I love seeing Dirk Lance and P-Nut.

Justin Chancellor may be one of the bassists who I think was affected by your bias. Also Rob Trujillo and Tim Commerford. I would really like to hear your thoughts on their placement.

Like I said, a good list. A few other bassists I enjoy and believe are deserving of an "honorable mention": Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh), Mike Dirnt (Green Day), Eric Wilson (Sublime), and Shavo (System of a Down)...

What do you mean? Do you think they're too low or that they shouldn't be on the list?

Nice list boo boo! There are several people that aren't on it that I would've included but I was happy to see some of my favorites on there.

What!?!?! No this guy? No that Guy? WTF!?!?!? *elitist garble* WTF?!?!?!

P.S. Billy Sheehan's bass playing was at it's peak @25 years ago with an obscure little metal band called Talas.