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.

Too low...

It's no bias against them, I love Tool and RATM, and I like some Suicidal Tendencies.

I just think there are more worthy bassists, even though a lot of them might not be as well known.

I tried to make a list that neither focused too much on metal/fusion wankers like most other bass lists or focus on famous names who just play bitch to the guitarists.

To be a great bassist you not only have to make a tight rhythm section, you gotta do something to stand apart from the lead instruments, or be able to match wits with them. But not just be barely audible in the background playing the same note over and over.

*cough*Cliff Williams*cough*

Well boo2, I can't say I agree with your placement, especially the top ten. But you have all the essentials here. Nice list overall.

lol at Martin Turner so low, and also his essential record is the debut.

EDIT: I notice your "Essential Record" is mainly the most popular album of whatever band, not the one which showcases their abilities best.

Yeah that's why I picked

Black Sabbath over Paranoid
Meat is Murder over Queen is Dead
Contemplating the Engine Room over Double Nickels
Fear of Music over Remain in Light
Acquiring the Taste over Octopus
Foxtrot over Selling England
The Game over A Night at the Opera
Off the Wall over Thriller
Bless It's Little Head over Surrealistic Pillow
Bad Reputation over Jail Break
Starless and Bible Black over Red
Mother's Milk over BSSM
Mr. Bungle over Disco Volante
Lightbulb Sun over In Absentia
Dirty over Daydream Nation
Science over Morning View
Music over 311
Killing Machine over British Steel
Space Ritual over Ace of Spades

:rolleyes:

Stop being a such a spaz, you do this on every one of my threads.

Yeah, I kinda cringed a bit when all I could think of for Sheehan was a goddamn David Lee Roth album.

I'm not gonna punish myself by exploring the guy's whole discography. :laughing:

True.

It's strange how I can read that whole list and see alot of my faves up there but fell very disappointed when I notice some of them didn't make it, I don't know why Nick Lowe didn't make it on that list.

Nick Lowe - Rockpile, solo Essential record Nick The Nife, one of my all time favorite bass players seen him in concert, incredible, he's simply amazing
Dave Smythe - The Rezillos (stage name Dr. D.K. Smythe) mind-blowing punk bass player Essential record: Can't Stand The Rezillos
Joe Osborn awesome R&B bass player, session musician for The Fifth Dimension must hear bass line: The Age Of Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In
Andrew Bodnar - The Rumour, Graham Parker and the Rumour must hear bass line Watching The Detective (Elvis Costello)
Bruce Foxton - The Jam
Nikolai Fraiture - The Strokes
Rick Huxley - Dave Clark Five
Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle -The Ventures

No Victor Wooten? Well that's dissapointing.

Eh, alot of the shredders didn't make it on there. But thats not what its all about, it's more infuence than chops.

Yay. I would have cried if he wasn't included.

Also, one that wasn't listed: one of my favourite bassists is Ryan Martinie. I know that the band he is associated with isn't very appealing (Mudvayne) but he is an awesome bassist. The sounds he can make with his bass sometimes are just insane. There's one particular song (I can't for the love of me remember its name) where his bass actually sounds like a really weird pig snort. But in a cool way. ANYWAY, in my opinion he'd be up there.

Pig snorting bass tone? How charming.

Yeah, that's kinda' rough, but Boo's list was still pretty comprehensive. I sure couldn't have done any better!

lol it's hard to explain okay, it's this really cool sound and I don't know how he makes it come out of his bass but it's pretty damn awesome.

I had Wooten in mind, but I wanted to leave fusion bassists outta this one, even though I included some fusion players in my guitarist list. He might have some rock stuff I haven't heard but that's probably a small portion of his work, he's mostly known for his jazz work and his work with The Fleckstones, who I don't think really count as a rock band.

But I knew he would come up, as well as guys like Jaco and Stanley Clarke. Not an oversight, I just think fusion wouldn't really fit in here, it's too hard to compare bassists like that to Jamerson and Entwistle. Bassists serve a different role in that kinda music, it's more solo oriented. Plus fusion bassists would make up a good portion of the list and not everyone considers fusion rock.

Martinie is a controversial one, he's a very talented bassist, he's just in a band no one likes, but I have the guy from Korn and Martinie way is better than him, so on second thought I might need to add him to the list.

I spent like a week working on this, though the lower spots are obviously a bit rushed and desperate. I had Rex Brown in there at one point. :laughing:

Hey I didn't notice you had Fieldy from Korn in there. Martinie is definitely a better bassist than him, but it's true he is in a band that isn't really that appealing. It's a shame when really good musicians end up in bands that underplay their talent.

Anyway, I think you've done a great job at the list! There's no way I could think of 100 great bassists...

you took out the guy from pantera to make room for the guy from korn? am i reading this right? :yikes:

Yeah, I don't know why Joe Osborn wasn't included. Michael Jackson had 13 #1 hits, well Joe Osborn played bass on 20 yes twenty Number One hits. He appeared on over 200 Top 40 hits including the aforementioned 20 number one hits.

I saw Claypool at 13 but no Buckethead? Some of his bass work is right up there with Claypools.

I don't see Nikki Sixx

Well, the bassists aren't ranked by how good the band is, obviously.

Pink Floyd are undeniably a better band than Rancid and 311, but you gotta put the band aside for a moment, weither it's a band you love or a band you hate, and measure the bassist based on his/her own merits.

well tbh Rex Brown is a more capable bassist that Fieldy, especially some of the basslines he pulls during Dimebag's solos

Wait, are they in order or not?
I think you did a Bang up job there are a lot of really good bass players on there I'd never have thought of. Flea is probably top 10, modern bass players always seem to defer to him.

Nice list, I'm going check out some of the funk bassists you've got listed in the top 10. John Paul Jones at #17 is too low, though.

Agreed completely, although he never made an effort to stand out. He was more like the roots of the group, keeping eveything on the ground while everyone else was soloing (sometimes simultaneously). Did have some killer lines though. I would have him in my top ten. I'll get around to doing one someday, after this thread fades.

I'd say it's a pretty darn good list and a great addition to the site. Be curious to know which are your personal favorite top five and least favorite that put on the list out of respect.

I am very partial to Jack Bruce myself and prefer both he and Entwhsitle to the pure playing of JP Jones. Jone's greatest contribution was more his understanding of how the different parts worked and fit together.

Was really happy to see the Vanilla Fudge original Tim Bogert too, Jeff Beck said he'd have made a legendary lead guitarist if he'd wanted to be one. Martin Turner was another important one to put on the list I think and was glad to see him included.

Obviously you have to go with the Live album with Berry Oakley but he's outstanding on the follow up "Eat a Peach" where he and the whole band raised their game after the loss of Duane Allman and would ultimately be Oakley's last too.

One omission that I hoped to so but could understand not including is Bruce Palmer the former Buffalo Springfield and occasional CSN(Y) member.

Thanks for putting this together.

I've said it before, but Geddy Lee is the one person that REALLY makes you notice the bass in a song every time.

^ I love the bass in YYZ. Definitely makes you notice it.

The Flecktones are influential as hell.

he's also the person that makes you notice how shit the vocals are too, so it all evens out.

^ Captain Beefheart fan.